Exploring the World of Podcasts

Exploring the World of Podcasts

Podcasts are a relatively new use of technology to expand our understanding of the world as well as to entertain us while we go about our active lives. There is a topic for every interest. This workshop aims to explore the world of podcasts by examining those that tackle a variety of topics (example The Daily by New York Times journalists) to ones that delve deeply into specific subject (Science Friday) to ones that tell a story (The Memory Place).

We will examine how to choose podcasts that are not only reliable but also enjoyable. Workshop participants will select a topic and explore several podcast episodes that are of interest to them. Each presenter will recommend that fellow participants listen to one of their chosen podcasts prior to the presentation and discussion which the presenter will lead. Presentation topics may include the biographical sketch of the podcast host(s) and guests, format and style, quality of the information as well
as the topic itself.

INTRODUCTION

If you are not familiar with podcasts you might find the following book and articles informative.
McHugh, Siobhan 2022. The Power of Podcasting: Telling Stories through sound. New York. Columbia University Press. Available at the Toronto Public Library
https://riverside.fm/blog/how-to-listen-to-podcasts
https://www.thepodcasthost.com/listening/how-to-listen-to-a-podcast/
https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/tech/best-podcast-apps
https://guides.library.utoronto.ca/c.php?g=721294&p=5157320

Format of Podcasts – Podcasts come in many formats: One host, two hosts that chat” about issues, dialogue with three commentators/session, ongoing weekly, short series, biweekly episodes, daily, etc. Choose podcasts with formats that interest you.

IN–PERSON WORKSHOPS

Prior to or early in the fall, each participant will choose one podcast topic to explore from the list below or from their own search and select a potential date talking about and leading a discussion about their podcast choice. Two participants will be scheduled to give their talk and lead the discussion at each session throughout the year.

Prior to their date to present, the presenters will examine several different podcasts or episodes on their topic, listen to several podcast episodes, select one podcast episode to focus on for discussion. When choosing a podcast episode to focus on, consider one that would yield a lively discussion during the workshop. Prior to the date of their workshop, the more podcast episodes for workshop participants to listen to prior to their workshop. A week before the session, the facilitator will forward the titles of the episodes from the two podcast shows that will be
presented at the workshop to all participants so that everyone has a chance to listen to the two podcasts up for discussion.

At each session, the presenters will give a 20-minute talk on the podcast show and/or the specific podcast episode they chose. The presentation given could include but not be limited to information on the podcast host(s) and guests, format and style and quality of the information and the topic itself. The presenter should propose questions for the discussion following their presentation and then lead a discussion.

Suggested Podcast Shows/Series on Specific Topics in Alphabetical Order 

Participants are welcome to explore topics and Podcast Shows other than those listed below! There are many more to explore beyond those listed. This is just a list – not a recommended listing.

Arts

• 99% Invisible – Weekly, explores design that we fail to notice 
• Q with Tom Power – Daily CBC Radio
• Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud – daily, CBC radio

Astronomy            

• StarTalk – weekly with Neil deGrasse Tyson
• Ask a Spaceman! with Paul M. Sutter – biweekly Apple Podcasts  
• The Universe Today podcast (by Canadian Fraser Cain)
• The Supermassive Podcast produced by the British Royal Astronomical Society 
• Unreserve – CBC- specific episode from January 7, 2021 – https://www.cbc.ca/radio/unreserved/we-come-from-the-stars-indigenous-astronomy-astronauts-and-star-stories-1.5861762 

Business

• The Economics of Everyday Things – weekly
• The So What by BCG – biweekly  
• The Knowledge Project – biweekly interviews with fascinating people 
• Wisdom From the Top with Guy Raz – weekly 

Canadian culture   

• The Big Story- Daily 
• The Secret Life of Canada –  a series  
• Curious Canadian History 

Canadian Daily News

• Front Burner – daily news by CBC 
• The Current – daily CBC Radio
• This Matters – Daily Toronto Star
• The Decibel – daily Globe & Mail

Canadian News – in depth

• The Big Story -daily 
• Canadaland – semiweekly
• The Bridge with Peter Mansbridge

More… https://blog.feedspot.com/canadian_news_podcasts/ 

https://chartable.com/charts/itunes/ca-news-podcasts

Canadian History

• The Secret Life of Canada  – CBC series
• Canadian History – weekly – 
• Curious Canadian History – biweekly

Climate change

• Outrage + Optimism – weekly
• How to Save the Planet – monthly
• The Climate Question – weekly – BBC World Service
• TILclimate – periodically – MIT Environmental Studies
• For What Its Earth – Emma Brisdion & Lloyd Hopkins
• Drilled – weekly – a true crime podcast 

More…  https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/podcasts-climate-change-environment/ 

Comedy -Canadian

• I Hate It but I Love It – weekly Canadian
• All Fantasy Everything – weekly – 
• Because News – weekly news quiz from CBC Radio

Comedy

• Conan O’Brian Needs a Friend – semiweekly
• Judge John Hodgman– weekly 
• Smartless – weekly – three hosts bring on guests and talk with them – funny, bantering

Crime, Canadian

• Canadian True Crime – bimonthly 
• Missing and Murdered: Finding Cleo – series by CBC True Crime
• Thunder Bay – series by Canadaland Investigates

Crime

• Crime Junkie
• 48 forty eight hours – weekly by CBS 
• Dateline – daily by NBC
• Scam Goddess – weekly 
• Red Handed – semiweekly
• Stalked 

Culture 

• Still Processing – weekly – NYT discussion of cultural interests – movie, music, politics
• Decoder Ring – a monthly podcast 
• Modern Love –weekly – The New York Times

Documentary – Could be explored by more than one participant.

• Slow Burn: the L.A. Riots and others such as Roe vs Wade
• The Documentary Podcast – BBC World Service investigates global development,  issues
• Sold a Story – weekly 
• The Dropout – The story of Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos
• False Profits: Hillsong
• 50 Things that Made the Modern Economy – not an ongoing podcast. Epic documentary

Economics

• Planet Money – Semiweekly – NPR
• Your Money Briefing – Daily – The Wall Street Journal
• More Money – Canadian – weekly 
• Macro Musings – weekly 
• More or Less: Behind the Stats – semiweekly

Education

• Elementary– biweekly from the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario    
• CCUG – Comprehensive Canadian University Guide – from 2020
• Revisionist History – episode on university funding

Film and TV

• I Hate it but I love it. – Canadian podcast on pop culture
• The Movie Podcast  
• Pop Culture Happy Hour (NPR)              
• The Editor’s Cut – bimonthly podcast exploring the art of picture editing in Canada
• Why We See Movies – Ron Houghton – Canadian based
• Filmed in Canada – 2015-17

Food

• Gastro Pod – bimonthly
• Be My Guest with Ina Garten – weekly
• The Sporkful – weekly 
• Table Manners – weekly 

History

• Revisionist History – by Malcolm Gladwell 
• Hardcore History – Some very long episodes
• The History of Rome  
• The History of WWII Podcast   
• 9/12 – a seven episode series after 9/11

Health and Wellness

• This Podcast Will Kill You 
• ZOE Science & Nutrition – Weekly
• Ted Health
• Nutrition Facts Podcast with Michael Greger

Indigenous

• Unreserved – CBC Radio
• The Secret Life of Canada  
• Media Indigena with Rick Harp

Internet

• Rabbit Hole

Journalism

• https://blog.feedspot.com/journalism_podcasts/

Literature

• https://www.audible.com/blog/article-best-literature-podcasts 
• The New Yorker Fiction Podcast  

Music

• NYT Popcast 
• Black Girl Songbook 
• 60 Songs that Explain the 90’s
• The Hamilcast – about the musical ‘Hamilton’

Philosophy 

• Philosophy Bites 
• The History of Philosophy Without the Gaps 
• You Are Not So Smart – Explores overconfidence and irrationality

Politics 

• The Meidas Touch Podcast 
• Power and Politics –daily 
• The House – weekly CBC Radio

Religion and Spirituality

• The Every little Thing – answering your nagging questions?

Science

• Quirks and Quarks
• Radiolab
• How did this get made? 
• Science Friday 

Self Improvement

• The Tim Ferriss Show – personal development 
• The Mel Robbins Podcast – an educational and Motivational Podcast
• How to Do Everything 
• Beautiful Stories from Anonymous People  

Social Justice/Civil Rights

• Driving the Green Book 
• 1619 – legacy of slavery

Social/ Culture – General or Covering many topics

• No Such Thing as a Fish – weekly discussion of 4 interesting facts 
• TED talks Daily  
• Stuff You Should Know – wide range of topics 
• You’re Wrong About – explore how collective understandings are mistaken

Sports 

• New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce 

 Story Telling

• Everything is Alive – biweekly, imaginary story told from the perspective of an object
• This American Life – weekly, audio storytelling about life in America
• The Memory Place – biweekly, story telling about the past 
• Just the Gist – weekly, story telling without all the little details

World News

• The Daily – daily The New York Times journalists
• The World in Brief – daily from the Economist
• The World at six – daily CBC News