Podcasts Are Taking Over
It’s no surprise that social media is evolving further each day with new updates, platforms, and apps. Although the purple app has been around since the invention of the iPhone as we know it, podcasts have risen in popularity over recent years. The podcast wave has taken the media world by storm ever since Serial, a weekly crime show, was released in October 2014 that reached 230 million downloads. Whether spread by word of mouth or assigned by professors in university courses, this form of media has made its mark on the internet and is here to stay. More specifically in the past year, a rise in people of all ages turned their attention over to podcasts because they are free, entertaining and easily accessible.
Podcasts don't require attention to a screen like a phone or computer does. This is useful whether listening in the car, on the metro, or just cleaning the house because podcasts keep the mind active and engaged off of a screen. There're many different categories including news, politics, entertainment, business, art, fashion, health, comedy, science, and many more. Some of the most popular podcasts right now include:
Image Credit: Flickr/ TED Conference
1. TED Talks Daily
TED Talks feature different people speaking on about their ideas for how to better the human experience and the world we live in. These podcasts are based on the audio portion of live TED Talks and are not separately recorded. TED was founded in 1984 is now one of the most popular organizations based on the free distribution of ideas under their slogan “Ideas worth spreading.”
2. This American Life
This weekly hour-long radio show has won the Peabody Award and James Beard Award for Radio Show/Audio Webcast. The episodes are unrelated and include short stories and essays that vary from politics to entertainment. This American Life is also known to feature memoirs, field recordings, short fiction, and found footage occasionally.
3. Stuff You Should Know
Stuff You Should Know has a self-explanatory title. From gene structure to the Galapagos, this podcast informs listeners about a new topic each week. This podcast is from HowStuffWorks and can be found in the ‘Society and Culture’ category.
4. S-Town
This crime show is a new podcast under the ‘Personal Journals” category from This American Life and Serial, hosted by Brian Reed. All seven of the chapters have been released of this investigative journalism podcast, S-Town, that revolves around the life of John B. McLemore. Murder, secrets, and searching for hidden treasure draw listeners to this show.
5. WeHeardWhat
WeHeardWhat is a newer fashion podcast created by Danielle Bernstein. She is a powerful young woman in her twenties who dropped out of school to create her 1.7 million follower fashion blog, @weworewhat, on Instagram. Listen to the episodes to learn about her story and the stories of Danielle’s close-knit friend group. Episodes include health and wellness tips, interviews about relationship advice, the inspiring paths her friends took to success, and advice on the hot spots to go out in NYC.
If one has a few minutes or hours to spare, podcasts are a free opportunity to learn and expand your mind. Whether you're interested in current events, short stories, fashion, or science, podcasts are a one-stop shop to educating society for free.
