Just in time for your holiday social distancing, the Radio Advisory podcast team offers eight recommendations on the podcasts you should listen to now to better understand issues of social justice, power, and inequity; decipher the meaning behind your favorite songs; and dig into "all the thought that goes into the things we don't think about."
Rachel Woods, Senior Director
Radio Advisory's host and head of content
I have been listening to Science Vs since graduate school. Every episode manages to distill complex areas of science into bit sized episodes that be understood by your average person. As someone who spent most of her education studying public health and exercise physiology, I appreciate host Wendy Zuckerman's ability to separate fact from fiction (looking at you seven-minute workout). The Australian accent and a healthy dose of humor helps too.
Being a science podcast, it shouldn't be a surprise that Science Vs quickly pivoted to covering the coronavirus. I recently went back and binged all 22 episodes they have done on Covid-19. I know what you are thinking: You can't possibly imagine spending your personal time taking in any more information about the pandemic. But here's why I keep coming back:
Chris Phelps, senior product manager
Radio Advisory's producer
I like music, and I like podcasts about music. If I'm not listening to Song Exploder or Strong Songs, it probably means I'm listening to Switched on Pop. You may not even be a fan of pop music, but I've learned there's more to it than just catchy lyrics and tunes. The hosts dive into the meaning of and purpose behind the genre, the storylines that go into making a pop song, and the ways pop music even draws from the past (hello Beethoven!). It's a fun listen that'll teach you something you didn't know about songs at the top of the charts.
Here's where to start:
Jared Landis, Managing Director
Radio Advisory guest
I highly encourage everyone to check out Scene on Radioa tremendous podcast produced by Duke University's Center for Documentary Studies. Yes, I'm a Duke alum myself, but that nothing to do with why I'm recommending Scene on Radio simply put, Scene on Radio is a terrifically researched documentary podcast that challenges the conventional understanding of our national narrative on issues related to social justice, power, and inequality.
Scene on Radio is best known for its Peabody-nominated Season two series, Seeing White. Seeing White takes listeners on a step-by-step journey that starts with the initial construction of race and "whiteness," and then explores how manmade whiteness has been codified into American society.And, in turn, explores how this manmade construct has dictated our country's "haves and have nots." The episodes are built on the excellent documentary work (i.e., research, facts) that I love as a researcher, but each closes with a more personal discussion between the host John Biewen and his collaborator, Chenjerai Kumanyika, to help listeners understand the real-world implication(s). Seeing White is a timeless discussion that's even more relevant after the summer of 2020.
In seasons three and four, Scene on Radio applies the same formula to educate listeners and debunk common myths about sexism and patriarchy (Season 3: Men), as well as democracy (Season 4: The land that never has been yet). Do yourself a favor: Listen to Scene on Radio, get smarter on these topics and start your own conversation.
Darby Sullivan, Consultant
Radio Advisory guest
One of the podcasts I've been most enjoying lately is Song Exploder. Each episode features an artist telling the story of how one of their songs were made. As a non-musician music lover, it's remarkable to hear about the creative processhow a song might start with one lyric, or a melody, or a half-broken instrument an artist found in a pawn shop, and sometime later it emerges fully formed and on repeat in my headphones. As great as it is to listen to some of my favorite artists (check out Waxahatchee discussing her song "Fire" and Janelle Mone's "So Afraid"), the most interesting episodes are often about how theme songs were made (think The Daily or BoJack Horseman).
And can't resist making one other podcast plug: It's almost a year old at this point, but it's never too late to listen to The New York Times' 1619 hosted by the incomparable Nikole Hannah-Jones. At only six episodes, it grapples with how the legacy of American slavery manifests today from the economy to music to health care. Fascinating and moving, 1619 offers another avenue for learning about structural racism. Here's to hoping there's a season two.
Brandi Greenberg, Vice President
Radio Advisory guest
Lately, I've become a regular listener of STAT's The Readout LOUD podcast. Given my preference for old-school reading of books and articles, I was late to the podcast cluband I still struggle to hold my attention with some of the longer, deep-dive podcast formats. But the Readout Loud podcast holds my attention each week.
As with its parent media company, STAT's podcast is laser-focused on the biopharma industry. But within that industry, it covers a huge range of topicsintegrating stories of scientific breakthroughs with stories of potential pricing regulations, moving from stories about Covid-19 treatment options to stories about diversifying clinical trial participants and trends in venture capital investment. The three hosts keep conversation flowing fluidly among each other and with expert guests (such as Zeke Emmanuel) and a range of biotech executives. In brisk episodes ranging from 20-30 minutes, I am able to stay up to speed on the major trends affecting biopharma and often pick up one or two "aha" insights I can share with my team.
Clare Wirth, Consultant
Radio Advisory guest
Like many others, I took time this summer to learn about racial injustice. For that reason, the latest addition to my podcast lineup is The New York Times Still Processing. Culture writers and hosts Wesley Morris and Jenna Wortham help listeners understand the enormity of structural racism and how it manifests in our popular culture. They pore through TV shows, movies, art, and the internet. Recent episodes examined the musical Hamilton, Aunt Jemima, Westworld, and Halle Barry.
What I love most is how the hosts challenge each other's thinking in real time, with the undercurrents of big cultural shifts as the backdrop. Yet, somehow the two balance these raw, difficult, and nuanced conversations with moments of levity. They're clearly great friends. If you want a podcast that challenges you to think more critically about popular culture, look no further.
Natalie Trebes, Director
Radio Advisory guest
Did you know that youve probably only seen just one New York City alley in film and TV? Did you know it's because there arent really many alleys in Manhattan?
That's the question-your-reality story that first got me engrossed in 99% Invisible. I could no sooner choose a favorite podcast than a favorite payment model, but 99% Invisible comes pretty close. Helmed by Roman Mars, the show is best described in its own words: It's "about all the thought that goes into the things we don't think about."
Each episode focuses on thoroughly exploring something big or small that often goes unnoticedfrom how cars have led to increased policing power, to why inflatable tube men are the staple of all used car lots. Yes, it really is as broad a scope as that: Some of the self-described main categories the show covers include "Objects," "Sounds," "Visuals," and "Cities."
It's the one podcast that I know is going to leave me intrigued, bemused, and inspired all at once. At the center of it all, Roman elegantly weaves each episode's journey with heartfelt moments that will leave you with a better understanding of human connections and a new way to look at the world.
Start with a recent favorite of mine: The tale of an obscure stamp that represented an entire multinational ecosystem that cropped up among merchant ships stranded for months in the Suez Canal after the Six-Day War in 1967. Crews from several different countries formed the Great Bitter Lake Association and together, despite language barriers, celebrated Christmases and staged their own Olympics. And even made their own stamps.
Ben Palmer, Senior Staff Writer
Radio Advisory copy editor
I'm a sucker for interview podcasts, which is what initially drew me to comedian Pete Holmes' You Made It Weird podcast. Little did I know that this podcast was so much more than just a simple interview podcast.
Holmes is one of my personal favorite comedianshe's excellent at improvising, which makes the podcasts fun, and he's someone who exudes joy in every way, which is infectious to his guests. He's also a fantastic interviewer and goes out of his way to make his interviews unique from your run-of-the-mill press junket talk show interviews.
But perhaps the main draw for me, personally, is how deep into spirituality, mysticism, and mindfulness Holmes is, and how much he incorporates that into each and every podcast. Raised in an evangelical Christian home, Holmes spent a lot of his 20s re-contextualizing his faith and discovering a whole new world of spirituality.
Every conversation that Holmes has on this podcast delves deep into the great mystery of lifethe fact that we're all living embodiments of awareness, spinning on a rock through an infinitely expanding universe. Whether someone uses religious or non-religious language, Holmes is there to just chat (often for 2.5 hours or more). The way he describes the podcast is probably bestit's like he and his guest were sitting at a coffee shop chatting, and you just happened to be sitting behind them, eavesdropping on the conversation.
Whether he's interviewing Adam Sandler, Ezra Klein, or a Buddhist guru, every episode of You Made It Weird is engaging and fascinating.
Alice Lee, Senior Director, Marketing
This is my latest favorite podcast to listen to during my early morning walks. If I were to go back in time and choose a different career, I am quite sure that I would have ended up in psychology Ive always been interested in the way that our minds work and what drives us to do what we do, and hosts Stephen Dubner and Angela Duckworth delve into interesting human behavior questions like How effective is the placebo effect?, Are you a maximizer or a Satisficer?, and What is the optimal way to be angry?.
They engage light and witty banter while citing plenty of research studies that bring legitimacy to their assertions and that also help me build out my (aspirational) reading list. After we enter the sixth month of social distancing, I have found the quick episodes of this podcast to be a fun escape that have also inspired careful examination of how I approach parenting, work, prioritzation, and relationships.
Joe Shrum, Senior Marketing Specialist
Radio Advisory sound production
Each episode of Ghibliotheque explores a single feature film from legendary Japanese animation house Studio Ghibli. One of the hosts has seen every film and serves as a guide to the other host who hasnt seen any of them. The podcast is low-stakes, has a relaxed aesthetic, and is the perfect excuse to watch more movies.
Theres never been a better time to discover (or rediscover) Studio Ghibli. Most of the studios catalog is available through HBOMax for folks in the US, or Netflix for everyone else. If youre new to Ghibli and dont know where to start, this New York Times article offers some recommendations. You could also start with episode #1 of Ghibliotheque (Spirited Away) and work your way through themthough to be honest, I would skip Grave of the Fireflies and come back to it later. Its an absolutely brilliant film, but its a reeeaaal heavy gut punch.
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The 10 podcasts to listen to right now, according to the Radio Advisory team - The Daily Briefing
- The Impact of AI on Human Behavior: Insights and Implications - iTMunch - January 23rd, 2025 [January 23rd, 2025]
- Disturbing Wildlife Isnt Fun: IFS Parveen Kaswan Raises Concern Over Human Behavior in Viral Clip - Indian Masterminds - January 15th, 2025 [January 15th, 2025]
- The interplay of time and space in human behavior: a sociological perspective on the TSCH model - Nature.com - January 1st, 2025 [January 1st, 2025]
- Thinking Slowly: The Paradoxical Slowness of Human Behavior - Caltech - December 23rd, 2024 [December 23rd, 2024]
- From smog to crime: How air pollution is shaping human behavior and public safety - The Times of India - December 9th, 2024 [December 9th, 2024]
- The Smell Of Death Has A Strange Influence On Human Behavior - IFLScience - October 26th, 2024 [October 26th, 2024]
- "WEIRD" in psychology literature oversimplifies the global diversity of human behavior. - Psychology Today - October 2nd, 2024 [October 2nd, 2024]
- Scientists issue warning about increasingly alarming whale behavior due to human activity - Orcasonian - September 23rd, 2024 [September 23rd, 2024]
- Does AI adoption call for a change in human behavior? - Fast Company - July 26th, 2024 [July 26th, 2024]
- Dogs can smell human stress and it alters their own behavior, study reveals - New York Post - July 26th, 2024 [July 26th, 2024]
- Trajectories of brain and behaviour development in the womb, at birth and through infancy - Nature.com - June 18th, 2024 [June 18th, 2024]
- AI model predicts human behavior from our poor decision-making - Big Think - June 18th, 2024 [June 18th, 2024]
- ZkSync defends Sybil measures as Binance offers own ZK token airdrop - TradingView - June 18th, 2024 [June 18th, 2024]
- On TikTok, Goldendoodles Are People Trapped in Dog Bodies - The New York Times - June 18th, 2024 [June 18th, 2024]
- 10 things only introverts find irritating, according to psychology - Hack Spirit - June 18th, 2024 [June 18th, 2024]
- 32 animals that act weirdly human sometimes - Livescience.com - May 24th, 2024 [May 24th, 2024]
- NBC Is Using Animals To Push The LGBT Agenda. Here Are 5 Abhorrent Animal Behaviors Humans Shouldn't Emulate - The Daily Wire - May 24th, 2024 [May 24th, 2024]
- New study examines the dynamics of adaptive autonomy in human volition and behavior - PsyPost - May 24th, 2024 [May 24th, 2024]
- 30000 years of history reveals that hard times boost human societies' resilience - Livescience.com - May 12th, 2024 [May 12th, 2024]
- Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Actors Had Trouble Reverting Back to Human - CBR - May 12th, 2024 [May 12th, 2024]
- The need to feel safe is a core driver of human behavior. - Psychology Today - April 15th, 2024 [April 15th, 2024]
- AI learned how to sway humans by watching a cooperative cooking game - Science News Magazine - March 29th, 2024 [March 29th, 2024]
- We can't combat climate change without changing minds. This psychology class explores how. - Northeastern University - March 11th, 2024 [March 11th, 2024]
- Bees Reveal a Human-Like Collective Intelligence We Never Knew Existed - ScienceAlert - March 11th, 2024 [March 11th, 2024]
- Franciscan AI expert warns of technology becoming a 'pseudo-religion' - Detroit Catholic - March 11th, 2024 [March 11th, 2024]
- Freshwater resources at risk thanks to human behavior - messenger-inquirer - March 11th, 2024 [March 11th, 2024]
- Astrocytes Play Critical Role in Regulating Behavior - Neuroscience News - March 11th, 2024 [March 11th, 2024]
- Freshwater resources at risk thanks to human behavior - Sunnyside Sun - March 11th, 2024 [March 11th, 2024]
- Freshwater resources at risk thanks to human behavior - Blue Mountain Eagle - March 11th, 2024 [March 11th, 2024]
- 7 Books on Human Behavior - Times Now - March 11th, 2024 [March 11th, 2024]
- Euphemisms increasingly used to soften behavior that would be questionable in direct language - Norfolk Daily News - February 29th, 2024 [February 29th, 2024]
- Linking environmental influences, genetic research to address concerns of genetic determinism of human behavior - Phys.org - February 29th, 2024 [February 29th, 2024]
- Emerson's Insight: Navigating the Three Fundamental Desires of Human Nature - The Good Men Project - February 29th, 2024 [February 29th, 2024]
- Dogs can recognize a bad person and there's science to prove it. - GOOD - February 29th, 2024 [February 29th, 2024]
- What Is Organizational Behavior? Everything You Need To Know - MarketWatch - February 4th, 2024 [February 4th, 2024]
- Overcoming 'Otherness' in Scientific Research Commentary in Nature Human Behavior USA - English - USA - PR Newswire - February 4th, 2024 [February 4th, 2024]
- "Reichman University's behavioral economics program: Navigating human be - The Jerusalem Post - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- Of trees, symbols of humankind, on Tu BShevat - The Jewish Star - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- Tapping Into The Power Of Positive Psychology With Acclaimed Expert Niyc Pidgeon - GirlTalkHQ - January 19th, 2024 [January 19th, 2024]
- Don't just make resolutions, 'be the architect of your future self,' says Stanford-trained human behavior expert - CNBC - December 31st, 2023 [December 31st, 2023]
- Never happy? Humans tend to imagine how life could be better : Short Wave - NPR - December 31st, 2023 [December 31st, 2023]
- People who feel unhappy but hide it well usually exhibit these 9 behaviors - Hack Spirit - December 31st, 2023 [December 31st, 2023]
- If you display these 9 behaviors, you're being passive aggressive without realizing it - Hack Spirit - December 31st, 2023 [December 31st, 2023]
- Men who are relationship-oriented by nature usually display these 9 behaviors - Hack Spirit - December 31st, 2023 [December 31st, 2023]
- A look at the curious 'winter break' behavior of ChatGPT-4 - ReadWrite - December 14th, 2023 [December 14th, 2023]
- Neuroscience and Behavior Major (B.S.) | College of Liberal Arts - UNH's College of Liberal Arts - December 14th, 2023 [December 14th, 2023]
- The positive health effects of prosocial behaviors | News | Harvard ... - HSPH News - October 27th, 2023 [October 27th, 2023]
- The valuable link between succession planning and skills - Human Resource Executive - October 27th, 2023 [October 27th, 2023]
- Okinawa's ants show reduced seasonal behavior in areas with more human development - Phys.org - October 27th, 2023 [October 27th, 2023]
- How humans use their sense of smell to find their way | Penn Today - Penn Today - October 27th, 2023 [October 27th, 2023]
- Wrestling With Evil in the World, or Is It Something Else? - Psychiatric Times - October 27th, 2023 [October 27th, 2023]
- Shimmying like electric fish is a universal movement across species - Earth.com - October 27th, 2023 [October 27th, 2023]
- Why do dogs get the zoomies? - Care.com - October 27th, 2023 [October 27th, 2023]
- How Stuart Robinson's misconduct went overlooked for years - Washington Square News - October 27th, 2023 [October 27th, 2023]
- Whatchamacolumn: Homeless camps back in the news - News-Register - October 27th, 2023 [October 27th, 2023]
- Stunted Growth in Infants Reshapes Brain Function and Cognitive ... - Neuroscience News - October 27th, 2023 [October 27th, 2023]
- Social medias role in modeling human behavior, societies - kuwaittimes - October 27th, 2023 [October 27th, 2023]
- The gift of reformation - Living Lutheran - October 27th, 2023 [October 27th, 2023]
- After pandemic, birds are surprisingly becoming less fearful of humans - Study Finds - October 27th, 2023 [October 27th, 2023]
- Nick Treglia: The trouble with fairness and the search for truth - 1819 News - October 27th, 2023 [October 27th, 2023]
- Science has an answer for why people still wave on Zoom - Press Herald - October 27th, 2023 [October 27th, 2023]
- Orcas are learning terrifying new behaviors. Are they getting smarter? - Livescience.com - October 27th, 2023 [October 27th, 2023]
- Augmenting the Regulatory Worker: Are We Making Them Better or ... - BioSpace - October 27th, 2023 [October 27th, 2023]
- What "The Creator", a film about the future, tells us about the present - InCyber - October 27th, 2023 [October 27th, 2023]
- WashU Expert: Some parasites turn hosts into 'zombies' - The ... - Washington University in St. Louis - October 27th, 2023 [October 27th, 2023]
- Is secondhand smoke from vapes less toxic than from traditional ... - Missouri S&T News and Research - October 27th, 2023 [October 27th, 2023]
- How apocalyptic cults use psychological tricks to brainwash their ... - Big Think - October 27th, 2023 [October 27th, 2023]
- Human action pushing the world closer to environmental tipping ... - Morung Express - October 27th, 2023 [October 27th, 2023]
- What We Get When We Give | Harvard Medicine Magazine - Harvard University - October 27th, 2023 [October 27th, 2023]
- Psychological Anime: 12 Series You Should Watch - But Why Tho? - October 27th, 2023 [October 27th, 2023]
- Roosters May Recognize Their Reflections in Mirrors, Study Suggests - Smithsonian Magazine - October 27th, 2023 [October 27th, 2023]
- June 30 Zodiac: Sign, Traits, Compatibility and More - AZ Animals - May 13th, 2023 [May 13th, 2023]
- Indiana's Funding Ban for Kinsey Sex-Research Institute Threatens ... - The Chronicle of Higher Education - May 13th, 2023 [May 13th, 2023]
- Have AI Chatbots Developed Theory of Mind? What We Do and Do ... - The New York Times - March 31st, 2023 [March 31st, 2023]
- Scoop: Coming Up on a New Episode of HOUSEBROKEN on FOX ... - Broadway World - March 31st, 2023 [March 31st, 2023]
- Here's five fall 2023 classes to fire up your bookbag - Duke Chronicle - March 31st, 2023 [March 31st, 2023]
- McDonald: Aspen's like living in a 'Pullman town' - The Aspen Times - March 31st, 2023 [March 31st, 2023]
- Children Who Are Exposed to Awe-Inspiring Art Are More Likely to Become Generous, Empathic Adults, a New Study Says - artnet News - March 31st, 2023 [March 31st, 2023]
- DataDome Raises Another $42M to Prevent Bot Attacks in Real ... - AlleyWatch - March 31st, 2023 [March 31st, 2023]
- Observing group-living animals with drones may help us understand ... - Innovation Origins - March 31st, 2023 [March 31st, 2023]