2019 in Review: Podcasts
<insert joke about being in your thirties and either starting a new podcast or always talking about podcasts>
Between commuting and long trips this year, I got through a fair number of shows, and it’s been a good year for podcasts- some new favourites and some standout episodes that I’m still thinking about.
Here are my five favourite podcasts/episodes and some bonus mentions:
Dolly Parton’s America
I don’t rate any end-of-year podcast lists that don’t have Dolly Parton’s America on it- not just because Dolly is incredible and I’m a huge fan, but because it’s a really wonderful show and deserves all the accolades.
While Dolly doesn’t identify as a feminist and holds some questionable ideas about feminism itself, a woman who invites Dolly the Sheep (the scientist who cloned the cells from the mammary glands of an ewe suggested it was obvious why they named the sheep after Dolly Parton) to Dollywood & writes a song like 9-to-5 is a feminist in my book. Listen to Dolly talk about feminism in episode 1.
One of my partner’s favourite bits of Dolly trivia is that she wrote Jolene and I Will Always Love You in the same day - what a ridiculously talented singer-songwriter. (Episode 2 and Episode 6)
My favourite episode, though, is Neon Moss- Jad Abumrad (the host) reflects on how Dolly’s music and lyrics evoke so many emotions across cultures and histories.Power Corrupts
A fascinating podcast about the strange, bizarre, and nefarious forces- powers- that shape our world, Dr Brian Klaas explores everything from election rigging to kidnapping by pirates. Every episode (so far) has taught me a lot, made me laugh, and I’ve definitely used a few stories to spice up a dinner party or two!
My favourite episodes include 1. Election Rigging (covering the Rajneeshis, but my favourite bit of news remains the story about Azerbaijan releasing election results… before polls even open), 2. on Conspiracy Theories, 5 on Disinformation (Why didn’t The Apprentice take off in Russia? This genuinely made me go ‘huh!’), and 10. Witnessing 238 Executions on the death penalty (a must listen- Michelle Lyons is incredible).Reasons to be Cheerful
I’m well behind on my episodes this year- I like to listen to the show when I can’t be distracted as I find Ed and Geoff interesting and the guests they have on tend to be incredibly thought-provoking. However, I was lucky enough to catch a live taping of the show with my friends as an early birthday present, and it was truly excellent (and I’ve been thinking about it a lot in the post-GE2019 disaster): Episode 99, Written in the Stars: the argument for a codified constitution. One of my favourite episodes of the year, though, is the excellent episode with the wonderful Prof Gurminder Bhambra on Empire, coloniality, and how we teach (learn) history: Episode 102, Empire State of Mind: overhauling the history we teach. I’ve been begging people to listen to this for months.Sad Dad Radio Hour
I love listening to this podcast with my partner- we’re both music nerds and the albums they discuss were the OSTs to our own coming-of-age/early university years. Apart from all the nostalgia, it’s great listening to the banter and background to the albums/songs- the hosts are incredibly knowledgeable and self-deprecating, especially about how some of this stuff is rather emo!
I started listening to the podcast because I stumbled upon the episode on Bright Eyes’ I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning, which made me cackle and my partner & I kept pausing it to talk about all the Bright Eyes stuff we loved and hadn’t listened to in years. I found it right at the end of frantic thesis writing and it was a wonderful mental break, forcing me to break. I also loved being reminded of Sun Kil Moon and The Pixies’ Doolittle (yes, my introduction the Pixies was probably just before Fight Club too).Intersectionality Matters!
Presented by the great scholar & feminist idol Kimberle Crenshaw, every single episode has been brilliant- from episode 1 with Rhanda Dormeus discussing the death of Korryn Gaines and the unbearable miscarriages of justice to episode 5 on Stonewall 50, holding true to its roots and considering the intersections of race, gender, and sexuality for the future of LGBTQI activism, to episode 6 on what slavery engendered and its lasting legacies (RTBC with Prof Bhambra would be an excellent companion episode).
Other podcasts that I really enjoy and highly recommend:
The Dropout: scams, scammers, and how the heck did Elizabeth Holmes and ‘Theranos’ get away with this for so long!?
Talking Politics: helping me make sense of British politics and why it constantly feels like a bit of a shitshow.
Sexing History: abortion, sex, sexualities, and how far have we really come?
EQUALS!: the incredible Winnie Byanyima talks to a range of thinkers, activists, and ‘doers’ fighting inequality globally.
Kalki presents: My Indian Life: I find Kalki rather irritating (if a pretty great actress), but I really enjoy the different facets of young Indians’ lives that are explored and presented.