Written by Janey, Teen Volunteer
Halifax Public Libraries' Teen Blog is written by and for teens. Discover more posts here.
Why podcasts are awesome
As more and more people start to listen to podcasts, and talking about them, it may be a little overwhelming to choose which ones to listen to. But, if you find a few that you find intriguing, it adds a little spice to your everyday tasks. I personally love podcasts because I like to play them in the background while I study. Since studying isn’t always a fun experience, I like to listen to them to keep me entertained. I don't like complete silence, so I like to play them while doing other tasks, like painting, driving, or even just going on walks to refresh my mind. They're great because you can listen to them in the background, be entertained, learn something new, listen to the news, and gain new perspectives all at the same time.
I wanted to write about podcasts because, while I was in quarantine, I got bored pretty quickly, and it seemed like all my entertainment sources were also boring me, so listening to podcasts kept me sane and entertained.
In this list, I've picked out 10 podcasts that I've been listening to during quarantine. What’s cool about these podcasts is they're informative, humorous, and they give you a different perspective on life. I recommend this list because I feel like there's something for everyone! There are different genres of podcasts in this list to keep you entertained, occupied, or even just help you take your mind off of things. If you are someone looking to start listening to podcasts or just someone looking for a few new ones to listen to, here are 10 recommended ones by me. They vary from everyday news in the world, to mythical folklore theories.
My favourites
1. Stuff You Should Know
By: iHeartRadio
Stuff You Should Know is a podcast hosted by Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant. They sit down every week to talk about a variety of topics. They talk about historical events, scientific discoveries, to the most random but thought provoking topics (like how an ultrasound works, or peanut butter). This podcast is light-hearted and chill, letting you to relax and enjoy the witty remarks and thought provoking topics.
Available on: Spotify, Apple Podcast, iHeartRadio, Stitcher
Listen to Stuff You Should Know, opens a new window
2. Office Ladies
By: Earwolf; Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey
If you are a fan of the TV comedy show The Office then you will definitely love this podcast. Office Ladies is hosted by Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey who were co-stars on “The Office”. On the podcast, they talk behind-the-scenes as they both had first-hand experience on the show. Each week, the two break down an episode of The Office to tell behind-the-scenes stories, answer fan questions, and talk about their experiences on the show. This is a great podcast to enjoy as it's funny, leaving you with a laugh as well as appreciation for the show.
*Mild swearing*
Available on: Spotify, Apple Podcast, Earwolf, Stitcher, iHeartRadio
Listen to Office Ladies, opens a new window
3. Myths and Legends
By: Jason Weiser
This podcast is hosted by Jason Weiser, and he tells stories of old mythical folklore. Some myths may seem familiar like Disney myths, but some may be completely foreign to you (like Slavic or Irish folktales). He tells stories of myths and folktales from all around the world varying from wizards to fairies, to royal mysteries. Although the podcast can tell some eerie stories, it always has a way to incorporate humour.
Available on: Spotify, Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts, Stitcher
Listen to Myths and Legends, opens a new window
4. Today, Explained
By: Vox
If you ever feel out of the loop when it comes to news around the world—this podcast is for you. Today, Explained explains all the news of current events. It's hosted by Sam Rameswaram, and five days a week he catches up on all the news that comes out that day, hence the title of the podcast Today, Explained. The news can be overwhelming but this podcast will allow you to keep up with the news around the world and gain perspective of everything going on. Especially now, it doesn’t hurt to keep educating ourselves.
Available on: Spotify, Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts, Megaphone
Listen to Today, Explained, opens a new window
5. TED Talks Daily
By: TED
TED Talks Daily is an intriguing podcast as it has many episodes of thought provoking topics, hosted by Elise Hu. What's really interesting about this podcast is it has a wide variety of episodes that have such different topics to choose from. There are episodes that talk about current events, global issues, artists and historical facts. It's a really interesting podcast, and if you are looking for something new and don’t like committing to things—this is the perfect podcast for you.
Available on: Spotify, Apple Podcast, Google Play Music, iHeartRadio, RadioPublic, Stitcher, TuneIn, Castbox
Listen to TED Talks Daily, opens a new window
6. Bon Appétit Foodcast
By: Bon Appétit
For all those foodies out there, this is your calling! Bon Appétit is known for their innovative recipes and their infamous recreation of snack foods on their YouTube channel: Bon Appétit. Bon Appétit Foodcast hosted by Adam Rapport, is exactly what it sounds like. It's a podcast that talks about food, restaurants, the food industry, and about chef’s tips in the kitchen. If you are foodies or just interested in cooking, listen to this podcast! You'll gain knowledge not just on cooking tips but learn the mindset of chefs and why they do what they do, or hear behind the scenes of Bon Appétit’s videos for their YouTube channel.
Available on: Spotify, Apple Podcast, Stitcher, Megaphone
Listen to Bon Appétit Foodcast, opens a new window
7.You Can Sit With Us
By: The Try Guys and Ramble
This is the podcast for you if you like a more casual podcast that is filled with funny conversations. Three best friends Becky Habersberger, Maggie Bustamante, and Ariel Fulmer sit down each week to discuss the events going on in their lives as well as in the world. This podcast is definitely more casual and chill as the three women talk about a variety of topics like motherhood, female friendships, their relationships and their everyday lives. You Can Sit With Us is a light, relaxing podcast you could sit down with a cup of tea or coffee and just wind down.
*Mild swearing*
Available on: Spotify, Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts, Youtube, TuneIn
Listen to You Can Sit With Us, opens a new window
8. All Things Internet
By: Rachel Ballinger
Youtuber Rachel Ballinger hosts a podcast show with her mother Gwen Ballinger. They talk about everything going on around the internet. This is a lighthearted podcast. They play games but they also talk about the news on the internet and have conversations relating to those topics. All Things Internet is a great podcast when you need a good laugh, as they always keep it light and humorous.
Available on: Spotify, Apple Podcast, Megaphone, Youtube, Google Play Music
Listen to All Things Internet , opens a new window
9. Teenager Therapy
By: Gael
This podcast is a comforting, relaxing podcast where five teenagers get vulnerable and talk about the struggles in their lives. But this podcast isn't exclusively be for teenagers. Adults can also listen and relate to the problems that these teens face, gain perspective of teens from this generation, and learn what it is like to be a teenager in today’s day and age.
Available on: Spotify, Apple Podcast, Google Play Music
Listen to Teenager Therapy, opens a new window
10. Ear Biscuits
By: Mythical & Ramble
This is a podcast hosted by best friends Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal who are YouTubers. They talk about internet news, answer questions and have long intriguing conversations with each other and their guests. Rhett and Link open up on the podcast and are able to show their vulnerable selves, making the podcast feel more personal and therapeutic. This podcast is great for winding down or relaxing, or for when you are not sure what to listen to.
Available on: Spotify, Apple Podcast, Youtube, Google Podcasts, Stitcher
Listen to Ear Biscuits, opens a new window
Are you a huge podcast fan too? Share your favourites here in the comments! You can also check out more recommendations in Library staff member: Taylor's 8 Podcast Recommendations blog.
About the writer
I'm Janey Yoo and I am a teen volunteer for the Library. I’m initially a shy person but once you get to know me, I'm typically loud and talkative. A random fact about me is when I'm watching Netflix, I prefer watching movies over TV. I quickly get bored so it’s really rare for me to find a show I will watch all the way through.
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