If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably tried to shoehorn a podcast reference into whatever conversation you’re trying to have. I have a half-hour commute to and from work each day, and podcasts have been my reliable companion on the road. This sometimes means the only things I want to talk about are the “discussions” I’ve had with the podcasters I listen to.
At the risk of drying up my meager audience here, I’d like to share my recommendations for a variety of podcasts that speak to me in some way.
Hosted by the grand-daddy of podcasting, Hardcore History is Dan Carlin’s perennially popular long-form history podcast. Carlin is famous for his “amateur historian” perspective on major events and eras, blending the big-picture view with humanizing individual accounts that help add color and emotion to the pivotal times in our past. He often focuses on the ancient world (Rome, Greece, Persia) and the World Wars, but has compelling discussed enduring themes like drugs, torture, and the treatment of children.
If you binge all of Carlin’s history offerings and can’t wait for his next installment (he often takes 4-6 months to finish an episode), you can also check out his Hardcore History: Addendum for interviews and other shorter topics. For fans of current events, Carlin still occasionally puts out his Common Sense podcast, where he provides his nonpartisan views on global goings-on.
Where to start: Carlin’s WW1 series “Blueprint for Armageddon” is his most popular series of all time, but it’s behind a paywall now (still worth every penny). His “Kings of Kings” series, about the rise and fall of the Achaemenid Persian Empire, is currently free and gives a great sense of Carlin’s storytelling powers.
The Tim Ferriss Show is an interview podcast where the host is as interesting as the many high-caliber guests. As an entrepreneur and author, Ferriss is deeply knowledgeable about topics ranging from health and investment to travel and writing. A friend of mine explained Ferriss’s podcast to me, and I asked, “So is personal improvement the premise of his show?” My friend responded, “That’s the premise of his life.”
A self-professed “guinea pig” for all sorts of personal optimization efforts, Ferriss interviews top performers from every walk of life to dissect their methods of achieving success, mixing in his own wide-ranging experiences to bring theory to life. Ferriss is witty, humble, and outstanding at asking questions other interviewers don’t think of. Even if you think the guest has no overlap with your life or interests, Ferriss consistently finds a way to make specific strategies applicable to all walks of life.
Where to start: While every episode is a gem in some way, I especially enjoyed Ferriss’s recent interviews with Walter Isaacson and Katie Haun.
Sam Harris is a polarizing public figure, known to deal with “third-rail issues” frequently and often going against the popular grain. He is not someone you’ll agree with every time you listen to him, but he generally provides a sober and well-thought-out argument for whatever he discusses. He confesses that he doesn’t always have the answers to the questions he poses — the goal is simply Making Sense of complicated yet crucial topics.
Like Tim Ferriss, Harris interviews top-tier people from a broad spectrum of fields, albeit sometimes with more potential friction than Ferriss’s “let’s all get along” style. As a neuroscientist, Harris tends to gravitate toward heady topics, from consciousness and free will to social responsibilities and psychedelics. If you find his digressions about mediation intriguing, you can also check out his highly popular Waking Up podcast, which focuses strictly on mindfulness.
Where to start: If you want to dive right into the controversy, check out Harris’s “The Riddle of the Gun” or “Can We Pull Back from the Brink?”. If you just want something light, check out his hilarious yet surprisingly deep conversations with Ricky Gervais.
Darryl Cooper’s sleeper hit, Martyrmade, is a unique take on the history podcast genre. Rather than focusing on a specific historic event or person, Cooper ties together multiple narratives and biographies in his multi-part episodes, weaving the backdrop and events together with the lives of people caught up in a particular moment. With topics ranging from cannibalism in Aztec culture to the cult of Jim Jones, each Martyrmade series has one overarching theme: the ways religion impacts civilization, driving people to kill or die for their beliefs. This series is not for the faint of heart.
Where to start: At the beginning — Cooper’s six-part series “Fear and Loathing in the New Jerusalem” is an overview of the Arab-Israeli conflict from both sides, sure to upset everyone involved. It’s a masterclass in pacing, structure, and thematic storytelling. If you don’t have 36 hours to kill, you can get a quick taste of Cooper’s style in his mini-episode “The Madame Butterfly Effect.”
Not all my podcast recommendations are controversial, friendship-ending sources of debate. Some are simply explanations of major philosophical figures and theories throughout the ages. With Philosophize This!, Stephen West has an inspiring goal: to make a wide assortment of philosophical inquiries interesting and approachable for your average listener. West presents the key concepts from an impressive array of great thinkers, asking the big questions, mixing in his own humor, and leaving you with a different perspective on the Big Ideas in life. Always clocking in at 30 minutes or less, it’s very easy to binge multiple episodes in short order.
Where to start: Pick your favorite philosopher or topic and dive right in! I’m partial to his series on David Hume and Simone de Beauvoir, but I’ve learned a lot from his intermittent yet long-running explanations of The Frankfurt School.
BONUS: Spontaneanation
Spontaneanation with Paul F. Tompkins is as zany as it sounds: Tompkins has a free-form conversation with a guest, then does an improv skit with that guest and some other performers based simply on a setting provided by the guest. Within that simple structure, pure creative hilarity emerges. Tompkins is a delightful interviewer and incredible comedic talent, making each episode endlessly quotable.
While the official podcast is now behind a paywall, you can still access the audio (and sometimes video) on YouTube for most episodes.
Where to start: Where I did — in “Savannah, Georgia.” From there, branch out to “A Dinner Theater” or one of the live episodes like “Storm Drain.” You really can’t go wrong!
Have you listened to any of these podcasts? Do you have others to recommend? Gimme a holler — I’d love to have more fodder for my commute!
M. J. Lau 