In my life away from Exponent and Mormon Feminism, where I make the money to pay the bills, I am an organizer. I organized largely for business professionals: their desks, their calendars, their files, and their kitchens, closets, and basements. I love my work.
In my own life, I also organize. My dresses are hung on matching hangers – in color order. My socks are all folded the same way – in thickness order. My calendar is color coded with times and addresses listed – and agendas outlined in notes.
I had one goal on January 1, 2014: Never Be Behind – on Anything. This means that inboxes are always clean in my 5 email accounts, my birthday cards are out the door on time, I send follow up notes immediately after the meeting, and I’m up on all blog readings and current events. I chased this goal down all year and did a pretty good job …. but, of course, it eluded me.
For 2015, my friends tell me I should change my goal to: Be Realistic. And I respond: Boring.
So, I will try again to “Never Be Behind”. I know it’s out of reach, but I love the challenge. One area that is hard for me: keeping up on news – Mormon and otherwise. So, in 2015, I’m going to try more podcasts. I’d like to listen rather than trying to read it all.
And here’s where I need your help, dear reader: choosing the best podcasts.
What are your favorite podcasts – in the Mormon World and in the World World?
They’re all boring. (Well, I actually haven’t listened to any of them), but you’ll almost certainly love Back to Work with Merlin Mann. It’s nominally about productivity (he’s the guy that invented Inbox Zero), but it’s also about being a good person, and sometimes about how clean you can expect hotel rooms to be. In other words, you’ll learn new ways of thinking about things, but also it’s delightful.
Suzette, another interesting podcast is the Cultural Hall. They have a Mormon news segment (that I sometimes skip, admittedly) and interviews with Latter-day Saints from various walks of life.
Ditto on the Cultural Hall!
I confess I love the BYU international lecture podcasts. Many of the speakers are not LDS, it isn’t overtly religious in the least, but it is focused on how to make the world a better place, and adds an element of much needed political passion for doing what is right to make the world a better place, regardless of religiosity.
I have no advice to give on Mormon podcasts, as I stopped listening to them all when I had to get my Mormon-generated-outrage problem under control. Maybe I’ll dip back into them this year.
For non-Mormon podcasts, here are my go tos:
Interesting & Informational:
This American Life (sometimes it’s news, but usually it’s not as heavily news driven as implied by your “news” category)
On Being (religion, philosophy, and cultural values)
99% (the world of design)
Radiolab (somewhat similar to This American Life; different in style)
Love & Radio. An eclectic set of people with a slightly offbeat audio reporting style.
Death Sex & Money. The questions we don’t usually ask because it’s impolite; asked.
Freakonomics
Ted Radio Hour. Ted talks interpreted for audio consumption
Criminal. Looks at stories about crime from a slant.
Serial. From This American Life. 12 episodes, all available now. Fascinating.
Startup. backstory of what it takes to create a start up company (specifically a podcasting company)
Reply All. The first podcast to be offered commercially by the company featured in Startup.
Slate’s Working. Takes a “day in the life” approach to different professions. Fascinating interview with Stephen Colbert.
Some of those have a “newsy” feel to them sometimes, but they’re more about interesting information and themes and trends. They regularly give me ideas to chew on and discuss with friends. And many of them offer incredibly fascinating stories.
More truly news:
NPR’s Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me! My favorite audio news source cause it makes me laugh. But it’s probably more entertainment than news.
NPR has a whole slew of interesting podcasts/audiocasts. They do a daily highlights podcast that captures most popular stories; it’s a useful way to hear what’s trending.
Slate’s Political Gabfest. Tends liberal, but responds to very current political news.
Slate’s Amicus. Focuses on happenings in the Supreme Court.
Slate’s The: Gist. Not for everyone, since Mike Pesca is not for everyone. But sometimes interesting.
Slate’s Culture Gabfest. news in terms of current cultural events.
Dinner Party Download. News in terms of current cultural events, coupled with interesting tidbits and guests.
Planet Money (NPR). Financial news, but with a slightly more cultural/social bent.
Slate’s Double X. Focuses on feminist current events. Some people don’t like it and it occasionally ticks me off, but it usually gets me thinking.
For what it’s worth. 🙂 Have fun!
This list looks wonderful.
And, I second Serial.
I’ve never really gotten on the bandwagon for podcasts, but when I do, I listen to FMH, This American Live, and On Being. That’s about it, so I’m glad for the other recommendations.