For when you feel like being a fly on the wall.
Is your house ever just…too quiet?
You can’t work because the sound of your fingers on your keyboard feels overwhelming. Your focus is completely thrown off by the sound of a breeze hitting your window. And, you find yourself getting super irritable because even the smallest sound is jarring against the deafening quiet.
Some days, self-isolation makes silence feel oh-so-much louder. So, what do you do when you find yourself aching for some background noise?
You turn on a podcast.
There are almost a million active podcasts today. As such, no matter what you’re into, there’s one right up your alley. You like pop culture and media? There’s a podcast for that. Want to learn more about current events and politics? There’s a podcast for that, too. You’re interested in tuning into a podcast but have no clue where to start?
That’s what this guide is for.
Here are seven of IGNITE’s favourite podcasts to keep you company while self-isolating:
1. Keep It podcast
“A podcast for fans, stans, and pop culture pans” is how FLOOD magazine described Keep It in 2019. And, we couldn’t have put it any better.
Every Wednesday, writer Ira Madison III, comedian Louis Virtel and writer-comedian Aida Osman round up notable happenings in pop culture and dig into the politics and social phenomena they showcase. In other words, The Bachelor could be a prime example of emotional projection—and they’ll tell you how.
You’ll also get the inside scoop from some of today’s most relevant celebrities as podcast guests every week. Recent features include Rina Sawayama, Naomi Ekperigin and Kat Dennings.
You can listen to Keep It on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Stitcher.
2. You’re Wrong About podcast
If we could rename this podcast, we’d call it Mandela Effects in Media.
That’s because, on You’re Wrong About, journalists Mike Hobbes and Sarah Marshall revisit major news events of the past—from the Challenger disaster to the Stanford Prison Experiment—and inspect where and how the public got them wrong.
Basically, it’s an entertaining way to reframe your perspective about the world you live in and how the media shapes it. If only learning was always this fun!
You can stream You’re Wrong About on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Stitcher.
3. The Read podcast
Extra, extra, read all about it!
On The Read, entertainer Kid Fury and podcast personality Crissle read hip-hop’s most prominent personalities like a book. With a carefree attitude and comic timing to boot, the well-read New York City-based pair read between the lines of star-studded situations, offering thoughts so rapt and relevant it’s like they read your mind.
Do you read us?
Read into The Read on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or SoundCloud.
4. Maintenance Phase podcast
“Don’t eat anything you can’t pronounce! Oh, but make sure to buy this pre-made, lab-formulated ‘miracle’ juice.”
“Fruit is full of vitamins! Oh, but don’t eat it—carbs are bad for you.”
“Eat your veggies! Oh, but not the frozen kind—those are pointless.”
The wellness world is full of hypocritical nutrition myths disguised as facts. On Maintenance Phase, author Aubrey Gordon and Huffington Post journalist, Mike Hobbes (remember him from You’re Wrong About?) debunk the junk science behind many of today’s foremost health fads. You’ll learn about diet desserts, Gwyneth Paltrow’s wellness empire and why gym class was so unbearable—and, hopefully, you’ll unplug feeling a little more empowered to defy the commotion.
Check out Maintenance Phase on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or Stitcher!
5. Couples Therapy podcast
Naomi Ekperigin is a veritable pod pro—not only has she made guest appearances on nearly 10 different shows (including the first one on this list), she also has her own! Co-hosted by actress-comedian, Andy Beckerman, Couples Therapy sees the pair answer anonymous advice questions and talk life and love with various celebrity guests.
Couples Therapy is available to stream on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and iHeartRadio. You can also check out highlights on YouTube.
6. Raptors Over Everything podcast
Sure, they have a game every few days, but that’s not enough! We want constant Raptors content over here.
Enter: Raptors Over Everything.
Hosted by Yahoo Sports Canada reporter William Lou, this podcast explores everything Raptors-related—from games, to trades, to contracts. Major segments include Raptors Reaction, a post-game review of every match, and Raptors Recap, a weekly assessment of trends involving the team. Lou is often joined by fellow sports experts on the show—most recently, Joseph Casciaro and Brad Vermunt. It’s a surefire slam dunk for Raptors connoisseurs.
Check out Raptors Over Everything on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Acast or the Yahoo Sports Canada website.
7. Canadian True Crime podcast
True crime truly took off in the 2010s, with shows like Serial spearheading both the genre and the podcast medium. Canadian True Crime puts a—you guessed it—Canadian spin on the category, recounting the stories of this country’s most compelling cases.
The show is hosted by the Australia-born, Canada-residing Kristi Lee and is currently in its fourth year. New episodes launch on the first and 15th of each month—subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or Stitcher so you don’t miss ’em!
Podcasts are like having a conversation without having to participate—which means they’re a great way to feel accompanied while self-isolating at home.
With these shows in your arsenal, things will never be too quiet again.
All pod-ed out? Here’s how you can enjoy your favourite summer traditions from home!
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