Can’t Walk & Read At The Same Time

Uncovering Stories Thru Podcasts

I love to walk, almost as much as I love to read. It’s one of my life’s greatest disappointments that I cannot enjoy these two things together. And I have tried. The result is a sort of vertigo that brings intense nausea and a weaving of forward motion bound to land me smack in the middle of traffic. Where the cars are…so that’s a no go. Rather than keep company with my own thoughts, dangerous for most of us at the best of times, I turned to music. Which don’t get me wrong, I love to the point of singing aloud to my classic rock favs with no concern of embarrassing myself., but I am not great at unearthing new music. That’s a proficiency I apparently hold only when it comes to stories.

As I was bemoaning this tale of woe to friends it was recommended to me to give podcasts a try. And I am so glad I did. They are fundamentally new radio that at its best is part conversation, part narrative and all entertainment. They can provide education, enlightenment, amusement, culture and revelation. Remind you of anything? As I began to seek them out and listen, I found myself building an alternate library for my newfound treasures.

So, I am going to diverge a bit for this feature and provide you with some podcast recommendations. As with the books I put forth, these are to my taste. And as the saying goes, to each their own.

Terrible, Thanks For Asking

This podcast explores the different answers, other than “fine, thanks” to the socially conventional question of “how are you?”. People are looking for the comfortable, and acceptable, response to this query so everyone can go about their day. This podcast does an outstanding job of unveiling the flipside answers to this question. The messy and uncomfortable, the truthful. And in the telling of these stories you will be made to both laugh and cry. And you will learn something, at least about yourself, and at best about someone in your world who might need to say something other than fine, thanks. As an added benefit the host has a beautiful way with words, taking the meaningful fragments of these conversations and infusing them with emotion.

Crime Junkie

More than any other category, true crime podcasts have seen meteoric success. And judge all you want but they are just another method of consuming a mystery. And this one is hard not to like with hosts that are unabashed in their gleeful pursuit of all thing’s true crime. Hence the title. Each week brings a different case and is always told concisely and clearly.

Hit Parade

This podcast about music is written and hosted by a guy who loves music, music history and music trivia. Of all genres and all eras. A total geek/nerd in the best possible way. He connects different types of music in a unique manner and offers up lots of great backstory. Many of the episodes sent me listening to the musicians featured in much more depth.

Imagined Life

The concept of this podcast is unique: each episode tells the story of a famous person but doesn’t reveal their identity until the last few minutes of the show. So, it turns into a puzzle for the listener, and leaves them eager to fit the pieces together!

Someone Knows Something

Produced by the CBC, this is a homegrown investigative podcast that takes on cold cases. Each season delves into a new case in detail. The host is excellent, and the production is of the quality that you aren’t left to sort through irrelevant information. That being an unfortunate pitfall of many podcasts.

My Best Break-Up

Hosted by a comedian, each week offers up a different break up story. And not just romantic ones; breaking up with a friend, a job, a religion or even an ideal. Funny snippets and little life lessons in one tidy package.

Uncover

Another CBC podcast with high stake investigative mysteries or survival stories. Each season will be hosted by a different Canadian journalist and follow a new story.

I, Survivor

Inspirational stories of people who have gone through the worst and survived.

Canadian True Crime

Despite the deluge of True Crime shows, books and podcasts, it fascinates me that we probably know less about our own criminals than those in the U.S. Very detailed and well hosted.