Podcasts That I Listen to Every Week
These are the shows that keep me coming back for more!
If you’re like me, you are totally addicted to podcasts. I listen to them while I clean, while I work, and while I walk my dog. I didn’t realize that some people find this strange but I even listen to podcasts while I work out! My old roommate gave me a hard time for that and I can’t blame her. While we were running side by side on treadmills at the gym, she was blasting EDM (electronic dance music) to pump herself up, and I was listening to a calm voice discussing criminal investigations in great detail.
But what can I say? I find that if my mind is engaged in deep thought, I have less time to focus on how out of shape I am and how much I hate working out. So, if you’re like me, you burn through podcasts quickly and are always on the hunt for the next great binge! These are my favorite shows that release episodes weekly (or more frequently) and always keep me coming back for more!
My 5 favorite weekly podcasts
Up First podcast
Up First podcast by NPR is an essential podcast for me. It is a short, easily digestible podcast that highlights the day's biggest news stories. Each episode is about 10–30 minutes long and I listen to it while I get ready for my workday. It’s an easy way to keep up with current events for those of us that like to be informed, but can’t handle too much news content. They release new episodes every day Monday-Saturday. It is an American podcast, so a lot of the news stories are domestic, but they cover relevant global news stories as well.
2. Crime Junkie podcast
Crime Junkie podcast is a podcast that I have talked about before. Hosts Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat are childhood best friends and self-proclaimed “crime junkies”. Each week they tell a new true crime story. The stories are broken into categories including “MURDERED”, “MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF”, “SURVIVED”, “MISSING”, and “CAPTURED”.
I have learned so much from listening to this podcast! They feature interviews with survivors, victim’s families, and law enforcement. The episodes are medium length and are about 30 minutes to an hour long. I find true crime podcasts to be a great way to learn about the challenges faced by victims, their families, and investigators. It’s a good reminder to cherish life and those that we love because we never know how long we have. Crime Junkie drops new episodes every Monday.
3. Girls Gotta Eat
Girls Gotta Eat podcast is a comedy podcast about sex and relationships, hosted by Rayna Greenberg and Ashley Hesseltine. No topic is off-limits for these hilarious ladies! In a sex-positive and empowering environment, they discuss dating, relationships, breakups, and finding yourself. They’ve had a wide variety of guests from comedians to licensed psychologists. Some episodes feel like free therapy, and other episodes feel like hanging out on a couch with your best friends. Girls Gotta Eat is a guaranteed laugh and is a super fun way to learn about sex and dating! They release new episodes every Monday.
4. ADHD for Smart Ass Women
ADHD For Smart Ass Women is hosted by Tracy Otsuka, a mother who was diagnosed with ADHD shortly after her son was diagnosed with the condition. She has since used her skills as a lawyer to research every aspect ADHD; how it affects the brain, the struggles that neurodivergent people (women in particular) face, and how people with ADHD can understand their diagnosis and use their ‘ADHD superpowers’ for good!
I was recently diagnosed with ADHD at 32 years old and have been on a personal quest to understand my diagnosis. This podcast has been so helpful! I’ve learned that many women are misdiagnosed, diagnosed later in life, or never diagnosed at all. If you suspect that you or anyone in your life might have ADHD this podcast is a fun and easy way to learn about the diagnosis, and how to destigmatize conversations around mental health. ADHD For Smart Ass Women releases new episodes every Wednesday!
5. The Basic Cinephile
This is my most essential weekly listen. In November my sister and I launched The Basic Cinephile podcast as a way to share our love of Harry Potter! We already had a blog, The Basic Cinephile, and had been toying with the idea of starting a podcast but it felt so overwhelming that it took us over a year before we finally pulled the trigger. As indie podcasters with a small audience and no prior experience producing a show, I have learned so much from starting a podcast. From purchasing recording equipment to choosing a hosting platform to promoting the show each week on social media, there has been no shortage of opportunities to learn something new!
I listen to my own podcast every week as a way to improve. Like most of us, I am my own worst critic and each week I make notes about how to improve the show. And guess what? Each week the show is getting better! Our audio quality is way better than when we first started, our “podcasting voices” are getting better, and although I still say “like” way too much, I no longer say “absolutely” 20 times each episode.
I have so many podcasts that I listen to regularly, but these are the top five that I never miss each week. What are your favorite podcasts that you listen to weekly?
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