Eat This, Listen to That

I love two things in this world. 

Okay, that’s not true, I love a lot of things. I’m basically that “cake filled with rainbows and smiles” student from Mean Girls. I say “bless your heart” without a trace of irony. You get the picture. But for the purposes of this article, I love two things in this world: podcasts and stuffing my face.

It feels only too natural that I, the sort of person who won’t edit their selfies but has an actual system for editing their food pics, would have spent way too much time pairing some favorite shows with drinks and dishes that match their unique vibe.

Hungry yet? No? Don’t worry, you will be.

(Editor’s note: This article contains mentions of alcohol.)

Address: House of Corrections

This microfiction, set in the American South in 1944, does a startlingly good job of transporting the audience within an instant to the stiflingly hot, dusty roads that the show’s young protagonist, Mary, walks to and from town. Address: House of Corrections showcases the sour and sweet parts of life in turn, creating a harmonious blend of a story. The sharp pains of a childhood punctured by the injustice of segregation and racism lean right up against themes of family love, and by the end of this deceptively short journey, the audience is left yearning for more. Address: House of Corrections is wistful, defiant, and achingly well-developed, a show that sends us to a time and a place not nearly as long ago or far away 

Pair this podcast with a tall, cold glass of honey lemonade, sip slowly, and savor.

Desperado

As Desperado explores the adventures of gods old and new as they fight against crusaders to protect themselves and their heritage, it does so with a healthy amount of wit, banter, and not a little mind-bending wonder. The show seamlessly drifts from the conversations between the three narrators as they tell their remarkable stories to the real moments they discuss, keeping the audience intrigued and engaged as they wait for the next twist of fate. It’s a gasp-aloud-at-the-bus-stop kind of listen and not to be missed.

Desperado would pair perfectly with a rather deadly cocktail known as the Angel of Death, a complex and indulgent drink with quite a kick! (Disclosure: Caroline Mincks has a small role in this series.)

Grimwell County

Welcome to Grimwell County, a new Weird West audio drama filled to the brim with mystery, twists and turns, and an eerie edge of something supernatural lurking just around the corner. It’s beautifully scored and narrated, with a rich cast of voice actors who effortlessly bring the story to life. The show brings to mind images of folks gathered around a campfire under the endless Texan sky, stars and smoke blending together to create a canopy under which songs are sung, stories are told, and meals are shared while the horses get some rest. Whatever secrets may be uncovered over the course of this story, we’ll need something hearty to keep us going.

Pair Grimwell County with a cowboy classic: bourbon baked beans. 

Harlem Queen

If you love complex stories about fascinating, real-life historical figures, it’s hard to find better than Harlem Queen. We throw the word “immersive” around a lot in podcasting, but it truly does apply well here – this show throws the listeners headfirst into the world of 1920s Harlem, surrounding us with the voices and sounds of the past in a way that expertly finds the balance between stylized and natural dialogue. It’s exactly the sort of thing one hopes for when looking for historical fiction: decadent, exciting, and something that sparks a desire to learn more about the true stories it is based on. 

Shake up a classic sidecar before letting Harlem Queen transport you to the world of Stephanie St. Clair! 

Dana Is Her Name

Imagine – the ability to shout exactly the words you want to shout at the terrible people who inflict themselves on you. Would it be cathartic? Exciting? Scary? Dana Is Her Name seems to offer two answers: powerful, and incendiary. This microfiction describes itself as an audio comic, and it’s easy to understand why. Somehow, through the minute details within the writing and editing, it offers the audio equivalent to reading a story presented in panels. We experience vignettes of Dana’s life as microaggressions, misogyny, and the general trials and tribulations of attempting to simply get through the day pile atop her until the power inside her can’t hide any longer. When Dana roars, the listener roars right alongside her.

While listening to Dana Is Her Name, it seems only fitting to nosh on something fiery with a cool, satisfying bite. Might I recommend this spicy cucumber salad? 

Inhale

In the town of Hemlock lives a woman named Tamara Tracer, a quiet librarian who maintains a simple life. No one would ever suspect that Tamara has incredible superpowers that manifest when she holds her breath and grow stronger the longer she takes to breathe out again. Her time as a vigilante is something she’s trying to keep firmly in the past – but as so often happens with superheroes who try to hide, a figure from her past shows up in Hemlock to threaten everything. Inhale is beautifully narrated, in a style that feels conversational and familiar, effortlessly drawing the audience in and – dare I say it? – telling a breathtaking story.

Speaking of breathtaking, a hemlock cocktail would pair perfectly with Inhale! 

Read more: The Best 7 Quarantine Escape Podcasts About Food

Great & Terrible

Gag me with a spoon! The consequences of making deals with demons are so grody! Something something tubular! Okay, okay, I’ll take a chill pill – but it’s hard to resist the temptation while talking about Great & Terrible, a podcast about a teenager who happens to cross paths with a demon named after a Swedish botanist and gains immortality by killing someone every month. You know, just normal high school stuff. This may be a microfiction, but it grapples with some huge ideas about everything from mental health to mortality to making sure the gym looks great for the dance, creating a totally radical experience with every glimpse into its mysterious world.

Orange Julius used to have a devil on their logo in the 80s, which is admittedly about 99% of why I selected this pairing. The other 1% is that I’m specifically craving it right now.

Null/Void

I love the smell of a ragtag group of heroes banding together to kick capitalism’s sack in the morning! Null/Void is about a lot of things – depression, dead-end jobs, life as marginalized people, the need for personal connection, how and when to let go of who and what, and, of course, kicking capitalism in the sack. The importance of that last part cannot be overstated. If you’re looking for a show that’s as satisfying as it is poignant, Null/Void delivers on all fronts. Join Piper as she is pulled into the hostile world of soulless corporations and dangerous technology in the hands of those who should absolutely not have that sort of power, and cheer as she does everything she can to bring them down. 

Null/Void calls for a nice, hot bowl of cheap ramen – with a few additions to make it more substantial fuel to get through a long day at work.

(Disclosure: Null/Void creator Cole Burkhardt has contributed to Discover Pods.)

Pod and Prejudice

It may shock people to learn that sometimes I listen to nonfiction podcasts! Pod and Prejudice follows Molly, a first-time Jane Austen reader, and Becca, a longtime Austen fan, as they work their way through Austen’s novels. Listening to this show is an absolute delight – it’s like being at a book club with good friends. Though the analyses of these stories are often hilarious, they also make sure to give plenty of space for more serious and historical context, such as the economics of dating in Jane Austen (“Graham, add the sting!”). Whether you’re a new reader or a lifelong lover of Austen’s works, Pod and Prejudice is a great time with a side of literary study.

I think there’s really only one food that truly pairs with Pod and Prejudice: some excellent boiled potatoes. IYKYK.

Temujin: An Audio Drama

I’ll be the first to admit it: I didn’t know much at all about the history of Genghis Khan that inspired Temujin before giving it a listen. I worried that this would be a massive disadvantage and that I’d be in over my head while trying to follow the story, but to my utter delight, Temujin proved to be captivating and told in a way that sparks a natural interest, focusing on the people and their motivations, letting us get to know and understand them, rather than simply reenacting the events. I doubt I’m the only one who had several Wikipedia tabs open to consult between episodes, eager to learn more. Anyone looking for a fantastic example of how to tell a captivating historical story in an audio medium should start here!

What better to sip while listening to a podcast that heavily features archery than a bow and arrow cocktail?

You’re Wrong About

Every now and then, one of those “What REALLY happened” stories will circulate, and we get to witness everybody and their mama reeling as they process how much misinformation they’ve absorbed and believed about the event or person being discussed. You’re Wrong About takes that feeling and turns it into a podcast, diving into our mass misconceptions and the rumors, bad takes, and popular influence that caused them. They have covered everything from the Clinton impeachment to the exploding Ford Pinto to Y2K and back again, dishing out corrections and solid sources with a healthy sense of humor along the way. If you’re prone to going down Google rabbit holes at 2:00 AM for fun, this show is for you. 

And what dish pairs best with this show? How about one full of the oft-disparaged, frequently naturally-occurring goodness that is MSG? Try this funky little egg-tomato-parmesan-walnut thing I made by accident one day! 

Primordial Deep

Am I terrified of the ocean? Yes. Did I still put Primordial Deep directly into my earholes the instant episodes were released? Also yes. As someone who went most of their life believing they couldn’t handle such a thing, I waded cautiously into this podcast, but immediately found it to be exciting, engaging, and downright terrifying – in a good way! Primordial Deep follows a team in an underwater research station as they investigate the reawakening of a prehistoric threat, uncovering the mysteries hiding in the deep and navigating the twists and turns that come with a well-crafted thriller. 10/10 recommend, but 1000/10 recommend not being near any body of water while listening.

It would feel a bit morbid to recommend a seafood recipe to enjoy alongside Primordial Deep, so a vegan alternative might just do the trick! Try this tomato “tuna” sashimi recipe for a fish-friendly bite.

The Allusionist

Why do we say the things we say? How did we get the words we use? Why and how did some words and phrases fall out of fashion, and how and why is language continuing to evolve? All these questions (and many more) are explored on The Allusionist, a podcast that delves into the ins and outs of language. It’s a show that covers a wide range of topics, from problematic language relating to mental illness to the joys (and health benefits!) of swearing to a particularly delightful episode in which a number of 1950s salad recipes are read aloud over calming music. If you ever want to pick up some excellent insights into language – and more than a few fun facts to drop at a cocktail party – The Allusionist delivers. 

It feels only natural to pair The Allusionist with some good, old-fashioned alphabet soup – although my recipe sneaks some more nutrients into it than the kind our parents let us eat way back in the day!

Listen, folks – it has been a particularly long couple of years. We deserve good food! We deserve special treats! We deserve great podcasts! Take some time for yourself. Let some excellent audio wash over you for a while, and wash it all down with something that fuels your body and soul. Happy snacking, y’all!