Since we’re somewhere near the halfway mark of 2018, it’s a good time to take stock into the year and determine the best podcasts of 2018. Podcasts as a medium continue to grow in popularity, experimentation, quality, and creativity. We here at Discover Pods have vastly different tastes and prefer a wide arrange of podcast genres. As a result, as we compiled this list, it’s undoubtedly as eclectic as it gets, but one thing is consistent: these are all extremely quality podcasts that rightfully deserve to be labeled as some of the best podcasts of 2018.
ZigZag
Although it follows a similar structure to StartUp—starting a podcast company without knowing what comes next—ZigZag explores a much different story. The show is centered around technology and Civil, the blockchain-backed platform the hosts joined. The hosts Manoush Zomorodi and Jen Poyant are not afraid to admit what they don’t know, but also not afraid to dive in and get technical. Their listeners aren’t exclusively either experts or Luddites either—they’re curious people with some background knowledge who want to learn, but no one is talking to them. ZigZag delivers on their promise to decode blockchain in a kind, smart and accessible way.
The podcast isn’t a hero’s story—it’s about a team struggling against the current. Manoush and Jen sorting out what it is like to be women and mothers in tech feels fresh and real. This isn’t just lip service diversity; they discuss their lived experiences from their own perspectives, and it enriches and contextualizes their stories.
Caliphate is arguably the best example of an audio documentary to date. The 10-part series from New York Times journalist Rukmini Callimachi and produced by Andy Mills gives an unparalleled view into the draw, recruitment, actions, and mindset of ISIS members. Caliphate largely follows a suspected ISIS member and through extensive interviews gives a truly breathtaking view into the making of an extremist.
Through their reporting, we get a harrowing glimpse into the actions — and repercussions — from individual viewpoints.
This new sci-fi adventure audio drama is hilarious and light-hearted, a great remedy to dark media and dark . . . 2018. Like all productions from The Whisperforge, StarTripper!! has gorgeous sound design paired with meticulous writing. It also has a phenomenal performance from Ian McQuown as the lead character: Feston Pyxis is excitable, energetic, and impulsive, a complete 180 from McQuown’s performance as The Bright Sessions‘ Agent Green.
My favorite documentaries — either traditional or podcast form — are about topics I either know the general premise or are something about something completely foreign to me. The first installment of Slow Burn nicely fits into the former. Since I’m in my 30s, the concept of Watergate isn’t new to me, nor has the -gate appendage for all controversies. However, besides the main actors and a couple movie reenactments, I didn’t quite know how the news covered and the even completely captured the country’s attention for such a long period of time. Slow Burn chronicles the lesser-known people involved in the scandal and nicely parallels how these past events relate to our present.
Their next season premiered this week covering Bill Clinton’s impeachment.
I like this podcast, not entirely because of the content so much – though, the content is helpful as a female entrepreneur – but because for so long, there were only men doing podcasts like this. Skimm’d from the Couch is a podcast hosted by the two founders of The Skimm (Danielle Weisberg and Carly Zakin), a daily email newsletter that skims the news of the day. It’s quite a task. In this podcast, Weisberg and Zakin sit down with other female founders and chat with them about how they made it.
Cooking By Ear is part interview show, part cooking show. It’s the closest I’ve found to a realistically timed podcast that you can both cook to and be entertained while cooking. Cooking-wise, the show asides for includes ingredients and instructions, and there are some sense-based reminders interspersed throughout. The environment of the guest’s kitchen proved to be the right space to ease into an intimate interview that talks about food and cooking, but also the lives and work of the guests.
Like the best sports media, this sports podcast isn’t just about sports. The first episode is about Nixon’s massive ego; the second, (a fictionalized) Jesse Eisenberg’s crushingly low self-esteem. If you can’t resist a What If (I see you, all of the readers of The Plot Against America), listen to this podcast. If you like Mike Pesca, the chattering font of knowledge who hosts The Gist, listen to this podcast. If you want to hear some very good Brooklyn accents, listen to this podcast. And if you don’t want to commit to a whole run of a show, this one is only five episodes, so listen to this podcast. Notice how I didn’t say “if you like sports.” Take a gamble and jump into the What If Machine with Upon Further Review.
This magical realism audio drama starts off as a single-narrator series that resembles an anthology. Each episode is a case file by the witch-for-hire Kalila Stormfire who helps her clients magically, but also usually emotionally, digging into facets of psychology and sociology that add a beautiful depth to the writing. As the series progresses, though, the listener learns more about Kalila herself, including her suspicious past. It’s a fascinating plot with plenty of twists.
This dad and daughter duo podcast is the perfect example of hyper-local podcasting done right. Julia and Jeff Levy work their way through local Atlanta businesses, interviewing owners, shoppers, and employees to learn about what makes that place special. I’m a huge fan of taking the typical podcast model and finding new ways to innovate upon that – this podcast takes the investigatory nature of a shopkeeper interview and brings a practical edge to it. Why should we shop at this coffee shop? Which dog biscuits are made right here in Atlanta? Julia and Jeff tell all!
Tides is an interesting take on a space opera, feeling somewhere between The Martian with its themes of isolation and realism and Firefly with its lively, quick-witted characters. This audio drama follows Dr. Winifred Eurus as she observes the biology on a largely aquatic planet–but as she finds herself trapped there for longer than expected, things start getting dire. What makes Tides so exemplary is its dialogue: between the writing, acting, and editing, it’s some of the most organic and engaging in audio drama right now.
Rashomon is a multidimensional storytelling podcast that interviews every member in a family about the same shared experience. It’s a simple premise that interweaves retelling and reflections of the lasting impacts of small and big moments, highlighting family bonds and singular and collective memory.
Tabletop roleplaying has becoming its own formidable genre within podcasting after the success of The Adventure Zone, and it’s hard to find many who do it better than The End of Time and Other Bothers. This podcast follows a group of adventurers from a futuristic world who find themselves transported back to the fantastical, medieval past. The cast of Other Bothers is deftly hilarious, incorporating improv games into the story to make for some dynamic, sidesplitting jokes. The moments that are within the game feature meticulous sound design and oftentimes a lush soundtrack.
My nerdy love for Binge Mode is extremelywelldocumented, but I couldn’t rightfully contribute to this list without gushing over their latest installment all about Harry Potter. With a similar format to how they covered Game of Thrones, The Ringer’s Mallory Rubin and Jason Concepcion tackle Harry Potter with an exquisite blend of nerdy fandom, literary critique, and simply pure entertainment. Each episode typically covers a handful of chapters from the books as they make their way through the entire series and respective movies.
If you, like me, read the books or became a fan when you were much younger, this podcast is sure to re-stoke your enthusiasm for the stories and give you a whole new level of appreciation.
Hosted and produced by a self-described “public Muslim,” Edina Lekovic interviews people who’ve faced challenges in their lives. With guests like Krista Tippett, Hasan Minaj, and Maria Hinojosa, Meeting the Moment is an intimate interview experience with some of today’s outspoken and activist thinkers.
This Is Love, Today, Explained, West Cork, Wooden Overcoats, Conversations With People Who Hate Me, We Fix Space Junk, Personal Best, Love Letters, Pants on Fire, The One Who Got Away, Mission to Zyxx, The Perfect Scam, Alice Isn’t Dead, Hollywood in Color.
The Discover Pods writing staff is dedicated to seeking out the most interesting, entertaining, and informative podcasts out there. If you're interested in contributing, don't be shy. Reach out. We don't bite.
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1 comment
Allow me to recommend The Projection Booth podcast — http://www.projection-booth.com
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