My last semester in college was hectic as it involved early starts and long days in college. Listening to podcasts on the way to college would calm me, making the start of the day easier and when returning home it offered a way to unwind. You can spend a lot of time crafting a perfect music playlist, only to get sick of listening to the same songs on the second day. Podcasts have become the new millennial sound. They’re an easy to listen and mayble most importantly podcasts are a conversation that you don’t have to partake in-especially early in the morning before caffeine.
The Blindboy Podcast
If you’re not already one of the 250,000 people who listen to this weekly, then get on it. Blindboy Boatclub, one half of the Rubberbandits duo, created this podcast as a way to promote his book, “The Gospel According to Blindboy”. Since then, his weekly podcast has become much loved amongst many generations, but mainly speaking to our own. Whilst the topics are interesting and educational, ranging from the history of disco to fragile masculinity and mental health, his “podcast hug” is one of the draws to the podcast. A self-proclaimed audiophile, Blindboy makes sure that listening to the podcast is a calm and relaxing experience. Listen here.
Desert Island Discs
This BBC podcast has been running since 1942, with multiple presenters throughout the years. The format follows interviewing famous people about their lives and the eight songs they would take with them to a desert island. This is a handy one to jump into, featuring Ed Sheeran, Jimmy Carr, Tom Hanks etc. The podcast plays snippets of the tracks but besides that it talks about their careers and lives. Listen here.
Mothers of Invention
Hosted by former president Mary Robinson and comedian Maeve Higgins, this six-part podcast talks about climate change, “a man-made issue- with a feminist solution”. It focuses on the female activists and drivers of climate change, from the courtroom to grassroots movements. Released every second Monday, it’s a global forum with a female slant. Be inspired. Listen here.
West Cork
A true crime podcast, it follows the death of French film-maker Sophie Toscan du Plantier on December 23rd, 1996, in Schull, Cork. This one requires a subscription to Audible, where you can get a 30-day free trial to binge-listen and then cancel because we’re all students here and the netflix subscription still seems a bit much. Fans of “Serial” and “Making a Murderer” will devour this one. Listen here.
