As if talking to a stranger wasn’t bad enough, this introvert has experienced social atrophy beyond comfort in a year of lockdowns followed by a year of work-from-home. Praise be for podcasts.
Podcasts are now the sole provider of all non-political conversation starters for those “getting to know you” team calls at work, the awkward meetups with relatives, and all the parties my friends are throwing to make up for lost time.
You have to have something though. Even the conversations with the people I spent lockdown with have gotten stale.
So if you see me at the party, you’ll hear me filling in the gaps with fun stuff like:
(To my punk-loving BFF) “Oh yeah- there’s a lot to unpack in that album. Reminds me of how Joey’s crippling OCD influenced a lot of Ramone’s work.”
(To my horror-loving Aunt) “Hey- did you know this? I heard that Wes Craven’s “Nightmare on Elm Street” is loosely based on a family of Cambodian refugees whose son died mid-nightmare.”
(To my sister’s new boyfriend) “Ever heard the one about Gef The Talking Mongoose?”
You see, my Covid accomplishment was catching up to 2004…yes, I finally started listening to podcasts. It began with my roommate playing “Last Podcast On The Left” while we renovated the house…and took off from there.
If you’re looking for something to break up the same old conversations about work stuff or a first date ice breaker, a good podcast is your best friend. Plus, you get the priceless satisfaction of having the strangest set of facts and stories filling your mind.
If you’re not sure where to start, I’m here to help! Here are five podcasts and their best (in my humble opinion) episodes.
Don’t worry- I’ll keep my favorite Dune podcast to myself.
Have you perfected the art of winged eyeliner? Know Sephora like the back of your hand?
If so, you’re probably a makeup connoisseur. But do you know the origin of your favorite makeup brands?
Business War’s episode on Estee Lauder vs L’Oréal covers the ins and outs of these two giants. This dramatic retelling of their competition reveals their rocky and brilliant beginnings- as well as their continued rivalry.
Host David Brown presents in-depth research in a way that will have you bingeing this podcast every chance you get.
The thrilling tales of business rivalry doesn’t stop there. After immersing yourself in the competitive makeup industry, be sure to explore Business War’s other great episodes. The Amazon vs. Walmart series- released at the very start of the pandemic- feels more like a villain origin story than a business podcast.
Everyone has a guilty pleasure band. And hosts Tom Thakkar and Tommy McNamara want to know what it is and why you love to defend it.
“Stand by Your Band” invites guests to reveal their secret obsession and defend why their favorite artist or band doesn’t deserve the hate.
Love Songs with guest Wes Haney is a great introduction to the podcast. This Valentine’s Day episode is guaranteed to cover a song you know and hate to love.
But the best part of listening to “Stand by Your Band”?
The immediate validation that your favorite band is defendable. There are people out there who love and defend Nickelback. My Father John Misty obsession can’t be that bad, right?
And next time some indie music bro at a party starts talking smack about your guilty go-to? You’ll be ready to throw down.
Things are finally back to normal.
Sort of.
I look forward to the summer of 2022 with so much joy. Live music? Grabbing a laptop and posting up in coffee shops? Holidays spent with family? Yes please!
But after a year of limited social interaction, it’s hard to get back into the rhythm of talking with people again.
“The Science of Happiness” knows how you feel. In “How to Talk With Strangers,” host Dacher Keltner and guest Olsaitha Ros break down communication.
Though this episode takes place during the heart of the Covid pandemic, it’s value is still applicable now. The episode covers the importance of forming a micro connection with everyone you meet.
Here in St. Louis, I can preach to the power of small talk. Well, that and the importance of “Ope.”
Broken into 15-20 minute episodes, “The Science of Happiness” offers bite-sized advice and research into what it takes to be happy. If you’re looking to add some joy into your daily routine, this is the perfect podcast for you.
Page 7
Favorite Episode: I Stan!
Imagine this.
You’re gathered in the good ol’ breakroom, chatting with coworkers over lunch. But the conversation moves faster than you can keep up and celebrity gossip isn’t really your forte.
As your coworkers rapid fire on yet another Marvel movie…you realize your subscription to PoppingTins won’t help you now. You’re lost in a maze of twitter drama and you don’t understand what cheugy means. (Hint: it’s not a compliment.)
But what if you could “talk to your stupid ass co-workers and finally know what the hell they’re talking about”? Page 7’s words, not mine.
In this high energy podcast, hosts Jackie Zebrowski, MJ Knefel, and Holden McNeely fill you in on all the hottest celebrity gossip.
Produced by the Last Podcast Network, Page 7 is so much more than a game of pop media catch up. These three comedians riotously tackle pop culture throughout the ages, discussing both the hottest news and the history of things we loved in the 90’s.
Although the newest episodes are the most relevant right now, I still love episode 396, “I Stan” – covering all of 2021’s summer drama, from celeb conspiracy theories to Lil Nas X.
Don’t know what any of that means? Time to start listening!
