It’s a new year and we’re all here with new resolutions and a new hope for a better year. Because if 2017 saw us hitting rock bottom in ways too many to count, hopefully there’s only way to go now: up. Keeping that in mind, here are five dependable shows to keep close in 2018, because let’s face it, we all need the help.
Conversations With People Who Hate Me
Social justice warrior Dylan Marron has a lot of thoughts and he’s not afraid to share them with the world. This basically means he’s no stranger to online hate and trolls. But, instead of finding a safe space and turning the other way, Marron actually calls one of his haters and asks them why they came at him. The aim of this podcast, he says, is to take hateful conversations that take place online and turn them into productive, outlook-changing conversations offline. It doesn’t always make for a comfortable listen, but Conversations With People Who Hate Me is necessary in a world where we almost always take for granted the power of anonymity, without considering that there’s a real person at the receiving end of our thoughts. Let’s make communication better in 2018.
The Minimalists
Living in the UAE, we tend to forget how easy it is to get caught in the never-ending cycle of consumerism. Hosts Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus are going to be on my regular playlist this year, just because they’re going to help me through my No 1 resolution: consume less. The childhood friends — who have the podcast, several books, essays and a documentary between them — have gained millions of followers over the last five years. While the podcast does spend a lot of time talking about physical decluttering, it also considerably discusses mindful and simpler living. And if the idea of letting go of your possessions may seem extremely daunting, rest easy knowing that Millburn and Nicodemus are here to make the transition as painless as possible.
Note to Self
Note to Self host Manoush Zomorodi is here to help you live smarter — with the help of technology. The podcast delves deep into questions of identity and security in the digital age, and what better time to ponder on these themes than the new year, where we stand ready to shed 2017, a year most people are going to remember as traumatic. A great episode to dig into today is her latest one, an interview with the creators of Netflix’s hit tech-horror show, Black Mirror, in which the speakers delve into the possibility of facing the dark predictions the show makes for humanity in the near future.
Throwing Shade
Political satire has never been this funny. Hosts Erin Gibson and Bryan Safi discuss politics, women’s empowerment, pop culture and LGBTQ rights with a wild abandonment and the kind of humour you wouldn’t want to listen around your mum. Discussing everything from the serious (How natural disasters affect women, children’s healthcare) to the silly (Arizona’s jaywalking epidemic, Why The Fuller House reboot was unnecessary). Quick-witted and outrageous, the duo seem to have no filter and we’re all the more richer for it.
My Brother My Brother and Me
It’s no secret that we love the McElroy brothers here at Podcast Post. Their D&D show The Adventure Zone has made regular appearances on some of my lists here, and for those of you who love gaming and are not into podcasts yet, there can be no better gateway. But no mention of the McElroys is complete without talking about the show where it all really began for them, My Brother My Brother and Me, featuring Justin, Travis and Griffin McElroy — three brothers who give free-ranging advice about just any query you throw their way. It’s funny, sensitive and illuminating, all at once. New episodes drop every Monday, so make sure you start this New Year right with these three goofballs for company.
