Podcast Addict

September 30th was International Podcast Day, which is officially my new favorite holiday. I spent three hours of it laying on my bed, listening to my favorites. So load up your favorite podcatcher and make sure your Bluetooth headphones are charged. It’s time for me to reveal and recommend my favorite podcast. I’ll give you a brief overview of the show and format, plus my all-time favorite episodes. Happy listening!

Crime Junkie

I know it’s very basic white girl of me, but I can’t get enough of Ashley and Britt talking true crime every Monday! I love how they seem to talk with you, not at you, and their best friend dynamic is wonderful. It’s like talking about murder and kidnapping with your best gal pals. And for those who are a little faint of heart (like me!): they do not discuss gore and violence unless they absolutely have to, and they do not make things sound scarier than they really are. They stick to the facts and try to warn you if an episode is particularly shocking.

Best Episodes

• MURDERED: Missy Beavers. This was my first episode, and it’s a truly chilling introduction into the world of true crime. It’s a great way to test the waters without diving in headfirst.
• MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF: The Yuba County Five. Ashley is at her best here with a chilling story that explores all possible angles.
• INFAMOUS: Darlie Routier (Parts 1 & 2). Victim or villain? The way Ashley and Britt tackle this case in a two-parter is fantastic, and they thoroughly examine both sides.
• CAPTURED: Lloyd Lee Welch. If you’re looking for an episode where they actually catch the criminal, this one’s perfect. But beware! Some aspects of the episode are pretty gruesome.

Shmanners

Husband and wife Travis & Teresa McElroy discuss extraordinary etiquette for ordinary occasions every Friday, and I don’t miss an episode. It’s a great way to learn about the history of etiquette from an unsnobbish source, with practical modern applications. They’ll also occasionally do “Ask Shmanners” episodes, where listeners can send in questions. Plus, they’re inclusive of all orientations and genders. And best of all, Travis & Teresa love each other very much which you can feel through their podcast. They’re like your cool aunt & uncle holding hands while they give you life advice at their kitchen table.

Best Episodes

• 211. Prom: Not only the history of America’s favorite high school dance, and some practical advice, but also a discussion of Travis & Teresa’s prom memories! Very cute and wholesome!
• 139. Matchmaking: This episode has great, solid advice on when it’s appropriate to set up your friends and how to do so. Plus, cute stories from Trav and Teresa!
• 135. Retail: Grocery Store: As someone who works at a grocery store, this episode was very validating and life-affirming. They dunk on rude customers for like 20 minutes. It’s great.
• 54. First Dates: Once again, the hosts knock it out of the park with very practical, not sexist advice. They also talk about their first dates. It’s both cute and practical.

Wonderful!

Griffin & Rachel McElroy talk about the things they like every Wednesday. That delightful premise is enough to carry them for an hour. Much like Shmanners, the hosts love each other very much. It’s super cute. Unlike Shmanners, however, they do swear frequently. I love how soothing the podcast is and how I always feel more upbeat afterwards. It’s a radiant beacon of positivity. Amber is the color of their energy!

Best Episodes

• Ep. 66: The Mallpisode. The sheer cuteness of Rachel talking about meeting your SO’s friends is enough to make me squeal with happiness. It’s such a sweet episodes.
• Ep. 63: Goin’ Potty Backwards. I could listen to Griffin gush about the Charlie Brown Christmas album all day. This episode is Christmas themed, but it’s delightful at any time of year.
• Ep. 43: Davey Coolstool’s Math Poetry. New music from Rachel and Griffin talks about Dungeons & Dragons? Yes!

Sawbones

Completing the Holy Trinity of McElroy brothers and their wives doing a podcast, It’s Justin & Sydnee’s marital tour of misguided medicine. Every Friday you’ll learn about the most buckwild medicine practices throughout history. Or (my personal favorite), Sydnee will take down a modern alternative medicine that’s highly questionable. You’ll learn so much about medicine and disease. And, as with all the McElroy husband and wife podcasts, Justin and Sydnee are very much in love.

Favorite Episodes

• 337. Oleander. Sydnee breaks down 2 things: why the MyPillow guy says that Oleander will cure COVID-19, and why we shouldn’t mess with an herbal poison.
• 257 & 303. A Medicine Called Christmas (Parts 1 & 2). Technically this is two episodes performed at Christmastime. It’s Justin & Sydnee’s Hallmark movies about bad medical practices, performed live. Please listen, it’s literally the funniest thing ever.
• 292. Essential Oils. A dunk on both alternative medicine and multi-level marketing? Where do I sign?! Seriously, though, this episode is super informative.
• 248. Dr. Prince’s Bad Ideas. How historical medical practices that did nothing are still being used today.

Story Break

Every week, Matt Arnold, Will Campos, and Freddie Wong have one hour to break a story based on an existing IP, random concept, phrase, or anything else that sparks their inspiration. It’s just three bros (three very inclusive bros, I might add) frantically trying to write the outline of the movie, often diving into hilarious tangents along the way. It’s hysterically funny, and it’s like putting that feeling you get when you’ve got a great idea into pill form and then snorting it. If you’re a writer, you’ll love this podcast. And, even if you don’t know much about the topic of their break for the week, I’ve found that you can still have a good time listening.

Best Episodes

• 106. Disney: Endgame. A great first episode. The story boys take all of the Disney characters you know and love and use them in a five-movie epic along the lines of Marvel’s Infinity War.
• 70. Heaven Heist. The boys break a story about a crew of Hong Kong criminals who rob heaven itself. It’s such a great episode. And, if you like the concept, they did a series of episodes where they wrote the script for this movie scene by scene. It’s so good.
• 58. Nuclear Family. An absolutely chilling Hitchcockian thriller set during moving day. This is one of those episodes that generates a movie you’d actually want to go see. This one’s not to be missed.
• 41. Duke Nukem. The boys somehow take one of the most raunchy, sexist characters in videogame history and turn it into a watchable movie. You’ll be crying with laughter the entire time.
• 16. PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS: They somehow take the (now basically forgotten) videogame and turn it into a fantastic movie. It also contains one of the greatest puns of all time.

The Empty Bowl

Do you like breakfast cereal? No? Well, do you like the soothing sounds of the ocean and light comedy from two soft-spoken hosts? If yes, than The Empty Bowl is for you. Hosts Justin McElroy & Dan Goubert meditate on cereal and cereal-adjacent breakfast foods roughly every three weeks. I don’t even eat breakfast cereal but I love learning more about it, and all the hot new cereals coming down the pipe. It’s a great podcast to fall asleep to.

Unfortunately, it’s difficult for me to recommend specific episodes. The side effect of the podcast being so relaxing is that it can be difficult to distinguish individual episodes from each other. I’d recommend just starting at the bottom and working your way back up.

Till Death Do Us Blart

It’s the only eternal podcast in which hosts Tim Batt, Guy Montgomery, and the three McElroy brothers (Justin, Travis, & Griffin) watch Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 every American Thanksgiving. There are only 5 episodes, plus a bonus episode where they review PB 1, but each episode is hilarious. It’s easily the most exciting part about Thanksgiving Day, and mercifully, you don’t even have to watch the film itself to get a good laugh.

Just a quick heads up: you don’t have to start at the beginning, but it’s much funnier if you do. Trust me on this one.

Favorite Episodes

• 2018. I don’t know what it is about this episode, but it’s the best of the lot. It’s also the one that made me laugh the hardest.