by Medha Sarin, staff reporter
Source of photos: NPR
Podcasts are like friends: they come and go, but the best ones last forever. They’re talkative but fun to listen to, and they help you grow and learn. So, whether you’re an avid podcast listener, or you’re just looking for some source of entertainment during this quarantine, check out the podcasts Hidden Brain and Pop Culture Happy Hour, my top two favorite podcasts of all time!
Average Length: 40 minutes
Topic: Science, psychology
Hidden Brain covers a wide range of concepts that vary in complexity. Through an interview with an expert, host and NPR science correspondent Shankar Vedantam gives thorough, detailed explanations of the topic in each episode. While most episodes are quite factual, Vedantam cites personal experiences from his and the interviewee’s lives to help explain the concept. These little stories act as fun, relatable breaks from the steady stream of information.
However, as much as we’d like it, no podcast is problem-free. Consider Hidden Brain’s length: a 40-minute episode on one topic is sure to bore people. But if you’re interested in a certain concept and Hidden Brain does an episode on it, you’ve basically hit the jackpot! On the other hand, the interview is only with one other person. It may seem opinionated; you’re learning the topic through the mind of that one interviewee (well, them and the host).
Regardless of its issues, as a self-proclaimed psychology nerd, this podcast meets my standards. It’s engaging, informative, and the host does an excellent job of making even the most complicated topics understandable. Though it’s not for everyone, Hidden Brain is a hidden gem, and definitely worth a try!
Average Length: 20 minutes
Topic: Television and film
In Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR pop culture correspondent Linda Holmes and other movie critics have engaging discussions about the acting, directing, cinematography, etc. of a new film or TV show. Although the focus is usually on cinema, they also discuss music and recap award shows. Episodes end with a segment called “What’s Making Us Happy” in which hosts make a recommendation (it can be anything, from a book to a movie to a YouTube video) for listeners. Like with any good discussion, it’s interesting to hear the various opinions of the hosts and their background knowledge of the movie.
The only downside is that the hosts are on the older side. This is perfectly fine except for when they like a movie because of its nostalgia. Since I didn’t grow up on the same TV shows as the host, it’s hard for me to relate to that nostalgic aspect.
Otherwise, Pop Culture Happy Hour is super fun! Even though new movies aren’t really coming out anymore because of the quarantine, the most recent episodes still have great content! They’ve basically become an extension of “What’s Making Us Happy”. And let’s be honest: because you’re stuck at home now, you’re probably consuming more TV shows than ever before. Why not check out an engaging discussion about them afterward?
