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The best podcasts for understanding how the world works
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Who am I?
I'm an English teacher who rewrites classic legends, myths and folktales for fun. I have 4 little kids and very little time to do any of it. My general knowledge is acknowledged by all who know me to be upper tier. Part of this comes from listening to a lot of podcasts who delve into the way our world works. The five I've provided are only a tiny snapshot of all the podcasts I could recommend.
My Show
What is my podcast about and/or how does it relate to the playlist topic you chose?
My podcast is a retelling of classic myths, legends and folktales from around the world. My idea is that whoever we are, we are shaped by the stories that we grow up with - this is fundamentally what I believe culture is. Therefor, but digging into all the cultural backgrounds of different societies, my hope is that we realise that we are far more alike than different - that our values tend to overlap far more than they diverge.
What is my podcast playlist about?
Understanding some of the hidden forces at work in our lives. Not the shady ideas of conspiracy theorists, but the more realistic ideas around sociology, psychology and language that nudge our thoughts and ideas and therefor our nations in particular directions.
1. Freakonomics Radio
Why this podcast?
An oldy, but a goody. This is the start of it all - the hidden side of everything and it does fit this description well. If you want to begin to understand how science and economics is being applied to society, this a good place to start learning how you are being nudged!
Freakonomics Radio
Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher
Play first episode
Freakonomics co-author Stephen J. Dubner uncovers the hidden side of everything. Why is it safer to fly in an airplane than drive a car? How do we decide whom to marry? Why is the media so full of bad news? Also: things you never knew you wanted to know about wolves, bananas, pollution, search engines, and the quirks of human behavior. To get every show in our network without ads and a monthly bonus episode of Freakonomics Radio, sign up for SiriusXM Podcasts+ on Apple Podcasts at http://apple.co/SiriusXM.
256 Listeners
3 Comments
3
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How many episodes does Freakonomics Radio have?
Freakonomics Radio currently has 1356 episodes available.
What topics does Freakonomics Radio cover?
The podcast is about Society & Culture, Documentary and Podcasts.
What is the average episode length on Freakonomics Radio?
The average episode length on Freakonomics Radio is 39 minutes.
How often are episodes of Freakonomics Radio released?
Episodes of Freakonomics Radio are typically released every 4 days, 11 hours.
When was the first episode of Freakonomics Radio?
The first episode of Freakonomics Radio was released on Feb 6, 2010.
2. 99% Invisible
Why this podcast?
An investigative look into how society is changed by ideas that change. The idea for the title is that much of what we are affected by is not consciously visible to us, but there is a lot of thinking behind what we are presented with. Clever, well written and eye opening. Also, Roman Mars' voice is awesome.
99% Invisible
Roman Mars
Play first episode
Design is everywhere in our lives, perhaps most importantly in the places where we've just stopped noticing. 99% Invisible is a weekly exploration of the process and power of design and architecture. From award winning producer Roman Mars. Learn more at 99percentinvisible.org.
141 Listeners
2 Comments
2
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How many episodes does 99% Invisible have?
99% Invisible currently has 697 episodes available.
What topics does 99% Invisible cover?
The podcast is about Design, Podcasts and Arts.
What is the average episode length on 99% Invisible?
The average episode length on 99% Invisible is 30 minutes.
How often are episodes of 99% Invisible released?
Episodes of 99% Invisible are typically released every 7 days.
When was the first episode of 99% Invisible?
The first episode of 99% Invisible was released on Sep 23, 2010.
3. The Audio Long Read
Why this podcast?
A lot of the news, current affairs, etc, is squeezed into tiny little bite sized pieces for easy digestion. There's a lot out there that needs longer consideration and the Guardian go out of their way to provide insights into complex subjects by asking us to give a topic the time it needs to be discussed.
The Audio Long Read
The Guardian
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The Audio Long Read podcast is a selection of the Guardian’s long reads, giving you the opportunity to get on with your day while listening to some of the finest longform journalism the Guardian has to offer, including in-depth writing from around the world on current affairs, climate change, global warming, immigration, crime, business, the arts and much more. The podcast explores a range of subjects and news across business, global politics (including Trump, Israel, Palestine and Gaza), money, philosophy, science, internet culture, modern life, war, climate change, current affairs, music and trends, and seeks to answer key questions around them through in depth interviews explainers, and analysis with quality Guardian reporting. Through first person accounts, narrative audio storytelling and investigative reporting, the Audio Long Read seeks to dive deep, debunk myths and uncover hidden histories. In previous episodes we have asked questions like: do we need a new theory of evolution? Whether Trump can win the US presidency or not? Why can't we stop quantifying our lives? Why have our nuclear fears faded? Why do so many bikes end up underwater? How did Germany get hooked on Russian energy? Are we all prisoners of geography? How was London's Olympic legacy sold out? Who owns Einstein? Is free will an illusion? What lies beghind the Arctic's Indigenous suicide crisis? What is the mystery of India's deadly exam scam? Who is the man who built his own cathedral? And, how did the world get hooked on palm oil? Other topics range from: history including empire to politics, conflict, Ukraine, Russia, Israel, Gaza, philosophy, science, psychology, health and finance. Audio Long Read journalists include Samira Shackle, Tom Lamont, Sophie Elmhirst, Samanth Subramanian, Imogen West-Knights, Sirin Kale, Daniel Trilling and Giles Tremlett.
16 Listeners
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How many episodes does The Audio Long Read have?
The Audio Long Read currently has 872 episodes available.
What topics does The Audio Long Read cover?
The podcast is about Society & Culture and Podcasts.
What is the average episode length on The Audio Long Read?
The average episode length on The Audio Long Read is 37 minutes.
How often are episodes of The Audio Long Read released?
Episodes of The Audio Long Read are typically released every 2 days, 5 hours.
When was the first episode of The Audio Long Read?
The first episode of The Audio Long Read was released on Aug 13, 2018.
4. The Allusionist
Why this podcast?
Another excellent podcast that dives into current events and ideas to help us understand what is happening in our world. Originally, it tended to focus on the importance of words, but has broadened out somewhat. It does, however, help us to consider the way language is used across the world to communicate ideas.
The Allusionist
Helen Zaltzman
Play first episode
Adventures in language with Helen Zaltzman. TheAllusionist.org
13 Listeners
1 Comment
1
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How many episodes does The Allusionist have?
The Allusionist currently has 225 episodes available.
What topics does The Allusionist cover?
The podcast is about Society & Culture, Podcasts and Arts.
What is the average episode length on The Allusionist?
The average episode length on The Allusionist is 25 minutes.
How often are episodes of The Allusionist released?
Episodes of The Allusionist are typically released every 14 days, 8 hours.
When was the first episode of The Allusionist?
The first episode of The Allusionist was released on Jan 14, 2015.
5. Revisionist History
Why this podcast?
Malcolm Gladwell, writer of many awesome books including Blink and David and Goliath interviews many interesting people about their adventures into the worlds of academia, history, sociology and all things that help inform our worldviews, interrogating them as he does in order to help us to understand why the world either is the way it is...or is presented the way it is.
Revisionist History
Pushkin Industries
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Revisionist History is Malcolm Gladwell's journey through the overlooked and the misunderstood. Every episode re-examines something from the past—an event, a person, an idea, even a song—and asks whether we got it right the first time. From Pushkin Industries. Because sometimes the past deserves a second chance.
To get early access to ad-free episodes and extra content, subscribe to Pushkin+ in Apple Podcasts are pushkin.fm/pus.
iHeartMedia is the exclusive podcast partner of Pushkin Industries.
122 Listeners
2 Comments
2
Explore this Podcast
How many episodes does Revisionist History have?
Revisionist History currently has 206 episodes available.
What topics does Revisionist History cover?
The podcast is about Society & Culture, History and Podcasts.
What is the average episode length on Revisionist History?
The average episode length on Revisionist History is 34 minutes.
How often are episodes of Revisionist History released?
Episodes of Revisionist History are typically released every 7 days.
When was the first episode of Revisionist History?
The first episode of Revisionist History was released on Jun 3, 2016.
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