Smartless
“SmartLess” with Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, & Will Arnett is a podcast that ranks at the top of my 10 Podcasts For Curious Minds 2022. It connects and unites people from all walks of life to learn about shared experiences through thoughtful dialogue and organic hilarity. A nice surprise: in each episode of SmartLess, one of the hosts reveals his mystery guest to the other two. What ensues is a genuinely improvised and authentic conversation filled with laughter and newfound knowledge to feed the SmartLess mind. Some of my favorite episodes featured Jimmy Fallon, Kamala Harris, Sandra Bullock, Tom Hanks, Jon Stewart, Stacy Abrahms and Adam Sandler.
Against the Odds
In this immersive series from Wondery, host-adventurers Mike Corey and Cassie De Pecol share thrilling stories of survival. My favorite 5-episode story was about the U.S.S. Indianapolis, Disaster at Sea. Hearing the details about this historic World War II event left me feeling as though I was living the experience side by side with the heroes that pushed themselves to the limit for our country. Other stories include the daring rescue of a soccer team trapped in an underwater cave in Thailand, to a woman taken hostage by Somali pirates.
Absolutely Not
This podcast made me laugh out loud for the first time following excruciating family loss and debilitating isolation from a global pandemic. Not for the faint of heart, Comedian Heather McMahan says “Absolutely not” to just about everything….. she creates a safe-space for her call in guests to tell-all and bitch about the rest. No topics is off-limits, with episodes like Pussy Poppin and Labias to the Lobby, Heather breaks down the everyday struggles we face and helps us laugh about it. Come for the humor, authentic discussion or call in to the “Absolutely NOT-Line” with your life complaints. Heather discusses it all, with guest appearances from her mother Robin, another hilarious character. This pod is a joyful take on life’s craziest moments.
Think Fast, Talk Smart
Whether you’re giving a toast or presenting in a meeting, communication is critical to success in business and in life. I listen to Matt Abrahams, a lecturer of Strategic Communication at Stanford Graduate School of Business; he speaks with experts to discuss real-world challenges. How do I send my message clearly when put on the spot? How do I write emails to get my point across? How can I easily convey complex information? How do I tailor my communications and presentations in a world where we are constantly on zoom? Think Fast, Talk Smart provides the tools, techniques, and best practices to help all of us communicate more effectively.
Fishing Forward
In my work as V.P. of Marketing and Communications for Fishing Partnership, I work with a wide range of organizations focused on improving the lives of commercial fishermen and fisheries. Fishing Forward is a new podcast inspired by fishermen, for fishermen, with a focus on health, safety, and staying shipshape in the commercial fishing industry. It views commercial fishermen as athletes and shares ideas for improving sleep, nutrition and a healthier life at sea. The podcast is funded by The Northeast Center for Occupational Health and Safety, and produced by the team at Coastal Routes Radio at the University of Guelph.
70 over 70
70 Over 70 is a show about how we make the most of the time we have left. Max Linsky talks to 70 remarkable people, all over the age of 70, not just about their past but their lives right now. Some of my favorite episodes were interviews with Madeline Albright, Anthony Fauci, Barney Frank, and Sister Helen Prejean. But honestly, I loved every episode and listened to many of them twice. These are conversations about the big questions we all ask ourselves, no matter how old we are. What does it mean to live well? What are we still searching for? And how do we learn to let go?
21 Days of Abundance
This is a meditation series from Deepak Chopra that is designed to help you fulfill your deepest desires and effortlessly attract anything you wish. Sounds good, right? Order yourself a silk weighted eye mask from Amazon and tune into this series of 12-minute meditations to start your day. It’s an easy way to tap into the benefits of meditation. And, there’s no doubt that Deepak Chopra’s voice is utterly relaxing.
Classic Poetry Aloud
Consider a poetry podcast for a lovely relaxation practice. Both writing and reading poetry can have highly therapeutic effects on the mind. The structure of a poem favors brevity yet the best poems also capture succinct detail, making them incredibly powerful in getting a message across. Classic Poetry Aloud is a podcast that gives voice to poetry of the past. Their library boasts more than 600 poems. Listening to poetry read aloud is a fantastic experience.
Freakonomics, M.D.
It’s the Freakonomics of medicine, with Dr. Bapu Jena. Each week, the Harvard physician and economist digs into a fascinating study at the intersection of economics and healthcare. In this podcast, Dr. Jena takes on questions like: Why do kids with summer birthdays get the flu more often? Can surviving a hurricane help you live longer? What do heart surgery and grocery-store pricing have in common?
Sway
Sway is an interview show podcast hosted by Kara Swisher, “Silicon Valley’s most feared and well liked journalist.” Now taking on Washington, Hollywood and the world, Kara investigates power: who has it, who’s been denied it, and who dares to defy it. Every Monday and Thursday, from New York Times Opinion Audio. The interviews hard hitting and honest. Her recent interview with Attorney General Maura Healey who is running to be the next governor in Massachusetts was particularly good.
Ann Manion at Charlestown Breachway
I’m Ann Manion, founder and editor of Green Hill Rocks. I listen to podcasts all the time, on long walks, in my kitchen tackling a new recipe, and when faced with mundane tasks like weeding the garden. Podcasts have been a big part of keeping me connected to the world during the pandemic. I always learn something new, or am entertained in ways I want to share with others.
Tell me about your favorite podcasts, share your suggestions at ann@greenhillrocks.com.