Buzz
With an overwhelming number of podcasts available, many are either subpar or simply not aligned with your interests. So, how do you identify the exceptional ones? I spoke with Caroline Crampton, the editor of the Listener, a newsletter that highlights three to five outstanding podcast episodes daily. To curate these, she dedicates 2–6 hours each day to listening and constantly explores new shows. Here’s her method for discovering great podcasts and how you can do the same.
Subscribe to newsletters
You can explore new shows through Crampton’s newsletter, which costs $30 annually for daily editions, with some free issues released weekly. However, spending money isn’t necessary to find quality content. Crampton suggests checking out the Bello Collective, a blog and newsletter tailored for podcast enthusiasts and creators. Begin with their curated list of 100 outstanding podcasts from 2018.
You can also gather recommendations from these free podcast newsletters:
Wil Williams Reviews (also check out Wil’s blog)
Podcast Gumbo
AudioTeller
Hurt Your Brain
Podcast Delivery
This Week in Podcasts
Due Credit (news shows)
The Venn (politics shows)
Podnews
Great British Podcasts
PodcastBrunchClub
Sara’s Podcast Newsletter
Hot Pod (industry newsletter featuring contributions from Crampton)
EarBuds Podcast Collective
Audio Dramatic (fiction and audio drama shows)
Fiction Podcast Weekly
Podcast suggestions are also included in many general-interest newsletters, like Rex Sorgatz’s Recs newsletter.
Connect with podcast recommenders
The r/podcasts subreddit boasts over half a million members, with numerous recommendation threads on its homepage. For instance, “I’m looking for podcasts to get my mom off of watching evil cable television. Cooking, romance, news, anything a 45yo mom may like!” The subreddit features a daily free-for-all recommendation thread and a weekly thread where podcast creators can promote their shows.
Look up curated “best of” lists
A quick Google search for a specific podcast genre will reveal numerous curated lists from blogs and news outlets. Crampton frequently scours the internet for posts that compile exceptional podcast episodes, including older ones that remain relevant. You can explore annual roundups or narrow your search to a particular theme, such as “best knitting podcasts 2018,” “musical theater podcasts,” “best chemistry podcasts,” or “best podcast episodes 2017.”
Start with the most precise search terms possible; you might be amazed at how many niche topics have already been curated, sparing you the effort of sifting through countless episodes in that category.
Be patient for standout episodes
Crampton often comes across podcasts with potential, even if their best episodes haven’t been released yet. Rather than subscribing directly in her podcast app, she adds them to an RSS reader. While she uses NewsBlur, any RSS reader will work. This allows her to browse new episodes daily or check back periodically to compile the best ones.
This strategy also works when a beloved podcast begins to lose its appeal: place it on RSS reader probation, as Crampton does, and wait for a standout episode. It’s an effective way to monitor multiple shows without cluttering your podcast player or draining your mental energy.
Create a personalized podcast feed from various shows
Rather than manually searching for each podcast in your app and downloading individual episodes, use Listen Notes, a podcast search engine, to merge episodes from different shows into a single feed. Mytour provides a guide here.
This approach simplifies exploring a wide range of shows, particularly if you’re focused on specific episodes rather than committing to entire series. Searching within podcast apps can be frustrating, as many require you to find the show title before accessing specific episodes.
Incorporate it into casual conversation
Crampton enjoys discussing podcasts in conversations: “Whenever I meet someone, I ask them what they’re listening to.” She particularly appreciates when someone shares their phone screen, revealing not just their subscriptions but also their “listening setup”—the app they use, how they organize episodes, and whether they delete downloads after listening.
Switch your region
Apple and Google frequently highlight “New and Noteworthy” podcasts on their platforms, showcasing top shows and episodes across various genres. To explore even further, consider changing your country settings. This reveals popular podcasts in different regions. Crampton uses this method to discover local content, such as regional sports podcasts and genres that thrive in specific areas. (For instance, Europe has a strong preference for interview-style shows.)
Here’s how to adjust your country settings on the mobile Google Play Store and on the mobile iTunes store. However, it’s simpler on iTunes for Mac:
Navigate to the podcasts homepage (choose Podcasts as your media type in the top left corner and go to the Store tab).
Scroll to the bottom of the page, and under Manage, click Country or Region.
Select a country.
Opt for shorter podcasts
Crampton believes most podcasts should be concise. “Everything can always be more compact. [Podcasters] are asking for a significant chunk of someone’s day.” Her top picks include Seven-Minute Opinions from The Week (which ended in 2017) and Rob Long’s 4-minute Hollywood podcast Martini Shot.
My personal favorites under 30 minutes are:
Song Exploder (10-15 min): Musicians dissect their own songs, exploring lyrics and instrumentation
A Piece of Work (15-25 min): Broad City’s Abbi Jacobson simplifies modern and contemporary art in a limited series featuring guest stars and experts
Uncanny Japan (10-20 min): A deep dive into Japanese folklore and mythology
Desert Oracle Radio (28 min): Journalist Ken Layne shares Art Bell-inspired monologues on UFOs, cryptids, and the impact of tourism on the Southwest’s desert ecosystem
Earth Break (24 min): Jenny Slate delivers a chilling performance in an audio drama about the sole survivor of an alien invasion
50 Things That Made the Modern Economy (9 min): Quick histories of pivotal technologies and their economic influence
Listen constantly
You don’t need to dedicate hours daily like Crampton or speed up episodes. Instead, choose shows that align with your schedule or mood: a 20-minute episode for a short break, a relaxed chat show like Comedy Bang! Bang! for multitasking, or a focused, engaging show when you can concentrate. Most podcast apps allow you to organize episodes into a playlist-like queue.
Don’t force yourself to stick with a podcast that doesn’t grab your interest. While Crampton gives shows ample time to impress, it’s your call. Personally, I switch away the moment I lose interest and start something new. After all, there’s no shortage of podcasts to explore.
