I haven’t done a podcast recommendations post since the dark days of 2020. But I thought Iād do a quick one rounding up top 5 podcast series that were new to me this year.
In no particular order:
Sold a Story
Sold a Story is a compelling podcast series about the decades long reading crisis in Americaās schools. It deep dives into the systemic issues surrounding reading programs, and the settled science of how children learn to read.
The host has been on this beat for years, but the podcast (and its audience) emerged in the aftermath of the pandemic lockdowns – driven by concerned parents who witnessed the quality of their childrenās reading lessons up close for the first time.
This show has a lot in it: A fascinating exploration of learning itself, the science of reading, and the challenges to structural reform due to cult-like creators of reading programs, publishing industry interests, government funding, and teachersā unions opinion of George Bush Jr. The whole show orbits stories from children themselves.
As the series progresses, the impact of the shows reporting begins to have an impact on school boards around the country. Later episodes thoughtfully examine the reintroduction of phonics into curriculums and how the dogmatic application of āScience of readingā reforms risks undermining the very goal of improving literacy. An easy binge.
The Telepathy Tapes
This is, without a doubt, the single best piece of media Iāve consumed all year.
The Telepathy Tapes explores the telepathic abilities of non-verbal autistic children who have learned to communicate using the pointing method. What begins as a series about unconventional communication methods expands into profound spiritual questions and the existence of astral realms.
I devoured all seven hours of it in just one day last week.
If youāre a staunch materialist, I encourage you to suspend your skepticism and approach this show with an open mind. They are taking donations and raising money to make a documentary series, as the host is a film maker. I’ve donated so should you!
I cannot recommend this podcast enough. Itās been absolutely blowing the people Iāve been sending it toās minds. It’s blowing loads of peoples minds actually.
There are so many books I want to recommend people who enjoyed this, but Real Magic: Ancient Wisdom, Modern Science, and a Guide to the Secret Power of the Universe by by Dean Radin is a very good follow up
The Department of Midnight
The Department of Midnight is a six-episode audio drama is a collaboration between Warren Ellis and The Bellport Theatre on the Air.
It follows Dr. John Carnack and his role at the Department of Midnightāa clandestine organisation tasked with investigating and policing dark matter experiments.
As the story unfolds, youāre drawn into a richly realised world where dark matter, ghosts, demons, and folklore are all connected.
No spoilers, but the final episode was a great way to end the series. The production quality is also outstanding, right up there with some of the best radio dramas Iāve listened in my life including all the classics from the Golden Age of radio I’ve consumed.
With dashing adventures, daring deeds, and a wonderfully irreverent take on HR departments and bureaucracy, itās very cool from start to finish. Folks who have read Warrenās Injection series for Image Coics will recognise some thematic echoes. I really hope it gets a second season, and has a pre-roll ad read with 1940s/50ās J-E-L-L-O style production.
Venthuffer
Created by Jmac (aka Halstrick), Venthuffer is a deeply personal journal podcast that reflects on the hostās relationship with the Steam Deck and video games and gaming in general.
Each episode is a wonderfully written vignette, focusing on a particular game, genre, and the hostās connection to the subject.
I love the tone that Jmac strikes towards his subject matter in the show.
The episodes are fantastically produced. Itās not just a podcast about gamesāitās a celebration of the medium and its personal impact. I know I only wrote about this show the other week, but I’ve found it utterly charming, and very inspiring.
Side Missions
Side Missions describes itself as ālow-key meditations on art, life, and the everyday.ā
Thereās only one episode so far, but itās an absolute masterpiece.
Clocking in at 47 minutes, 8-bit, 8 bar, is a deep dive and labour of love audio essay about how vintage video game soundtracks influenced the development of UK grime.
Itās jam-packed with examples, samples, and references, all strung together with engaging narration. The towards the end the episode, it hones in on the creative cross-pollination between UK and Japanese grime scenes, exploring how video games sit at the heart of this international relationship – super fascinating! I canāt wait to see what comes next from this show!
Permanently Moved
Permanently Moved is a 301-second personal podcast, written, recorded, and edited by @thejaymo.