“Everyone has like, a boner for young people and the internet.” Amy Schumer in Trainwreck.
Street currently has a boner for podcasts. Podcasts have been around since the '80s, but the iPod and podcasts went hand in hand in 2004, when they "caught on" according to Apple (and the subsequent trademark patents they filed the same year). In the decade since, podcasts have been demoted to nothing but that little purple icon buried somewhere amidst the 17 apps you've downloaded to edit your selfies. So, why should you be listening to them?
The short answer is that you should listen to podcasts because they're really cool. Street's sure you've heard about Serial. Currently in its second season, this addicting podcast produced and narrated by Sarah Koenig tells a twisted, suspenseful, true story over a series of weeks. The first season focused on the murder of Hae Min Lee by her boyfriend Adnan Syed. The second season, which is currently underway, focuses on Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, an American soldier who was held by the Taliban for five years and arrested for desertion upon his release.
While Serial is seriously addicting, Street recommends that you give these other guys a listen, too.
Bon Appétit Foodcast: This podcast features interviews with chefs, writers and “anyone who has something cool to say about food” (according to the iTunes description of the series). Highlights include interviews with Jacques Pepin, Nigella Lawson and an episode dubbed “Healthy–ish”.
Listen to when: You want to listen to top chefs describing food while you suffer through your fifth bridge omelet of the week.
Not Too Deep: Created by YouTube star Grace Helbig, this funny, relatable podcast interviews fellow YouTube stars and other seriously hilarious people (we can’t really see a discernible pattern to the people she interviews either, just roll with it).
Listen to when: The Sunday Scaries hit, you fail your first Math 104 midterm, you realize that the class you picked up takes attendance.
Criminal: A podcast about crime—how creative. These crimes are a little different though. Think, like, an interview with a courtroom sketch artist who drew John Wayne Gacy, a detective investigating a gruesome murder on the Schuykill River, and a headless body found in 1896.
Listen to when: CRIM 200 isn't quite cutting it, you want the guy from last night to leave the next morning, you're looking to fill the void left by Making a Murderer.
Modern Love: This podcast takes personal essays previously published by the New York Times and has recognizable voices (Lauren Molina, Sarah Paulson) read them. The Stories focus on love, loss and everything in between.
Listen to when: You get catfished by your Tinder date, you're in mood for Valentine's day, you like the NYT's coverage of love stories.
Penn Profs like to get in on the action as well.
PennSound: Hosted by Kelly Writer’s House professor Al Filreis, these audio recordings discuss poetry and poetics.
Wharton FinTech: This student–led podcast invites investors, students and thinkers from the world of Financial Technology to discuss various topics and ideas that are shaping financial services.
Case in Point: Produced by Penn's Law School, this podcast combines both audio and video components to provide conversations about law, society and culture.
Listen to when: You feel like taking a break from Huntsman but you feel that you should at least try to be educational.
