As an introvert, I spend a lot of time chillin’ by myself. One of my favorite things to do alone is listening to podcasts. When I worked out, I started listening to podcasts; it made my two-mile walks/runs go by quickly. Now I listen to them while cooking, driving, or just lounging around the house.

I listen to a ton of podcasts, ranging from storytelling book reviews to self-help. I thought I would share some of my favorite podcasts to listen to.

6 BINGE-WORTHY PODCASTS

EAR HUSTLE

I used to love watching reality tv shows about men, women, and children in prison. I enjoyed watching people talk about their life before prison and what led them to spend a large portion of their life behind bars. It’s eye-opening. 

Ear Hustle goes a little deeper than TV documentaries. The show is hosted by Earlonne, a prisoner in San Quentin: the show is co-hosted by Nigel Poor, a volunteer at the prison. They discuss parenting from prison, love/sex; hobbies/talents; friendship; health. Basically, anything you can think of, they have discussed it. It’s so dope to hear prisoners talk about everyday life behind bars, not just the violence, rape, and the typical things people discuss when they’re talking about life behind bars. 

LEVAR BURTON READS

Reading Rainbow!! Need I say more?! I’m a 90s kid, and Reading Rainbow fueled my love of reading and writing. LeVar Burton Reads is reading rainbow for adults!

I don’t remember how I stumbled across this podcast, but I am so happy that I did. LeVar Burton is a fantastic storyteller. I appreciate how he immerses himself in the stories he’s reading. There are background sounds, and he gives a unique voice to each character; it brings the listening experience to life. 

Whether you grew up watching Reading Rainbow, Star Trek, Roots, or if you enjoy reading or listening to audiobooks, please give this podcast a listen. You won’t be disappointed. I recommend listening to him read “Free Jim’s Mine.”

LORE

I am very easily scared, but I looove to watch a good scary movie, especially the classics from the 80s thru the early 2000s. And my favorite genre of books to read is thrillers (follow me on Goodreads. Talking about books is how I found out about Lore; when I worked at a bookstore, a coworker suggested that I might like it…and she wasn’t wrong. 

Lore discusses the weird and eerie things documented throughout history. The host, Aaron, does a great job of keeping you engaged without boring you to death. If you’re into creepy history or like a good spooky story gon head and check out a couple episodes. 

My two favorite episodes are the story of the lady who convinced her neighbors she could give birth to rabbits and the story about living dolls. I was so done after I listened to those!

SHANNON CASON’S HOMEMADE STORIES

Shannon shares all the highs and lows he’s experienced in life. It feels like kicking it with your homeboy from around the way. In his podcast, Shannon talks candidly about the ups and downs he’s experienced in life and the lessons he learned along the way.

If you don’t know were to start, listen to “Hi, My Name is Shannon.”

SNAP JUDGEMENT

If you like nice beats, then this is the podcast for you. Alongside the nasty beats are, dramatic stories are told. Snap Judgement is full of inspiring, embarrassing, depressing, and spooky stories told by regular folks.

RISK!

I didn’t know what to expect when listening to this podcast. It was suggested based on another podcast I was listening to at the time. I’m glad I gave it a chance; it’s very entertaining! Risk! shares stories about experiences people had at various points in their life, from childhood to adulthood. It’s basically people who took a chance, didn’t do something, and decided to get in front of an audience and tell you about it.

 What makes it unique is that most storytellers are in front of an audience, onstage. It’s brave as hell. I’ve laughed, damn near cried, and I’ve been I shook while listening. As an anxious introvert, the thought of sharing these types of stories is nerve-wracking, but I greatly appreciate the folks who told their stories. It reminds me that I am not alone.

Comment below and let me know what podcasts you enjoy listening to!