Shows We Loved In 2022
What I love most about This is Actually Happening is the unpredictability of the program. The only real requirement for a story is that it, A) really happened, and B) is told by the person who lived it. This has made for an eclectic mix of sentimental, scary, salacious, and silly stories that cover a broad range of human experiences.
Some of the stories are familiar and mundane, like a childhood adventure gone awry or family drama. Others are more exceptional, like escaping a cult, surviving a wild animal attack, or experiencing a kidnapping. The best part of each episode is the fact that the stories are told by the ones who lived them, meaning that there is a new voice and perspective each time you hit play.
I think the variability of This Is Actually Happening is what has kept me listening for as long as I have been. Never knowing what to expect each time I listen is part of the appeal to me - it's always exciting and new. I also believe that, by not narrowing the focus of the show to a specific theme or subject, the podcast has the permission to tell almost any story it desires.
A client recommended the Ear Hustle podcast, so I can’t take all the credit for it. Ear Hustle brings you the daily realities of life inside prison shared by those living it, and stories from the outside, post-incarceration.
So here’s why I found it such a rewarding listen:
Growth through sharing
It’s no Hollywood Orange is the new black, it's a reminder that stories are best told both those who live it.
Production can be as simple as a recording device in prison
It’s purpose driven too. Humanizing convicts should support a better reentry into society
Empower people to tell their own stories
… and, at times, how to handle an approval/sign off on content.
On the Huberman Lab podcast, host Andrew Huberman discusses neuroscience and science based tools for things you can use in everyday life.
A lot of the information may go over your head, but Dr. Huberman does a great job of making complex information very digestible and applicable to your life. From how to maximize your daily energy, to how to sleep better, the information on the podcast is useful for everyone. And you might learn a fact or two to throw out at your next social gathering.
How do I begin to describe the roller coaster that is Crooked City? Imagine if The Sopranos was a documentary, combined with the story of a politician who perfected the populist playbook decades before it hit the mainstream.
Crooked City weaves so many complex concepts with seamless narrative. The human stories and real voices will stay in your head for a long time. It also uses archive to dramatic effect, blending decades old audio with the modern voices of both sides.
Also, now I really want to visit Youngstown!!!