Podcasts: the soundtrack to your summer

Although summer is filled with new music releases to jam out to at the beach, on a road trip or whatever you find yourself doing during the season, podcasts are also a great addition to your playlist. Usually spanning over the course of multiple episodes, podcasts are a perfect way to learn more about the world around you.

 

Whether you are interested in programming, politics or anything else in between, there is a podcast for you. Here are a few that are worth a listen:

 

“Crash On My Couch”

 

If you ever keep yourself up at night pondering the troubles of early adulthood — which cheese is best for a sandwich and what to do when faced with a bad-date dilemma — there is a podcast perfectly tailored for you.

 

The brainchild of YouTubers Arden Rose and Will Darbyshire, “Crash On My Couch” is aimed toward 20-somethings to share anecdotes and enlighten listeners about the perils of being an “adult.”

 

The podcast consists of five episodes, covering a host of topics that include conspiracy theories, fetishes and plastic surgery. Listeners are able to send their burning questions into Rose and Darbyshire via email or call the show directly with their trials and tribulations, such as depression and love triangles.

 

As Rose said in the premiere episode, “We’re fun and we’re quirky, so love us.” If you often find yourself asking “Why I am thinking about this?,” this is definitely the podcast for you.

 

“My Dad Wrote a Porno”

 

Yes, you read the title correctly. Jamie Morton, alongside co-hosts James Cooper and Alice Levine, spend each episode reading and analyzing a chapter of his father’s pornographic novel. With each episode, Morton further discovers a side of his father no child would ever expect to learn.

 

Inspired by the success and acceptance of “Fifty Shades of Grey,” the 60-year-old author decided to delve into the world of erotic fiction by self-publishing the novel.

 

According to the initial episode, his father — whose pen name is Rocky Flintsone — wrote the novel “Belinda Blinked 1: A modern story of sex, erotica and passion” by drawing from his own fantasies.

 

The approach Morton has taken to reading his father’s erotic novel — by broadcasting it to a global audience — is entertaining and humorous. In a way, it is normalizing sex and making it approachable to listeners.

 

Although we all hope to never be faced with this type of situation, “My Dad Wrote a Porno” is a great podcast if you’re looking for a laugh.

 

“Freakonomics Radio”

 

“This podcast will have you thinking like a freak.”

 

Much like “Crash on My Couch,” the “Freakonomics Radio” podcast covers an array of topics in an attempt to uncover the hidden workings of human nature and experience.

 

However, host Stephen J. Dauber takes a more in-depth approach to each topic with the use of data, research and expert accounts to explain concepts like income inequality, Freudian slips and the power of Google searches.

 

In the May 10 episode titled, “How Big is My Penis? (And Other Things We Ask Google),” Dauber and guest Seth Stephens-Davidowitz explore the idea that internet searches are a reflection of our true selves. Behind a private screen, people reveal opinions and feelings they would never admit out loud, whether it’s in regards to sex and race or wants and fears.

 

“Freakonomics Radio” is worth a listen if you ever find yourself curious about people and the world we live in.

 

“Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!”

 

The weekly NPR news quiz is a podcast for news-savvy listeners — regardless of political affiliation — to laugh at the world’s current events alongside host Peter Sagal and featured panelists.

 

“Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!,” tests listeners’ knowledge on what is truly news and what they’ve made up.

 

Recent guests include Stephen Colbert, Guy Ritchie and Simone Biles, all of whom have stumbled to answer questions regarding the week’s top headlines from around the world.

 

With the ultimate prize of winning Carl Castle’s voice on your answering machine, the competition is comedically fierce.

 

In a time when the news can seem overwhelming, “Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!” is the perfect way to unwind while staying informed.

 

No matter the interest, from political to the weird and wonky, there’s a podcast for everyone out there. With unique new perspectives and captivating anecdotes, these podcasts are certain to keep you listening all summer long.