We live in a great time to be stuck in traffic! Especially if you live in Istanbul, you’ve been given the greatest gifts of all: Time. Time to read, to stare out the window, to doze off against the bus window, to listen to music… I’ve done all of these but there were two particular situations that required something else: when I was trapped in a tin can (a.k.a. Metrobus) and there was not even a square centimeter to hold a book in front of my face and when I was crossing the Bosphorus and I wanted to enjoy the short transcontinental ride. Then, thanks to Yabangee’s article 10 podcasts to help you beat the Istanbul commute, I became a late adopter of podcasts. What is not to love about radio shows that you can stream or download and play at your convenience? Podcasts are a new form of art for the interstices of your time. They cover every imaginable mass appeal topic, right now, for free: news, pop culture, cinema, food, learning languages… You name it! I dived slowly into this whole new world, then I got addicted and now I binge-listen to them every single day. So I decided to share with yabancıs and locals my very particular taste of podcasts in a humble attempt to make your commute a little less painful.
10. Rabbits
Listening to this podcast is like watching an episode of Black Mirror. When Carly Parker’s friend Yumiko goes missing under mysterious circumstances, she conducts an investigation only to find out that the disappearance of her friend might be linked to an obscure – and even ancient – game called Rabbits. This immersive story throws into the mix furiously contemporary topics like the deep web, online gaming or interactivity to provide over the course of ten episodes a twisted and compelling scripted fiction. Or is it really?
9. Revisionist History
You probably know Malcolm Gladwell from his Ted Talk called “The unheard story of David and Goliath”. If you enjoyed how he gave a new twist to history and religion, you will enjoy this podcast. Two seasons of ten episodes each provide a different angle to misinterpreted historical events. The star lecturer, bestselling author and polarizing figure tackles topics from Victorian paintings to free throws and he might just turn your view of the world upside down. Entertaining, slightly pretentious and a great way to have interesting dinner conversation starters.
8. Dirty John
In the wave of signature journalism but above the average, this podcast tells the story of Debra Newell, a successful interior designer who meets and later marries John Meehan through an online dating site. John claims that he is a dreamy anesthesiologist, however, over eight episodes we witness a web of deception and denial that unfolds in a shockingly brutal fashion. It is actually quite hard to believe that this is indeed based on a true story.
7. Heaven’s Gate
In 1997, San Diego police discovered the bodies of 39 members of a religious millenarian cult who had participated in a mass suicide in order to ascend to what they believed was an UFO following the arrival of the Comet Hale-Bopp. Hosted by Glynn Washington these ten episodes deepen our understanding of the first cult of the Internet era, its dogmas and its infamous sneakers. The plot twist: the narrator himself was part of a cult when he was a child.
6. Homecoming
This is the quintessential star-studded podcast. Catherine Keener (Being John Malkovich) is Heidi Bergman, a caseworker trying to help recently returned soldiers. Walter Cruz, played by Oscar Isaac (The Force Awakens), is one of these soldiers trying to adjust to civil life through therapy sessions with her and David Schwimmer (Friends), Heidi’s despotic boss with murky intentions. Is not surprising that Mr. Robot creator Sam Esmail is preparing a two season TV show based on the podcast with Julia Roberts as the main character.
5. Limetown
Limetown is the most similar thing you will find to a Dana Scully-centric X files episode. One night, 300 people disappear from a small town in Tennessee without a trace. Reporter Lia Haddock suspects that a shady neuroscience research facility in town is behind the massive disappearance. This horror-thriller podcast has a high production value, gripping episodes, great cliffhangers and at times it’s genuinely scary. And the best thing is that the second season will come out this year.
4. Missing Richard Simmons
Even if you have no clue who Simmons is – like myself – this podcast will make you curious and will get you hooked before the end of the first episode. Just check out one of his Youtube videos to have a pretty clear idea of who this flamboyant fitness instructor is and why is so important and unexpected that he suddenly disappeared from public life. Dan Taberski’s search for the eccentric guru is a fascinating dive into a group of memorable and offbeat characters.
3. MDWAP
This is the podcast that you can only recommend by its acronym because its full name is My Dad Wrote a Porno. What would you do if you discover that your retired dad has written a series of erotic novels? Jamie Morton decided to swallow his embarrassment and sit down with his hilarious friend Alice Levine and the charmingly naïve James Cooper to read out loud in luscious British accent his father’s magna opera. There are currently 3 books/seasons available and the fourth is due this year. The awkward carnal adventures of Belinda Blumenthal are a phenomenal entertainment where the erotic scenes are all but arousing, mostly cringy and anatomically inaccurate. A total delight.
2. How Did This Get Made
Host actor and comedian Paul Scheer (The Disaster Artist), his wife June Diane Raphael (Grace and Frankie) and their friend, the quick-witted Jason Mantzoukas (The League) hilariously dissect atrociously bad movies. When I first came across this podcast, I just listened to the episodes about movies I’ve actually watched. I became so addicted that I ended up listening to all of them and it still cracked me up.
After a few episodes you will start to sneak their catch phrases (literally bonkers!) into your casual conversations. All episodes are hysterical but Nick Cage movies will challenge you to listen to this podcast in public transportation without laughing out loud like a crazy person.
1. Serial
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably heard of Serial. Unavoidable in every best podcast list, Serial is a blockbuster phenomenon that marked a before and after in true crime podcasts. The sublime first season is a riveting investigation of the 1999 murder of Hae Min Leem, an 18-year-old student at a High School in Baltimore. Lee’s ex-boyfriend, Adnan Syed, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and was given a life sentence. Host Sara Koening retraces the events and trial and manages to have you constantly wondering if he is innocent or guilty. In every episode. Several times.
It has a solid second season, that while is not as strong as the first one, it is still a compelling real story about a soldier who slipped off an U.S. Army outpost in Afghanistan, was held for five years by the Taliban and then was charged with desertion.
A major takeaway is that once you listen to it you will realize how most podcasts try to emulate or directly copy its style. Season three will debut sometime this year. And the series is being adapted for television by the creators of The Lego Movie.
Was your favorite podcast not listed? Do you have any recommendations for our readers? Let us know in the comments.
All images intended as fair use.
Thanks Angela, pleased you like it x