Whether you are on your way to uni, doing sports or just hanging out - podcasts are a great way to relax and maybe even learn something new on the way. In this blog post, I want to share some of my favourite podcasts with you that you might not have heard of:

1. Reply All

If you catch yourself constantly hanging out on Reddit, 9gag or other forums instead of studying, then this podcast may be just the right one for you. Reply All gives listeners a chance to get a look behind the scenes and explore the real human stories behind a meme or other elements of internet culture. While one episode deals with the guy who invented pop up ads the next may be about how a shy, queer woman accidentally invented the toxic male ‘incel’ community.

2. Pod Save America

This podcast which is hosted by two former Obama White House staff members is a must-hear for all of you addicted to politics out there. The self-proclaimed goal in these 1 to 1,5 hour long episodes is to discuss politics in a way normal people would do as well. This leads to a refreshing take on the subject and can result in drawing parallels between democracy in modern day USA and Westeros. While the hosts admittedly lean towards the left within the American political spectrum, they also do not shy away from criticising everyone and everything else regardless of their political conviction.  

3. Crimetown

Fans of true-crime listen up closely now because Crimetown is about to be your next favourite show. So far, two seasons have produced, each looking at how organised crime has impacted a particular American city. Crimetown has the format of a serial documentary, following a single story throughout several episodes. So if you loved Netflix documentaries like Making a Murderer or podcasts like Serial, you will love this one as well.

4. Philosophy Bites

Whether you are going through an existential crisis at the moment or just are interested in philosophy - Philosophy Bites is a great starting point for all amateur Aristotle’s out there. Each episode features a contemporary philosopher talking about subjects ranging from human nature to consciousness or modern day issues such as same-sex marriage. With a length of only 20 minutes, episodes are rather short but manage to compactly convey complex issues and thought patterns. Trust me though, despite the short duration, some episodes have definitely kept me pondering for hours on end afterwards

5. Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History

This next podcast is one of my all-time favourites and an absolute must for all history buffs. Each episode deals with a different era of world-history and often draws parallels and comparisons between the different time periods. However, Hardcore History stays true to its name and is nothing for those of you who are just looking for a quick listen as single episodes can range from 3 to 6 hours. Yet in exchange, Dan Carlin manages to take listeners back in time on an acoustic time machine and describe in vivid detail how certain landmark events in history took place.

6. Jocko Podcast

In case you are looking for that little bit of extra motivation to get through your study day or are looking for some advice when it comes to leadership then look no more. Ex-Navy Seal Commander Jocko Willink gives advice on both Discipline and Leadership in his Jocko podcast. Although some of his advice might be a bit too over the top to implement them in your average association committee, your 12-hour library marathon will seem like a walk in the park after listening to this guy.  

7. First Day Back

If you like stories of sensational comebacks, then First Day Back will hit your sweet spot. This documentary podcast tells the stories of different people attempting to make a personal return after being confronted with a life-changing event. The latest seasons features the story of comedian Jason Weems and his struggle to fight his way back onto the stage - a place where he clinically died on just months before during a show.

Do you have any podcast recommendations? Let us know in the comments below!