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I listen to podcasts when Iām doing a task like washing the dishes or running errands. The problem: there are just too darn many podcasts to choose from. So Iāve turned to a weekly newsletter for help. Itās called The Listener.
Each week, Caroline Crampton sends outstanding podcast episode selections covering a wide range of topics.
For example, a recent issue of The Listener featured a podcast episode about the fast-spreading epidemic of Lyme disease in America. It felt like listening to a real-life medical mystery. It is gripping.
Each issue of The Listener newsletter includes a wonderfully diverse selection of episodes, including this one from a car podcast: āHold Your āHearses!ā: A Chat with an Undertakerā
Crampton:
āThe guest here is an undertaker, and he shares his experiences of driving a hearse: āItās just an extra long car thatās kind of hard to see out of,ā apparently. Those who enjoy morbid trivia will like some of the hair-raising mishaps related towards the end of the episodeā.
Itās both historically and darkly fascinating, if thatās your thing.
In another issue Crampton describes āSalad Is So Much More Than You ThinkāĀ from the Bon AppĆ©tit podcast thusly:
āAccording to the chefs in conversation here, dressed bowls of leafy greens with toppings are āhaving a momentā as food and restaurant trends respond to the global wellness obsession. Yet, they argue, thereās no need for a salad to be a chore to eat ā indeed, it should be a delightful meal in itself. They share practical tips for salad spinning, the correct ratio of fat and acid for the perfect dressing, and the precise toasting time for different varieties of nut to achieve the optimum crunchy topping
I learned a few things listening to this episode and it made me hungry. Thatās a delicious win in my kitchen.
Lastly, a personal favorite from The Listener about the weird cultural airport thing we have here in the Pacific Northwest, The PDX Carpet Love Story. I live in Portland and, after listening, I still donāt understand why we do this. But itās interesting!
Iām lucky if I get through one hour long podcast in a week, so Iāve stuck with the free version of The Listener newsletter, which arrives on Fridays with three unique episode recommendations.
But if youāre like my wife, who consumes several audiobooks a week (madness!), the paid version will get you three issues of The Listener each week, plus even more subscriber-only posts. By my count thatās nine hand-picked podcast episodes every week for your listening pleasure.
You can browse free issues to get a feel for The Listenerās recommendation style.
Previously from One Useful Thing: IFTTT: Make your apps and devices work together in new ways.
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Keith Monaghan writes the One Useful Thing newsletter and is a researcher who works with creative teams on projects for companies like Nike, The CW Network and Upworthy. Just reply to this email to get in touch or follow him on TwitterĀ @keithmonaghan