Staff Picks: Podcasts
Staff Picks: Podcasts
Anna Valaik / A&C Section Editor
Over quarantine, many people took to new forms of entertainment such as listening to podcasts. There is something about learning something new, engaging in a conversation, or simply hearing a unique voice on a podcast that provides a one-of-kind experience that music does not always create. When browsing Apple or Spotify, millions of different podcasts jump out, but The USD Vista staff took it upon ourselves to help sort through those options and pick their favorites.
“RISE” Podcast – Regan Ferrari / Social Media Manager
Rachel Hollis
“RISE” is a conversational podcast that addresses both business and personal development. Rachel Hollis, the host and a bestselling author, and her guests give their listeners valuable life lessons to take into the real world. “I read Rachel’s book ‘Girl, Stop Apologizing’ and I loved it,” Regan said. “My favorite episode is probably ‘How to Stop Caring What Others Think.’ Definitely a great episode!”
“You’re Wrong About” – Catherine Silvey / Managing Editor
Sarah Marshall and Michael Hobbs
“You’re Wrong About” aims to unmask common misconceptions about popular events and people. Catherine notes, “This podcast is both very interesting and informative on current events and issues. A personal favorite episode of mine is the recent one titled ‘Wayfair and Human Trafficking Statistics,’ which debunks a lot of the conspiracies and statistics regarding human trafficking that have been circulating on social media.”
Serial – Celina Tebor / Editor in Chief
Sarah Koenig
“Serial,” a podcast revolving around a murder mystery, provides anyone with the perfect fix of suspense and drama. Celina says, “Season 1 of ‘Serial’ was one of the biggest reasons why podcasts became popular and if you listen to it, you’ll understand why. You can never go wrong with the original.” This podcast truly is the podcast that started it all. It’s a must listen for all crime and adrenaline junkies.
“Dissect” – Tyler Pugmire / News Editor
Cole Cuchna
“Dissect,” in every season, dissects an entire album, song by song. Each episode is jam-packed full of musical, social, and personal anecdotes. The host, Cole Cuchna, is incredibly well versed in the music industry, and music artists come alive in this podcast. Tyler recommends starting at the Frank Ocean season, where Cuchna analyzes Frank’s “Blonde” album.
“WHOA That’s Good Podcast” – Taylor DeGuzman / Arts & Culture Editor
Sadie Robertson
This podcast aims to answer one single question in all their episodes: what is the best advice you have ever been given? Sadie Robertson, the host and all-around positive human being, brings on guests from all disciplines to examine and explore this deep question. Taylor says, “It’s definitely a feel good podcast that’ll make you feel blessed to be alive and inspire you to live and love the heck out of life. Two of my favorite episodes are: ‘Relationship Goals’ and ‘God Made you with Purpose in Mind.’”
“Lore” – Hallie Wiltshire / Assistant Opinion Editor
Aaron Mahnke
Hallie describes “Lore” best: “This bi-weekly podcast retells dark tales from history, focusing on mythical creatures, tragic events, suspicious deaths, and more. I enjoy it because I love history and creepy stories. The creator also discusses human nature and why people create these kinds of stories. As an anthropology major, I find this kind of information fascinating.” Hallie’s favorite episode is “Episode 4: Dinner at the Afterglow.” She says, “It’s just haunting enough to make you think about the meaning of life and death.”
“The Daily” – Emma Valdisseri / Assistant News Editor
Michael Barbaro
“The Daily,” which is one of the top-rated podcasts out there, gives daily political and news updates to their listeners. Multiple journalists come in to discuss the world’s biggest events, providing details that go beyond simple headlines. Emma says, “It keeps me up to date on current events beyond just their headlines and shares crucial interviews and facts about what’s going on in America. It’s not the most uplifting podcast, but it’s really informational, emotional, and super important to tune into every morning.” “The Daily” is the perfect addition to Americans’ daily cup of joe morning routine.
“The Sakara Life” Podcast – Riley Weeden / Assistant Feature Editor
Whitney Tingle and Danielle Duboise
“The Sakara Life” founders sit down every week with different people, within the wellness world, to discover new ways to build a healthy, beautiful life. Focusing on physical and mental well being, these conversations aim to address how science and spirituality can coexist and change our lives. Riley enjoys learning about health and wellness, and this podcast gives her a new perspective on how to live a sustainable life in 2020.
“30 Animals That Made Us Smarter” – Eric Boose / Sports Editor
Patrick Aryee
The natural world remains a mystery to many human beings, but “30 Animals That Made Us Smarter” gives listeners a glimpse into the amazing things we learned from the animal kingdom. Eric describes it as “a podcast about biomimicry, which is basically when humans copy things from nature in design. The show focuses on biomimicry in engineering, telling stories of how engineers have taken ideas from animals in order to solve problems.” Eric liked one episode in particular: “One of my favorite episodes is about how a Japanese designer copied the shape of a kingfisher’s head to make the country’s famous bullet trains more streamlined.” This is the perfect podcast for anyone looking to learn a bit more about Mother Earth, and maybe you will hear something that relates to San Diego, too!