It’s 2020. Who doesn’t love a good podcast? Finding the time to listen to them can be a challenge. Lately it seems like everyone and his/her sister has a podcast. Generally I like newsy podcasts or short-run or episode podcasts.
I am not a country music fan. Even though bluegrass and country music were the soundtrack of my childhood, I have never developed a taste for the genre. But I have to admit, I like Dolly Parton’s music. I mean, everyone loves Dolly, right?
Dolly Parton’s America
A couple weeks ago I came across the limited-episode podcast – Dolly Parton’s America. I was immediately hooked. It was released late last year so I am a little late to the party. It’s one of those podcasts that delves into topics which starts a chain reaction of Google searching. Did you know murder ballads is a thing? Only nine episodes I was finished the podcast after a few runs.
Trail Runner Nation
I am still a big fan of the Trail Runner Nation podcast. I’ve been listening for years. I tried to listen to a few other running podcasts but they just don’t have that you know what.
Recently the hosts revisited a podcast from eight years ago – What does it mean to be a trail runner? I had to laugh because I remembered this was one of the first TRN podcasts that I had listened to when I was thinking about trail running.
Perfect timing for this time of year. Winter long runs can suck and sometimes we need to be reminded of the basics of trail running, and why we’re running. I love running but some days it can be a chore especially when I am overloaded with work and other things. There’s something in this podcast for everyone. Find it where you usually download your podcasts.
Fresh Air
Like I said, I love listening to current events and news podcasts. Fresh Air is NPR in the U.S. and has been around since 1970s. Staying up-to-date on news is part of my job. And I love it. I read the headlines every morning so I am generally in the know about most U.S. happenings. Hosted by award-winning journalist Terry Gross, Fresh Air takes a deep dive into the news, politics and events of the day.
Most recent episodes include The 2020 Disinformation War, An Inside Look at the Watergate Prosecution and A New Frontier of Assassination. I always learn something new or a different perspective from this less-than-an hour podcast.
There’s no commitment necessary for this podcast too. I often scroll through the episodes, choosing podcasts that pique my interest.
Podcast hack: I usually let the episodes grow so I have more choice – to the point where I get the message from Apple podcasts – are you still interested in this podcast? This is an especially good hack for the limited-episode podcasts. This way you don’t have to wait until the next episode is released.
Do you listen to podcasts on your runs? What are your favourites? I would love to hear from you in the comments below.