My 10 Favorite Podcast Series

Lately, I’ve become infatuated with listening to podcasts. Why?? Well, for someone who lives in a foreign country, it’s not easy to find a radio station that has a lot of English songs on there. And I spend a LOT of time in the car. I mean A LOT. Driving my husband to work, running errands during the day, picking him up from work, and then road trips on the weekend. We used to do a lot of scrolling through channels and it just got to the point that it was frustrating. So I started downloading podcast series to listen to. Now I listen when I’m cooking dinner, when Stephen and I are laying in our tent when camping, or even at night right before we go to bed.

The great thing about podcasts for us, especially with an international cell phone plan, is you can download lots of episodes on WiFi and then play them when in Airplane Mode. They hardly take up any space on your phone and I can usually download at least a series or two for the upcoming weekend’s trip. It really came in handy when we were traveling through the Balkans for two weeks, which you can read about here. Another perk: they’re all free to download!

We’re living in the 2000’s over here and our car doesn’t have an auxiliary cable or USB attachment, so we use my BOSE speaker to play the podcast louder. Don’t judge, ok!

I’ve put together a round up of my 10 favorite podcast series of all different types of genres. Some series I’ve listened to every episode in order, and some – like the influencers – I jump around to what pertains to me and my life and/or website. I hope you enjoy this list and if you have any great ones that I should listen to, seriously LET ME KNOW because I’m forever searching for great ones.

Mystery Series

The Black Tapes

We just started this podcast series a few weekends ago when we were in Switzerland. It’s about paranormal activity and investigations. It has a very slow start to it and is kind of creepy. Some parts we fast forwarded through to avoid hearing scary noises. We’re currently on episode 105 but I’m going to keep trying this one because it’s raved about in articles online.

Website: http://theblacktapespodcast.com/

Podcast link for iTunes:  https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-black-tapes-podcast/

A New Winter

This series started out insane. We couldn’t stop listening. I’m pretty sure Stephen became addicted to podcasts because of A New Winter. The narrator’s voice had us so enthralled we listened every chance we got. We finished Season 1 in a whirlwind. The episodes in the first season are very short, sometimes only 9 minutes long, which became utterly frustrating because we couldn’t get to the next one fast enough. It left us wanting more. Season 2 we became less interested, but it was still fascinating. It went from being a believably true story to something we knew could never be true. Warning: parts of it will leave you with nightmares and horrifying scenes in your head. I definitely recommend it

Website: http://anewwinter.com/

Podcast link for iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/a-new-winter/

Up and Vanished

Hosted by Payne Lindsey and is one of our all-time favorite podcasts that we have listened to. Season 1 involves the mysterious disappearance of Tara Grinstead in 2005. Because of the podcast and the publicity it was receiving, new leads and evidence appeared and they arrested two suspects. This series is unique because it went from being an unsolved mystery to possibly solved thanks to the host and those who followed along on the podcast. For once, it felt like we had closure at the end of the season. Payne is an excellent host and an honest one. He never failed to tell us the truth and didn’t point fingers or accuse people until he knew the facts. A new season debuts August 20^th!!

Website: https://upandvanished.com/

Podcast link for iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/up-and-vanished/

Serial

Sarah Koenig, the voice of this podcast, is one of my personal favorites. I could listen to her talk all day. I wish she had more podcasts. She presents cases in an unbiased way and truly shows all sides to the murder or investigation. She stays objective and allows the listeners to decide for themselves what they believe is true. The seasons are not intertwined, so you can listen to season 2 before season 1, or vice versa. Season 1 involves Adnan Syed, a guy convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend back in 1999. Sarah talks to those from Adnan’s life and plays recordings from her phone calls to him in prison throughout the season. Season 2 is about Pfc. Bowe Bergdahl, a soldier who deserted his post in Afghanistan and was captured by the Taliban for 5 years. This one really hit home with us and provided plenty of hours of discussion between Stephen and I about morality, a soldier’s duty, and his views on the story. Find out why Bowe decided to walk away from his sworn duty.

Website: https://serialpodcast.org/

Podcast link for iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/it/podcast/serial/

S-Town

This series is about a small town in Alabama. A man named John asks a New York reporter to come and investigate going ons in his “shittown”. With a turn of events, someone ends up dead, there’s a hunt for gold and money on a run-down farm, and this reporter was thrown into a whirlwind trying to figure out what is really happening down in this small town. It’s a different series, but we were hooked immediately!

Website: https://stownpodcast.org/

Podcast link for iTunes:  https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast

Someone Knows Something

We’ve become a fan of listening to cold case mysteries. So far in Someone Knows Something, we’ve only managed to finish Season 1, which is about a 5-year old boy, Adrien, who disappeared while he was fishing with his dad in Ontario. No clues were ever found and people in town sort of acted like it never happened. They brushed it under the rug. The host, David Ridgen, speaks to family, friends, and anyone he can who was around during the time the little boy vanished to uncover more information about his possible disappearance. Find out if he can solve this cold case.

Website: http://www.cbc.ca/radio/sks/about-someone-knows-something-1.4348243

Podcast link for iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/someone-knows-something/

In The Dark

This podcast series (Season 1) is another child abduction case, but this time dives deeper into law enforcement mishandling the case and allowing a child kidnapper to continue his ways for many more years. They really put into perspective taking in all the facts and not jumping to conclusions so quickly. We haven’t made it to Season 2 yet, but it sounds just as intriguing.

Website: https://www.apmreports.org/in-the-dark

Podcast link for iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/in-the-dark/

Bloggers, Influencers, Social Media Gurus

Goal Digger

The hostess, Jenna Kutcher, covers everything from business, branding, marketing, to inspiration. Her show is fun, easy to listen to, and always motivating! She interviews a lot of people that I follow and/or listen to as well. My favorite episode that I have listened to so far is Episode 163: 5 Ways to Promote a Freebie and Grow Your List. I don’t listen in any certain order. In fact, I usually scroll through to one that pertains to me and click the download button and listen right away!

Website: https://podcast.jennakutcher.com/

Podcast link for iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/goal-digger-podcast-marketing-social-media-creative/

The Influencer Podcast

Julie Solomon is the hostess of this podcast. She’s incredibly knowledgeable on all things influencer, marketing, and how to grow your business. I took her webinar on media/press kits and how to get your brand out there and it has made a huge difference in my blogging. I love her interviews with other influential people and those in the blogging/social media world.

Website: https://www.juliesolomon.net/podcast/

Podcast link for iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/influencer-podcast-marketing-influence-blogging-entrepreneur/

Relationships

Shades of Intimacy

I started Shades of Intimacy alone and then picked up Stephen along the way. What I like about this podcast is that Jason and Jennie talk about their relationship and the honesty and brutality of what it’s like to be in a relationship. They talk about the good and the bad. They make me laugh so many times but also make me blush. It’s great for a pick me up and to bring you back to reality in your relationship, whether you’re struggling or not. It’s a good start to those awkward conversations you’re not sure how to have with your significant other.

Website: https://shadesofintimacy.com/

Podcast link for iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/shades-of-intimacy/

Extra Podcast Series: Military Life

NextGen MilSpouse

This podcast is packed with topics relevant to military spouses and could be relevant to non-military members and dependents. They present the material in a lighthearted, humorous manner. They include legit military news and frequently introduce military spouses who are killing the career life. Episode 87: Bleisure, It’s A Thing (business + leisure)

Website: http://nextgenmilspouse.com/category/podcast/

Podcast link for iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/nextgen-milspouse/

I hoped you enjoyed this list and let me know if you listen to any and your thoughts! And if you have any to add that I should listen to, let me know in the comments below!! xoxo