5 Podcast Series To Listen To This Summer
June is here and that means summer time! It also means road trips, chilling on the beach, hiking, and more time to catch up on everything we’ve missed this so far in 2017 — including podcasts! Nowadays, there’s a podcast for everything, so I thought I would give some advice on some of my favorite podcast series to enjoy this summer. All of these series are pretty short and will add some excitement, mystery, and knowledge to your life. As always, feel free to comment with other suggestions — happy listening!
Revisionist History — Brought to you by the genius that is Malcolm Gladwell, this 10 episode series “goes back and reinterprets something from the past: an event, a person, an idea”. Gladwell dives into educational opportunities, basketball shooting techniques, political satire, military reports, car accidents, and more with the ultimate goal to understand the misunderstood and truly see the overlooked. You’ll learn about events and people you’ve never heard of, but have somehow made an impact on our society — and usually in a big way. If you’ve read any of Gladwell’s books or articles, you know how insightful he can be and this podcast is no exception.
74 Seconds — On July 6, 2017, Officer Jeronimo Yanez shot and killed Philando Castile in a suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota. Tragically, the police killing a Black man happens all too often; however, in this case, Officer Yanez was charged with second-degree manslaughter. This podcast gives you all the background information on this tragedy, including profiles of both Castile and Yanez and community reactions. As the trial unfolds during Summer 2017, be sure to follow along for updates as we hope and pray that our justice system does not fail us again.
Other: Mixed Race in America — Created by the Washington Post, this is a 5 episode series featuring “mixed race Americans who are grappling with questions about who they are, and what it means to be an American today”. As the United States becomes more multiracial and diverse, these are important perspectives to hear and understand. This is a series that I hope grows into a consistent podcast to provide a platform for a growing voice in our country with an incredibly unique vantage point.
S-Town — Even though I’m a huge podcast listener, I must admit I haven’t listened to Serial…but word on the street is that the follow-up series is even better! It’s a real and raw story of a man who hates his Southern town and most of the people there. Through twists and turns, someone “ends up dead, sparking a nasty feud, a hunt for hidden treasure, and an unearthing of the mysteries of one man’s life”. There are so many fascinating components to this series and it is truly storytelling at its finest. Don’t feel bad if you binge this whole series in a day — it’s incredible!
Bronzeville — This 10 episode series is different than any other podcast I’ve ever listened to! In a matter of moments, you’ll be transported to Bronzeville, a thriving Black community in South Side Chicago during the 1940s. With every character and conversation, you feel part of the action — including the gambling, partying, and scheming going on to keep Curtis Randolph and Copeland family on top. Featuring Laurence Fishburne and Tracee Ellis Ross, this series deserves a second season and maybe even its own TV show too.
