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Deputy Editor Zack Abrams always has voices inside his head but he’s pretty sure he’s not crazy; he’s just a podcast addict! Here are his recommendations for a good podcast to listen to when working out, commuting on the subway, or generally trying to avoid other people. Sources say if you like enough of his Tweets, he’ll give you a personalized suggestion. 

Anything ending in the word “Studies” : S-Town

Created by the producers of Serial and This American Life (which you should listen to no matter your major), this podcast tells the story of a “Shit Town,” and the intriguing man who gave it that title. It’s one of the best narratives I’ve ever listened to, and I was hooked instantly. Listen to the first episode below.

Economics: Planet Money

From NPR, Planet Money discusses how the economy actually works in our lives by telling compelling stories. They’re short, sweet, and with 800+ episodes to catch up on, you’ll never run out of new content. Listen below to an intriguing episode on capitalism in North Korea.

Political Science: The Weeds (Liberal) or Ricochet (Conservative)

The Weeds and Ricochet both approach the news from a more wonky perspective, getting to the heart of policy issues that matter and helping you to understand the way the government affects our lives. Listen to their most recent episodes below.

Urban Studies: 99% Invisible

99% Invisible is a podcast about design and all the ways that it affects our lives. While some of the episode titles sound irrevocably boring, each episode, narrated by the sultry tones of host Roman Mars, manages to keep me captivated during their relatively short runtime. Listen below to one of my favorite episodes, about the creation of Taipei 101.

Computer Science: Reply All

Reply All is, broadly speaking, a show about the Internet. Hosts PJ Vogt and Alex Goldman dig deep into stories that matter, and plenty that don’t. In one episode, Alex goes all the way to India to confront a phone scammer. In another, producer Phia Bennin phishes her coworkers. In my favorite, a woman gets a text from her ex. It’s a screenshot of a Tinder profile of a girl who in the first woman’s house, holding her dog, and neither of them have any idea who it is. Listen to that one here.

Data Science and Statistics: Science Vs.

Science Vs. breaks down the facts and data behind some of the most commonly asked questions, from forensic science to antioxidants, and explains the scientific consensus behind the issues that matter. Hosted by Wendy Zukerman and her glorious Australian accent, Science Vs. is always a fun listen. Try this episode, the first of two about gun control.

Everyone Else: Heavyweight, Criminal, and Revisionist History

Heavyweight is a show about finding the heavy weights in your past and fixing them. Host Jonathan Goldstein repairs a decades-old feud over some CDs, or allows the victim of a car crash to thank the person who hit him. It’s emotional, compelling, and frankly funny at times. Listen to the first episode of Heavyweight below.

Criminal is a show about true crime, and the people who commit it. One recent episode discussed how poodles became a dominant dog breed. Another one delved into the surprising network of Catholic figures which helped women find safe abortion clinics in the era before Roe v. Wade. Listen to one of my favorites, about the murder of a beloved tree, below.

And finally, Revisionist History is a narrative podcast written by Malcolm Gladwell, one of the foremost writers of our time. His three-part series on college admissions and affirmative action is a must-listen for anyone at an elite institution, while his episodes on the broken narratives surrounding “sticky pedals” and the stigma of shooting free throws underhand in the NBA are compelling and fascinating. Listen to my favorite episode, about a civil rights statue in Birmingham, below.

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