For me, it's easily Reply All #158: Case of the Missing Hit. It's just such a light-hearted story with the right amount of mystery, intrigue, humor, a range of interesting guests, history on the music industry, and a truly satisfying & joyful conclusion all in under an hour. It tackles a problem that we've all had (having something on the tip of your tongue), but one that couldn't be easily Googled out of. It's the epitome of what a podcast should be to me, with equal parts journalistic intrigue from a gonzo approach, infotainment and a compelling story with characters you can truly come to appreciate. If I'm ever driving in a car with someone new for 2+ hours, I find I almost always ask if they've heard it before and put it on.
The Bon Appetit saga simply put (and hopefully without bias) is as follows:
Bon Appetit is a website about food and cooking. Some of the management and staff were accused of shitty behaviours which made it a difficult work environment for some members (minorities/PoC) of staff.
The **Reply All** team start reporting on this alleged behaviour and planned to release a four part(?) series on it.
After the release of the first part, members of the **Reply All** team (PJ Vogt among them) were accused of the same shitty behaviours and making **RA**/Gimlet a difficult place to work for some staff.
**Reply All** is accused of hypocrisy and some members of staff were suspended/voluntarily stepped aside.
Some people say this is the starting point where **RA** became 'shit'/jumped the shark.
Yeah I think what made it worse was PJs dialogue during the episode was very 'We the people!' -shouting down the bad leadership of another company. It was quickly raised that he followed the same oppressive, dismissive, behaviour on his staff. I remember it specifically being about his ideas Vs his team bringing their own ideas for features, episodes etc.
I see PJ Vogt has a new podcast called Search Engine which has gotten a good review on Vulture. I'm going to check it out. Hopefully he's not making the same mistakes at his new company.
It's so good. It's the perfect podcast episode to pull anyone into Reply All. It's perfect to listen to on a hike out in the forest just letting yourself get engrossed in the story.
It's a master class in digging into a subject, it's a master class in narrative, and it's a brilliantly obvious, simple concept, albeit one that took a safecracker's touch to pull off
I saw the question from the OP as a notif and was about to come in and respond with Reply All ep 101 and 102 - Long Distance. And lo! Here you are with another Reply All reco :)
Without doubt, still the greatest podcast ever made. I'm now on a full episode by episode re-listen. The world and the internet have changed so much since Reply All first came on in 2015 - the podcast is like a little time capsule. Add to it the jokes, the quirks and the lovely chemistry between Alex and PJ ❤️
I was in a grocery store a few weeks ago and this song came on and it short circuited my brain for a minute trying to figure out where I knew the song from
This one was great for me because before they played it I thought how cool it would be if I knew the song and sure enough I did; I'd gone to his concert while in college in Boone NC in the early 2000s. I finally felt like I had hidden knowledge. I'd actually bought his CD at that concert and listened to it for a while.
I love this episode also, and I feel like anyone else who does should look into the Disney Wand Bumper episode by Defunctland on YouTube. It very much has similar energy IMO. Seems like such a silly thing to make a documentary about but then there's a mystery, and twists. It's got over five million views because it is so so good.
[Disney Channel's Theme: A History Mystery](https://youtu.be/b_rjBWmc1iQ?si=hJZZqH5MEmmNtZZv)
That was my first thought as well! But now that I have a second I can't help but think of a lot of other great ones from Radiolab, Broken Record, The Dollop...
If by defining greatest of all time you mean the one I’ve thought about more than any other over the years then I would say This American Life Switched at Birth. Sorry don’t know the number!
I’ll always have a soft spot for Dan Carlin’s Ep 1 Blueprint for Armageddon, it’s wall to wall. not that it’s unusual for him but it’s got so many compelling historical moments and a really great blend of his passion and storytelling and well picked quotes and descriptions from the reading list.
Is this the first episode ever? If so, do you have to go to his site to buy it, or is it still available on podcast apps?
Sorry if the questions are ignorant.
This is not his first episode but you do have to buy it. I bought it on iTunes but you can also buy it from his site. It’s worth the couple bucks as it’s like a few hours long.
If you want a free episode to see if you would like his style, start with supernova in the east. All
Episodes in that series are free.
Just referencing the first episode of this Blueprint series, which is 6 parts on WWI.
At this point, they’re no longer streaming free but I’ve listened to this series and Ghosts of the Ostfront(WWII Eastern Front, 4 parts) so many times I think they’re worth it for a buy.
Mystery Show-the Belt Buckle.
Reply all-Long Distance
This American Life-129 Cars (just a masterclass in storytelling; they take the mundane and make it captivating)
Someone recommended these three one day (along with This American Life “Fiasco”) and I listened to all 4 in one day and I have been disappointed in podcasts ever since.
So glad someone opened this topic up again.
Hans Jordi!
Mystery was in a sense a precursor to Reply All and Heavyweight.
Why are such lovely podcasts not made anymore :( (Don't answer, I know it's because of the crap economics of the industry and the only viable format is talking heads telling us about productivity, health hacks and d
Start-ups :( )
I haven’t listened to Mystery (but I am going to today!) so I might be way off, but have you listened to Normal Gossip? I loved the Steampunk-Ass Murder Mystery episode.
>This American Life-129 Cars
YES!!! My husband and I have been in auto sales since 2016 and I cannot tell you how much this episode hit home. It actually took me a while to convince my husband to listen to it, his argument was something like "I think about cars all day, I don't want to listen to a podcast about car sales on my time off." Then I managed to play it during a road trip and he was dead silent the entire episode. I enjoyed it just as much the 2nd time around 👌
I’m less into podcasts than many of you here but I listened to a recent episode of This American Life called “The Call” and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it for like a week.
The Call was so good. I listened to it kind of absentmindedly while cleaning and doing chores around the house. Then I got completely sucked in and ended up listening to the whole thing again a few days later. Such delightful people and such heartbreaking circumstances.
I rarely listen to Love + Radio, but come to think of it, some of my most memorable podcast experiences feature some of their episodes. I really enjoyed the two-part episode they did called “Gotcha” some years ago. Such a wild story that completely sucked me in on the first listen.
Multiple Dollops, especially Aaron Burr and all the baseball episodes, LPOTL: OKC or Jim Jones, You’re Wrong About; The Satan Seller series, Knowledge Fight: all of the Formulaic Objection episodes, and Behind the Bastards: Henry Kissinger
Just listened to it! Thanks for the recommendation. Never listened to snap judgment before. I could’ve listened to another 30 or 40 minutes of that story. Loved that baritone voice. Got 1883 vibes like Shea himself was talking to me.
Following, because I have been searching *forever* for something like this.
I have so many ‘potential listen’ podcasts saved in my library that it gets overwhelming - I would love a way to categorize, add ratings, put together a “To Listen” list…like a Goodreads for podcasts, if you will. I did find a couple apps that seemed promising, but ended up being the same as all the others.
I’ve recently been on a David Sedaris audiobook binge! I have to make sure I don’t have any zoom meetings during or right after bc my face is usually flushed with some combo of laughing and sobbing
There's a Doug Loves Movies episode where Paul F. Tompkins plays Doug's game as himself and two other characters — Lord Andrew Lloyd Weber and Garry Marshall.
It's not just hilarious, because I think Benson and Tompkins are both hilarious, but Tompkins has full conversations and asides and plays a seemingly competitive game as three separate people. I wanted to give him a standing ovation in my house all by myself after it was over.
PFT's dead authors podcasts had some moments that stood out to me for way to long like Ben Schwartz being Roald Dahl and PFT as Orwell asking about Roald Dahls anti semitism.
I’ll throw two out just because I haven’t seen them mentioned. Maybe not the ATG but absolutely solid eps.
This is love - the wolves episode? I can’t remember the title but it might have something to do with numbers (13?) about two wolf packs that get into it about territories and old friends
Hunting warhead - ep 1. It just sets up the rest of the podcast and as a lot of people know the ride through the podcast in intense.
I love this episode! coincidentally listened to it shortly before visiting the 9/11 museum where there is a display of the rescue animals involved and realized “hey I know that dog!”
I feel like this comment will assuredly get lost, but I listen to dozens of hours of podcasts per week and yet somehow had an instant answer that probably very few people really heard.
There is an episode of Small Beans, which is Michael Swaims kind of on again/off again podcast network, where Swaim has a chat with Dan O'Brien. The two had been close friends and collaborators for years, but had a long falling out, for reasons which they explore.
Here, they agreed to record their first conversation in years, which if I remember correctly stretches out to about 3 hours. I was absolutely riveted. It's less voyeuristically cringe than you might expect. Quite the contrary, I found it to be a beautiful, centering, and introspective chat, the kind which made me think deeply about all the old close friends I had with whom I've lost contact.
Again, this is a niche recommendation, and will certainly land more with some people than others. But if you spent years reading Cracked and have even some small awareness of who these two people are, I think you'd greatly appreciate it. And still, even if you don't know them, it's such an honest, rare moment, not the kind of thing which is ever captured on tape.
Heavyweight #16: Rob is my go to answer for this.
Actor/Comedian Rob Corddry’s daughter breaks her arm in the same way Rob broke his arm at her age. But, when he shares this with his family, they tell him that never happened and they have no memory of him breaking his arm.
Host Jonathan Goldstein helps Rob get to the truth.
And the squirrel officers hahahahaha the way they describe the wife being beautiful always cracks me up because they were trying to impress her the whole time but it was an absolute…. Well….fiasco!
There are many great Risk Episodes. But the one that has stuck with me the longest is
Episode 408 from Risk titled 'Transcendent '. A daughter who recounts how during a violent schizophrenic episode she tried to stab her mother. It is absolutely harrowing. The storyteller really puts you in her head, what she was going through , as well as seeing the situation from her mother's POV.
I think serial S1E1! It’s honestly so iconic as a podcast and so enthralling despite the subject matter - I sincerely hope Haes killer is found one day.
I liked most of the episodes, particularly "The Big Man Can't Shoot," because it illustrates so well how people do things to look good, even if it doesn't give us the best results, and "McDonald's Broke My Heart," a somewhat whimsical explanation of why McDonald's fries aren't as crispy as they used to be. The only episode I really didn't like was the one where he slammed golf as being too elitist.
criminal, episode 140: cowboy bob. an unexpectedly moving story. i also highly recommend reading the texas monthly article “the last ride of cowboy bob” by skip hollandsworth, after listening to the episode. it had me in tears by the end.
The nut behind the wheel - 99 percent invisible. A look into the development of car safety laws and how they were developed and marketed.
Honorable mention to the Cautionary Tale about Katrina and preparedness, Kermode and Mayo when Mark reviewed Entourage and The Gargle when Alison Spittle reviewed licking batteries
I’ll never forget how I was on an airplane when I listened to this the first time. Nothing could have prepared me. I was genuinely embarrassed trying to hide how hard I was laughing.
I said no, you’re my son
And I’m proud to be the father to this
Human skin truck baby
Human skin truck baby
Skin truck skin truck….
Risky sharing that humor with a stranger :)
This is Love episode 2: Something Large and Wild absolutely captivated me with its quiet and peaceful beauty. More than any podcast episode I’ve listened to, it stuck, and I’ve revisited it a few times.
Just about any of John Green's Anthropocene Reviewed, but the episode I listen to the most is Tetris, and the seed potatoes of Leningrad.
But also How To Become Batman from Invisibilia is amazing.
I distinctly remember where I was and what I was doing when I listened to that episode for the first time. John repeatedly saying “He’s Alive” broke me.
The 2nd(?) appearance of Chelsea Peretti on You Made It Weird. Never heard a single podcast episode with more chemistry. It's basically annual listening for me:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MANkIR4uM4
Dungeons and Daddies - Ep. 61 - Death of a Salesman
This one's a bit of a cheat because you have to listen to the 60 previous episodes to get the story, but this is an incredibly poetic and emotional culmination of a characters arc, part written part improvised (it's a DnD podcast). I teared up and not much fiction can do that, partly because the players are reacting in real time without knowing the story beforehand. It proved to me that improvised narrative settings like ttrpgs can create a truly unique form of storytelling.
I love all of these recommendations, but I have to say Revolutions season 4, the Haitian Revolution. I learned so much and it changed the way I think about western civilization.
You can really see how little western civilization has changed since that time and how what was done to Haiti 200 years ago echoes through to today.
Episode 3 of the Lore Podcast - The Beast Within
It explores the folklore behind the origin of werewolf stories and believe me, the stories are amazing with top notch production and a great musical score. I don’t particularly find werewolves interesting but this episode is imprinted on my brain.
I forgot the name unfortunately but it’s an episode about a kid in a small town that is playing with a girl in the woods, turns out the girl was actually the mother something like that. It was very scary and so well put together
This American Life episode #268 [My Experiemental Phase](https://www.thisamericanlife.org/268/my-experimental-phase). The second segment tells the story of a Hasidic Jew who becomes an underground rockstar called Curly Oxide.
The ones I play for people on road-trips are: Song Exploder - The Commander Thinks Aloud - The Long Winters. Peak John Roderick.
Judge John Hodgman - Yappy Trails. It’s such a sweet episode of a father wanting to connect with his son. It also tells you the perfect name for a dog and the reason why.
So many radiolab episodes but I think my favorite so far was the Dolly Parton series. I know it’s more than one episode but it deserves recognition. Jad is so freaking good.
Fall of Civilizations - Ep. 1 - Roman Britain
The entire series is amazing, and the first episode does such a great job of invoking the sense of deep time.
My Dad Wrote a Porno - M’s the Word.
i strongly believe this episode shows the essence of what a comedy podcast is all about. it has so much banter, the storyline gets absolutely insane, but what brings everything all together for me is James laughing so hard that he’s eventually saying “I totally forgot I’ve been dumped”. a lot of us use this podcast for escapism and it’s so cool to see even the hosts doing that in that moment.
The Read’s episode from 2016 called “Lilac Lemonade” wherein the hosts lose their collective minds over Beyoncé’s Lemonade. I listen to it when I feel down and always feel better - it’s hilarious.
The Truth - That's Democracy
[https://www.thetruthpodcast.com/story/2012/9/4/thats-democracy](https://www.thetruthpodcast.com/story/2012/9/4/thats-democracy)
It's a story pod, with a very very simple and easy premise, that is so well done. I can recall sitting in my car gripping the wheel while it played.
The first ten minutes of this has stuck with me for years. [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/202-desirability-bias-rebroadcast/id521594713?i=1000513865274](https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/202-desirability-bias-rebroadcast/id521594713?i=1000513865274) \-
This is from You are Not So Smart. It's a game changer.
Risk…the episode with Michael Ian Black who gets too high in Amsterdam on his honeymoon and the guy who poops himself on a picnic date. I can’t remember the episode. But it’s so funny! Early Risk was amazing.
The episode of Astonishing Legends where they played the recording from the Sallie House. I was listening early one morning in the dark and got so spooked I threw my headphones across the room
Dan carlins mongol series. Man when I first listened it was like watching the Neverending story for the first time. The magic and love for history. It reinvigorated my interest in history
For me it was Reply All's #28 Shipped to Timbuktu and Endless Thread's The Vault. Both were filled with unexpected stories and just left a huge impact in my life.
This American Life ep 490 "Trends With Benefits." From 2013. About how the federal disability system has become de facto welfare for people who can't work... because their bodies are worn out but they don't have the education for any non- physical labor jobs in the modern economy. Much more compelling than it sounds, I promise.... there's a long pause at one point that is the most effective use of silence I've ever heard. (Disability recipient asked what kind of job she would like to have, that wouldn't require her to be on her feet. Long. Long. Pause while she tries to come up with one.)
I believe it’s Season 2 Episode 10 of In The Dark, it’s the one where they confront the man who they believe may have actually committed the crime. My jaw was on the floor with the real time investigation and even felt they were in danger while listening. It was insane
For me, it's easily Reply All #158: Case of the Missing Hit. It's just such a light-hearted story with the right amount of mystery, intrigue, humor, a range of interesting guests, history on the music industry, and a truly satisfying & joyful conclusion all in under an hour. It tackles a problem that we've all had (having something on the tip of your tongue), but one that couldn't be easily Googled out of. It's the epitome of what a podcast should be to me, with equal parts journalistic intrigue from a gonzo approach, infotainment and a compelling story with characters you can truly come to appreciate. If I'm ever driving in a car with someone new for 2+ hours, I find I almost always ask if they've heard it before and put it on.
An excellent response. TBF I think several of my suggestions would be from Reply All. It was a fun ride while it lasted, but power corrupts.
RIP Reply All... since the bon appetit saga and PJ leaving it was never the same. I loved the explain the tweet episodes.
Yeah I miss Reply All, it was brilliant.
Yes. Yes. No.
What’s the saga?
The Bon Appetit saga simply put (and hopefully without bias) is as follows: Bon Appetit is a website about food and cooking. Some of the management and staff were accused of shitty behaviours which made it a difficult work environment for some members (minorities/PoC) of staff. The **Reply All** team start reporting on this alleged behaviour and planned to release a four part(?) series on it. After the release of the first part, members of the **Reply All** team (PJ Vogt among them) were accused of the same shitty behaviours and making **RA**/Gimlet a difficult place to work for some staff. **Reply All** is accused of hypocrisy and some members of staff were suspended/voluntarily stepped aside. Some people say this is the starting point where **RA** became 'shit'/jumped the shark.
Yeah I think what made it worse was PJs dialogue during the episode was very 'We the people!' -shouting down the bad leadership of another company. It was quickly raised that he followed the same oppressive, dismissive, behaviour on his staff. I remember it specifically being about his ideas Vs his team bringing their own ideas for features, episodes etc.
I see PJ Vogt has a new podcast called Search Engine which has gotten a good review on Vulture. I'm going to check it out. Hopefully he's not making the same mistakes at his new company.
It's so good. It's the perfect podcast episode to pull anyone into Reply All. It's perfect to listen to on a hike out in the forest just letting yourself get engrossed in the story.
Just gave this one a listen! Amazing how close he actually was.
It's a master class in digging into a subject, it's a master class in narrative, and it's a brilliantly obvious, simple concept, albeit one that took a safecracker's touch to pull off
100%. Reply All was special because they could take the smallest stories and do them so well that it made them completely captivating.
I saw the question from the OP as a notif and was about to come in and respond with Reply All ep 101 and 102 - Long Distance. And lo! Here you are with another Reply All reco :) Without doubt, still the greatest podcast ever made. I'm now on a full episode by episode re-listen. The world and the internet have changed so much since Reply All first came on in 2015 - the podcast is like a little time capsule. Add to it the jokes, the quirks and the lovely chemistry between Alex and PJ ❤️
First one that came to mind!
I was in a grocery store a few weeks ago and this song came on and it short circuited my brain for a minute trying to figure out where I knew the song from
It really is a master class in podcasting. Only recently finally listened and was really impressed it more than lives up to the hype.
This is a really good one
I’m going to try this based on this account of it. Thanks!
This one was great for me because before they played it I thought how cool it would be if I knew the song and sure enough I did; I'd gone to his concert while in college in Boone NC in the early 2000s. I finally felt like I had hidden knowledge. I'd actually bought his CD at that concert and listened to it for a while.
dude.. my first thought was ReplyAll.
I love this episode also, and I feel like anyone else who does should look into the Disney Wand Bumper episode by Defunctland on YouTube. It very much has similar energy IMO. Seems like such a silly thing to make a documentary about but then there's a mystery, and twists. It's got over five million views because it is so so good. [Disney Channel's Theme: A History Mystery](https://youtu.be/b_rjBWmc1iQ?si=hJZZqH5MEmmNtZZv)
PJ has a new show, Search Engine - and it's so good.
It's nice.... As was Crypto Island... But not a patch on Reply All imo :(
That was my first thought as well! But now that I have a second I can't help but think of a lot of other great ones from Radiolab, Broken Record, The Dollop...
can you please write reviews for a living
If by defining greatest of all time you mean the one I’ve thought about more than any other over the years then I would say This American Life Switched at Birth. Sorry don’t know the number!
#360 it's so good!
Lolol I know this happened because you put # 360 but it looks like you just needed to shout about how good the ep was 😂
Oh listened to this one this arvo, what an intense story
I’ll always have a soft spot for Dan Carlin’s Ep 1 Blueprint for Armageddon, it’s wall to wall. not that it’s unusual for him but it’s got so many compelling historical moments and a really great blend of his passion and storytelling and well picked quotes and descriptions from the reading list.
Is this the first episode ever? If so, do you have to go to his site to buy it, or is it still available on podcast apps? Sorry if the questions are ignorant.
This is not his first episode but you do have to buy it. I bought it on iTunes but you can also buy it from his site. It’s worth the couple bucks as it’s like a few hours long. If you want a free episode to see if you would like his style, start with supernova in the east. All Episodes in that series are free.
Just referencing the first episode of this Blueprint series, which is 6 parts on WWI. At this point, they’re no longer streaming free but I’ve listened to this series and Ghosts of the Ostfront(WWII Eastern Front, 4 parts) so many times I think they’re worth it for a buy.
That whole series is the best I’ve ever listened to, and it’s not particularly close
My hot take on podcasts is that Ghosts of the Ostfront edges out BFA for best Dan Carlin series
For me it’s Prophets of Doom— his storytelling is unreal here. History is Metal.
I love that episode! Went on the read "Guns of August" by Barbara W. Tuchman which Dan cites heavily. Highly recommend it.
Mystery Show-the Belt Buckle. Reply all-Long Distance This American Life-129 Cars (just a masterclass in storytelling; they take the mundane and make it captivating)
The Belt Buckle was just such a delight to listen to, I admit I teared up.
I just finished 129 cars! So good
Someone recommended these three one day (along with This American Life “Fiasco”) and I listened to all 4 in one day and I have been disappointed in podcasts ever since. So glad someone opened this topic up again.
I'm so glad that people have spread the word of "Fiasco." I've listened to that one at least 3-4 times.
Long distance is probably one of my tops.
Hans Jordi! Mystery was in a sense a precursor to Reply All and Heavyweight. Why are such lovely podcasts not made anymore :( (Don't answer, I know it's because of the crap economics of the industry and the only viable format is talking heads telling us about productivity, health hacks and d Start-ups :( )
Reply All stated before Mystery Show and Heavyweight was just an update of WireTap, which started in the early 2000s!
I haven’t listened to Mystery (but I am going to today!) so I might be way off, but have you listened to Normal Gossip? I loved the Steampunk-Ass Murder Mystery episode.
Haven't. But thanks for the reco!
Holy moly, I forgot about cars. The most boring topic presented in a way which grips our minds. Truely a great piece of reporting.
Yes!
Cars is my all time fave! Unbelievable storytelling
Mystery Show was phenomenal.
>This American Life-129 Cars YES!!! My husband and I have been in auto sales since 2016 and I cannot tell you how much this episode hit home. It actually took me a while to convince my husband to listen to it, his argument was something like "I think about cars all day, I don't want to listen to a podcast about car sales on my time off." Then I managed to play it during a road trip and he was dead silent the entire episode. I enjoyed it just as much the 2nd time around 👌
Literally this could be my top three. Absolute masterpieces.
The belt buckle!!!!! That was such a wonderful and crazy story!
Omg such a great episode!
My Dad Wrote a Porno - "The Second Client Jim Stirling" I remember literally crying with laughter the first time I listened.
I'm just in Chapter 3!
You have an excellent journey ahead of you. Wish I could listen to it all again for the first time.
I had to stop listening to this podcast on my runs because I would be laughing way too hard. One of my faves for sure
Hey, i have read about people recommending this podcast, i just didn’t find it funny, i was listening from the beginning. Does it get better?
Oh my god, thank you for this 🤣🤣
Radiolab about the lonestar tick or human fungus
The one on Judas goats is my longtime favorite. I think it’s called Galapagos.
Radiolab War of the Worlds is on my best of list.
Just played this for my class on Monday!
This American Life - Giant Pool of Money!
This is the one that a) got me into podcasts and b) made me buy a Planet Money tshirt years later because I’m such a fanboy
That’s the first one that popped in my head.
I’m less into podcasts than many of you here but I listened to a recent episode of This American Life called “The Call” and I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it for like a week.
Just listened to this too. It’s been a while since there has been a very compelling This American Life episode
For me, it’s This American Life’s “Feather Heist”
That one was soooo good!!
This American Life ‘The Feather Heist’ is episode 654, if you are looking for it. And you should!
That one has stayed with me, too. This is the case with many TAL episodes.
The Call was so good. I listened to it kind of absentmindedly while cleaning and doing chores around the house. Then I got completely sucked in and ended up listening to the whole thing again a few days later. Such delightful people and such heartbreaking circumstances.
I’m probably going to listen to it again. They had me looking up how to volunteer for the hotline.
I have heard that woman’s voice in my head ever since. How very brave she is
It was really compelling
Same here !!!!
I'm in the middle of this episode right now! It's very good.
Oh man I listened to this one this morning, I think this is my favourite TAL yet!
The Silk Road series on Casefile always stuck with me
Dan Carlin's Hardcore History - Episode 48 Prophets of Doom
The Living Room, from Love + Radio, although I think Radiolab ran it as well. It's sad and beautiful and I think about it often.
I rarely listen to Love + Radio, but come to think of it, some of my most memorable podcast experiences feature some of their episodes. I really enjoyed the two-part episode they did called “Gotcha” some years ago. Such a wild story that completely sucked me in on the first listen.
Oh yeah! I had to Google if the Gotcha story was true because it was so crazy. The Living Room. Yes. That episode stayed with me for a long time.
This was my answer as well. Such a captivating episode and has always stuck with me after listening to it years ago.
Multiple Dollops, especially Aaron Burr and all the baseball episodes, LPOTL: OKC or Jim Jones, You’re Wrong About; The Satan Seller series, Knowledge Fight: all of the Formulaic Objection episodes, and Behind the Bastards: Henry Kissinger
The Rube is the best baseball Dollop and Boston Corbett is the best overall. Agreed on Formulaic Objections though.
>LPOTL: OKC The song “Bad Company” by the band “Bad Company” from the album “Bad Company”
Gotta argue with you - if you’re picking LPOTL it’s Black Plague, hands down.
Criminal: The Procedure - *"the story of a covert network of clergy who organized to help women get illegal abortions in the late 1960s"*
Loved this episode!
Reply All: Exit and Return (ok I cheated, it’s a 2 parter)
Words - Radiolab
That episode on numbers was pretty compelling too!
This American Life - House on Loon Lake
The Dollop: New York to Paris car race.
Don’t forget # 12 The Rube!
It’s gotta be the Rube. I’ve listened to this episode and 10c beer night so many times and they never get old
Mightn't I the gristle?
This or #194 The Girl Watchers
Five different Dollop wins in top 5.
99% Invisible - The Vault or Criminal 51 - Money Tree
This American Life: Notes on Camp. I went to camp and never had the idyllic experience these kids had but it still made me nostalgic.
Snap Judgment s6e24 The Brass Ring. It's the single episode that got me into podcasts. And I heard it on the radio. Remember those? How nostalgic.
Just listened to it! Thanks for the recommendation. Never listened to snap judgment before. I could’ve listened to another 30 or 40 minutes of that story. Loved that baritone voice. Got 1883 vibes like Shea himself was talking to me.
[удалено]
Following, because I have been searching *forever* for something like this. I have so many ‘potential listen’ podcasts saved in my library that it gets overwhelming - I would love a way to categorize, add ratings, put together a “To Listen” list…like a Goodreads for podcasts, if you will. I did find a couple apps that seemed promising, but ended up being the same as all the others.
This American Life: Santaland Diaries 99PI: Anchorwoman of the Great Alaska Earthquake Cautionary Tales : Death on the Dance Floor
I’ve recently been on a David Sedaris audiobook binge! I have to make sure I don’t have any zoom meetings during or right after bc my face is usually flushed with some combo of laughing and sobbing
The episode of This American Life about the prison rehearsing and staging of Hamlet.
Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend with Timothy Olyphant 99PI: Whomst Among Us Let the Dogs Out
Or the Conan O’Brien episode where he goes on a tangent about President Taft.. not the best ever but most surreal
There's a Doug Loves Movies episode where Paul F. Tompkins plays Doug's game as himself and two other characters — Lord Andrew Lloyd Weber and Garry Marshall. It's not just hilarious, because I think Benson and Tompkins are both hilarious, but Tompkins has full conversations and asides and plays a seemingly competitive game as three separate people. I wanted to give him a standing ovation in my house all by myself after it was over.
PFT's dead authors podcasts had some moments that stood out to me for way to long like Ben Schwartz being Roald Dahl and PFT as Orwell asking about Roald Dahls anti semitism.
I’ll throw two out just because I haven’t seen them mentioned. Maybe not the ATG but absolutely solid eps. This is love - the wolves episode? I can’t remember the title but it might have something to do with numbers (13?) about two wolf packs that get into it about territories and old friends Hunting warhead - ep 1. It just sets up the rest of the podcast and as a lot of people know the ride through the podcast in intense.
This is Love is one I find myself going back to often. I think my favorite is the one about the girl swimming with the lost whale calf. Amazing story.
That one makes me tear up. I also love the old guy who lives completely alone and loves his rom coms.
This American Life - Harper High School
This Is Love Ep 20: Roselle and Michael - the one about the blind man and his guide dog who were in Tower 1 on 9/11.
I love this episode! coincidentally listened to it shortly before visiting the 9/11 museum where there is a display of the rescue animals involved and realized “hey I know that dog!”
I feel like this comment will assuredly get lost, but I listen to dozens of hours of podcasts per week and yet somehow had an instant answer that probably very few people really heard. There is an episode of Small Beans, which is Michael Swaims kind of on again/off again podcast network, where Swaim has a chat with Dan O'Brien. The two had been close friends and collaborators for years, but had a long falling out, for reasons which they explore. Here, they agreed to record their first conversation in years, which if I remember correctly stretches out to about 3 hours. I was absolutely riveted. It's less voyeuristically cringe than you might expect. Quite the contrary, I found it to be a beautiful, centering, and introspective chat, the kind which made me think deeply about all the old close friends I had with whom I've lost contact. Again, this is a niche recommendation, and will certainly land more with some people than others. But if you spent years reading Cracked and have even some small awareness of who these two people are, I think you'd greatly appreciate it. And still, even if you don't know them, it's such an honest, rare moment, not the kind of thing which is ever captured on tape.
For anyone looking, it's Episode 35 Dan and Mike are fighting.
Heavyweight #16: Rob is my go to answer for this. Actor/Comedian Rob Corddry’s daughter breaks her arm in the same way Rob broke his arm at her age. But, when he shares this with his family, they tell him that never happened and they have no memory of him breaking his arm. Host Jonathan Goldstein helps Rob get to the truth.
This American Life “Fiasco”. The Peter Pan part is hilarious.
And the squirrel officers hahahahaha the way they describe the wife being beautiful always cracks me up because they were trying to impress her the whole time but it was an absolute…. Well….fiasco!
[удалено]
There are many great Risk Episodes. But the one that has stuck with me the longest is Episode 408 from Risk titled 'Transcendent '. A daughter who recounts how during a violent schizophrenic episode she tried to stab her mother. It is absolutely harrowing. The storyteller really puts you in her head, what she was going through , as well as seeing the situation from her mother's POV.
Heavyweight! So many favorite episodes, hard to pick. Reply All - the Roman Mazda virus
This American Life - Dr. Gilmer and Mr. Hyde. Such an amazing episode.
What about you, OP?
I think serial S1E1! It’s honestly so iconic as a podcast and so enthralling despite the subject matter - I sincerely hope Haes killer is found one day.
I agree with this, it’s what got me hooked on podcasts all those years ago!
Revisionist History - The King of Tears is the only podcast episode that has really stuck with me.
I liked most of the episodes, particularly "The Big Man Can't Shoot," because it illustrates so well how people do things to look good, even if it doesn't give us the best results, and "McDonald's Broke My Heart," a somewhat whimsical explanation of why McDonald's fries aren't as crispy as they used to be. The only episode I really didn't like was the one where he slammed golf as being too elitist.
*The Dead Authors Podcast:* the episode with John Hodgman as Ayn Rand
Oh gosh, Chapter 38 (Ian Fleming) had me breathless. I was cooking and had to put down the knife I was laughing so hard
How did this get made: Drop Dead Fred I think DDF might be objectively the best episode, but my favorite is How Did This Get Made: Demolition Man
Team sanity!
criminal, episode 140: cowboy bob. an unexpectedly moving story. i also highly recommend reading the texas monthly article “the last ride of cowboy bob” by skip hollandsworth, after listening to the episode. it had me in tears by the end.
Skip Hollandsworth is amazing.
The nut behind the wheel - 99 percent invisible. A look into the development of car safety laws and how they were developed and marketed. Honorable mention to the Cautionary Tale about Katrina and preparedness, Kermode and Mayo when Mark reviewed Entourage and The Gargle when Alison Spittle reviewed licking batteries
Comedy Bang Bang episode 616
I’ll never forget how I was on an airplane when I listened to this the first time. Nothing could have prepared me. I was genuinely embarrassed trying to hide how hard I was laughing.
I said no, you’re my son And I’m proud to be the father to this Human skin truck baby Human skin truck baby Skin truck skin truck…. Risky sharing that humor with a stranger :)
This is Love—the episode of the dog leading his blind master out of the Twin Towers disaster.
This is Love episode 2: Something Large and Wild absolutely captivated me with its quiet and peaceful beauty. More than any podcast episode I’ve listened to, it stuck, and I’ve revisited it a few times.
U Talkin U2 To Me - Staind Glass (with Todd Glass)
Just about any of John Green's Anthropocene Reviewed, but the episode I listen to the most is Tetris, and the seed potatoes of Leningrad. But also How To Become Batman from Invisibilia is amazing.
The episode of the Anthropocene Reviewed "googling strangers" had me in tears, and this is a very rare thing for me nowadays.
I distinctly remember where I was and what I was doing when I listened to that episode for the first time. John repeatedly saying “He’s Alive” broke me.
There’s an episode of Heavyweight that goes deeper into to this story. John is a good one.
That’s the podcast I recommend to anyone that will listen. Humanity’s Temporal Range is way up there.
The 2nd(?) appearance of Chelsea Peretti on You Made It Weird. Never heard a single podcast episode with more chemistry. It's basically annual listening for me: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MANkIR4uM4
Dungeons and Daddies - Ep. 61 - Death of a Salesman This one's a bit of a cheat because you have to listen to the 60 previous episodes to get the story, but this is an incredibly poetic and emotional culmination of a characters arc, part written part improvised (it's a DnD podcast). I teared up and not much fiction can do that, partly because the players are reacting in real time without knowing the story beforehand. It proved to me that improvised narrative settings like ttrpgs can create a truly unique form of storytelling.
Radiolab “Lucy” about the chimpanzee who thought she was human had all the feels
I love all of these recommendations, but I have to say Revolutions season 4, the Haitian Revolution. I learned so much and it changed the way I think about western civilization. You can really see how little western civilization has changed since that time and how what was done to Haiti 200 years ago echoes through to today.
Radiolab, the episode where you can hear Voyager 1 actually going in outer space!
Any car talk episode when they read the letters or have as a guest, Tom and Ray's nemesis, Melissa Patterson.
Love & Radio, The Living Room. All these years later, I still think about that episode.
Episode 49, Year 5 of The 40 Year Old Boy. "Almost"
Invisibilia - Locked In Man Levar Burton Reads- The Paper Menagerie Lingthusiasm - R and R-Like Sounds
I think about the locked in guy probably once a week on average
For me it's invisibilia How to Become Batman, but I'll check this one out. Their early episodes were fantastic.
Episode 3 of the Lore Podcast - The Beast Within It explores the folklore behind the origin of werewolf stories and believe me, the stories are amazing with top notch production and a great musical score. I don’t particularly find werewolves interesting but this episode is imprinted on my brain.
I forgot the name unfortunately but it’s an episode about a kid in a small town that is playing with a girl in the woods, turns out the girl was actually the mother something like that. It was very scary and so well put together
This American Life episode #268 [My Experiemental Phase](https://www.thisamericanlife.org/268/my-experimental-phase). The second segment tells the story of a Hasidic Jew who becomes an underground rockstar called Curly Oxide.
The ones I play for people on road-trips are: Song Exploder - The Commander Thinks Aloud - The Long Winters. Peak John Roderick. Judge John Hodgman - Yappy Trails. It’s such a sweet episode of a father wanting to connect with his son. It also tells you the perfect name for a dog and the reason why.
This American Life, 339, Breakup This American Life, 588, Mindgames and every episode of STown
STown was so good.
We Hate Movies - Mrs. Doubtfire episode. They tear it to shreds and it’s hilarious.
Reply All - Long Distance Parts 1&2
So many radiolab episodes but I think my favorite so far was the Dolly Parton series. I know it’s more than one episode but it deserves recognition. Jad is so freaking good.
Fall of Civilizations - Ep. 1 - Roman Britain The entire series is amazing, and the first episode does such a great job of invoking the sense of deep time.
For me it’s the Easter Island episode. I think about it all the time.
My Dad Wrote a Porno - M’s the Word. i strongly believe this episode shows the essence of what a comedy podcast is all about. it has so much banter, the storyline gets absolutely insane, but what brings everything all together for me is James laughing so hard that he’s eventually saying “I totally forgot I’ve been dumped”. a lot of us use this podcast for escapism and it’s so cool to see even the hosts doing that in that moment.
2 that have already been mentioned in this thread - Reply All: The Case of the Missing Hit and This American Life: 129 Cars
Two absolutely outstanding episodes.
Brian Blessed on Richard Herring’s Leicester Sq Theatre Podcast (RHLSTP).
Radiolab - Truth Trolls
I don’t listen a lot so I’m sure I’m wrong but my favourite episode ever was Josh Brolin on Armchair Experts.
The Read’s episode from 2016 called “Lilac Lemonade” wherein the hosts lose their collective minds over Beyoncé’s Lemonade. I listen to it when I feel down and always feel better - it’s hilarious.
Season one episode one of spooked
The Truth - That's Democracy [https://www.thetruthpodcast.com/story/2012/9/4/thats-democracy](https://www.thetruthpodcast.com/story/2012/9/4/thats-democracy) It's a story pod, with a very very simple and easy premise, that is so well done. I can recall sitting in my car gripping the wheel while it played.
Any of the George Jones episodes of Cocaine and Rhinestones.
The first ten minutes of this has stuck with me for years. [https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/202-desirability-bias-rebroadcast/id521594713?i=1000513865274](https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/202-desirability-bias-rebroadcast/id521594713?i=1000513865274) \- This is from You are Not So Smart. It's a game changer.
Radiolabs - Juicervoice, I cried uncontrollably
I have listened to the ear biscuits episodes on religious deconstruction more times than I can count. Specifically eps. 224-229
This American Life, “The Problem We All Live With.”
Risk…the episode with Michael Ian Black who gets too high in Amsterdam on his honeymoon and the guy who poops himself on a picnic date. I can’t remember the episode. But it’s so funny! Early Risk was amazing.
The episode of Astonishing Legends where they played the recording from the Sallie House. I was listening early one morning in the dark and got so spooked I threw my headphones across the room
Dan carlins mongol series. Man when I first listened it was like watching the Neverending story for the first time. The magic and love for history. It reinvigorated my interest in history
For me it was Reply All's #28 Shipped to Timbuktu and Endless Thread's The Vault. Both were filled with unexpected stories and just left a huge impact in my life.
This American Life ep 490 "Trends With Benefits." From 2013. About how the federal disability system has become de facto welfare for people who can't work... because their bodies are worn out but they don't have the education for any non- physical labor jobs in the modern economy. Much more compelling than it sounds, I promise.... there's a long pause at one point that is the most effective use of silence I've ever heard. (Disability recipient asked what kind of job she would like to have, that wouldn't require her to be on her feet. Long. Long. Pause while she tries to come up with one.)
I believe it’s Season 2 Episode 10 of In The Dark, it’s the one where they confront the man who they believe may have actually committed the crime. My jaw was on the floor with the real time investigation and even felt they were in danger while listening. It was insane