Cultural phenomenons have become a commonplace part of our society. Stories, characters, lyrics, that have captivated millions, globally, purely down to accessible media sources (read: the Internet). From Breaking Bad, Mad Men and Orange Is The new Black, to Beyoncé, Taylor Swift and, yes, even One Direction, international acclaim is seemingly at the fingertips of every creative, should they just manage to tap that magic formula.
And what exactly goes into making that rubric? A handsome (if troubled) lead usually, be it Don Draper or Harry Styles. Something that keeps you going back for more; eternally generous melodies, scenes that leave you grasping at conclusions. That’s what makes for a captive audience – and by all means, we are willing. Yet, it was by surprise that last year we gave up our affections to a podcast. An hour long soundbite that provided no visuals, of the narrator, characters or setting – just a story, and the voice of the woman telling it.
But suddenly, it was a voice and story that no one could stop talking about. As though overnight – as all these things tend to be – people were hooked, in a big way. I haven’t stayed up all night watching something since the days of lusting after Adam Brody in The O.C., but I would happily lose out on sleep to hear Sarah Koenig lay out the next set of evidence for or against the accusations of Adnan Syed as murderer of his ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee.
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I should backtrack. For those who don’t know, Serial is the brainchild from the creators of This American Life who, again for podcast virgins, are pretty much killing it in the field of airwave investigative journalism and storytelling. Hosted by Koenig (also a T.A.L veteran, whose voice kind of sounds like Alex from Orange Is The New Black, for those who will appreciate the reference), Serial sets out to discover whether or not an imprisoned Baltimore teen, accused of a murder in 1999 which he claims to be innocent of, is actually guilty. The cincher? He just can’t remember what else he was doing that afternoon. Cue a journalistic journey that will have you making your own cell phone maps just to get a better grasp on whether or not Adnan Syed should have been sentenced. You never really quite know.
What is perhaps so enthralling about Serial is that it tells a real story. Since it earned it’s lengthy stint at the top of iTunes’ podcast chart, Syed’s case has been re-opened. Yes, it’s enthralling, but as Koenig has been swift to point out in interviews, this is someone’s life. It’s not so much entertainment, but an exploration into the sociological minutiae of Baltimore in that moment as we try to work out why he faced such swift accusation. As season two (which will reportedly take on an entirely different story in an entirely different way) prepared to air to it’s millions strong new audience this winter, if you haven’t already, now is the time to plug in.
Now, podcasts were certainly a thing prior to Serial, albeit perhaps with less of the must-hear draw they now receive thanks to Koenig and her team. I won’t pretend that I was into them before this – my enthusiasm developed as a result of having an other half who had to listen to something to fall asleep, a habit I was only introduced to a time coinciding with Serial’s release. The education those evenings listening to podcasts gave me has truly lasted. I’ve found few things that provide real, distracting escape in the same way – something that is actually quite nice when being crammed onto the northern line on a drizzly Monday morning, and preferable to going over to-do lists again and again before falling asleep.
If you’ve found yourself with a Serial shaped hole in your life, or are looking to fill your Podcast library, there are are plenty of options – but keep in mind, not all are made equal. Below is what I think make for the ideal starter pack.
This American Life: Full disclosure, This American Life is the reason I look forward to Monday mornings. Presented by Ira Glass, each episode has a theme – which can be anything from ‘The Problem We All Live With’ or ‘Need To Know Basis’ or ‘The Incredibly Rarity of Changing Your Mind’ – and finds three of four incredible stories based on that theme. Each is presented by a different journalist, go in totally different directions and are equally as gripping as the next. There’s variety too, from comedic value to real, ‘hold up, that actually happens?’ moments. It goes out on Sunday night in the states, so will be waiting to help you through your commute first thing Monday.
No Such Thing As A Fish: The best when you’re in need of some clever comedy. Presented by the QI Elves (google them if that pulls a blank), each episode is named after a weird fact from the last seven days – and that’s pretty much the basis for the show. Interesting and purely silly in equal measure (listen to, ‘No Such Thing As A Useless Condom’, or ‘No Such Thing As An Ugly Panda’) it’s perfect mood-lifting and dinner party trivia material.
From Our Own Correspondent: A classic and very good news source for those who aren’t really into the news. Kate Adie presents three or four key world stories from the past week, be that on a baker in Norway that is offering a safe place for those escaping war, or mermaids in Madagascar. They also present focused specials, most recently dedicating the full half an hour to the migrant crisis. It’s news, but also stories, and the BBC correspondents relay them personably. They might not always make for easy listening, but are ideal for bringing perspective to current affairs and arming yourself with knowledge.
Oh Boy: I could have opted for Vogue’s new podcast here as a go-to fashion fix, but Man Repeller’s Leandra Medine is, frankly, much funnier. Not many sites manage to portray fashion content so astutely while still not taking themselves too seriously, and the podcast follows this theme. Only four episodes in, this is also an opportunity to be one of fans who got their first – win-win.