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| Image Description: Blue painted background with a coffee cup and saucer next to over-ear headphones around 3 books. Left side purple text reads "Staff picks for caregivers" with green text underneath readings "Part one, to learn" |
Podcasts have steadily increased in popularity as portable MP3 players have become more accessible, and even built into the phones that most of us carry around in our pockets. They can be a great resource for learning about a topic, finding some humour in your day, or replicating the serial radio drama of years past.
For those of us with full schedules, or a short attention span, the ability to get other tasks done while listening is a huge draw. Playback controls allow you to listen again to the things you may have missed while distracted, or to pause when your loved one requires complete attention. Our final set of podcasts curated with caregivers are just for fun!
Here are our top staff picks where anything goes! These are your comedies, your dramas, your true crime. They're great to listen to on your commute, while washing dishes, or during an afternoon with your loved one who misses radio dramas. We hope they bring you some joy! Not a caregiver? Enjoy our staff favourite podcasts regardless, we're all happy to chat about them and provide more recommendations if you love one!
1) Dear Hank and John - Two brothers answer questions, give dubious advice, and discuss AFC Wimbledon and the planet Mars. This was the most frequently recommended podcast by our staff, so it is worth checking out an episode!
2) Welcome to Night Vale - This twice-monthly podcast can get quite spooky, so it may not be the best listen-together podcast. However, the blend of mundane updates and the bizarre provides great entertainment value.
3) The Theatre of Tomorrow - Inspired by 1950s radio plays, this anthology is a perfect listen-together podcast! A variety of sci-fi stories are told in the style of a 1950s radio drama and live theatre.
4) Harlem Queen - An excellent historical fiction set during the Harlem Renaissance. This podcast is based on the story of Madame Stephanie St. Clair - a mobster, and gambler. This is perfect for anyone who is a fan of the audio drama, but not big on sci-fi or horror.
5) The Gus and Eddy Podcast - A weekly podcast where to guys chat, open mail, and answer user-submitted questions. Sometimes guests, such as actors, YouTubers, or musicians are brought on to share in the conversation.
6) 99% Invisible - A podcast like no other, this weekly narrative podcast covers architecture and design. It highlights the difference between how engineers and architects view design and how we as lay-people view it. Each episode has a print companion, which is a great touch.
7) Folktale Project - If you enjoyed our Tales and Travels series, this is the podcast for you! Listen to fairytales, folktales, and fables from around the world. A wide variety of bite-sized episodes leave something for everyone. This is another great listen-together podcast.
8) The Amelia Project - This podcast is perfect for fans of Sherlock and Dirk Gently. It is a dark comedy and a mystery rolled in together. The audio drama follows a secret agency that offers the unique service of a fake death followed by a new identity.
9) No Such Thing as a Fish - A weekly podcast where four people discuss their favourite obscure facts found in the past week.
10) Love Me - A CBC original podcast that covers human connection. Listen to stories about connection, reconnection, and relationships. They are on a temporary hiatus, but have continued to share snippets of similar CBC podcasts!
If you need assistance choosing a listening method that works for you, stop by the library or get in touch for tech help!