It goes without saying that this is a difficult time for everyone. It seems like everywhere you turn these days, all anyone is talking about is the Coronavirus and, with everyone being encouraged to stay home, people are seeking some sort of entertainment to get them through their day.
You’ve tried baking bread, your place is spotless now, you’ve watched so much TV, what’s left to do? If you are sick of looking at a screen all day, luckily there is some sweet, sweet audio only content for you to get into during this troubling time. So here is a prime selection of must-listen shows you should check out based on some super specific moods you may be experiencing during this seemingly endless quarantine. Stay safe, happy listening and wash your hands, you filthy animals.
MOOD: “I Just Watched Tiger King so True Crime is My Thing Right Now”
The Ballad of Billy Balls– Host iO Tillet Wright dives deep into the unsolved murder of New York musician, Billy Balls. The killer was never brought to justice, the motive is unknown and nobody knows what happened to Billy’s body afterwards. Rebecca, Billy’s longtime girlfriend, doesn’t know what to do and has no way to say goodbye to the love of her life. Now, 38 years later, iO wants to give Rebecca the opportunity to let go, “The Ballad of Billy Balls unravels a mystery of love and loss, the tender binds of family, and the stories we learn to tell ourselves just to survive…” Listen onApple Podcasts, Stitcher or Spotify!
The Fall Line– From the same network that brought you My Favorite Murder and This Podcast Will Kill You comes The Fall Line. This podcast is a serialized true-crime narrative and possibly one of the most important podcasts currently in production, as well as one of the most binge worthy podcasts out there. Hosts Laurah Norton and licensed therapist Brooke Hargrov dedicate each season on a different cold case that seems to have been forgotten by time. These cases are typically from marginalized communities in the Southeast and have been passed over by mainstream media often because they weren’t shocking, gory or blonde-haired and blue-eyed enough to earn mass media coverage. Available on their official website, iTunes, and Stitcher.
The Dating Game Killer– When the game show ‘The Dating Game’ aired in September, 1978, it seemed to be business as usual. That episode’s Bachelorette came out on stage, asked the three hidden bachelors a series of questions and she picked one of the three to go on a date with. Little did anyone know the winner of that episode was one of America’s most prolific serial killers. Rodney Alcala was a ruthless sociopath, a convicted predator and he was on the run. How did this predatory monster fool producers, employers, prison psychiatrists, and parole boards alike – all while committing heinous crimes from coast to coast? Find out on Wondery’s The Dating Game Killer, available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts!
MOOD: “I’m Feeling Down and I Really Need to Zone Out”
Aaron Mahnke’s Cabinet of Curiosities- From the creator, producer and voice of the hit podcast Lore, Aaron Mahnke takes takes listeners on a virtual tour of the world’s unexplainable collections. Twice a week Aaron takes us on a exploration of the most bizarre moments in history and incredible coincidences that is guaranteed to raise your curiosity and make you want to delve into the stories further. Listen for free on Stitcher and Apple Podcasts.
I Said No Gifts!– Host Bridger Winegar invites friends, loved ones, and people he’s secretly trying to destroy to join him in conversation. He only has one request: No gifts! Naturally, every guest disobeys, meaning their chat will eventually turn to whatever object lies beneath the wrapping paper. Available on Stitcher, Spotify and Apple Podcasts!
Dolly Parton’s America– In this intensely divided moment, one of the few things everyone still seems to agree on is Dolly Parton—but why? That simple question leads to a deeply personal, historical, and musical rethinking of one of America’s great icons. Catch Dolly Parton’s America on the WNYC Studio website and Spotify.
RELATED: Dolly Parton And Pentatonix Sing “Jolene”
How Did This Get Made?– Have you ever seen a movie so bad that it’s almost amazing? Hosts of the How Did This Get Made podcast have a thing for watching terrible movies and talking about those terrible movies. Hear about some pretty awful movies on Apple Podcasts and Stitcher.
MOOD: “I Miss Sports”
HORSE- Now, I’m not normally interested in sports, however I can’t help making a huge exception for the HORSE podcast, a basketball podcast about all things NBA except for the actual sport. Hosts Eric Silver and Mike Schubert talk beef, investigate internet dramas and prove that basketball is entertaining to follow for all fans, whether you’re actively watching the games or not. Binge the entire series on the HORSE offical website or Apple Podcasts!
MOOD: “I Finally Found My Headphones So I Can Listen to Creepy Stuff Without Scaring My Roommates”
The Deca Tapes– Recordings have surfaced of ten people that are locked into the same space together. We don’t know where they are, or if they’ll get out. But the answers must be somewhere on these tapes. Easily my favorite podcast of 2019, The Deca Tapes is an absolute thrill from start to finish that is available for free wherever you get your favorite podcasts including iTunes, Spotify, Acast or Stitcher.
RELATED: Patreon-Exclusive Podcast Review: THE DECA TAPES: PUZZLE BOX
Video Palace– When tape head Mark Cambria stumbles across a rare tape he begins having visions and talking in his sleep. The latter wouldn’t be too weird if he wasn’t speaking a seemingly unknown language. His curiosity into why and how sparks an investigation like no other. With the help of his friends, girlfriend Tamra and several colleagues in the film community, Mark’s search for answers leads him to the legend of the ‘White Tapes’ as well as the once infamous Video Palace. Video Palace is available for free wherever you get your favorite podcasts. If you’d like to binge all 10 episodes right now head over to Shudder.com for a 7 day free trial.
Dream Boy– Someone is changing all the streetlights in Pepper Heights, Cleveland. The color of nighttime is shifting. Everyone thinks they know what happened at the Pepper Heights Zoo… But do they, really? When Dane, a spun-out musician spending the winter in Cleveland, arrives in Pepper Heights he only expects two things from himself- keeping his job at the Pepper Heights Zoo and not wasting all his time on Grindr. What he certainly doesn’t expect is to get swept into a story about dreams, about forevers, about flickering lights, about unexplained deaths, about relentless change, and about the parts of ourselves that we wish other people knew to look for. Oh, and also a murderous zebra is involved. Dreamboy is available wherever you get your podcasts, including the Nightvale Presents page!
Cryptids– Are you ready to believe? Twin Peaks meets Wayward Pines in Cryptids, which tells the story of a conspiracy radio show host and an avid listener who go in search of an afterlife. Instead they find a truth beyond their wildest nightmares. In this female driven, scripted, sci-fi audio drama, you’ll meet monsters, aliens…and the ultimate grim reaper.
MOOD: “We Are in the Middle of a Pandemic and I Want to Learn More About Diseases”
This Podcast Will Kill You– Grad students studying disease ecology, Erin Welsh and Erin Allmann Updyke (a.k.a. The Erin’s) share their love epidemics and weird medical mysteries with the world over some specialty made cocktails inspired by that episode’s topic. Episodes are available for free where ever you get your podcasts, including a “maxiseries” specifically focused on COVID-19.
RELATED: MY FAVORITE MURDER Hosts Welcome 4 Podcasts to Exactly Right Media
Ologies– Volcanoes. Trees. Drunk butterflies. Mars missions. Slug sex. Death. Beauty standards. Anxiety busters. Beer science. Bee drama. Take away a pocket full of science knowledge and charming, bizarre stories about what fuels these professional -ologists’ obsessions. Humorist and science correspondent Alie Ward asks smart people stupid questions and the answers might change your life.
RELATED: Read Our Podcast Reviews Here!
This article was published 4/7/20
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