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The 9 Best Podcasts Of 2018 That We Can't Stop Talking About
(Photo by James Kim)
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By James Kim with Arwen Nicks & Misha Euceph
I'm overwhelmed by the number of podcasts there are to choose from, just like we all are. Even as I'm typing this, I saw that Chris O'Dowd is starring in a new fiction podcast called Baby, It's Cold Outside. This is the first I've heard of it, and the show already has multiple episodes out.
It's hard to keep up with all the podcasts out there -- but our podcast team has your back. We've got a list of shows that we've been listening to all year that we couldn't stop talking about. Now go load these up in your queue and get ready to get into some audio storytelling bliss.
THE HABITAT (GIMLET)
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The Habitat by Gimlet (Gimlet)
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Remember that time you got really stoned and were watching the Puck season of Real World and you thought, "Man, it sure would be cool if this was on Mars." Well, your wish has been granted. Welcome to, The Habitat. -- Arwen
THE SHADOWS (CBC)
The Shadows by CBC (CBC)
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No one knows how to make me emotional like Kaitlin Prest and her team. The Shadows is beautifully intimate and uses audio as an art form. This is the first fiction show by Prest, and even though the story is about a puppeteer falling in and out of love, the podcast feels just as personal and honest as her previous works. -- James
EVERYTHING IS ALIVE (RADIOTOPIA)
Everything is Alive by Radiotopia (Radiotopia)
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Are you a nihilist that imbues inanimate objects with personality in an effort to not think about how every day we are inching closer to the inevitable darkness? Me too. I think you will love this show. -- Arwen
BODIES (KCRW)
Bodies by KCRW (KCRW)
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So many people here could not stop talking about this show when it first debuted this summer. I still think about the moment when host Allison Behringer turns on the mic and records herself breaking down in front of her doctor at the
CALIPHATE (NEW YORK TIMES)
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You know those stories you hear about war and conflict where you really want to understand what is happening, but in actuality it just makes you feel like you will never find the time to catch up with the complications of the world? This is not that. This is compelling and approachable reporting on the Islamic State that provides both context and definitions. -- Arwen
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THE BIG LOOP (PAUL BAE)
The Big Loop by Paul Bae (Paul Bae)
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The reason I love this show is
IN THE DARK (APM REPORTS)
In the Dark by APM Reports (APM Reports)
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This show is a master class in storytelling. The second season is about Curtis Flowers, a man who has been tried six times for the same crime over the course of 21 years. The podcast is riveting and it possibly has one of the best uses of the song "Sweet Child O' Mine." -- James
99% INVISIBLE (ARTICLES OF INTEREST) (RADIOTOPIA)
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99% Invisible's Article of Interest by Radiotopia (Radiotopia/99% Invisible )
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Back in my emo days, I used to shop in the women's section for jeans. I have large hips, so the elasticity of the jeans really
HEAVYWEIGHT (GIMLET)
Heavyweight by Gimlet (Gimlet)
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Just stop what you're doing and listen to this show. I'm serious. Stop reading this right now. Open up your podcast app. And binge every single episode of Heavyweight NOW. -- All of us
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