My Favorite Podcasts of 2019 - So Far

Last week, I posted my round up of my favorite shows of 2019 so far and since I am a podcast junkie I of course had to do the same for podcasts. I have discovered quite a few really great podcasts this year. I have also returned or continued to listen to some old faves as well.

1619 Podcast

I mentioned this podcast in my September favorites. you can read my thoughts on it here. I HIGHLY recommend this podcast. It’s history and it’s important to help understand how America’s history with race still affects the dynamics of our country and it’s landscape today.

The Dropout

The documentary version of this has been one of my faves of 2019. And the same goes for the podcast. I actually listened to the podcast first and I enjoyed it so much I decided to watch the doc. Prepare for your jaw to drop multiple times at the utter audacity - and willful ignorance involved.

The Daily

I canceled my NYT subscription awhile ago. I haven’t been very happy with their complicity in what’s been going on within the American political landscape. They do good work but they also have done some pretty shitty work and driven some problematic narratives. That being said, I still listen regularly to The Daily. I enjoy the stories they tell and how in-depth and personal they are. They are well investigated and well done. So while I’m no longer giving the NYT my money, I enjoy the work being done on The Daily.

Business Wars

I started listening to this at the recommendation of my brother and I wasn’t expecting to enjoy it as much as I do. A podcast called Business Wars sounds like it would be very dry content. But it isn’t. It’s dramatic and funny and manages to leave you on the edge of your seat - even if you know what happened. The current “business war” the pod talks about is Facebook vs Snapchat and has been thoroughly entertaining.

Crime Junkie

I only recently started listening to this podcast and have been truly hooked. If you are a true crime junkie (no pun intended) then I recommend this one. What I like about it in contrast to some other popular true crime podcasts is that they don’t take the subject matter lightly or treat it as a joke or are overly salacious about the material. Which I find insensitive and distasteful. The delivery of the stories is relaxed and a bit laid back without feeling lackadaisical.

Embedded

This podcast consistently lands on my favorites list. The reporting on this podcast is always stellar and in-depth. The standout series this year was there five part series on the political career of Mitch McConnell. Whew chile! That’s all I will say…

Con Artists

Another newer addition to my podcast list that I have been loving. Told in two parts this podcast follows some of the biggest and wildest con artists stories. From Bernie Madoff to Jordan Belfort (the Wolf of Wall Street). I love stories about con artists as much as I love true crime stories and this podcast doesn’t disappoint.

In The Dark
Another mainstay on my list. Incredible gut-wrenching investigative reporting. It made my favorites list last year. I have talked about this podcast ad nauseum so I won’t go on too much about it here. If you want to learn more about the podcast and my thoughts you can read my posts here and here about it.