5 Best Podcasts to Check Out
By Marnie Kunz
Podcasts are great for listening to while running.
A silver lining of 2020 for many of us was having more time to read, listen to podcasts, and immerse ourselves in entertainment at home. I'm a longtime fan of podcasts, but this was the year I truly became a podcast junkie. I stayed up late listening to horrifying episodes of Dr. Death and sat in chilled silence listening to Spooked on Halloween. I even started listening to podcasts on my run. After all my listening hours, here are my picks for the top 5 podcasts of 2020. I will also add that I’m a big fan of nonfiction and investigative journalism, so many of these are intriguing and suspenseful investigative podcasts.
Dr. Death is an investigative podcast by Wondery, one of my favorite podcast networks. The podcast explores true tales of horrific doctors who get away with mangling, paralyzing and even killing their patients in America. The first season, narrated by health journalist Laura Beil, follows Dallas neurosurgeon Dr. Christopher Duntsch on a terrifying spree of maiming, crippling and murder while examining the system that let him get away with hurting 33 patients before any action was taken. Season 2, also narrated and reported by Beil, investigates Dr. Farid Fata, a Michigan doctor who treats hundreds of patients that he diagnoses with cancer, while keeping the truth of their conditions hidden while many suffer.
Dr. Death is a great podcast for anyone who loves a good medical drama, true crime tales, or simply wants to learn more about the American medical system from a behind-the-scenes, what-if perspective. Journalist Laura Beil does excellent reporting and interviews dozens of patients, lawyers and people connected with the twisted doctors in the podcast. My only qualm was queasiness at times as medical situations can make my stomach turn to begin with, but even moreso when they're unnecessary and potentially life-threatening. This is a horrifying podcast that will stick with you.
Hidden Brain
Hidden Brain is a NPR podcast that explores the science behind life's curiosities. Whether you want to learn why we all feel like we don't have enough money regardless of our income level or learn about how we can become unrecognizable to ourselves during heated moments of anger, Hidden Brain offers in-depth explorations and interviews with scientists to offer answers, insight and ultimately hope for shaping our lives. The podcast is narrated by the smooth-voiced and knowledgeable Shankar Vedantam, NPR's social science correspondent.
Guru
Guru, another Wondery podcast, explores the dark side of enlightenment as it delves into the twisted world of a self-help leader's abuse of power. The investigative podcast, hosted by journalist Matt Stroud, ventures into the world of James Arthur Ray, an influential self-help guru who appeared on Oprah. One of Ray's enlightenment retreats goes horribly awry, leaving one person dead and many questions. Stroud talks with Ray's followers, family members of those at the retreat, and more in this suspenseful and intriguing look at a pop psychology world turned nightmare. A must-listen podcast for true crime fans and anyone interested in group psychology, self-help and pop culture.
Spooked
Spooked is a perfect podcast to give you the chills and revive that old feeling of telling ghost stories at slumber parties with friends. If you're a fan of supernatural tales, you will love Spooked. As pandemic life upended the usual Halloween celebrations this year, I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Spooked episodes to get in the spooky spirit of the season. You can listen any time of year for a good scare though, as you tune in to true-life supernatural stories, told firsthand by the people who experienced them. Feel free to skip around in the podcast, as each episode is its own tale, so choose the ones that call to you. If you're an Alabama Shakes fan like me, check out the "Don't Wanna Fright No More" episode told by the band's frontwoman Brittany Howard about the haunted family home she inherited.
Dying for Sex
Dying for Sex is an insightful podcast about life, taught by someone with a terminal illness and an irrepressibly curious, adventurous spirit. The Wondery podcast is hosted by Nikki Boyer, who interviews her best friend Molly. Molly's Stage IV breast cancer diagnosis spurs her to change her life dramatically, leaving an unhappy marriage and embarking on a series of adventures to feel alive. The podcast explores her entertaining, touching, curious adventures into new sexual and relationship realms as she grapples with her own impending mortality and an ongoing love for life.
What are your favorite podcasts? Comment below to share your top recs.
Marnie Kunz is a NASM-certified trainer and USATF- and RRCA-certified running coach and the creator of Runstreet Art Runs, which bring together communities through running and street art. She is a Brooklyn resident, Akita🐕 mom, running coach and writer. She enjoys traveling, art, dogs, and eating messily. You can follow her running and events at @Runstreet Instagram and Runstreet Facebook.
