Drilled calls itself a «true-crime podcast about climate change». Season 3 has just started, it digs deep into the history of fossil fuel propaganda and introduces the people who shaped it.
[For speakers of German only, sorry] As the «Arab Spring» of 2011 is reduced to just another distant memory in decade-in-review pieces, this series is very timely. The six-part reportage shines light on the current and recent uprisings Iraq, Sudan and Egypt. «Are we seeing the next Arab Spring?», the reporters ask themselves as they travel the Middle East. You can listen to it for free, the text version beyond the intro is only available to members of Republik (I have some 2-week-memberships to share – reply to this email and if you’re quick enough, I can invite you).
⚠️ Please note: In December 2020, The New York Times retracted core parts of the podcast, saying Caliphate «did not meet the standards for Times journalism.»
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There’s arguably no better person to learn about ISIS from than Rukmini Callimachi. The Times’ reporter now has her own audio series – and judging from the frist one and a half episodes, it’s going to be fantastic.
What happens if human beings can’t handle the power of their own weaponry? A six-hour podcast episode on the early days of the nuclear age. Worth every minute of it.
If you loved Serial, season 1 (and were disappointed by season 2), this is for you. A breathtaking story.
A six-year-old child, born as a boy, who knew she was a girl at the age of three. This is her story, told by her mother (and herself) in a podcast.
Another standout episode from The New York Times’ news podcast «The Daily».
A brilliant, detailed musical analysis of arguably the most popular song in the world, with one billion plays a day (!) at its peak: the Nokia ringtone. Yes, that one. This is an older and somewhat atypical episode of my new favourite podcast, «Switched On Pop». A musicologist and a songwriter go deep into the anatomy of popular songs (usually not ringtones) and explain what makes them hits and «help listeners find a-ha moments in the music». They are at their best when they cross-examine songs – like in «Hotline Hello: Drake and Adele».
Inside the curious world of the «Mutilated Currency Division». I wasn’t aware of this: You can send in destroyed money (meaning: burned, shredded, digested by a cow, even) and if those people can establish it’s real money, you are reimbursed.