Podcast rabbit holes

Burger history, Gen Z mental health, sustainable investing, lesbian bar hopping, rich people, all things WNBA, silly creativity.

I love podcast rabbit holes. There are the rabbit holes that you’re sent down because of something you learned about in a podcast. Then there are the rabbit holes you’re sent down when you’re researching podcasts. This is something I get to do for work a lot. It’s this fun process of looking at which podcasts are recommended as similar to the one you’re looking at. I always look at the similar recommendations. And then the similar recommendations of those podcasts. And so on, and so on, until I have 20 tabs open. It’s a beautiful cycle of learning about new shows, the range of shows that exist, and even where there might be a lack of shows. I stumble upon so many more shows and see so many different kinds of cover art when I go down a podcast rabbit hole and it never gets old. Maybe it’s similar to browsing through a book store. When you take the time to dig through a place where there’s a big selection of the thing you want more of, you’ll find many things that catch your attention. I love using Podchaser for this.

This week’s podstack

A Taste of the Past - America's Burgers with George Motz

George Motz made a documentary that is like a love letter to burgers and the people who make them. It may have started as a portable food at a steak fair, but that origin story isn’t even that well documented because it wasn’t considered anything notable. I just love the idea of a hamburger being a result of portability! And if anyone ever wants to challenge you on what counts as a burger, you can let them know that a hamburger is defined by the use of chopped beef, cooked in a pan and served on bread. The invention of the cheeseburger is even better in how simple the thought process was! From White Castle to now, this burger history will make you hungry and appreciate how people’s preferences, priorities, and business models evolve foods of all kinds. I am so curious about all the different burger topping variations, from butter to peanut butter, and even cocktail olives.

In Our Heads - What do we mean by “mental health crisis”?

I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about listening to a show focused on the mental health crisis affecting teens right now, but the first episode gets you invested. Through stories from teens, paired with data from research studies, and expertise from mental health professionals, you get a thorough introduction to the mental health status of young people in Canada. It can be heavy at times but the show is aiming to build awareness to hopefully increase support. The second episode is focused on what universities and colleges are doing to support students’ mental health. It studies the experiences of students at the University of Toronto and the challenges they’re facing with getting enough support. Even though this isn’t the only place facing that problem, it does serve as a good example of where things need to be improved. This will have you feeling the need to make mental health the priority in everything we do. (transcript)

Everybody in the Pool - Episode 1: A Drop Becomes a Flood

I didn’t realize how business oriented this show was, but I’m so glad I finally listened. I was literally looking for podcasts that talk about how your money and purchasing choices can impact the bigger picture of climate change and the first episode was just that. It felt like podcast destiny! To help people know more about where their money or investments are going and how a company operates, there’s an app that organizes all that information for you. Daniel Naim made it because he was looking for a solution to help people make a difference. Being a shareholder means you have a vote and that vote can make an impact. I love how Molly Wood, a longtime business and tech reporter, eventually saw that climate was no longer an add-on story - it became the biggest story affecting everything, so she wanted to cover it more closely. She wanted a show that highlighted solutions, so she made one! It also features a great segment where listeners send a voice note about how and why they switched to a climate job. Love when shows have smart segments! Molly also writes a newsletter about this.

Outward - Lesbian Bars: A Love Story

Did you know there are only 28 lesbian bars left in America? This episode features Krista Burton and Naomi Gordon-Loebl, two people who recently visited all of them! They talk about the joy these places bring them, what it’s like to go alone, and the rules they set for themselves to ensure they interacted with new people in every bar. They describe a bar where everyone turns around to say hi when you walk in and it feels like a TV moment that made me smile! A lot of what their discussion comes back to is looking at how these spaces are evolving and what the hopes are for what they become. Make sure you stick around for their favourite stories from their bar hopping adventures. They’re so good! Even if you’re not interested in bar hopping, this episode will make you think about the remaining spaces we have to meet new people and how that is changing compared to even ten years ago. (transcript)

Classy with Jonathan Menjivar - Are Rich People Bad?

What’s it like to unpack your feelings about class? That’s what Jonathan Menjivar is doing throughout this series. The first episode is a look at the way rich people feel about their money, how people perceive rich people, and what middle class even is anymore. Jonathan brings a very personal perspective to the story as he talks about his struggles with class and how he’s been embarrassed by his class growing up, but now he’s hyper aware of ever seeming like an “obnoxious rich person”. With this analysis of wealth and the privilege it brings, I think it also contemplates what everyone considers “rich”. If you own a house, regardless of the size or location, that could be considered rich by some. Jonathan recognizes the way we adjust our stories so that we don’t flaunt our class too much. I found it so fascinating to learn about a home designer/decorator who always throws in a piece from IKEA because it makes his clients feel good, like they’re being responsible and not completely extravagant. Are rich people bad? What does it mean to be a “good” wealthy person? The second episode, an interview with Terry Gross, has a really cool discussion around the ways we unknowingly begin to mirror the people we are around a lot. Apparently listening to lots of CBC made Terry start saying “aboot” instead of “about”.

Rebound Revolution - Out of Bounds: WNBA Takes Fight with Anna DeShawn

Dr. Money has the best energy! It’s contagious and makes me want more WNBA in my life. She’s the perfect host for this show. No matter who she’s joined by for each episode, she brings the excitement, passion, and knowledge for what’s happening in the league, on and off the court. From the safety of players, to the way they’re expected to dress for events and pre-games, there is so much to explore. The fact that it’s not only focused on game analysis and recaps is what makes it a stronger platform for building interest in the league. When you know more about the players and their experiences, you feel more invested and I think that’s an important part of growing the audience. I was fortunate enough to attend the first ever WNBA game to take place in Canada last month and it was kinda emotional to see how excited the sold out arena was in Toronto. Between that and this show, I’m so ready for more WNBA action. And if you do want to up your general knowledge of terminology and processes, they do a great segment focused on teaching you those things.

Offline with Jon Favreau - Why You Should Make Silly Things

How do we just let go and let ourselves create? If you need motivation to start making more stuff that isn’t perfect, for the sake of having some kind of creative outlet, this might help with your mindset. Simone Giertz has made a career out of exploring random creative ideas and she’s a recovering perfectionist who advocates for making those random ideas you have or just tinkering around so that you’re exercising your creative mind. Jon and Max have such a fun time learning about her process and mindset for making things. They also have an interesting discussion about needing more group activities in our lives, which I want to try out now. It’s like bringing a little more structure to the way you hang out with people. Simone also makes me want to create more things, even if they are just silly fake cakes made out of plaster. I know I’ve been recommending episodes of Offline a few times recently, but as someone who is online too much I’m really enjoying this show lately!

More sweet treats

• William Shatner getting the Marc Maron experience is hilarious.

• The 5-year anniversary episode of My Worst Date had me lol’ing over a Smartless edition of fuck, marry, kill.

• If you’re on private-chef-in-the-Hamptons TikTok, you’ll enjoy this.

• Thanks to Vibe Check, I learned that the BMI is finally officially being recognized as the problematic measurement it is!

• I recommended Expectant in Podcast Plunge.

Thank you for reading! If you listened to something this week that made your heart sing, your imagination wander, or your brain ponder, I’d love to hear about it!