#TGIF: 5 podcasts to stream this weekend

Woah! It’s our last weekend listening guide of 2021. On our list, we’ve included podcasts from several genres.

Check out a series about legendary actress Lucille Ball. There are some great, new episodes of a pop culture series filled with TV and film reviews and casting some predictions for 2022. Tune into a technology podcast by TED Audio Collective and an in-depth conversation series with bright minds on important topics. For true crime fans, there’s a trending series set in California where listeners find out if neighbors have framed a murder suspect this season.

The Ezra Klein Show

The New York Times’ “The Ezra Klein Show” is a weekly series on society, culture, news, and more. Tune in for episodes on topics like climate change in difficult political climates, “Timeless Wisdom for Leading a Life of Love, Friendship, and Learning,” and more. The series recently rebroadcasted Noam Chomsky’s “Theory of the Good Life” episode and an interview with sci-fi legend Ted Chiang. The average length of episodes is under 90 minutes long. Check out over 90 episodes now streaming.

TED Talks Technology

TED Audio Collective presents “TED Talks Technology,” a series about the Internet of Things, virtual reality, and more. Listen to a recent episode about why humans feel emotional connections to robots with robot ethicist Kate Darling. In the beginning of December, technologist Kayvon Tehranian joined the show for an episode all about NFTs. Journalist Sharon Weinberger investigated the future of surveillance technology like facial recognition software. The average length of episodes is under 15 minutes.

The Plot Thickens

“The Plot Thickens” is now in its third season. Tune in to hear about legend Lucille Ball’s successes and tribulations, hosted by Ben Mankiewicz. Episodes unpack Lucille’s love of showbiz since childhood, her early modeling gigs in NYC, her first movie role in Hollywood, and more. Hear how Lucy met Desi Arnaz and the love affair they were swept in. By episode 6, listeners learn how I Love Lucy scored a CBS TV deal. All episodes are under an hour.

Lost Hills: Dead in the Water

Pushkin Industries’ “Lost Hills: Dead in the Water” is a trending true crime podcast exploring cases in Malibu, California. When a Malibu woman and her son drowned under mysterious circumstances, her husband was arrested for murder after initially declaring the deaths accidental. When a Malibu neighbor came forward with new information, the investigation switched course. This podcast is narrated by Dana Goodyear. Season 1 was about a campground shooting. All episodes run under an hour long.

Pop Culture Happy Hour

NPR’s “Pop Culture Happy Hour” is an excellent sample platter for pop culture, TV, and film fiends. A recent episode cast predictions for 2022 and looked back at the hosts’ predictions from 2021. We recently tuned into episodes on films like Don’t Look Up, Licorice Pizza, and shows like Insecure.