How Podcasts are Helping This Therapist Get Through Quarantine

How Podcasts are Helping This Therapist Get Through Quarantine

Madison Marcus-Paddison, LMSW

Something I knew before this pandemic, was that I liked podcasts. But after COVID19 set fire to my social life and other typical means of coping, I have come to realize how much I rely on them, to get me through each day. On the days that I don’t listen to podcasts and I’m stuck at home social distancing, I’ve noticed I’m more lethargic, apathetic and disconnected. After all of the work I’ve done in my own personal therapy sessions, I’ve learned those three things are the perfect recipe for me to go down a path toward overwhelming feelings of anxiety and depression. During this unprecedented time (remember precedented times?!), podcasts have been an ace in my pocket that I can play when I feel myself slipping into that dark place.

Here’s what I love about podcasts:

They help me feel productive and expose me to new things.

For some reason, I can’t rock an audiobook- my mind wanders and I find myself having to relisten to the same passage over and over again. But with podcasts, I can listen and be completely engaged while doing any number of things- going for a walk, doing a puzzle, folding laundry, running errands, driving, cooking, gardening, etc. Podcasts help me cross things off my to-do list, make me feel achieved, and possibly learned something new along the way. Here are some of my favorites:

• RadioLab: “This show focuses on topics of a scientific and philosophical nature. The show attempts to approach broad, difficult topics such as “time” and “morality” in an accessible and light-hearted manner and with a distinctive audio production style.”

• Ear Hustle: “A non-fiction podcast about prison life produced at San Quentin State Prison by former inmate Earlonne Woods and inmate Antwan Williams, along with Nigel Poor, an artist who volunteers at the prison.” Inmates share what life is like on the inside and sometimes open up about the path that led them to prison.

• Revisionist History: “Malcolm Gladwell’s journey through the overlooked and the misunderstood. Every episode re-examines something from the past—an event, a person, an idea, even a song—and asks whether we got it right the first time.”

• TED talks daily: “Every weekday, TED Talks Daily brings you the latest talks in audio- thought-provoking ideas on every subject imaginable — from Artificial Intelligence to Zoology, and everything in between — given by the world’s leading thinkers and creators.”

• This American Life: “Each week we choose a theme and put together different kinds of stories on that theme. … Our favorite sorts of stories have compelling people at the center of them, funny moments, big feelings, surprising plot twists, and interesting ideas.”

• Song Exploder: “Song Exploder is a podcast where musicians take apart their songs, and piece by piece, tell the story of how they were made.”

They make me feel less alone, when I am in fact, alone.

Some podcasts are episodic and walk you through a fictional story or a retelling of a historical event. Some features people sharing their own stories. Others may be hosted by a few people who know each other well enough to banter back and forth. With each episode of the same podcast, you get to know the hosts’ personalities and it can feel like you’re hanging out with a group of your friends. Additionally, podcasts typically have message boards where you can talk about the podcast with fellow listeners of the show. Podcasts also help fuel connections in real life and can contribute to initiating conversations. One of my favorite things is screenshotting a podcast episode and sharing it with a friend so we can talk about it later. Here are some of my favorites:

• The Moth: “The Moth’s mission is to promote the art and craft of storytelling and to honor and celebrate the diversity and commonality of human experience. Since its launch in 1997, The Moth has presented thousands of stories told live and without notes.”

• Mortified: “The Mortified Podcast is a storytelling series where adults share the embarrassing things they created as kids—diaries, letters, lyrics & beyond—in front of total strangers.”

• Unlocking Us: “Join researcher and #1 New York Times best-selling author Brené Brown as she unpacks and explores the ideas, stories, experiences, books, films, and music that reflect the universal experiences of being human, from the bravest moments to the most brokenhearted.”

• Beautiful Stories by Anonymous People: “Every week, host Chris Gethard opens the phone line to one anonymous caller, and he can’t hang up first, no matter what. From shocking confessions and family secrets to philosophical discussions and shameless self-promotion, anything can and will happen!”

They help me stay informed…to the degree that is healthy for me.

I’m a person who is highly triggered by the news. I know myself well enough to know that I need to limit my exposure to sad things in order to dedicate my energy to the things that keep me feeling well. That being said, I don’t want to completely isolate myself and not know what’s going on in the world. I can listen to podcasts that give me just enough information to formulate an opinion, but not paralyze me with sadness or anger. Here are some of my favorites:

• theNewsWorthy: “The day’s news made fast, fair and fun – in less than 10 minutes. … theNewsWorthy is packed with politics, tech, business and entertainment from a variety of sources — brought together in one, convenient place (and with a fun twist)”

• Today, explained: “News comes at you fast. Join us at the end of your day to understand it. Today, Explained is your all killer, no filler, Monday to Friday news.”

• Wait, Wait….don’t tell me: “An hour-long weekly news-based radio panel show where panelists and contestants are quizzed in humorous ways about that week’s news.”

Podcasts put a smile on my face and make me feel more optimistic.

With the current state of the world, it can be really easy to feel stuck in a place of hopelessness. It’s hard to escape what’s going on right now- especially since other means of distraction (social media, TV, radio) are bursting at the seams with despair. Purposely listening to a podcast that focuses on happiness and laughter is a nice vacation from it all and can help to reignite your faith in humanity. Here are some of my favorites:

• Conan O’Brien needs a Friend: “Deeper, unboundedly playful, and free from FCC regulations, Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend is a weekly opportunity for Conan to hang out with the people he enjoys most and perhaps find some real friendship along the way.”

• My Brother, My Brother and Me:  “A weekly comedy advice podcast hosted by brothers Justin, Travis, and Griffin McElroy. Regular episodes of the podcast feature the brothers comedically providing answers to questions either submitted by listeners or found on the Yahoo! Answers service.”

• Terrible, thanks for asking: “On This Podcast, The Answer Is: ‘Terrible, Thanks For Asking’ Nora McInerny is tired of small talk. … McInerny deals with death, loss, and coming through trauma. But her approach to these tough subjects is saturated with love and humor.”

• Reply All: “Reply All is a show that features stories about how people shape the internet, and how the internet shapes people.”

• Hope, through History: “”Hope, Through History” is a limited-run documentary podcast series that will address times when American leaders and community members were forced to face crises of historic magnitude. Meacham will dive into how these crises affected the economy and culture.”

Podcasts remind me that I’m human.

Sometimes when I’m feeling low, it helps to remind myself that the brain is a muscle and there are physiological reasons I’m feeling the way I’m feeling. Learning about neuroscience helps me take a little of the pressure off myself to “snap out of it”, and increases my understanding of how my brain anatomy processes information, thoughts, and feelings. These podcasts always help me be more self-compassionate and forgiving. Here are some of my favorites:

• Invisibilia: “Unseeable forces control human behavior and shape our ideas, beliefs, and assumptions. Invisibilia—Latin for invisible things—fuses narrative storytelling with science that will make you see your own life differently.”

• Hidden Brain: “Hidden Brain helps curious people understand the world – and themselves. Using science and storytelling, Hidden Brain reveals the unconscious patterns that drive human behavior, the biases that shape our choices, and the triggers that direct the course of our relationships.”

• On Being: “A public radio conversation and podcast that examines what it calls the, “animating questions at the center of human life: What does it mean to be human, and how do we want to live?”

Podcasts help me evaluate myself in a way that isn’t self-deprecating.

We can all agree that self-reflection and evaluation is a good thing, right? Well, if you have a tendency to be your own worst critic and habitually rely on your flaws and failures as a measure of success, you probably avoid doing this because it makes you feel like garbage. The following podcasts approach personal growth in a way that’s normalizing, captivating, kind, and universal. Here are some of my favorites:

• The Hilarious World of Depression: “The Hilarious World of Depression is a series of frank, moving, and, yes, funny conversations with top entertainers who have dealt with depression.”

• Mental Illness Happy Hour: “A weekly online podcast that interviews comedians, artists, friends, and the occasional doctor. Each episode explores mental illness, trauma, addiction, and negative thinking.”

• Jen Gotch is OK… sometimes: “Each week I’m going to get in your ear, tell you about my fears, my pain, my triumphs and hopefully in the process help you become more self-aware, build your own emotional intelligence, and more than anything else, FEEL LESS ALONE.”

• The Struggle Bus: ”An advice show about mental health, self-care, and just getting through the damn day.”

• Where Should We Begin?: “Step into iconic couples therapist Esther Perel’s office and listen as real couples anonymously bare the raw, intimate, and profound details of their story. From infidelity to sexlessness, to loss, it’s a space for people to be heard and understood.”

Podcasts help me calm down when meditation isn’t an option.

Meditation is a continuous practice and sometimes I feel like I’m still in the “information gathering” phase. When I’m feeling a certain way, meditation can turn into a continuous loop of “noticing my thoughts without judgement, and gently bringing myself back to the present moment”. I’ve experienced success with this, but it can also be exhausting, which is the opposite desired effect. Listening to a soothing podcast has been extremely beneficial when I don’t have the psychological stamina to meditate. Here are some of my favorites:

• Untangle: ”Experts and ‘real people’ share stories about how mindfulness practices have changed their lives.”

• The One You Feed: “A podcast helping us focus on the fact that we do have the power to make choices and the ability to choose the “one we feed”–including choosing gratitude and joy in each situation, no matter what we face.”

• Not another anxiety show: “A podcast for all: from the always anxious to the occasionally overwhelmed to the painfully panicked. … Learn what anxiety really is, why the best of us can get caught in its web, and how to move past its sticky grip.”

• 10% Happier: “Ten Percent Happier with Dan Harris Podcast. … In this podcast, Dan explores happiness (whatever that means) from all angles. Guests include legendary meditation teachers — from the Dalai Lama to Western masters — as well as scientists, and even the odd celebrity.
  
• Nothing much happens: “Bedtime stories for grown-ups. Each episode features a simple yet rewarding nighttime story with an adult flair. The objective is to help us all get more restful sleep and shut out common distractions.”

There’s a podcast for every interest.

News, true crime, comedy, how-to, sports, music, business, TV, movies, finance, etc. If you can conceive it, it’s out there. Here’s a list of the current top 100 podcasts. 

They’re free and accessible.

You can listen to podcasts on so many different platforms, through your computer, tablet, or phone. Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Earwolf, Stitcher, and other listening apps allow audiences to choose how they listen. You can rewind and fast forward episodes, and also, you can hit the “speed control” button (1x) to increase the playback speed, (which means you can listen to the podcast in a shorter amount of time, which means, TIME FOR MORE PODCASTS!).  

What are some of your favorite podcasts and how have they helped you get through the hard days?