GadgetClock’s 17 favorite podcasts of 2020

Many people weren’t commuting as common throughout 2020, so our podcast listening time might have been considerably lessened. Nevertheless, podcasts are nonetheless widespread. They’re nice to hearken to whereas driving, cleansing your property, exercising, or simply hanging out. There are podcasts to go well with each style, together with matters like politics, historical past, music, and comedy. In reality, there are such a lot of on the market that it might be troublesome to decide on the place to begin. We requested the workers at GadgetClock what their present favourite podcasts have been. Right here they’re — attempt them out and see what you suppose.

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Misplaced Notes 1980

Picture: David Corio / KCRW

Final yr, this podcast informed about music’s untold tales. This season focuses on the yr 1980 as a gap to, as described on the web site, “a monumental decade in widespread music,” hosted by poet and cultural critic Hanif Abdurraqib. Among the many musicians coated are Grace Jones, South African artists Hugh Masekela and Miriam Makeba, and Sugarhill Gang. From KCRW. Advised by Kevin Nguyen and Andrew Marino.

KCRW | Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | RSS

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Ear Hustle

Picture: Ear Hustle

These of us who’ve by no means been in jail get a variety of our details about it from TV dramas and the occasional information articles. Ear Hustle tells listeners in regards to the realities of the jail expertise from the perspective of those that are (or have been) incarcerated. The primary three seasons have been produced inside San Quentin State Jail in California, 2019’s season 4 added protection of post-prison life, and 2020 additionally offers with how prisons are dealing with COVID-19. From Radiotopia. Advised by Russell Brandon and Kaitlin Hatton.

Radiotopia | Apple Podcasts | RadioPublic | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify | Pandora | RSS

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Trump Inc.

Picture: WNYC Studios / ProPublica

Trump, Inc. takes an extended, arduous, and never utterly goal have a look at the businessman who’s (not less than, till January twentieth, 2021) president of the US. However his enterprise dealings (together with these of his household) stay elusive. Episodes within the third yr of this sequence cowl topics that vary from how effectively the 2017 tax overhaul really labored to protection of Trump’s more and more determined authorized marketing campaign towards the 2020 election outcomes. From WNYC. Advised by Barbara Krasnoff and Amelia Holowaty Krales.

WNYC | Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Google Play | Spotify | TuneIn | Stitcher | RadioPublic | iHeartRadio | RSS

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The Every day

Picture: Gadget Clock

In the event you’re a information junkie, you in all probability go to Gadget Clock. The Every day is the Occasions’ 20-minute have a look at the present information, accessible 5 days per week. Current matters embrace President Trump’s preemptive pardons, President-elect Biden’s cupboard picks, and the social lifetime of forests. (Effectively, not the whole lot needs to be political, does it?) From Gadget Clock. Advised by Amelia Holowaty Krales.

Gadget Clock / Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Stitcher

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Code Swap

Picture: NPR

NPR tackles the customarily difficult topic of race head-on on this podcast that examines problems with racial, ethnic, and cultural id. Hosted by journalists Shereen Marisol Meraji and Gene Demby, Code Swap seems to be at how our nation has modified in 2020, the way it hasn’t, and the way race was on the middle of the presidential marketing campaign. Additionally they dedicate a complete episode merely to answering listeners’ questions on meals, friendship, and extra. From NPR. Advised by Amelia Holowaty Krales.

NPR / NPR One / Apple Podcasts / Google Podcasts / Pocket Casts / Spotify / RSS

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The Catch and Kill Podcast

The Catch and Kill Podcast is a nine-episode sequence from Ronan Farrow that ran in early 2020 and facilities on the Harvey Weinstein trials for the primary seven episodes, then segues into President Trump’s dealings with the Nationwide Enquirer. A last added episode analyzes the February 2020 responsible verdict. From Pineapple Avenue Studios. Advised by Esther Cohen.

Apple Podcasts

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Over The Highway

Picture: Overdrive Journal and Radiotopia

GadgetClock’s Kaitlin Hatton writes: “Over the Highway is a sequence about life as a trucker each now and up to now. The eight-part sequence is hosted by ‘Lengthy Haul Paul’ Marhoefer, who’s described as a musician, storyteller, and trucker for practically 40 years. His soothing voice highlights the lives of drivers on the street and the way trucking has modified from a lawless rush of freedom to a extra regulated and fewer profitable profession path.” From Overdrive Journal and Radiotopia. Advised by Kaitlin Hatton.

Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts / Stitcher / TuneIn / Overcast / RSS

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Small City Homicide

Picture: James Pietragallo and Jimmie Whisman

Kaitlin Hatton writes: “This podcast is a good hear for any true crime fanatics on the market. Hosted by two comedians, James Pietragallo and Jimmie Whisman, these two-hour-plus episodes are an ideal mix of comedy and tragedy, making enjoyable of all of the blunders that occur in small cities surrounding homicide investigations.” From James Pietragallo and Jimmie Whisman. Advised by Kaitlin Hatton.

Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Stitcher

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Historical past is Homosexual

Picture: Historical past is Homosexual

Kaitlin Hatton writes: “It’s no secret that queer folks have been ignored all through historical past. This lighthearted podcast is about on uncovering the tales of LGBTQ folks and bringing gentle to a wealthy historical past that has gone unappreciated for many years.” From Historical past is Homosexual. Advised by Kaitlin Hatton.

RadioPublic / Stitcher

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Fast Query with Soren and Daniel

Picture: Soren Bowie and Daniel O’Brien

GadgetClock’s Monica Chin writes: “It’s arduous to explain what makes this podcast nice as a result of it’s simply two comedy writers — Daniel O’Brien of Final Week Tonight with John Oliver and Soren Bowie of American Dad! — updating one another on their lives (and sometimes mundane facets of these lives, similar to songs they’re listening to, or whether or not their kids imagine in Santa). However they’re — I’m not exaggerating — two of the funniest folks I’ve ever heard communicate, and so they handle to make these matters probably the most fascinating and humorous discussions I hear every week.” From Soren Bowie and Daniel O’Brien. Advised by Monica Chin.

PodBean / RSS

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The Tobolowsky Information

Picture: Andrew Tobolowsky

GadgetClock’s Andrew Marino writes: “Actor Stephen Tobolowsky’s podcast is mainly an audiobook of true tales about life, love, and the leisure business, brilliantly written and skim by Mr. Tobolowsky himself. That’s all you actually need to know. It’s an excellent driving podcast.” From Stephen Tobolowsky. Advised by Andrew Marino.

Apple Podcasts / RSS

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No matter Occurred to Pizza At McDonald’s?

Picture: Brian Thompson

Andrew Marino writes: “No matter Occurred to Pizza At McDonald’s? is the present I’m at all times excited to hear to every time it publishes. Host Brian Thompson in character guides the viewers by means of his satirical quest to find why fast-food chain McDonald’s stopped serving pizza within the Nineties. I largely contemplate this present a lesson in paperwork and crimson tape, the place Thompson is continually being placed on maintain or transferred to a different division when on the telephone asking questions associated to his investigation.

“I’m envious of the intelligent but ridiculous episode from this yr referred to as ‘Select your Personal Investigation: The Mysterious Pizza,’ wherein the host instructs the listener to quick ahead to particular elements of the podcast to select sure determination factors of the story, akin to a ‘Select Your Personal Journey’ storybook.” From Brian Thompson. Advised by Andrew Marino.

Apple Podcasts / Stitcher / Spotify

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Decoder Ring

Picture: Slate

On this podcast, Slate’s tv critic Willa Paskin “takes a cultural query, object, or behavior; examines its historical past; and tries to determine what it means and why it issues.” She takes on a wide range of matters, together with the rise of the Karen, the historical past of the mullet, and why unicorn poop is taken into account cute. From Slate. Advised by Andrew Marino.

Apple Podcasts / Spotify

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Eggplant: The Secret Lives of Video games

Picture: Eggplant: The Secret Lives of Video games

GadgetClock’s Ian Carlos Campbell writes: “For a recreation hosted by recreation builders interviewing their friends, this pod is remarkably approachable, even when it will get into the nitty-gritty particulars. It additionally has a killer theme track which is an under-discussed facet of fine podcasts, in my view.” From Eggplant: The Secret Lives of Video games. Advised by Ian Carlos Campbell.

Apple Podcasts / Google Podcasts / Spotify / RSS

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NPR Politics Podcast

Picture: NPR

Andrew Marino writes: “That is extra of a necessity than leisure. NPR Politics have been publishing episodes every day this yr to cowl each the pandemic and the election. Information has modified so typically in 2020 that they should put a disclaimer that issues might have modified by the point you hearken to it.

“Not solely is that this must-listen information podcast wanted to know what’s taking place within the nation, however coming again to the identical forged of political reporters day-after-day this yr is a comforting consistency.” From NPR. Advised by Andrew Marino.

NPR One / Apple Podcasts / Google Podcasts / Pocket Casts / Spotify / RSS

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Upkeep Section

Picture: Upkeep Section

Kait Sanchez writes: “Upkeep Section is a brand new pod that simply began in October. They debunk numerous dangerous myths propagated by the well being and food regimen business. Important listening for anybody who needs to deconstruct well being tradition.” It’s hosted by Michael Hobbes (co-host of You’re Flawed About) and Aubrey Gordon (author on her web site Your Fats Pal). From Upkeep Section. Advised by Kait Sanchez.

Apple Podcasts / Stitcher / Google Podcasts / Spotify

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Barely Human

Picture: Jason L’Ecuyer and Output Media

Andrew Marino writes: “This podcast covers some forgotten names in music historical past, specializing in early punk and counterculture musicians with fascinating backstories. Hosted by Max Easton, what makes this present stick out is its intelligent use of sound design and enhancing — making the narration, music, sound results, and different tape match collectively in a manner that’s constant to the general feel and look of the present. Listening to an episode appears like studying a music zine you picked up an underground bookstore.” From Jason L’Ecuyer and Output Media. Advised by Andrew Marino.

Apple Podcasts / Google Podcasts / Spotify / RSS