When you’re doing chores, it’s likely that your main focus is your endpoint. You scrub, rake, load, unload, lift, drop and fold, thinking all the while of how you’ll treat yourself when it’s finally over.
That is, unless you listen to podcasts and audiobooks while you work. Now that I’ve discovered this hands-free way of getting meditative, informative entertainment, I often find myself doing more than I would otherwise simply to hear the rest of a story. Though, I also find myself unable to proceed with chores if my phone happens to die.
These are five great podcasts that I turn to when I’m facing a big project, long drive or deep clean. I encourage you to listen while you work! Just be careful using technology around water…
CRIMINAL
Stories to engross and hypnotize you while you fold shirts, sort your book collection or pull weeds.
Host: Phoebe Judge
thisiscriminal.com
Criminal isn’t your typical true crime podcast. Host Phoebe Judge approaches crime from a curious angle, diving into some of the most bizarre and psychologically intriguing crimes of our time. Crimes that make you wonder, Did that person really think this would work? Or, How on Earth did that actually work? Or just, Why?
Judge spotlights unusual crimes like stowing away on a cruise ship and stealing rare books. She investigates peripheral aspects of crime, interviewing a Witness Protection Program insider and visiting a “body farm” for Forensic Anthropologists. She tackles heart-wrenching, monstrous acts that are difficult to comprehend, and she interviews individuals who simply got caught in the crosshairs.
HAPPIER
Advice and interviews to motivate you to adopt better habits, achieve new highs or just take time for yourself.
Hosts: Gretchen Rubin and Elizabeth Craft
gretchenrubin.com/podcasts/
The Happier podcast is a perfect listen when you’re looking for something to not only entertain you, but to also keep you moving and motivated. With each episode, sisters Gretchen Rubin (author of The Happiness Project) and Elizabeth Craft (television writer and producer) discuss actionable ways to overcome bad habits, create healthier ones and improve your life overall.
There are two things that I appreciate most about this podcast. One, the tips they give are actionable and customizable. Rubin believes that there’s no set standard for getting things done or adopting good habits, and she always suggests ways to achieve your goals as an individual, rather than offering blanket solutions.
Second, they talk current events, book releases and studies for the most up-to-date advice and insights. For example, a fresh new study reports that people need to spend 120 minutes in nature per week. Almost immediately, Rubin and Craft discussed what this means and how to apply it in everyday life – just as I was wondering myself.
MY FAVORITE MURDER
Stories – and tangents – to make you laugh and take your mind off of any drama outside of the current moment.
Hosts: Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
www.myfavoritemurder.com
My Favorite Murder is a pretty well-known true crime podcast at this point. It spends a lot of time on the top of lists as one of the most popular and highly-recommended podcasts around. If you haven’t listened yet, I’d recommend starting at the start. This is one of those podcasts that gets better as you develop an interest in the hosts, their lives and their idiosyncrasies. If you begin with the latest episode, you might feel a little lost, wondering: Why is everyone yelling “Stephen!?” Or, Who is Elvis?
All of that aside, wherever you start your journey in this podcast, you’re guaranteed to be entertained and mortified. You’ll hear dark and twisted stories about murder, along with the reactions of each host as they listen, recoil, make interjections, get side-tracked and circle back.
Keep in mind that this podcast might make you afraid to go out into the world, let alone open your windows.
*Warning: Second portion of below episode includes sexual assault.
99% INVISIBLE
Stories that will teach you about the less-obvious things in the world that mean more than we could ever imagine.
Host: Roman Mars
99percentinvisible.org
99% Invisible has been around for nearly a decade now. Yet, Roman Mars continues to find little details in the world that merit a big shout-out. The storytelling in this podcast is so well-crafted and engaging that even the most obscure topics become cinematic for 20 to 40 minutes. In fact, Mars and his team perfected their podcasting skills to the point that they were able to start their own network: Radiotopia.
So, what sort of “little details” will you get out of this podcast? With a decade’s worth of content, you can throw a virtual dart and hit any small nugget of knowledge that will fascinate you – and make you see the invisible stories all around you. You’ll learn about everything from iconic cartoon sound effects, to the invention of the straw, to a vault in Norway that’s full of seeds. You’ll get a window into curious histories that you weren’t taught in school, like the failed City of the Future, Bijlmermeer (Episode 296 and 297), and the origin of Chinatowns (Episode 319).
Listen to this podcast while you do detail work and the work itself will be absolutely effortless. Plus, once you’ve wrapped up, you’ll have more than a finished project – you’ll have a new piece of fully-explored, random information to bring up at dinner parties.
TTFA (TERRIBLE, THANKS FOR ASKING)
Stories that invite you into the most difficult and painful corners of individuals’ lives – with a strong dose of humor.
Host: Nora McInerny
www.ttfa.org
I listen to this podcast as soon as I see that a new episode is out, though it isn’t always appropriate in the moment. Why not appropriate? Because this podcast usually makes me cry. Still, I’ll hit play no matter the circumstances – whether I’m walking to get drinks with friends or I’m early to some celebratory event and passing time in my car.
In her podcast, host Nora McInerny invites her guests to give their truest answer to the question: How are you? These guests often tell stories of the worst days of their lives, and McInerny provides a space in which they can be fully honest and vulnerable. A space where no one tells them, “It’ll get better,” “Don’t cry,” or “You’re fine.” (Not that these sentences aren’t okay, but McInerny’s podcast isn’t the place for them.)
Listen to this podcast to get perspective, get closer to humanity and perhaps find a community – without having to go to group therapy. You might want to listen while you’re out gardening or walking on a sunny day. Just be prepared to get derailed by heart-wrenching testimonies for minutes at a time.
*Expect that I’ll be talking about this podcast (and author Nora McInerny) in future content. It’s a favorite.
Warning: Below episode focuses on a recent mass shooting.
Are you already a fan of these podcasts? Or do you have a great podcast recommendation of your own? I’d love to hear about your favorites in the comments!
Feature Photo: Melanie Pongratz/Unsplash
J. Lauren White 
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