2022 PBS Podcasts We Loved
Oh, hi December. As the end of the calendar year rolls around we are looking (or is it listening?) back on all the podcasts we listened to over the last 12 months. Here's a list of some of the ones we loved the most and, wow, are they good. However you take your podcast, be it on a long car drive, a brisk walk, or in the background while you crochet, you'll find something for every mood.
Dear reader, please enjoy some of our favorite podcasts of 2022.
Going Wild with Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant
In this second season of this wonderful, informative, and sound-rich podcast, Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant takes us around the world to learn about different animal habitats. This season, Dr. Wynn-Grant introduces us to some of her fellow wildlife conservationists. Their animal-related stories are as scientifically fascinating as they are touching on a human level.
Here's just a taste of the podcast: an episode about sharks, rays, and academia with marine biologist Jasmin Graham.
It's Lit! [Unabridged]
This is the best book club we've ever joined. And there isn't a better host than Princess Weekes, who also co-hosts the It's Lit! video series that spun off this podcast. Weekes has in-depth conversations with authors and the insights they deliver are top-tier.
This episode featuring Hood Feminism author Mikki Kendall is phenomenal. It might have you adding some books to your holiday wish lists.
On Our Minds
From Newshour's Student Reporting Labs comes one of the best podcasts about mental health. Two teen reporters guide listeners through various topics related to youth mental health. Each conversation, as potentially difficult or sensitive as it may be, is made accessible and relatable. This podcast is great for young people, parents, and caregivers alike.
Listen to this episode from June that explores the dynamics of LGBTQ+ teens coming out to their immigrant family members, particularly those from immigrant communities of color.
American Masters: Creative Spark
The magic of artistry is revealed. Sort of. Each episode asks an iconic creative mind how they developed one of their works of art. The featured artists range in genres and backgrounds, from Pulitzer Prize-winning playwrights and poets to comedians, and every brilliant medium in between. Each episode is so good and so inspiring.
In this latest episode, listen to the iconic, multi-hyphenate artist Buffy Sainte-Marie talk about the creative process behind her song, "Carry It On."
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MASTERPIECE Studio
Spoilers abound in the podcast that brings drama fans (hi, it's me...) behind the scenes of the latest and greatest MASTERPIECE plotlines. After you watch your favorite show, tune into MASTERPIECE Studio for candid conversations with cast and crew about all the good stuff that goes into making it. Key point: listen to this podcast after you watch the show because you'll get gritty bits about filming that shocking scene or witty banter about what's to come for a certain blossoming relationship.
Here is an episode for Grantchester fans who have already finished the seventh season. Series lead actor Tom Brittney and head writer Daisy Coulum discuss the eventful (to say the least!) season seven finale and talk about what's ahead for bucolic Grantchester's favorite vicar in season eight.
Stories from the Stage
Good stories make you laugh, cry, and laugh again. They capture our attention and connect with you, staying rent-free in your memory. This podcast is truly one good story after another and each is a lovely reminder of our shared humanity despite all the differences in our individual experiences.
Thankfully for us podcast listeners, World Channel turned its beloved show Stories from the Stage, in which people share their diverse lived experiences before a live audience, into a podcast! Hosts Liz Cheng and Patricia Alvarado Nuñez start each episode with an overview of the theme and featured storytellers. Take a listen here to an episode titled "Unexpected Connections."
PBS KIDS podcasts for the whole family
If you're looking for podcasts to listen to with the whole family, make sure you check out the podcasts from PBS Parents that includes several shows from the PBS KIDS lineup!
And of course, there are so many more podcasts that are worth a listen. This is just a few of our faves but we always want more! Let us know what your favorite podcasts were this past year.