Addictive new and noteworthy podcasts

As a die hard fan of Gimlet's first audio fiction podcast Homecoming, I was really looking forward to their newest fictional release Sandra. It didn't disappoint. High production quality and solid acting performances are two of the hardest things to nail in modern audio drama. Gimlet has been able to attract incredible acting talent with their serialized dramas, which immediately puts their work ahead of the herd. The sophisticated sound design makes for very immersive listening. The environments they are able to create take an interesting idea to a whole other level. There is a third act twist that I wasn't crazy about (don't @ me). But, overall Sandra is compelling listening, and will leave you wanting more.

-  Kate Evans, Producer, Podcast Playlist

Podcasts featured this week:

• Sandra - Helen's always dreamed of ditching her hometown, so when she lands a job at the company that makes Sandra, everyone's favourite A.I., she figures it's the next-best thing. Starring Kristen Wiig and Alia Shawkat. Click here to listen to the full episode.

• Caliphate - Who is it that ISIS appeals to, and how? New York Times reporter Rukmini Callimachi speaks with a former ISIS member (who goes by the jihadi nom de guerre Abu Huzaifa al-Kanadi) about how and why he joined the fold. Click here to listen to the full episode.

• Making Obama - Former President Barack Obama won his first political seat in 1996. Hear what he had to learn, and the conflicts he faced, to get there. Click here to listen to the full episode.

• Other People's Problems - Sometimes we use thrills — even illegal ones — to lift our mood when we're feeling down. Maggie is a stay-at-home mom who struggles with the humdrum of raising little ones.  Can she find a way to feel proud and powerful without destructive risks? Click here to listen to the full episode.

• Ox Tales - In Japan, 'slurp' is more than just eating-related onomatopoeia. Japanese cultural and food historian Voltaire Cang researches and explores the significance of this important sound in the complex role it plays during the refined tea ceremony, Chado. Click here to listen to the full episode.

• Ladies, We Need to Talk - Have you ever been tempted to cheat on your partner? We hear a lot about men who cheat, but what about the women? This episode speaks with one woman about why she decided to cheat. Click here to listen to the full episode.

• Nobody Cares (Except for Me) - Kat Angus — BuzzFeed senior writer and co-host of the podcast I Hate It But I Love It — joins hist Anne T. Donahue to talk about something very important to her: Babe, and whether or not the beloved title character cheated at the end of the film. Click here to listen to the full episode.

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