#PodcastDay: podcast recommendations from CBCs top podcasters
To celebrate International Podcast Day, we asked the hosts of CBC's top podcasts for their favourite podcasts.
1. When you're looking for a good story
Stuart Mclean, host of The Vinyl Cafe has known Radiolab host Robert Krulwich for 30 years.
"I was working for Sunday Morning on CBC Radio and Robert was working for All Things Considered at NPR and we just became best friends," said Mclean.
Radiolab is Mclean's favourite podcast.
"Nobody can explain a complicated issue with more humour and intelligence than Robert," he said.
Find out more about Radiolab here. Find out more about the Vinyl Cafe here.
2. When you need a good laugh
When the hosts of This is That are looking for a laugh, they turn to Vancouver-based podcast, Stop Podcasting Yourself.
"It's a comedy podcast, but it's much more than that," said Pat Kelly.
"It's interviews that are held in kind of a comfortable living room setting," added Peter Oldring.
The pair then wandered off, saying they were going to watch some birds nest.
Find out more about Stop Podcasting Yourself here. Find out more about This Is That here.
3. When you're looking to get cultured
When q host Shad is looking to learn something about Canadian arts and culture, he turns to Kreative Kontrol, a podcast based out of Guelph, Ontario.
Shad loves how host Vish Khana is always well researched — and secures interesting guests for long-form interviews.
"He's just interested in people and loves talking music, comedy, what have you," he said.
Find out more about Kreative Kontrol here. Find out more about q here.
4. When you want to learn something new
Paul Kennedy admits his favourite podcast might seem like an unusual choice.
The Ideas host loves listening to Car Talk, an NPR show hosted by mechanics Tom and Ray Magzliozzi that has people call in from around the U.S. with their car issues.
"I don't even have a car. I love listening to them talk about how to fix a car. They do it in an almost philosophical fashion," said Kennedy.
"It's something I learn something from all the time."
Find out more about Car Talk here. Find out more about Ideas here.
5. When you need to escape from work
Dr. Brian Goldman, host of White Coat, Black Art, is an emergency room physician — but he doesn't listen to medical podcasts.
"I don't like medical podcasts, because it feels like work," he said.
Instead, he finds an escape in podcasts like The Walking Dead Girl podcast — a podcast where hosts Jasmine and her dad, Michael, talk about AMC TV shows The Walking Dead and Fear The Walking Dead.
"They explain all the ins and outs. They know everything about The Walking Dead," he said.
"It's like a father daughter conversation — which I wish I had with my own daughter."
Find out more about The Walking Dead Girl podcast here. Find out more about White Coat, Black Art here.
6. When you have insatiable curiosity
Under the Influence host Terry O'Reilly listens to Here's The Thing with Alec Baldwin "religiously."
"[Baldwin]'s insatiably curious about people, and I love that, and he really, really does his homework," said O'Reilly.
O'Reilly loves the range of people who are interviewed on the show — actors, politicians, authors and musicians.
"Here's the thing — he's really, really funny," said O'Reilly.
Find out more about Here's The Thing here. Find out more about Under The Influence here.
7. When you need to hone a skill
Jeff Douglas, co-host of As It Happens is big into cycling, and one of his favourite podcasts is the Semi-Pro Cycling Podcast.
"It acts kind of like a coach, but also gives me news on the sport that I love," he said.
His co-host Carol Off prefers to spend her time listening to the BBC Newshour podcast.
"I get tough, hard interviews, and I learn all kinds of techniques," she said.
"You're way smarter than me," Douglas said to Off.
"I don't ride a bike," replied Off.
Find out more about the Semi-Pro Cycling Podcast here. Find out more about the BBC Newshour podcast here. Find out more about As It Happens here.
8. When you want to get lost in a good story
Albert Leung, host of Campus, is "totally digging" Limetown — a new audio fiction podcast.
He said the podcast partners great story telling with strong production.
"I can get completely lost and tune everything out," he said.
"It gives me goosebumps at times."
Find out more about Limetown here. Find out more about Campus here.
9. When you need to indulge a guilty pleasure
Host and producer of Podcast Playlist Lindsay Michael loves How Did This Get Made?, which dissects terrible movies.
"They talk about one terrible movie per episode for over an hour and they'll rip it apart," Michael said.
"I think recently I listened to eight episodes back-to-back over the course of an entire day, and laughed the whole time."
Find out more about How Did This Get Made? here. Find out more about Podcast Playlist here.
What is your favourite podcast? Send us an e-mail, or tweet us @PodcastPlaylist.
Looking for more podcast recommendations? Check out Podcast Playlist Thursdays at 11 p.m. and Saturdays at 2 p.m. on CBC Radio One.
You can also check out CBC's podcast portal — we have more than 99 home grown podcasts available for subscription or download!