International Podcast Day 2018

It's September 30, which in my personal calendar marks a special occasion: it's International Podcast Day! 

I've been an avid podcast listener ever since I first discovered the world of podcasting. That was in the autumn of 2004, at the time when I had two jobs, and had to take long and boring daily commutes. Thanks to my first iPod, those countless hours spent in public transport - which would otherwise have been totally wasted - transformed into hours spent listening to thought-provoking interviews, exciting radio drama series, and educational programmes.

Podcasting market has since grown exponentially, with podcasts on pretty much every subject imaginable. As with YouTube channels, not all are good, and it can take time to find the ones that will really resonate with you while being at a high level of production quality. To help sift through thousands of podcasts out there, I've compiled a list of top 5 podcasts that caught my attention since last September. This is my third annual list, and since I still regularly listen to all of the podcasts I mentioned back in 2016 and 2017, do have a look at those earlier lists as well.

Ideas from CBC Radio

At the moment I'm subscribed to over seventy podcasts. Granted, I don't listen to all of them on a weekly - let alone daily - basis, but one that I make sure to follow regularly is Ideas, coming from Canada's public broadcaster. First launched in 1965, it's one of CBC Radio's flagship programmes, now available also as a podcast. It's described as a series of "documentaries in which thoughts are gathered, contexts explored, and connections made." If you're into humanities, or just have an inquisitive mind, don't miss this one.

Heaven's Gate

Remember Heaven's Gate, a religious cult involved in a 1997 mass suicide? This 10-episode documentary series presents a unique insight into the workings of this group and the kind of mentality that ultimately led to thirty-nine deaths. It's a captivating story, including interviews with former members, and authentic audio material that wasn't previously publicly available.

Ancient Greek History

There are loads and loads of audio lectures in podcast format, released by prominent universities. With background in Classics, I'm partial to this one. I used it as a kind of refresher course in Greek history, also curious to see how the subject is taught at Yale. Lectures are held by Prof. Donald Kagan (recorded in 2007), and are also available on YouTube, and the Open Yale Courses website, where you can download additional material. The subject matter is presented in a simple and inviting way: it's an introductory course, and you definitely needn't worry that you wouldn't be able to follow. The entire course consists of 24 lectures, each about an hour long. 

And in case the name Donald Kagan doesn't ring a bell, have a look at the 2013 article on him in the Chronicle of Higher Education. He may not be to everyone's liking (ideologically speaking), but as a historian and classicist, he knows his stuff.

The Folklore Podcast

A treasure among podcasts. Hosted by Mark Norman, a British folklorist and researcher, affiliated with the Folklore Society and the celebrated Museum of Witchcraft and Magic. As the title indicates, the podcast - continuously running since 2016 - deals with traditions, customs and myths. Episodes include interviews with leading experts in this fascinating field. On the website, you can support Mark's work by purchasing supplementary e-zines and merchandise. 

Shift Your Spirits

I always aim to feature at least one podcast from the Religion & Spirituality category, which continues to be one of my favourite ones. Over the years, my interests within that category have largely shifted, from more conventional onto those dealing with pagan spirituality or the paranormal. Luckily, there's a good deal of podcasts on these and related subjects, and one of the best ones is Shift Your Spirits hosted by Slade Robertson. It contains talks and interviews in which Slade and his guests address a range of topics, from spiritualism and witchcraft to wellness and astrology. There's something here for everyone who is more into, shall we say, an alternative way of looking at things.

International Podcast Day 2017

Today, September 30, is the International Podcast Day. Here on Life & Letters I traditionally post a Top 5 list of podcasts I've most enjoyed listening to over the past year. While I continue to regularly listen to all of the podcasts I've singled out in 2016, I'd like to draw attention to some new titles, including those in languages other than English, namely in German and Esperanto.

The Art of Manliness
The Art of Manliness has been described as a "podcast that aims to make men become better men." Hosted by Brett McKay, it's a treasure trove of practical advice and stimulating ideas, done through interviews with acclaimed authors, researchers, athletes, and others. Some might say that the podcast promotes a bit old-fashioned notion of masculinity, but I'd say it's part of its charm. Highly recommended.

Radio Prague
I first started listening to Radio Prague back when it was a daily English language shortwave broadcast of the Czech public radio. It has since switched to online streaming and podcasts only. I think of Radio Prague as the very best of what international radio used to be, and so I always listen to it with a sense of nostalgia. Daily 30-minute podcasts typically consist of a brief news roundup, followed by interesting feature stories about the Czech culture, history, sports, etc. There's also a regular monthly quiz, with nice prizes for the lucky winners.

Fitness mit M.A.R.K.
There are several fitness podcasts I've been following, but none are as dynamic, informative and quite as motivating as this one. It's in German, and has been consistently at the top of the German iTunes list of health podcasts. It's hosted by Mark Maslow, who is also a bestselling author and a prominent speaker on the subject of training. I've found each and every episode useful, plus it provided me with another opportunity to practice my German listening skills.

Modern Witch
This one I've discovered only a few months ago, and it has definitely caught my attention. Modern Witch deals with the subject of "witchcraft, the occult and mysticism in the 21st century". Sounds cool, eh? The host, Devin Hunter, sits down with intriguing guests from all sorts of different neo-pagan and occult backgrounds, which makes for a fascinating listen.

3ZZZ Esperanto Radio
As I've been working on improving my Esperanto, listening to this podcast has been of great value. Hosted by several members of the Esperanto Association of Melbourne, each podcast includes news from the Esperanto community, contemporary music in Esperanto, and other features. When it comes to radio, this show - originally broadcast on Melbourne's local ethnic radio station 3ZZZ - is an invaluable resource for Esperantists.

To learn more about the International Podcast Day, and podcasting in general, have a look at the official IPD website.

International Podcast Day 2016

It was in the autumn of 2004 that I first discovered podcasting. My first iPod has since been replaced, but I still don't go anywhere without whatever device I can play podcasts on. Whether I'm cooking, going for a long walk, shopping or commuting, it's more than likely I'll be catching up on my favourite ones. On the occasion of September 30, International Podcast Day, I'm sharing my list of top 5 podcasts I've enjoyed the most during the past year.

On Point with Tom Ashbrook
Coming from WBUR/NPR, On Point is done in the best tradition of public radio. It has been one of those shows that initially got me into listening to podcasts. It covers a range of issues, from current affairs to science and history to medicine. Each show consists of an interview conduced by Tom Ashbrook and listeners calling in, asking questions and commenting. You can count on it always being informative, concise, and up-to-date.

Beyond Belief
Beyond Belief is BBC Radio 4's flagship series on religion. Each thirty-minute episode is a panel with several experts discussing a particular subject from different angles. Topics greatly vary, and among the recent ones were Rumi, debt, pacifism, mercy, trauma, and ghosts. The show is presented by Bernie Rea, a Northern Irish theologian who's been with the BBC since the 1970s.

Inspirational Living
The full title of this podcast is Inspirational Living: Motivation, Self-help, Spirituality & Positive Thinking. Weekly episodes last up to 20 minutes and consist of a reading from an inspirational piece of writing. What I particularly like about this podcast, is that a lot of the readings are from the early 1900s, a period that I love. It just gives the whole show an air of old-time radio.

The Black Tapes
This year has been the first in which I gave radio drama a shot - it's been a format I've never particularly enjoyed. Well, until now. The Black Tapes is produced by Pacific Northwest Stories and Minnow Beats Whale (both worth checking out for other projects). So far, the show has had two seasons with another one coming up. It's a docudrama about the supernatural and the paranormal, revolving around the enigmatic figure of Dr Strand and the journalist Alex Reagan. The podcast has quite a dedicated fan base, as can be seen on the podcast's Twitter account.

The Big Seance
Speaking of the supernatural, my single biggest discovery of 2016 has been The Big Seance podcast hosted by Patrick Keller. It's the podcast for "paranerds" - a word I first heard on this show and have since adopted with gusto. Episodes consist of interviews with people who are into different aspects of the paranormal / supernatural: book authors, photographers, psychics etc. Another regular feature is Spectral Edition with Tim Prasil - a brief segment reporting on ghost sightings mentioned in the 19th and early 20th century newspapers. It's all great fun!

All of the podcasts listed here are available on iTunes (et sim.) or on the individual websites. Please share your favourite podcasts in the comment section below. And happy Podcast Day!

Mother Teresa's 18.250 dark nights of the soul

A new book of Mother Teresa's letters continues to cause a stir in the world of religion. It has now come to light that the saintly woman spent most of her life doubting the very existence of God.

It seems that this piece of information won't have much influence on the ongoing process of her canonization, although she is not likely to be officially made a saint as soon as it was initially thought. The Vatican commission in charge is apparently having trouble finding any solid evidence for a miracle that happened through her intercession, one among a number of requirements.

She is by no means the only Catholic saint (or saint-to-be) famous for her doubt and struggle with faith. Among more popular ones is a medieval mystic St John of the Cross. Some already make comparisons between Mother Teresa's collection of letters and St John's "Dark Night of the Soul."

Seems like a timely piece of work for this day and age.

More on this: an editorial from Mennonite Weekly Review and an excellent On Point (NPR) podcast.

Podcasts Update

If you're into podcasting, make sure you download CBC's Words at Large Podcast 15. CBC Radio's Tapestry host Mary Hynes speaks to writer Oriah Mountain Dreamer about her latest book, creativity and spirituality. It's a gem.

Along with moving to Beta Blogger earlier today (which made my blogging a bit more comfortable), another addition to SJ is a brand new Top 10 Podcasts section on your right (below all the other links). As you will notice, the selection is rather ecclectic - and listed in alphabetical order, which is so like me! It's the sort of stuff I listen to on my way to work or while cycling.