Use it or lose it.
One way I like to try keeping my English in gear is by listening to podcasts. That doesn’t take any effort on my part, but I feel like I am part of a conversation and I can hear actual conversations between native speakers on a regular basis. They’re perfect for the times on the bus or train, especially now that university has moved to City Nord (which is far, far away).
People often say they do not like podcasts. Indeed, they may not be to everyone’s liking, but in my opinion, it’s just that they are an acquired taste; albeit one which comes in a sheer endless amount of flavours, and there is a flavour for everyone. Those people just haven’t found the right flavour yet. One reason podcasts may appear threatening at first is their length. Listening to music in bite-sized chunks doesn’t feel as big a commitment as listening to a 1 ½ hour long detailed analysis and comment on the trashy movie Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 for example. There are of course shorter podcasts like Stuff You Should Know, which may be better suited to someone who is not used to the format. The show, which has aired more than 1000 episodes in the past 10 years, offers 20-60 minute long episodes – early episodes are even shorter – on almost all possible topics, thanks to the longevity of the show. Episodes range from topics like ‚How do dogs perceive time?‚ to ‚How Impeachment Works‚.
This diversity of topics within just this one podcast reflects the range of the format as a whole. Because of the free internet, anyone with a microphone can create a podcast. Wherever there is an audience, there is a podcast for it. That is the reason why there can even be weekly podcasts “for all things stationery. Pens, pencils, paper, ink – you name it”.
The bottom line is, you will find a podcast that suits your interests, if you look for one. Think about a genre you like, or look for one addressing your favourite hobby. Every major news outlet has their own series of podcasts, if you just seek to be updated on the current goings on. Or you can find a podcast like Citations Needed, which takes a closer look at ‚the media, power, PR, and the history of bullshit‘.
Unfortunately, podcasts are a highly subjective field. There is no easy formula to give you the perfect podcast. Everybody is interested in different topics. As long as you find something you can enjoy, you’re making progress. Once you enter the world of podcasts, it will become easier to dig deeper. Various podcast networks simplify the search by offering a selection. Other than that, it can be helpful to search for top-rated podcasts to start things off. While I do believe that it is helpful to explore what interests you on your own, it cannot hurt to list a few examples.
My all-time-favourite podcast is S-Town. It is a fairly short non-fictional podcasts (7 episodes) about a person, John, from Alabama who contacted a reporter, Brian, about all the corruption and a suspected murder in his little “shit-town”, hoping for assistance. While the story starts there, it quickly moves on beyond the initial setting and takes a closer look at the fascinating life of John himself.
Hello Internet is a podcast by the educational YouTubers CGP Grey and Brady Haran. Like so many podcasts, it fits into the “two dudes talking” genre, and there is no perfect description for what it is about because they discuss practically everything at some point. The two hosts have intelligent discussions and it feels like you’re part of the conversation.
The Adventure Zone is the final podcast I want to mention. The three McElroy brothers, known for their other podcast ‘My Brother, My Brother and Me’, along with their father, host a pen and paper role-playing game. They start off playing Dungeons and Dragons and seem to know little about the rules in the beginning, but the story evolves into something that could easily be turned into a successful TV show.
Wanna give Podcasts a shot?
If you’re on android, I recommend using the app Podcast Addict.
If you’re on iOS, I recommend using the app Overcast.
