Although podcasts have been around for over a decade, they’ve experienced a surge in popularity in the past two years. Their subject matter varies wildly – from news, politics, and sports to comedy, pop culture, and even fictional stories – so everyone can find a podcast that appeals to their unique interests and preferences. If you’re unsure about this new form of entertainment, don’t be. Podcasts are very similar to radio shows. The primary difference is that podcasts are prerecorded and more convenient, because you can stream them online or download them to your preferred device (phone, tablet, computer) and listen to them anytime and anywhere you like – on your daily walk, in the car, on a flight, while cleaning, etc. Scroll down to check out our picks for the best podcasts for seniors, and then learn how to listen to podcasts.
Best Podcasts for Seniors
- This American Life: One of the most popular podcasts of all time (and also a weekly radio show produced by Chicago Public Media), This American Life features themed episodes on a variety of subjects. Most of the stories are journalism, but the podcast will occasionally include an essay, comedy routine, or short story. If you aren’t sure where to start, check out the podcast’s Favorites page. You might try listening to The Giant Pool of Money episode, which discusses the subprime housing crisis, or Switched at Birth, which recounts a true story about two infant girls switched at birth in 1951.
- Lux Radio Theatre: You may have heard the radio show Lux Radio Theatre growing up. It ran from 1934 to 1955 and featured adaptations of popular films, sometimes including voice acting by stars like John Wayne and Judy Garland. If you want to reminisce, check out this podcast, which has made the decades-old content available in podcast form.
- 1001 Heroes, Legends, Histories & Mysteries: This fun and incredibly interesting podcast features historical vignettes. Topics include Edgar Allan Poe’s mysterious death, Amelia Earhart’s disappearance, the Battle of Midway, Blackbeard, and Bonnie and Clyde.
- Freakonomics Radio: If you’re interested in economics or you’d love to learn more about it, check out the award-winning series Freakonomics Radio, which was developed from the popular book Freakonomics. Each week the hosts discuss socioeconomic issues and “the hidden side of everything” with special guests, which include social scientists, entrepreneurs, and even Nobel laureates. A similar podcast, also very popular, that you might like if you’re interested in economics is Planet Money, which is produced by NPR.
- Stuff You Missed in History Class: If you like history, you’ll love this podcast. Its 30-minute episodes revolve around bizarre, bewildering, and obscure stories from human history. For example, have you heard the tale of “Durable Mike Malloy,” a homeless man from Ireland who lived in New York City during the 1920s and 30s? He was the target of a murder plot and survived several attempts on his life! You can learn more about his story in this episode of the podcast.
- You Must Remember This: Any fans of old movies? The podcast You Must Remember This explores “the secret and/or forgotten histories of Hollywood’s first century.” Some of the episodes stand on their own, but others are parts of series. You might enjoy the Star Wars series, which doesn’t discuss the famous movie series Star Wars, as you might expect, but instead focuses on “movie stars and their lives and careers during times of war,” including episodes about Frank Sinatra, Charlie Chaplin, Marlene Dietrich, and even Walt Disney.
Although we’ve deemed this a list of the best podcasts for seniors, these are all truly entertaining podcasts that people of all ages can enjoy. So feel free to share them with your children, your grandchildren, and anyone else you know with an interest in podcasts.
How to Listen to Podcasts
What do you think of our list of best podcasts for seniors? Would you like to give one a go? It’s exceedingly simple to listen to podcasts, and there are several ways you can do it. Here are your easiest options:
- Stream on the Website: Most podcasts have their own websites, where you can find and stream episodes. For example, if you wanted to listen to an episode of This American Life, you could visit the podcast’s website, select an episode, and click the play button on the media player.
- Download from the Website: If you want to play a podcast somewhere you won’t have an Internet connection, you can download it. Some podcasts allow you to download an episode directly from the website, like This American Life. Directly beneath the media player on the episode page, you can see the download button. Once the episode has been downloaded to your mobile device, you can play it wherever you go.
- Use a Podcast Player: If you have iTunes, a popular media player and library, you can view podcasts within the app. Scroll through the episodes, find one you like, and simply click play. You can also download a podcast player app, like Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, Pocket Casts, or Overcast to manage your podcast listening. On these apps, you can typically stream or download podcasts episodes. You can also subscribe to your favorite podcasts to keep track of their new episodes.
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If you’ve never listened to a podcast before, why not start now? What do you have to lose? If you’re not interested in any of the podcasts on our list of best podcasts for seniors, keep exploring. You might like The Rich Eisen Show (a sports podcast), Happier (a podcast focused on good habits and happiness), or the NPR Politics Podcast. There’s a podcast out there for everyone.
Are you looking for an assisted living community in Tennessee? Hearthside Senior Living is located in Collierville, and we work hard to help seniors live a healthy, comfortable lifestyle. We also provide amenities such as home-cooked and restaurant-style meals and exercise classes. To learn more about our services, give us a call at 901-854-6590 or contact us online.