I listen to a lot of podcasts and this has been my favorite since I found it in 2016. Nate DiMeo crafts enticing slices of humanity from across space and time with impeccable sounds design. It is a history podcast that is more interested in feeling than fact but has the research chops to fit in with more stodgy pods. Listen in a dark room while doing nothing else and be transported. If I have one qualm, it is that the arc of the stories DiMeo likes to tell are very similar. After a while you can anticipate the story beats. That said, it is still worth listening to every episode.

Jody Avirgan does it again. The former host of the fivethirtyeight politics podcast and the 30 for 30 podcast (both worth a listen in their own right) treats us to political esoterica at its finest. This is a quick bite podcast that zooms in on a story of the past that is interesting, fun, and may shep some light on how we ended up where we are now in American politics while allowing us to ponder what the future might hold. This show shares some DNA with the beloved Slate podcast Whistlestop and in fact its host John Dickerson was one of this show's first guests. But while Whistlestop is a lecture series, this show is kitchen table conversation. Avirgan brings his expertise as a curious host to bear while co host Nicole Hemmer brings a historian's critical eye. Each week they are joined by a guest who usually has a connection and special fascination to the topic being discussed. I am a real sucker for podcasts that are under 10 minutes and I already thought Avirgan was a superb podcast host so I was predisposed to like this. It did not disappoint and it is has joined my regular rotation.

History enthusiasts rejoice! You are in for a treat of a deep dive into worlds you have heard about but never gotten the chance to dive into.This is an unorthodoxed podcasts. Episodes drop out of nowhere and when they do, they stick around (some episodes are over 4 hours). These deep dives are like one week college courses. Well researched and in depth enough that you feel like you know the topic but also could do further research. To like this podcast, you have to enjoy Dan Carlin's voice and cadence because that is all you get for the hours you are here. That is a personal preference but for me, Carlin's authoritative tone keeps me engaged like a dynamic lecturer. I usually keep these episodes in my feed for a while, saving them up for the occasional long road trip or deep clean of the house.