All the Podcasts I "Really Should" Listen To

An ode to my fantasy self, the podcasts I don't listen to (and the ones I do).

I want to be someone who listens to podcasts. There’s quite a bit of my days that could use some background narration. But I very rarely listen to any, despite enjoying several.

Every time I open the Podcast portion of Spotify I am confront with this list of Followed podcasts I aspirationally wanted to listen to but literally have never once listened to in years. I feel like I SHOULD be someone who listens to environmental journalism podcasts on the climate and knows a lot of information about climate lawsuits lawsuits. It’s not like I don’t know things about that already, but I somehow feel like I’m being an inadequate person engaging in sustainability if I’m not listening to these climate ones.

Each time I look at the podcasts, I’m drawn to the podcasts I really want to listen to that are about random special interest topics and nothing professional VS the ones I feel I should listen to in order to be a “better” climate or green design educator.

The actual event that inspired this substack issue LOL.

The guilt hits in. The idea of listening to the climate politics ones make my stomach turn. I don’t want to unpack that feeling.

I put on Taylor Swift instead and close the Spotify app. It’s been like this for two whole years. Possibly even three.

So I’m coming clean. I’m reckoning with my fantasy self. I want to listen to the podcasts I do like! I want to not be met with guilt and self-sabotage when I look at the podcast lists!

My fantasy self listens to environmental journalism podcasts and eagerly shares the information with others. My real self feels anxiety stricken at the thought of spending my free time learning more about the climate crisis when the problem feels both impossible and hopeless to rally against entrenched corporate and political interests.

My fantasy self listens to leftist podcasts and is extremely knowledgeable about specific policies that will push climate action forward. My real self feels lost at sea and hopeless after Bernie Sanders withdrew his presidency campaign. I’m Canadian, but fuck, there’s no interesting leftists here.

My real self just wants to learn about animals and marine biology and birds.

But my specific situation isn’t everyone’s. I know that these podcasts are extremely high quality, well-researched, and interesting. So as my send-off to my fantasy self, I’m sharing these podcasts I wish I could listen to but can’t here. Just in case any of you want to listen to them! And then I’m also going to share the podcasts I do listen to.

Guilt Podcast #1: Drilled

A TRUE-CRIME PODCAST ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE.

There’s 9 whole seasons of Drilled: they cover everything from corporate denial and cover-up of fossil fuels causing climate change to how free speech from climate activists is at risk. The seasons follow different themes of corporate sins or environmental litigation.

The quality of research I know is extremely high and the cases they cover are all important and noteworthy.

Guilt Podcast #2: Timber Wars

Summary excerpt: It's the 1990s in the Pacific Northwest. A march of chainsaws clear-cuts the country's last available ancient forests. Protesters bury themselves in front of bulldozers and spend months sitting in the tallest trees in the world. And at the center, the Northern Spotted Owl becomes the most controversial bird in the country. The "Timber Wars" podcast tells the story of how this conflict reshaped the Northwest and the nation as a whole, in ways we're dealing with still.

Again, a great well-researched podcast on forestry, endangered animal activism, and civil disobedience. I’m certain. In some ways, this is the podcast I feel guiltiest about not listening to as it’s taking place in my general area of the PNW. But alas, it’s just not something I can engage with right now. Perhaps another time.

Guilt Podcast #3: Damages

LAW & ORDER MEETS THE CLIMATE CRISIS

I’m going to issue a small addendum here because as I was going through the seasons of the podcast, I saw that Season 1 is actually about whether or not nature should have human rights like corporations do, with specific case studies per episode. I find that stuff really interesting and not depressing to listen so, so my promise to myself is that I will listen to Season 1 of this show!

There are three seasons, each discussing a different aspect of climate litigation, how justice systems handle climate cases, ecocide, and complexities around developing countries using natural resources.

Guilt Podcast #4: Threatened

Okay, so I do actually listen to this one, off-and-on. And wish I listened to it more. But it’s being consumed by my guilt over the above three. Hopefully, with a more curated list I’ll find the time for it.

This podcast has a threatening name (lol) but it’s actually about the incredible relationships and conservation work going on in ornithology. Each episode focuses on different endangered bird species, why they’re interesting and important, and the different ways communities are working together to save these species.

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So, what do I listen to?

Joy Pocast #1: Ologies

Undoubtedly my favourite podcast. Although I only listen to the episodes about animals/fungi/plants hahhaa. All the human stuff or abstract stuff I give a miss, but I respect that there’s a variety of topics. Allie Ward interviews respected scientists and experts in their respective -ology fields and takes listener questions to ask the guest. No question is too stupid for Ologies and each episode is always fun and interesting to listen to!

Joy Pocast #2: The Science of Birds

Birds are really cool and stuff. This is just a podcast on different birds and behaviours and lives of birds and feathers, nests, and eggs. It’s neat. But fairly self explanatory.

Joy Pocast #3: Specimens

Specimens is a podcast by Elle Kaye and it focuses on interviewing people in different fields related to science and conservation. The podcast covers topics like: science educators, entomology, taxidermy, diaphonization, museum work, and more. The podcast unpacks odd or strange jobs and focuses on how they contribute to important conservation and education work for nature.

You can see, there’s like a naturalist theme between all these podcasts. Also yeah, I don’t listen to a single Design or Art podcast don’t @ me lol.

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I’d love to know: what podcasts or anything else (books, shows, movies, etc) is on your shame guilt list that you feel you SHOULD be the type of person who enjoys it but always find yourself shying away from it?

And what are you listening/watching/consuming instead - the stuff that actually brings you joy and lights you up to learn about?

I know I can’t be alone in this and that probably everyone has something they feel guilty about not consuming yet. I’m sure that everyone’s two wolves are different. My black wolf of biology stuff might be your guilty white wolf or vice versa.

I’ve also now removed all these podcasts from my list and cleaned out my miscellaneous saved episodes to also remove all guilt-inducing content. And I’ve since listened to like 4 podcasts I enjoy and am very happy for it.

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Thank you for reading!

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