The Big Listen

Musicians Tegan and Sara are podcast obsessives. This episode, we take a peek at their extensive playlist and hear about their own idea for a podcast. Also, the hosts of the LGBTQ show Nancy share their funny and tragic coming out stories. And the Pakistani-American host of Beginner walks us through all the things she never learned as a immigrant, like biking and swimming. Plus: saving podcasts for posterity at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

The Mountain Goats' John Darnielle and Joseph Fink of Welcome To Night Vale talk about what it means to be a fan on I Only Listen To The Mountain Goats. Plus: Nicole Drespel mines your email InBox for comedy gold, a hotel with a radio studio in the lobby, and a podcast takes us turkey hunting.

We're celebrating Mother's Day with stories from all kinds of women — a single lesbian mother by choice (Not By Accident), a young woman who chose sterilization (Tie My Tubes) and a Korean mom raising a multi-racial daughter (Other: Mixed Race In America), among others. Plus, mom tributes from your favorite audio producers.

Comedian Nicole Byer shares some of the tips she's learned from friends on her podcast Why Won't You Date Me. Reporter Dan Lamothe tells us about reading hundreds of letters from World War II, Heather Mizeur describes how she rebuilt her politics after losing an election, and Cristen Conger and Caroline Ervin define what being Unladylike means to them.

Norman Lear's work in television and movies could fit every category, which might be why he calls his podcast All Of The Above. We also hear about the culinary delights of hotdish from Senator Heidi Heitkamp, explore the many facets of veterans with Battle Scars, and phone our rage into the For A Bad Time Call hotline.

Larry Wilmore's got a new podcast, Black On The Air! Plus: the lowdown on a possible Powerline in New Hampshire, a Slow Burn with Leon Neyfakh about Watergate, and a new book from Bill McKibben.

Chris Gethard describes how Beautiful/Anonymous satisfies his craving for human connection. Plus: therapy with Esther Perel, poetry with Versify, and a podcaster who invites strangers to his home.

Writer Jon Ronson traces The Butterfly Effect from the moment pirated porn became free on the web. Plus: The hosts of Terrestrial and Closer Than They Appear, and Jillian Bauer-Reese documents people in recovery with The Rooms Project.

The Mountain Goats' John Darnielle and Joseph Fink of Welcome To Night Vale talk about what it means to be a fan on I Only Listen To The Mountain Goats. Plus: Nicole Drespel mines your email InBox for comedy gold, a hotel with a radio studio in the lobby, and a podcast takes us turkey hunting.

Singer/songwriter Laura Veirs talks to other musicians about how they balance work with parenthood, Annie Gilbertson investigates an officer involved in multiple shootings in Repeat, and Kameel Stanley and Tim Lloyd remind St Louis, "We Live Here!"

Actor Denis O'Hare tells us about Deadly Manners and the ingredients for a dismal dinner, Liz Plank talks feminism with Divided States of Women, and Joel Werner puts numbers on the air with Sum Of All Parts. Plus: Alice Wong of Disability Visibility describes all the voices she wants to hear on the radio.

It's a Big Listen smörgåsbord! We'll meet Francis Lam, new host of The Splendid Table, taste chocolate with The Slow Melt and hear which food podcasts New York Times food writer Kim Severson favors. Plus: Lauren enters brunch hell with Brendan Francis Newnam.

We head back into the golden age of Hollywood with Karina Longworth, explore representation in film with Aisha Harris, and predict this year's Oscar winners with Erik Anderson. Plus: Paul Scheer talks about his affection for movies that are so bad they're good.

Comedian Nicole Byer shares some of the tips she's learned from friends on her podcast Why Won't You Date Me. Reporter Dan Lamothe tells us about reading hundreds of letters from World War II, Heather Mizeur describes how she rebuilt her politics after losing an election, and Cristen Conger and Caroline Ervin define what being Unladylike means to them.

DeRay Mckesson discusses going from newsletter to podcast, Uncivil tells the untold stories of the Civil War, and Trey Kay explores our divides in Us & Them. Plus: Oral history podcast Ferguson Voices.

Lauren Shehadi shares the stories behind the Olympics with The Podium, Dan Zirin explains the dark side of hosting the Olympics, and ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates tell us about their sport and their favorite podcasts. Plus: Learning to curl with Ed Scimia!

Norman Lear's work in television and movies could fit every category, which might be why he calls his podcast All Of The Above. We also hear about the culinary delights of hotdish from Senator Heidi Heitkamp, explore the many facets of veterans with Battle Scars, and phone our rage into the For A Bad Time Call hotline.

Le Tigre's JD Samson talks composing music for podcasts, Nora McInerny says she's Terrible, Thanks For Asking, Helen Zaltzman unpacks annoying language. Plus, we check out the Potluck, a collective of Asian American podcasters.

"Keep It" is pop culture writer Ira Madison's way to say "No thanks" to, well, anything. Also: Breasts Unbound on everyone's favorite body part, Seeing White on the history of race, and Harry Leslie Smith on being a 95-year-old podcaster.

Abbi Jacobson gets artsy with her podcast A Piece Of Work; Leila Day and Hana Baba of The Stoop dialogue about the diaspora; YouTube provocateur Dylan Marron confronts his online bullies and Kathleen Barber dishes on her debut suspense novel, Are You Sleeping.

Larry Wilmore's got a new podcast, Black On The Air! Plus: the lowdown on a possible Powerline in New Hampshire, a Slow Burn with Leon Neyfakh about Watergate, and a new book from Bill McKibben.

CNN political firebrand Angela Rye talks about her new podcast. Note To Self's Manoush Zomorodi helps us live in harmony with our digital devices and Slate's Dear Prudence, Mallory Ortberg, just helps us. Plus: The voices of D.C. Metro with Dallas Taylor of Twenty Thousand Hertz.

We look back at our favorite interviews with the makers of new podcasts in 2017: Jolenta Greenberg and Kristen Meinzer of By The Book, Alex Kotlowitz of Written Inside, and Jack Hitt and Chenjerai Kumanyika of Uncivil.

Broadway actor Jonathan Groff, Geoff Turner of CBC's On Drugs, Eleanor MacDowall of Radio Atlas and writer and domestic abuse survivor Jes Skolnik, who penned an op-ed about the healing power of true crime podcasts.

Writer Jon Ronson traces The Butterfly Effect from the moment pirated porn became free on the web. Plus: The hosts of Terrestrial and Closer Than They Appear, and Jillian Bauer-Reese documents people in recovery with The Rooms Project.

It's a Big Listen smörgåsbord! We'll meet Francis Lam, new host of The Splendid Table, taste chocolate with The Slow Melt and hear which food podcasts New York Times food writer Kim Severson favors. Plus: Lauren enters brunch hell with Brendan Francis Newnam.

We talk to the Reading Rainbow star about his new podcast for adults, LeVar Burton Reads. Also, we dig into black culture with the hosts of The Nod, and the stories behind sports with Jody Avirgan of ESPN's 30 For 30 podcast. Plus: Ingrid Jungermann on her new feature film about a pair of true crime podcasters.

Actor Denis O'Hare tells us about Deadly Manners and the ingredients for a dismal dinner, Liz Plank talks feminism with Divided States of Women, and Joel Werner puts numbers on the air with Sum Of All Parts. Plus: Alice Wong of Disability Visibility describes all the voices she wants to hear on the radio.

Chris Gethard describes how Beautiful/Anonymous satisfies his craving for human connection. Plus: therapy with Esther Perel, poetry with Versify, and a podcaster who invites strangers to his home.

We adventure with the overlanding couple behind Let's Not Panic, talk traveling while black and female with Aminatou Sow, and hear tales of survival from the Outside Podcast. Plus, a National Geographic explorer tells us her podcast picks for trekking to far-flung locales.

Snap Judgment host Glynn Washington on making Spooked and Aaron Mahnke on transforming Lore into a TV show. Plus: Spooky voices with the No Sleep podcast and old time radio horror with Murray Horwitz.

Le Tigre's JD Samson talks composing music for podcasts, Nora McInerny says she's Terrible, Thanks For Asking, Helen Zaltzman unpacks annoying language. Plus, we check out the Potluck, a collective of Asian American podcasters.

DeRay Mckesson discusses going from newsletter to podcast, Uncivil tells the untold stories of the Civil War, and Trey Kay explores our divides in Us & Them. Plus: Oral history podcast Ferguson Voices.

A REAL look at the messiness of relationships from Love Me, and of Canadian history with Canadaland's Jesse Brown. Plus: Jonathan Goldstein, the self-styled mealy-mouthed mensch behind Wiretap and now Heavyweight.

CNN political firebrand Angela Rye talks about her new podcast. Note To Self's Manoush Zomorodi helps us live in harmony with our digital devices and Slate's Dear Prudence, Mallory Ortberg, just helps us. Plus: The voices of D.C. Metro with Dallas Taylor of Twenty Thousand Hertz.

Hanna Rosen and Alix Spiegel on Invisibilia's new concept album, the hosts of By The Book on living by self-help book guidance, and the creator of Celestial Blood on KPCC's bilingual radionovela. Plus: Swedish true crime podcast Spår.

Abbi Jacobson gets artsy with her podcast A Piece Of Work; Leila Day and Hana Baba of The Stoop dialogue about the diaspora; YouTube provocateur Dylan Marron confronts his online bullies and Kathleen Barber dishes on her debut suspense novel, Are You Sleeping.

Broadway actor Jonathan Groff, Geoff Turner of CBC's On Drugs, Eleanor MacDowall of Radio Atlas and writer and domestic abuse survivor Jes Skolnik, who recently penned an op-ed about the healing power of true crime podcasts.

With Special Guest Lauren Lapkus is the perfect podcast for the actress and comedian, because she'd much prefer to play a character than be herself. Also, we ask Strangers' Lea Thau how she maintained her radical empathy by bunking with Trump supporters and rescue the host of How's Your Day from endless newspaper archives. Plus: How Rep. Keith Ellison uses a podcast to talk to his constituents (and the Congressman's spot-on Ira Glass impersonation).

The Lower Eastside Girls Club in New York City produces an all-girl podcast called WGRL. So naturally we had to put aside our fear of teens to go visit. Plus, we talk tragedy and healing with the documentarian behind First Day Back. And find out why mental illness can be so dang funny from John Moe of The Hilarious World of Depression. Bonus: writer, actor and media entrepreneur Tavi Gevinson of Rookie magazine gives us her top podcast picks.

Actor Larenz Tate slides into your ears with the new fictional audio series, Bronzeville. And comedian Marina Franklin does impressions of her family. Plus, we go back to college with Chioke I'Anson and find ourselves charmed by Charm City.

Jonathan Groff isn't just a luminary of stage and screen. He's now a bona fide podcast star. And a really nice guy. His newest project, 36 Questions, where he plays opposite Jessie Shelton, is a podcast based on the New York Times Modern Love column titled "To Fall In Love With Anyone, Do This." The story follows a couple trying to repair their broken marriage by asking each other the 36 questions that lead to love. And it's told in musical form. So it's a podcast musical. Or a musical podcast.

If you haven't listened to S-Town yet, hop to it! But what to think about this complicated piece of aural literature? Media ethicist Kelly McBride helps us sort through our feelings. And we visit a lively S-Town Hall in Chicago. Plus, we unpack the many Muslim American identities with See Something Say Something's Ahmed Ali Akbar. And Irish writer and comedian Maeve Higgins introduces us to some of her favorite immigration stories. Including her own.

As a species, humans love to explore. And then they love to podcast about their explorations. This week we head out on an adventure with the overlanding couple behind the podcast, Let's Not Panic. And we talk traveling while black and female with On She Goes host Aminatou Sow. Also, we hear tales of survival and derring-do from the Outside Podcast. Plus, a National Geographic explorer tells us what podcasts she's listening to when she's trekking to far-flung locales.

This week on The Big Listen, we gobble candy with Ronna & Beverly, pet a lot of hypothetical dogs with the host of Can I Pet Your Dog? and peer inside prison life with Written Inside. Plus: a woman who used podcasts to help her get to sleep!

Kids love being read to. But what about adults? According to actor LeVar Burton, they love it, too! We talk to the Reading Rainbow star about his new podcast for adults, LeVar Burton Reads. Also, we dig into black culture with the hosts of The Nod, and we unpack the stories behind the sports with Jody Avirgan of ESPN's 30 For 30 podcast. Plus: writer and director Ingrid Jungermann on her new feature film "Women Who Kill," about a pair of true crime podcasters.

Invisibilia's Hanna Rosen and Alix Spiegel tell us what they listen to when they aren't making concept albums about concepts. We hear from the women of By The Book about self-help books, meet the creator of KPCC's bilingual radionovela Celestial Blood. Plus, the Swedish true crime podcast Spår.

Actress Gillian Jacobs lets us in on what podcasts she listens to when she's in the shower. Then we head out to sea to learn about cargo ships with Containers' Alexis Madrigal, and we tickle the ivories with some of piano's greatest young stars with The Competition. And we get fizzy with the hosts of the heavily carbonated Seltzer Death Match.

America's hat is turning 150 years old! To celebrate Canada Day and our neighbors to the North, we talk to the women behind Love Me, a CBC podcast about the messiness of relationships, and we get a more realistic look at Canadian history with Canadaland's Jesse Brown. Then we catch up with Canadian-American hybrid Jonathan Goldstein, the self-styled mealy-mouthed mensch behind Wiretap and now Heavyweight. Plus: Native storytelling from the world's first indigenous podcast network.

Comedians Cameron Esposito and Rhea Butcher host a comedy show--in real life, in a podcast and on their TV sitcom, Take My Wife. We talk about their dog, their meta lifestyle and their favorite podcasts. And we find out if the host of The New York Times' The Daily ever sleeps and learn some art history with The Lonely Palette.

Musicians Tegan and Sara are podcast obsessives. This episode, we take a peek at their extensive playlist and hear about their own idea for a podcast. Also, the hosts of the LGBTQ show Nancy share their funny and tragic coming out stories. And the Pakistani-American host of Beginner walks us through all the things she never learned as a immigrant, like biking and swimming. Plus: saving podcasts for posterity at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

In this very special LGBTQ Pride bonus episode of The Big Listen, we talk with Canadian musical duo Tegan & Sara about the joys of air travel, the business of music and Sara's Beatles of podcasting. Plus, we chat about LGBTQ podcasts, and the twins reveal their idea for an official Tegan & Sara podcast.

Pajama-wearing podcaster Katie Couric explains why she's over being America's sweetheart. And we talk Hawaii's complicated racial history with the host of Offshore. Plus, untold stories from the Middle East from the folks behind Kerning Cultures. And a senior citizen podcast club where wine plays a prominent role.

"America's Dad" Bill Cosby is on trial for sexual assault in Philadelphia. We check in with folks behind Cosby Unraveled about the entertainer's Philly roots and his impact on the City of Brotherly Love. Also, Obama advisor David Axelrod chats about the art of telling politicians' stories, and comedian Aparna Nancherla explains why it isn't always good to say yes, especially to podcast hosts. Plus: the ultimate public radio send-up—the parody podcast, Consider Our Knowledge.

With Special Guest Lauren Lapkus is the perfect podcast for the actress and comedian, because she'd much prefer to play a character than be herself. Also, we ask Strangers' Lea Thau how she maintained her radical empathy by bunking with Trump supporters and rescue the host of How's Your Day from endless newspaper archives. Plus: How Rep. Keith Ellison uses a podcast to talk to his constituents (and the Congressman's spot-on Ira Glass impersonation).

Malcolm Gladwell tells us why he tries to get people to cry during interviews. And podcaster Sam Sabin finds her Native American heritage by way of her estranged father's obituary. Plus, why Alec Baldwin has the best celebrity podcast.

We're celebrating Mother's Day with stories from all kinds of women — a single lesbian mother by choice (Not By Accident), a young woman who chose sterilization (Tie My Tubes) and a Korean mom raising a multi-racial daughter (Other: Mixed Race In America), among others. Plus, mom tributes from your favorite audio producers.

The Lower Eastside Girls Club in New York City produces an all-girl podcast called WGRL. So naturally we had to put aside our fear of teens to go visit. Plus, we talk tragedy and healing with the documentarian behind First Day Back. And find out why mental illness can be so dang funny from John Moe of The Hilarious World of Depression. Bonus: writer, actor and media entrepreneur Tavi Gevinson of Rookie magazine gives us her top podcast picks.

We brush up on our Supreme Court history with the folks behind More Perfect, explore George Washington's home with Alexis Coe, the host of Presidents Are People Too! and pick up some podcast recommendations from our foreign correspondents, the Auditors. Plus: a father/son super duo who are truckers during the day and podcasters at night.

S-Town has everyone hooked. But what to think about this complicated piece of aural literature? Media ethicist Kelly McBride helps us sort through our feelings. And we visit a lively S-Town Hall in Chicago. Plus, we unpack the many Muslim-American identities with See Something Say Something's Ahmed Ali Akbar. And Irish writer and comedian Maeve Higgins introduces us to some of her favorite immigration stories. Including her own.

This week on The Big Listen, we talk Passover and Easter candy with America's favorite Jewish mothers, Ronna & Beverly. We also pet a lot of hypothetical dogs with the co-host of Can I Pet Your Dog?, and we peer beyond prison bars with writer Alex Kotlowitz from Written Inside. Plus: best-selling author Pamela Druckerman uses podcasts as Xanax.

In our special Passover bonus episode, Ronna Glickman and Beverly Ginsburg — America's favorite middle-aged Jewish women — drop by the Big Listen HQ to gab about Liam Neeson, Canadian geography and the Jews' exodus from Egypt. Ronna and Beverly are the hosts of the eponymous podcast and are the creation of comedians Jessica Chaffin and Jamie Denbo.

Most producers want to keep you awake; we talk to a podcaster bent on putting listeners to sleep. Then, we interview Oprah! Just kidding. But we check out a podcast that did, Making Oprah from WBEZ! Plus, we discover salacious sex columnist Dan Savage's vanilla tastes in podcasts.

Actress Gillian Jacobs lets us in on which podcasts she listens to when she's in the shower. Then we head out to sea to learn about cargo ships with Containers' Alexis Madrigal, and we tickle the ivories with some of piano's greatest young stars with The Competition. And we get fizzy with the hosts of the heavily carbonated Seltzer Death Match.

Pajama-wearing podcaster Katie Couric explains why she's over being America's sweetheart. And we talk Hawaii's complicated racial history with the host of Offshore. Plus, untold stories from the Middle East from the folks behind Kerning Cultures. And a senior citizen podcast club where wine plays a prominent role.

Who's more hardcore: Dan Carlin, for making Hardcore History? Or his listeners for absorbing three-hour-plus episodes? We also ask Andrea Silenzi Why Oh Why dating today is so hard and learn how podcasting makes Gretchen Rubin and her daughter Happier. Plus: Which stories pass muster with master storyteller Shannon Cason?

Comedians Cameron Esposito and Rhea Butcher host a comedy show — in real life, in a podcast and on their TV sitcom, Take My Wife. We talk about their dog, their meta lifestyle and their favorite podcasts. And we find out if the host of The New York Times' The Daily ever sleeps and learn some art history with The Lonely Palette.

Author Susan Orlean tells us about podcasts that make her cry. Also, comedian Phoebe Robinson shares the public radio personalities she would date. And we chat with a guy who is literally Making Gay History.

Actor Larenz Tate slides into your ears with the new fictional audio series, Bronzeville. And comedian Marina Franklin does impressions of her family. Plus, we go back to college with Chioke I'Anson and find ourselves charmed by Charm City.

Discomfort is the currency of Death, Sex & Money, according to host Anna Sale. Plus, we chat with the folks behind Historically Black about everyday objects in African-American families. And Nate, our favorite kid podcaster, gives us interviewing tips.

Valentine's Day is upon us. So we're diving into online dating trials and tribulations with The Zoo, exploring the messiness of human intimacy with The Heart and getting some sage love advice from Cheryl Strayed and Steve Almond of Dear Sugar. Plus, how a podcast saved a wedding!

Malcolm Gladwell tells us why he tries to get people to cry during interviews. And podcaster Sam Sabin finds her Native American heritage by way of her estranged father's obituary. Plus, why Alec Baldwin has the best celebrity podcast.

We meet Lauren's Scandinavian doppelganger, then explode songs with the host of Song Exploder. Then we chat with the makers of the hit show In The Dark, and Al Letson tells us what he's listening to.

On inauguration weekend, we talk to two gals podcasting their way across America to D.C. Then we hit the history books with the hosts of Presidents Are People Too! and Presidential. Plus, what Ezra Klein thinks POTUS 45 should be listening to (Hint: Ezra Klein).

Author Susan Orlean tells us about podcasts that make her cry, then we have a conversation about Our National Conversation About Conversations About Race (meta!) and chat with a guy who is literally Making Gay History. Plus, did you know podcasts can save your life?

Warehouses are great places to listen to podcasts, says a former warehouse worker. Also, comedian Phoebe Robinson on whether she'd date Terry Gross. And Nate Dimeo on his favorite podcast genre.

2016 brought so many great guests on The Big Listen, and this episode, we revisit our favorite segments of the year. Plus, we take a deep dive into the highest court in the land with More Perfect. And our brand new foreign correspondents give us their podcast recommendations for 2017.

We nerd out with the women of Nerdette, then we get our slumber party on with the host of Sleepover, public radio's first reality show. Plus, Jesse Thorn of Bullseye tells us what he's listening to.

This week, Lauren's whole family joins the show to gab about podcasts. Then, we zoom into the future with the host of Flash Forward, and the host of the Smithsonian's new podcast tells us why Pandas maybe aren't worth all the fuss.

Most producers want to keep you awake; we talk to a podcaster bent on putting listeners to sleep. Then, we interview Oprah! Just kidding. But we check out a podcast that did! Plus, Dan Savage's vanilla tastes in podcasts.

Podcasting is so hot these days, it has its own paid critics. We talk to one. Plus, Jenna Wortham and Wesley Morris of the New York Times dish about their new buddy podcast, Still Processing. And we sample some delicious canapés and crudités with the gents from the Dinner Party Download.

We're hitting the highways and byways of America for our cross-country podcast tour. We cruise through Appalachia, hike through the deserts of Nevada and rouler on down to the Big Easy to hear what's happening across America. Buckle up!

Best-selling author Gretchen Rubin has a podcast. So does her teenage daughter, Eliza. They're basically a mother-daughter podcasting duo.

Warehouses are great places to listen to podcasts (says one former warehouse worker). Comedian Phoebe Robinson talks whether she'd date Terry Gross, and Nate Dimeo gives us the scoop on his favorite podcast genre.

Election day is here! We celebrate with some favorite politics pods. Sam Sanders tells tales from the campaign trail, we gab with The Pollsters and laugh off the election with comedian Negin Farsad.

We take a field trip to the Government Accountability Office, learn about Sharia law on #GoodMuslimBadMuslim, occupy some federal lands and learn what podcasts the host of Gravy is snacking on.

We meet Lauren's Scandinavian doppelganger, then explode songs with the host of Song Exploder. Then we chat with the makers of the hit show, In The Dark. And radio Renaissance man Al Letson tells us what he's listening to.

We nerd out with the women of Nerdette, then we get our slumber party on with the host of Sleepover, public radio's first reality show. Plus, Jesse Thorn of Bullseye tells us what he's listening to.

The host of The Show About Science gives Lauren some hot tips on interviewing, and we talk to the producer of Historically Black about the stories of everyday objects in African-American families.

Hosted by Lauren Ober, The Big Listen introduces listeners to podcasts they might have never heard of, and gives them the inside scoop on shows and creators they already love.