Listening to a podcast while doing any kind of chore helps that chore suck a lot less. For that I humbly express my depthless gratitude to all the podcasts out there for making laundry exciting and washing dishes a little less drab.
Most compelling to me are project-focused podcasts because they invite me to share the actual experiences of the host, leading to some kind of actual outcome. For example, Our Debut Album features 2 dudes from Vancouver who set a timer and attempt to write a song within an hour. Personal Best tackles someone’s minor personal issue and attempts to help them find solutions. Mystery Show solves trivial, unimportant mysteries with impressive tenacity. These shows are conversational and funny, while the parameters of the challenges are entertaining and conclusive. Perhaps it is inspirational to me, as a doer of chores, to see a project reach a finish point.
Conversational and interview formats seem to hold my attention for the duration of long chores like deep cleaning the fridge, or sorting through old clothes which leads to trying on every piece of clothing you own, that sort of thing. For these scenarios I often favour pop-culture or true crime podcasts that feature detailed analysis, observation and interview elements. The podcast episodes themselves don’t have to be long, but I can listen to these back to back to back. For example, Song Exploder dissects music, lyrics and recording processes with musical artists and producers. Endless Thread explores interesting stories found on Reddit through interviews and sheer curiosity. Office Ladies doles out delicious behind the scenes trivia and interviews with the cast of The Office. And of course, My Favourite Murder for conversational true crime. New to me this week was Métis In Space, which falls beautifully into this category of discussion, analysis, pop culture and humour. For me, these kinds of shows provide stable, informative and entertaining long-chore support.
Production conventions I notice and appreciate include short and sweet theme songs or intros, well executed segment transitions, concise sign-offs, and thoughtful, seamless editing. In a conversational format, some tangents don’t end up contributing to the overall discussion, so knowing when to wave the editing wand is key. These production elements keep the podcast tidy and slick. To bring it back to chores, what I’m saying here is that all the podcast elements should spark joy.
Cheers to the role podcasts play in our lives! For me they are divine companions that alleviate the mundanity of chores. And I love them for that.