You might have heard about podcasts, digital audio files that users can download on a computer or mobile phone and listen-on-the-go. Podcasts cover almost any topic you can think of from innovation to politics, investigative journalism, and pop culture. And they are a great source of inspiration. Though podcasts are not yet that popular in Armenia, it seems that the booming market will continue to expand globally. We at the Lab like sharing the episodes we listen to on our commute or in our free time. Here is the list of some thought-provoking podcasts to blow your minds, change the ways you approach things and find new topics for contemplation.
1. Intelligence Squared
Intelligence Squared is the world’s leading platform for debate and intelligent discussion. A panel of four people, with a moderator and live audience discuss issues spanning the mindfulness business, nanotechnologies and climate change.
2. Hidden Brain
Some of our team members adore learning about how our brains function. It’s not surprising, we work with human behavior and spin behavioral science into experiments. Using facts and data Hidden Brain deep-dives into our decision-making processes and information processing, our thoughts, and deepest beliefs.
3. Future Curious by Nesta
If you are a curious mind and wonder about what the future holds, this podcast is for you. Leading experts, radical thinkers, and troublemakers discuss the challenging issues of our time, explore the bold ideas that will affect us in the future, and presume what we can do about it.
4.Invisiblia by NPR
These episodes will change the way you think. The tagline of the podcast can be “the invisible things that control our thoughts, behaviors, and assumptions. The podcast helps to explore topics from a variety of different angles. Topics vary from people's individual 'frame of reference' that informs experiences to empathy, online life and our future selves and more.
5. Radiolab
Listening to episodes on Radiolab is like being on a delightful journey of discovery. The questions they discuss in different episodes may seem boring at first glance, but if you give it a try, they prove that the world around us and our biology are jam-packed with fascinating stuff.
6. The Argument by The New York Times
There are a bunch of excellent political podcasts, but we think the Argument makes a compelling case for great journalism. The New York Times columnists debate every week on a different topic. Although some opinions might make you furious, it’s always eye-opening to learn how the other side thinks.
7. People fixing the world
Easily digestible 20-minute long engaging stories from BBC World Service. The podcast explores big global challenges and potential brilliant solutions to topics like the gender pay gap, affordable housing, Universal Basic Income and so on.
8. Upstream
Upstream is aradio documentary and interview series offering themed episodes that explore a wide variety of topics pertaining to our economy. Although crafted around new ideas for a more democratic, just and sustainable future economy, it also intersects history, politics, beer, and the fundamentals of human existence. Their heartfelt stories challenge traditional assumptions and invite to imagine a different world.
9. Ology
We wouldn’t miss a chance to present something scientific. Funny and educational science podcast on, you guessed it, anything ending with ology: from cheloniology (studying sea turtles) to mixology (cocktails) to biogerontology (aging).
10. EVN Report
EVN Report is a local independent magazine that aims to bring a new and exciting narrative to the events shaping our lives in Armenia, the region, and throughout the world. Podcast series deep-dive into various timely topics ranging from cybersecurity and social inclusion to road accidents in Armenia. Some episodes are available only in Armenian.
11. The Jordan B Peterson Podcast
Fans of philosophy and psychology can enjoy the podcast by famous Canadian clinical psychologist Jordan B Peterson. Here you can find some of the interviews with the world’s most compelling thinkers, lectures from the 12 Rules for Life and much more.