Hurray for 2021! We’re happy to help you kick off a new year with plenty of podcast recs. Keep reading for all the deets!
In the (Podcast) News
- Spotify launched Archewell Audio, a new podcast from Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex and Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex
- Find out more about the song “Everything I Wanted” in Song Exploder‘s episode with Billie Eilish.
- Lainey has been listening to all kinds of podcasts since the last episode. She mentioned: Jensen & Holes’ The Murder Squad episode about Morgan Nick. A case really close to her heart.
- Up for a laugh? Check out comedian Tig Notaro’s podcast Don’t Ask Tig. We mentioned the episodes with Nicole Byer and Stephen Colbert. For fans of Anna Faris is Unqualified.
- Alex recommended Driving the Green Book, particularly episodes “Little Harlem, MS” and “The Nettles of Nashville.”
- Pop Culture Happy Hour released an in-depth episode on the production around the Disney movie The Emperor’s New Groove. For more on the fiasco behind the film, check out these articles:
- Fraudsters is a podcast all about liars, cheaters, and scammers—for fans of Scam Goddess!
- A surprising episode of The Daily for Lainey: “Delilah“
- A fun Dateline NBC episode (yeah, we said fun. Dateline NBC. Episode.) called “Dr. Seuss’ ‘How The Grinch Stole Christmas!’ read by Keith Morrison“
- Lainey also did a deep dive into The Dating Game Killer from Wondery. True-crime fans assemble!
BYOP (Bring Your Own Podcast)
Alex gushed about Floodlines, a show from The Atlantic that delves into the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and the long lasting repercussions of the governmental response to this natural disaster. A quick description of the show:

Some call it Hurricane Katrina. Some call it the Federal Flood. Others call it the day the levees broke. On August 29, 2005, the city of New Orleans was submerged. That story of hubris, incompetence, and nature’s wrath is now etched into the national consciousness. But the people who lived through the flood and its aftermath have a different story to tell. A story of rumors, betrayal, and one of the most misunderstood events in American history.
What we discussed:
- Produced by magazine and multimedia company The Atlantic
- Hosted by Vann R. Newkirk II, a senior editor at The Atlantic who writes on politics, race, and healthcare policy
- Highly produced, eight-episode series combining a range of perspectives and interviews
- Released in March 2020
- Each episode last about 30 minutes, except the 1-hour long final episode
- Recommended for EVERYONE, but Alex found it a very enlightening listen as a young millennial who was a tween/teen during the initial crisis—listen for a nuanced view that explores the intersections of governmental action and inaction, ethics around media and news reporting, and everyday Americans’ responses to the unimaginable.
Calendar Corner
- January 1st: New Year’s Day
- Life Kit is perfect to help you along with your 2021 resolutions!
- Also try Life Kit: Money, Life Kit: Health, Life Kit: Parenting
- Also, also! Try listening to our DYEP backlist of episodes! (Can we do that? We’re doing that!)
- January 2nd: National Science Fiction Day
- For all things Sci-Fi, check out Geek’s Guide to the Galaxy from Wired. Guests have included Neil Gaiman, George R. R. Martin, Richard Dawkins, Wil Wheaton, Bill Nye, Margaret Atwood, Neil deGrasse Tyson, and Ursula K. Le Guin.
- January 4th: National Trivia Day
- Find trivia galore in Go Fact Yourself
- January 10th: National Cut Your Energy Costs Day
- Get energy-savvy with The Energy Hour PodCast
- January 15th: Bagel Day
- The Bowery Boys talk all things bagels in this episode that’s perfect for a bread holiday.
- January 18th: Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday
- Stanford University’s King Institute has a 20-episode show called World House Podcast about MLK Jr.’s life and his work towards a more just world.
- January 28th: Data Privacy Day
- Reply All is all about the internet, and they have many episodes about the wacky things technology can do—plus a few episodes that delve into what is or isn’t secure online.
Interview with Emily Prokop, podcast consultant and host of The Story Behind and Hate to Weight
This month, we chatted with Emily Prokop who is a podcast extraordinaire! Give a listen for an enlightening conversation about all things podcast, the craze of 2020, and what we’re looking forward to in the podcast world this new year. Top line notes below!

Emily runs E Podcast Productions, a company she started to offer practical and down-to-earth information and support for DIY Podcasters so they can create and grow great-sounding podcasts WITHOUT breaking the bank or spending hours and hours on production. Want to know more on her company (and how to hire her for pod help)?
- Website: http://epodcastproductions.com
- Twitter: @emilypeckprokop
- Instagram: @emilypeckprokop
As mentioned, Emily also has two different podcasts under her belt:

The Story Behind tells the extraordinary history of the ordinary. Everyday objects are more closely examined, from their ancient beginnings through the present—all within 5-10 minutes. The show was nominated for a Webby in 2019 and Emily published a bestselling book on the show. Catch The Story Behind on their website, as well as on Twitter @StoryBehindPod.

Hate to Weight is a journey with two podcasters and friends who check in with each other every week and talk about their struggles and (hopefully) triumphs with weight loss. Catch Hate to Weight on their website, as well as on Twitter @hatetoweight.
More Tips and Recs from Emily:
We all met at the 2019 Intelligent Speech Conference in NYC, and the conference is still marching forward (with a smart virtual pivot this past summer). Check out the website for more on the annual event!
Emily also listed some of her favorite shows—grab your earbuds!
- The Feed
- Better Podcasting
- The School of Podcasting
- She Podcast
- New Media Show
- The Story Song Podcast
- DYEP also recommended Switched on Pop for music fans, as well as Song Exploder (another music-pod fav listened to by all three of us!)
- Twenty Thousand Hertz
‘Til next time,
—Lainey & Alex