It’s great to get to listen to a jam when you’re on the road and really get in a good mood, but sometimes music gets a bit tedious and you need something new to fill your ears.
Here’s where podcasts come in – they’re great for storytelling, they’re informative, they’re accessible and they’re great to keep you company while you’re stuck in traffic.
Not sure where to start? Here’s a list of podcasts you should listen to when you're doing anything that doesn’t require your ears:
Alibi
This is South Africa’s answer to Serial, the very popular US investigative journalism podcast. Produced by journalist and author Paul McNally, Alibi follows the story of Anthony de Vries, a man who has been in prison for 17 years for murders he says he didn’t commit.
The story unfolds over eight episodes and involves cash-in-transit robberies, car chases and apartheid cops. The timeline of the events starts in 1994 and carries on to present day.
You can listen to the podcast on iTunes, Soundcloud and YouTube
Singing Bones
If you love fairy tales and their origins, then you’ll enjoy this series. It takes a look at where the stories come from and discusses their “bare bones” and how they fit in popular culture. It also draws comparisons to similar tales in other cultures and explores how they fit into the modern day.
You can listen to the podcasts on the Singing Bones website or on iTunes
Storyworthy
This goodie hosts lots of talented comedians, musicians and actors who each tell a 10-minute story regarding a major life event which is sometimes funny, and sometimes heartbreaking. No matter what kind of narrative you’re being told however, it’s beautiful to get to know some of these famous people so intimately. They're heartwarming and you can definitely find comfort in knowing you’re not the only one going through some of life’s more difficult challenges.
You can listen to the podcasts on the Storyworthy website or on iTunes
Kiss and Tell with Lady Skollie
Hosted by artist whose real name is Laura Windvogel, the podcast centres around sex, gender and sexuality and relationships. In the hour-long podcast, Lady Skollie, who is known for being outspoken talks about these so called taboo subjects and the episodes often centre on either a guest, contemporary music and social commentary about patriarchal constructs.
You can listen to the podcast on iTunes
Reply All
A great podcast about the internet, its history and the kinds of things that have been done with it since it was invented. Hosted by PJ Vogt and Alex Goldman, the show was launched in 2014, and doesn’t just tell stories of technology, but stories of humanity too. It’s very interesting and the topics and guests range from the inventor of the pop up ad to an episode about LSD.
You can listen to the podcast on the gimlet media site or on iTunes
Lesser Known Somebodies
Comedian Simmi Areff started this podcast when he couldn’t get a radio show. The podcast has him interviewing new guests who range from comedians to bloggers every week. You get to be exposed to new talent that you didn’t know existed, or get to hear things from celebrities you didn’t know before.
You can listen to the podcast on iTunes or Soundcloud
POLOTIKI
Hosted by News24 politics editor Mahlatse Gallens, POLOTIKI discuses the latest in political news every week with a series of guests.
You can listen to the podcast on Soundcloud or on iTunes