Whether it’s the latest battle between the tech giants or keeping up to date with the latest developments in the #FreeBritney movement, staying informed with the latest news and current event developments is always a good idea.
Roisin Moloney explores her 5 best news podcasts which keep her abreast of the latest developments (news actually WORTH listening to… unheard of right?)
WSJ | The Journal
The Wall Street Journal’s podcast revolves around the triad of money, business and power. With a more businessey lens put on current news and events, this engaging and immersive podcast sucks you in immediately. Hosted by Kate Linebaugh and Ryan Knutson they eloquently and interestingly cover topics including Andrew Cuomo’s recent resignation as Governor of New York, the latest updates on the CDC’s advice on masks during COVID-19, the Taliban’s occupation in Afghanistan, Elon Musk’s constant Tesla crashes and BuzzFeed’s fight to go public. One of my favourite recent listens was about Amazon’s Review problem where third-party sellers risk getting kicked off the platform in order to gain favourable “reviews” for their products on the Amazon marketplace.
Vox | Today, Explained
A daily podcast from Vox Media which explains the unexplainable (and no, I don’t mean aliens). Today, Explained outlines everything from the spike of gun violence in the US through a poignant duology, whether the recent 2020 Tokyo Olympics were worth having, the mental health of doctors during the COVID-19 pandemic, who is classified as “white” on the census, to many more varied discussions. One of the more interesting listens related to an interview with Amanda Knox and the recent release of the film Stillwater, starring Matt Damon. According to IMDB, the synopsis of the film (“a father travels from Oklahoma to France to help his estranged daughter, who is in prison for a murder she claims she didn’t commit”) sounds strikingly similar to Amanda’s story of being imprisoned in Italy for the murder of her boyfriend in 2007.
WSJ | Tech News Briefing
The Wall Street Journal’s Tech News Briefing gets the techies up to date with all the gadgets and gizmos knocking around in the world. This podcast keeps you engaged with every episode, from the newest innovations in the industry, to debates over policy and privacy and in-depth interviews from big-wigs in the tech sphere, from Elon Musk’s persistence in using AI in his Tesla fleets despite regulatory scrutiny, to people opting for pared-down phones as a smartphone alternative (hello Nokia 3210), and the space race between Bezos, Branson and Musk. My favorite recent listen detailed how the current chairman of GameStop, Ryan Cohen, was just an investor in the company in 2019, but has since risen the ranks to Chairman (hey there’s hope for us yet!).
WIRED | Tech in Two
If bitesize news is more your cup of tea, then WIRED has got you covered. From the latest news on the FDA issuing full approval for the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine to booster shots, to your apps listening to you (Alexa, I’m looking at you), to quirky listens like “Why Even the Fastest Human Can’t Outrun Your Housecat”. Tech in Two gives you the latest news in the shortest amount of time, perfect for those of us with short attention spans (how many of you are thinking of scrolling through TikTok right now…?).
The New York Times | The Daily
Hosted by Michael Barbaro, The Daily outlines interviews with The Times’ journalists where they each comment on and summarize their story in about 20-30 minutes. Started in 2017, the podcast is hailed for its relatable and conversational tone. It has gone from strength to strength in the intervening years and even won the 2020 Webby Voice of the Year award. The Daily also spawned a weekly documentary spin-off series called The Weekly which investigates recent news stories and cultural issues.
What are your favourite ways to keep up to date with current events and happenings in the world?
Comment down below!
