As a young person in today’s chaotic and pandemic-stricken world whose entire universe is now confined to the walls of my own home, I find I now have far too much time to simply sit in my room, doing absolutely nothing. I will admit, amongst racial riots, climate disasters, and the tension over the upcoming presidential election, it can be pretty depressing, especially considering that this is the future I will be handed when I officially become an adult in a few months.
While I pass my time doing engaging activities like staring blankly out of a window at the crow that stops by every week to eat my neighbor’s trash or doing the dishes for the fourth time that day simply because there is nothing else to do, I am sure I am not alone in trying to distract myself from the feeling of existential dread that’s been slowly eating away at all of us since March. I’ve watched what seems like every show on Netflix, listened to all my favorite songs until I hated them and don’t spend enough time in the car to listen to the radio.
In terms of detracting from that existential dread, there is one thing that has yet to fail me: podcasts. Versatile, easily accessible and about pretty much anything and everything, they are the ultimate form of media that seems designed to fit in with our lives today.
First of all, unlike television, podcasts don’t require that you sit down or even stop what you are doing to listen. You can garden, go on walks or do household chores, all while learning about alien encounters or catching up on any big news you missed last week. You can watch your neighbor’s crow eat their trash as you walk through crime scenes with Ashley Flowers on her weekly true crime show. In a time when life seems to move at the speed of molasses, a friend or informant in your ear, “makes the time go by faster,” says Dana Chilton, a senior at San Mateo High School. Podcasts are for both on-the-go people and those who have all the time in the world. They can be paused and restarted at the drop of a hat and adhere only to the listener’s schedule.
Secondly, podcasts are one of the most diverse forms of media out there, based solely on their sheer ability to be about absolutely anything the host or hosts desires. Ms. Chilton’s favorites include Simply Podlogical and Mission Accomplished, while I recommend Supernatural or Very Presidential. There really is something for everyone.
Rita Melton, an elementary school teacher, praises podcasts specifically for their ability to encompass a far wider range of topics than mainstream entertainment. Even within one show, a listener has the opportunity to listen to a range of ideas, storys or perspectives. Ms. Melton appreciates this aspect of podcasting, describing that “you can get an intersectionality that isn’t as common in order forms of media.” As an example, she mentions that one of her favorite podcasts, which is mainly focused around mindfulness and mediation, has found a way to incorporate the Black Lives Matter movement into their discussions without sacrificing their initial subject matter. Whether you need a funny and entertaining break from your homework or want to stay up-to-date on the latest scientific discoveries, I promise, there is something for you.
If you still need convincing after all this: they are free. Most podcasts can be found for free on Spotify and don’t require you to have a premium membership to listen all the way through without ads. You can download and listen to them offline, which means that bike ride will go by a whole lot faster and you won’t be wasting your precious data.
So what are you still doing here? Go. Download a podcast. Stare out your window. Feel that sense of dread slip away as you listen to someone who, if you listen for long enough, will start to feel like a friend. Find your passion, that niche interest you’ve always been fascinated by. Find your people. Listen, and feel the world get just a little bit easier to cope with.