Podcasts

Listening to a captivating podcast can be the perfect way to unwind while you do something else — or while you do nothing! Perhaps you enjoy listening to podcasts with your entire household (like in the old days when everyone would gather around the radio) or in your own private space with your headphones on. Maybe you use a special app, like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Stitcher. Maybe you play them through your computer. There's no wrong way to do it! Here are some episodes and series we recommend.

Full Series

"Forever Ago"

For non-fiction fans
"Every episode explores the origin of just one thing — like sandwiches, video games, clocks and more."

"The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel"

For fans of mystery books
"The Unexplainable Disappearance of Mars Patel is a scripted podcast for middle grade kids, performed by middle grade kids. It is a fun, high-quality, serial mystery that can be described as "Goonies" meets "Spy Kids" meets "Stranger Things" for 8-12 year olds."

"Little Did I Know"

For fans of contemporary musicals (like "Dear Evan Hansen") and books about theater (like "Drama")
"This scripted series tells the story of a group of friends - recent college graduates - who bring a broken-down summer theatre back to life in 1976." Features 22 original songs.

"Harry Potter and the Sacred Text"

For Harry Potter diehards
"A podcast in which the Harry Potter books are read as a sacred text. Each episode, the characters and context of one chapter in the Harry Potter series are explored through a different central theme like 'vulnerability', 'betrayal', or 'friendship'."

"Dear Hank And John"

For fans of John Green novels, advice columns, "dad jokes"
"Hank and John Green answer questions e-mailed by listeners, give "dubious" advice and talk about the weekly news from the planet Mars and the 3rd tier English football club AFC Wimbledon."

“Who Would Win?”

For fans of comic books and chatty YouTubers
A nonfiction podcast talk show in which the hosts and guests that debates battles between fictional characters from the worlds of Comic Books, Sci-Fi, and Fantasy.

"Dear Young Rocker"

For musicians/music lovers
"Dear Young Rocker" is an audio memoir about growing up a loner and finding a home in music. It profiles a young teen seeking relief from the anxiety, body issues, and pent up aggression of adolescence and a way to connect to others through rock music.

"Flyest Fables"

For fans of fables, folk tales, mythology, and poetic realistic fiction (like books by Jason Reynolds)
Flyest Fables brings you anthology style and critically acclaimed hopepunk fables for the 21st century. Created by Morgan Givens.

Six Minutes

For fans of mystery and spy novels

Each six-minute episode continues the story of an 11-year-old girl named Holiday who finds herself in the middle of a mystery adventure with no memory of where she came from.

For Mock Newberians, and other big-time book readers

If you're missing out on a book club or literary circle you usually participate in in-person, this podcast might just help you fill that void.

Individual Episodes/Curated Selections

Spies!
(The Past & The Curious)

For fans of Stuart Gibbs "Spy School" series
"Little know super Civil War spy Kate Warne saved Abraham Lincoln’s life on the way to his inauguration.
John Honeyman may (or may not)have been a double agent who helped George Washington’s famous Crossing of the Delaware. We’ll hear these stories and much more!"

For poets, or those just looking to vibe
"Take a moment to slow down with your family. Here are some of our favorite kid-friendly episodes on nature, food, poetry, kindness and more."

"On The Shoulders Of Giants"
(Throughline)

For sports fans and history buffs
This podcast episode illuminates the history of Black athletes using their platforms to protest injustice in the United States. Learn about whose path Colin Kaepernick has followed in the stories of heavyweight boxer Jack Johnson, the sprinter Wilma Rudolph, and the basketball player Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf.

“Classic Cartoon Sound Effects!”
(Twenty Thousand Hertz)

For fans of animated films and TV shows
Turns out, your favorite cartoons may very well feature handmade sound effects recorded decades ago. Learn more about these iconic sounds in this fascinating episode.

"#12 Jesse"
(Heavyweight)

For fans of sad but uplifting YA novels
"Four years ago, Jesse was hit by a car and nearly died. Now he wants to find the driver. And thank him."
In this episode, host and "interlocutor" Jonathan Goldstein will make you laugh and cry in equal measure. (Warning: episode contains some graphic description of bodily injury.)

"Caring What You’re Sharing"
(Cultivating Calm)

For anyone dealing with anxiety in quarantine
This whole series is a wonderful balm for these times, but this episode in particular is useful for anyone looking for ways to get more enjoyment out of the little things bringing them joy.

"La La Land: Galileo's Warning"

For fans of the entertainment industry/social sciences buffs
Galileo tried to teach us that adding more and more layers to a system intended to avert disaster often makes catastrophe all the more likely to happen. His basic lesson has been ignored in nuclear power plants, financial markets and at the Oscars... all resulting in chaos.

For fans of "The Moth," and other personal storytelling-focused anthologies
"This American Life" is a Pulitzer Prize winning podcast. Primarily a journalistic non-fiction program, it has also featured essays, memoirs, field recordings, short fiction, and found footage. These episodes are specifically selected for all ages.

For fans of nonfiction books like "Stuff Matters" and "How To: Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Real-World Problems"

Radiolab is a radio program produced by WNYC, a public radio station in New York City, and broadcast on public radio stations in the U.S.

"Raccoon Resistance"
(99 Percent Invisible)

For fans of humorous books and stories with cunning creatures

Toronto unveiled its “raccoon-resistant” compost bins in 2016 as part of a “war on raccoons.” Could smart design manage to outwit them?

Featured Berkeley Carroll Community Members

Did you know that Berkeley Carroll High School has its own podcast series? According to the Berkeley Carroll website, "BCast was founded by two members of the class of 2020, Teddy F. and Sol Rey V. The BCast is an attempt to bring members of the Berkeley Carroll community together, and hopefully foster a fun and engaging environment. For team members, BCast seeks to promote student ownership, strength, and creativity." It was created a year ago, and there are plenty of episodes to check out. The most recent one features an interview with Dr. Waller!