The Podcasts to Listen to When You’re Done with ‘Serial’

(99% Invisible host Roman Mars. Via 99% Invisible)

This has definitely been the year of declaring 2014 the year of the podcast.

The hype has unquestionably made podcasts trendier than ever. So whether you’re lucky enough to receive a new podcast-friendly gizmo (smartphone, iPod, tablet, or whatever) for Christmas, or you’re just in pod-withdrawal following the conclusion of “Serial,” maybe you could use some tips: What should you subscribe to now?

Here are my suggestions, which I’ll preface by noting that I’m a longtime podcast fan whose opinions on the form don’t always follow those of cultural trend-meisters. If you just want to listen to what everyone else is listening to, you hardly need my advice: Just go to iTunes and click on whatever is topping the charts in your favorite genre.

That’s fine, of course — and as you’ll see, I still name-check a number of champion-podcast stalwarts below. But you might also want to consider some options that are less obvious, yet just as cool. So here goes.

Law and disorder
The popularity of “Serial” was of course unprecedented, but the first season of that reexamination of a real-life murder case has concluded (go here if you want to belatedly enjoy the show). Fans waiting for Season 2 won’t find much else quite like it, but here are a couple of shows I like that may help. 

Every episode of “Life of the Law” examines a different aspect of the American legal system (from conjugal visits to the intellectual-property ramifications of joke stealing). Balancing documentary reporting with considered expert analysis, it’s well produced and very smart.

“Criminal”, meanwhile, recounts true-crime stories from a distinctly human perspective, introducing different perpetrators, victims, and the kinds of surprising plot twists only real life can provide. If “Serial” is like an epic novel, then this always-engaging show is like a series of well-crafted short stories.

Tech, from culture to gadgets
Not surprisingly, there are many tech-related podcasts, and choosing among them will depend on what interests you about technology. Personally, I’m not that into listening to gurus opine about startups and business strategies, so while there’s a lot of that material around, my picks are different:

A relative newcomer, “Reply All,” is off to a promising start. The show dives into the weird culture of the digital world, from its latest curious developments (like an app that wants to be an “Instagram for doctors”) to pioneers in now-familiar Internet standards (the guy who invented pop-up ads; one of the original “cam girls”).

“Sideshow” is also fairly new: Launched earlier this year as a spin-off to public radio show “Studio 360,” it offers clever examinations of the latest Web/pop culture crossovers: for example the popular Vimeo series “High Maintenance” and the work of “Instagram savant” Christoph Niemann.

As its name implies, “Theory of Everything” is rather broader in scope: Host Benjamen Walker (no relation) weaves together interviews with tech and culture experts and his own unique observations, following themes through a whole show or series of shows. Always an entertaining learning experience.

But, OK, if all you really want to know about technology is which nifty gizmos and gadgets you can buy next, try “Cool Tools”, a spin-off of the popular website: Hosts Mark Frauenfelder and Kevin Kelly grill a different tech-savvy guest every time about the most clever stuff he owns or uses. The upshot is a veritable geekfest that gets way beyond the obvious; the debut episode, featuring our own David Pogue, is a great example.

Listening about listening
Popular music podcasts include NPR’s “All Songs Considered” and “Sound Opinions,” a public radio show hosted by critics Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot. Both are worthwhile, for sure. I also like “The New York Times Popcast.” While it’s mostly critics talking about music, as opposed to playing actual music, it’s surprisingly fun.

Lately, a podcast called “Pitch” has been making some noise: Billed as a show about “how music affects us all,” it’s devoted to the deeper context of sound and listening. In other words, it’s more likely to devote an episode to “voice” than, say, a new Beyoncé record.

Finally, if you have really adventurous listening taste: “Soundproof,” an Australian public radio show that started earlier this year, regularly features amazing aural artworks and sonic experiments — great if you do your pod-listening on top-notch headphones.

Telling it like it is
Public radio juggernaut “This American Life” still probably reigns supreme among general-interest nonfiction podcasts. But since you already thought of that, I’ll mention a few other shows presenting great documentary work.

Australia’s “360 Documentaries” is a longtime favorite of mine, and lately I’ve also been impressed with BBC Radio 4’s “Documentary of the Week”, with in-depth examinations of topics as varied as the history of the man-on-the-street interview to the evolution of young women’s influence on pop culture. In both cases, these series present work by different creators every week, so not every installment is my cup of tea. But one of the less-noted pleasures of this medium is how easily you can skip past a segment or an entire episode of whatever you’re not into.

For fans of surprising nonfiction stories on most any topic you can think of, I strongly recommend “Re:Sound”, from the Third Coast International Audio Festival. Usually consisting of several pieces organized around a common theme, the show regularly champions groundbreaking audio work from all over the planet and is a fantastic introduction to podcast-era radio creativity.

Talking about laughing
Before the “Serial” phenomenon, everybody’s favorite breakthrough podcast was “WTF with Marc Maron” — and indeed, the comedian’s raw and honest interviews with fellow comedians remain justifiably popular.

The more explicitly laugh-focused “Comedy Bang Bang,” featuring a parade of comics both new and familiar, is another perennial favorite. And while it’s not a comedy show per se, I’d also recommend Jesse Thorn’s “Bullseye” — which regularly features up-and-coming comedian guests who often have connections to podcasts of their own — as a great resource for indirectly exploring the slew of comedy and sketch podcasts.

Grab bag
People say “Radiolab” is about science, but to me it’s about … everything. Presumably I don’t have to tell you about this beloved public radio show, but you may not realize how much podcast-exclusive content its producers create. Like the radio version, these boast outstanding sound design and lots of surprises.

The design-focused “99 Percent Invisible” has built what was once a cult following into something way bigger in the past year or two, and you really don’t have to be a design freak to join the show’s legions of fans. Yes, you’ll hear about urban planning and architecture — but also about ouija boards and those giant inflatable men who flap in the wind outside car dealerships.

It’s not exactly a challenge to get the latest news on popular culture, but if you want to absorb that information through chatty musings among some pretty smart critics, then check out Slate’s “Culture Gabfest.” A rotating crew swaps observations and opinions on movies, books, TV shows, and so on — and cheerfully dissects dubious trends like “the lumbersexual.” It’s not like going to a cocktail party with a bunch of witty cosmopolitans — because that would be terrible. It’s like skipping that party, still learning everything you might want to, and zoning out fearlessly when somebody’s being a bore. Much better.

I have no idea how to categorize “Getting On with James Urbaniak.” This was recommended by Kurt Andersen in a previous roundup of favorite podcasters’ favorite podcasts, and while it could be considered a radio drama, it also regularly pops up in lists of top comedy podcasts. Basically, every episode stars Urbaniak performing some new fictional scenario that may be funny, disturbing, or both — but that never ends up where you thought it would.

And lastly, if you’re looking for a podcast that is on some level about the popularity of podcasts, there’s “StartUp.” Hosted by Alex Blumberg, it’s a miniseries tracking the creation of Gimlet Media. What’s that? A “network of high-quality, narrative podcasts.” Timely!

Fill in the blank
So that’s a start for you — but by no means a definitive list. All the theorizing about the recent interest in podcasts has tended to focus either on “Serial” or on societal meta-trends like the supposedly new need for commuting distractions. But here’s another factor: A genuine explosion in audio creativity is under way out there, across every genre you can think of.

In short, a lot of podcasters (veterans and newcomers) are just making a lot of great shows right now, period. So by all means, try out some of what’s suggested above. But I really encourage you to explore on your own; if a podcaster you like touts another show, try it. I don’t know how long this podcast “boom” will last, but from years of experience I’ll say this: There’s never been a better time to listen in.

Write to me at rwalkeryn@yahoo.com or find me on Twitter, @notrobwalker. RSS lover? Paste this URL into your reader of choice: https://www.yahoo.com/tech/author/rob-walker/rss.