2021 Top Podcast List
If there is anything that I am addicted to in life, it is podcasts. I binge ones I love, constantly search for new and noteworthy shows, and complain to my friends about podcasts I don”t like. This form of media seems to have swept my generation by storm, and I am a sucker for it. Therefore, after many hours of consumption this year, here are my favorite podcasts I discovered as new (or new to me) in 2021.
6. Passages
Sponsored by the good folks at mereorthodoxy.com, “Passages'' is a twelve episode production walking listeners through the history and theology of Nicene orthodoxy in a captivating way. Without sacrificing depth and complexity, this podcast provides an avenue into the faith of our trinitarian fathers through a medium that casts a broader net than books can at times. It is my first recommendation for friends who want to learn more about the universal creeds and trinitarian thought of the holy, catholic church.
Best episode(s):
With a mix of world class historical analysis and witty British humor, Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook provide laid back conversations on some of history’s most fascinating topics. Holland is a scholar of ancient history while Sandbrook is a modern historian; Each host contributes unique insight into the wide range of figures and events discussed which furnishes good dialogue. For informative but casual history, this is the show.
Best episode(s):
In terms of story and production, this podcast is easily the best quality product on the list. But it is special to me beyond the artistic excellence due to the setting this story finds itself in. “In the Red Clay,” is a podcast documenting the life and events of Billie Sunday Birt, the leader of what was known as the “Dixie Mafia.” Birt and his Mafia were located in the northeast region of Georgia (specifically Barrow and Jackson counties) in the latter half of the 20th century. I know the sights and scenes that are described in this story well. Most of the places described in this show are ones I grew up hanging around. It is fascinating to hear the history of what went on in the towns I know so intimately. On top of that personal note, if you are a fan of complex murder mystery, you will binge this one straight through!
Best episode(s): It really would not make sense to list my favorite episode if you have not listened to the whole series.
For lovers of great literature, here is a show dedicated to exploring the treasures of classic books. Yet the uniqueness of “Island Idylls” is not its focus on literary titans; what makes it worthwhile is the encounter of two worldviews meeting at the bridge of one of the world’s greatest points of contact between Christians and non-Christians: written words. The significance and sacredness of text provide a trellis for conversation on the depths of what it means to live and why life and meaning are things worth writing about in the first place. Here, pastor Aaron Menikoff and his father, Barry Menikoff, a professor of literature, embark monthly on making sense of the world through great books, and in the process find themselves knee deep in God-sized questions. Plus, it is nice to know there are still people who care about reading classic works of literature, a passion my own generation seems to be losing.
Best episode(s):
One of the biggest concerns I have for my own generation is that most of us cannot distinguish between journalism and political commentary. Most people today probably assume what Tucker Carlson, Don Lemon, Sean Hannity, and Rachel Maddow do every night is journalism. These giants of major news outlets spend most of their airtime reporting little and opining a lot. Yet most people think this is just what news is now. I honestly do not believe many people under forty years old could name a single journalist. Honestly, I do not think there is much space for household name journalists anymore. But there are bright spots in the world of journalistic media. Bari Weiss, former columnist at the New York Times, has mixed the new free lance mediums of media with an old school approach to journalism. “Honestly” provides an interview with characters from all over the cultural and political spectrum to discuss the happenings of our world. I find Weiss’ approach to be unbiased (as is possible) and her questions to the point. She also investigates problems that escape the headlines of most nightly news broadcasts such as the complexities of technology and sex work, China’s social media influence, and more. I do not agree with a lot of Weiss’ conclusions, but I greatly appreciate her approach.
Best episode(s):
America's Sex Recession (Warning: definitely graphic. But very insightful for understanding the emotional lives of many people in our culture.)
You’re Already Living in China’s World Pt 2: Beijing's Long Game
1. The London Lyceum
Probably the most unique aim of any podcast on this list, “The London Lyceum” is “a weekly conversation on analytic, baptist, and confessional theology encouraging listeners to think.” The creators of this podcast have turned their show into a real outlet for baptist thinkers to share their work and learn from others outside of the baptist tradition. Rigorous thinking, serious exegesis, philosophical inquiry, and the Second London Baptist Confession are all my favorite things wrapped into one. Here is a place where like-minded lovers of theology can grow together.
Best episode(s):
John Gill on Catholicity and the Covenant of Redemption with David Rathel