From long road trips, to an afternoon of lawn care, my go-to time passage these days is a good podcast- and the medium is growing like wildfire. It seems like I'm subscribing to a new feed every week. So to make finding your new favorite an easier task, we're rounding up our best suggestions in a few installments. If youre tired of getting overwhelmed by parenting books:The Longest Shortest TimeMom and Dad are Fighting Theres no shortage of people talking about parenting these days, which made it hard to choose here. The Longest Shortest Time is hosted by This American Life contributor Hillary Frank and dives into some of the more nuanced topics of modern parenthood. Mom and Dad are Fighting is hosted by Slate and talks about everything from vaccinations to weed smoking parents. You know, like the stuff you talk about at playgroup. Both are elevating the conversation above the typical mommy war slog and its most definitely a welcome change. If youve spent countless hours watching 90s sitcoms:How Rude! (Full House) SeinCast (Seinfeld) Go Bayside (Saved by the Bell) The One With (Friends) When Im sick, I prefer curling up on the couch and binge watching shows I can recite in my sleep to basically anything else. And thanks to these folks (with arguably too much time on their hands), I can listen to exhaustive deconstructions of every episode of the true classics. Because thats not strangely obsessive at all. If want to improve your odds of winning Jeopardy:Good Job, Brain! Good Job, Brain delivers the perfect combination of intelligent banter and pop quiz youd find around a pub table at trivia night. Hosts Karen, Colin, Dana, and Chris are sure to make you just a little smarter every hour that you listen. If you cant resist a good story:This American Life This weekly radio show has been broadcasting interesting tales from people just like us for a decade before anyone heard the word podcast. Each show is centered around a theme (like dopplegangers, damaged reputations, or middle school) with three or four separate segments which makes it easy to listen to in fits and starts. Expect to laugh/cry/laughcry/sniffle and inexplicably fall in love with host Ira Glass. If you want to see the world in a whole new way:99% Invisible Self described as a tiny radio show about design, architecture, and the 99% invisible activity that shapes our world, 99% Invisible packs 20ish minutes with answers to questions you never even thought to ask. (It also laid to rest my husbands long-standing mystification with long-box cd packaging. Why did anyone ever think those stupid boxes were a good idea?! Ugh. And they were so ugly, too.) If you want to hang out with your favorite comedians: You Made it Weird with Pete Holmes Pete Holmes, comic, writer, serial laugher, hosts a weekly(ish) interview with hilarious guests you may have heard of. (Zach Galifianakis, Sarah Silverman, Ray Romano to name a few.) With a fondness for the sort of questions youre not likely to hear anyone else asking, and a willingness to be wide-open himself, the hour (or two) long episodes feel like hanging out with chatty friends. Thoughts? Suggestions? What are you listening to?
Our family vacations—as cheap and tiring as they have been—have made my kids empathetic, curious, and open-minded world travelers, and this makes me proud.
Babies are born with curiosity. The best toys tap into that inquisitive spirit—helping them explore the world and build skills and confidence along the way.
The energy and chaos of running around on the playground isn't the break all kids need during the school day. Introverts may do well to have an alternative.
From long road trips, to an afternoon of lawn care, my go-to time passage these days is a good podcast- and the medium is growing like wildfire. It seems like I'm subscribing to a new feed every week. So to make finding your new favorite an easier task, we're rounding up our best suggestions in a few installments. If youre tired of getting overwhelmed by parenting books: The Longest Shortest Time Mom and Dad are Fighting Theres no shortage of people talking about parenting these days, which made it hard to choose here. The Longest Shortest Time is hosted by This American Life contributor Hillary Frank and dives into some of the more nuanced topics of modern parenthood. Mom and Dad are Fighting is hosted by Slate and talks about everything from vaccinations to weed smoking parents. You know, like the stuff you talk about at playgroup. Both are elevating the conversation above the typical mommy war slog and its most definitely a welcome change. If youve spent countless hours watching 90s sitcoms: How Rude! (Full House) SeinCast (Seinfeld) Go Bayside (Saved by the Bell) The One With (Friends) When Im sick, I prefer curling up on the couch and binge watching shows I can recite in my sleep to basically anything else. And thanks to these folks (with arguably too much time on their hands), I can listen to exhaustive deconstructions of every episode of the true classics. Because thats not strangely obsessive at all. If want to improve your odds of winning Jeopardy: Good Job, Brain! Good Job, Brain delivers the perfect combination of intelligent banter and pop quiz youd find around a pub table at trivia night. Hosts Karen, Colin, Dana, and Chris are sure to make you just a little smarter every hour that you listen. If you cant resist a good story: This American Life This weekly radio show has been broadcasting interesting tales from people just like us for a decade before anyone heard the word podcast. Each show is centered around a theme (like dopplegangers, damaged reputations, or middle school) with three or four separate segments which makes it easy to listen to in fits and starts. Expect to laugh/cry/laughcry/sniffle and inexplicably fall in love with host Ira Glass. If you want to see the world in a whole new way: 99% Invisible Self described as a tiny radio show about design, architecture, and the 99% invisible activity that shapes our world, 99% Invisible packs 20ish minutes with answers to questions you never even thought to ask. (It also laid to rest my husbands long-standing mystification with long-box cd packaging. Why did anyone ever think those stupid boxes were a good idea?! Ugh. And they were so ugly, too.) If you want to hang out with your favorite comedians: You Made it Weird with Pete Holmes Pete Holmes, comic, writer, serial laugher, hosts a weekly(ish) interview with hilarious guests you may have heard of. (Zach Galifianakis, Sarah Silverman, Ray Romano to name a few.) With a fondness for the sort of questions youre not likely to hear anyone else asking, and a willingness to be wide-open himself, the hour (or two) long episodes feel like hanging out with chatty friends. Thoughts? Suggestions? What are you listening to?
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