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SUMMER LISTENING: The 8 best podcasts you can binge on over the holidays.

Earlier this year, I discovered the podcast, How Do You Sleep At Night. Even from the title, I was hooked.

It was one of those podcasts that made me think, “WHY DIDN’T I MAKE THIS?!?”

After religiously listening to each episode, a little part of my heart broke when I realised it only had six episodes.

I needed more. This couldn’t be the end. WHY.

You know the feeling.

So, at this time of year, I find myself desperate to listen/watch/read things that won’t catch me at the six-episode ending.

That have HEAPS.

That once I fall in love with the hosts, story, or content, I can just keep binging on.

After crazily messaging friends for recommendations, and collecting my own ones, I have compiled your go-to list of:

PODCASTS WITH 50+ EPISODES THAT I CAN BINGE ON.

From my eager heart to yours, I hope you enjoy.

1. The Guilty Feminist

Clocking in over 70 eps, this podcast is made by comedian, Deborah Frances-White, and you guessed it, it’s all about being a guilty feminist.

Now, just because it has the word “feminist” in it, don’t scroll down because you assume it’s going to be heavy or “too political”.

Deborah Frances-White. Image via Facebook.

To be honest, as much as I love my politics, the past two years have been quite politics heavy and I need a break.

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Trust me with this.

Frances-White is joined weekly with fellow comedians and kick-arse women to traverse the difficult paths of being a “guilty feminist”, and explore difficult topics like shame, assumptions, and orgasms with humour.

In the words of Frances-White herself, “I am a feminist but I once asked a taxi man to pull over because I couldn’t twist open my water bottle.”

BEING A FEMINIST IS HARD SOMETIMES. And, I love it.

Find out more, here.

2. RuPaul: What’s The Tee?

It is taking all of my willpower not to write this entire part in capital letters, only because I love RuPaul so much.

If you haven’t heard of RuPaul (oh gosh, my heart is fluttering because your life will be changed), he* is a drag queen superstar and the creator of RuPaul’s Drag Race. It features lots of sequins, shade, and fierce women.

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With over 100 episodes, RuPaul and fellow co-host, Michelle Visage, are mostly joined by celebrity guests, such as Rose McGowan, Lady Gaga, Anna Faris, and Graham Norton to talk all things pop culture, RuPaul, beauty, and life advice.

You can find out more, here.

*He is the pronoun Rupaul uses to describe himself on the podcast.

3. Mamamia Out Loud

I know, you’re on Mamamia and I am recommending a Mamamia podcast. I promise it’s because I genuinely love this podcast.

After listening to my first podcast series, Serial, Mamamia Out Loud was next on my list.

Most episodes they cover what women are talking about in that week, but so many of the topics are timeless.

Listen to a snippet of Mamamia Out Loud: Are singles lists at weddings a good idea? (Post continues after audio.)

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The three hosts, all smart, switched on women, rarely fail to give me a new perspective, even if I don’t always agree with it.

In one conversation, they cover everything from Syria to spray tans, and politics to pop culture, which is the magnificence of women.

You can find out more, here.

4. All In The Mind

This is your perfect one when you feel like after listening to nine episodes of RuPaul straight, you need something to make you feel “smart”.

All In The Mind is an ABC production that is self-described as a “foray into the mental universe”. It explores everything from what causes racial bias to what makes conspiracy theories and even the psychology of paedophilia.

As I said, a thinker one.

Some might find the topics relatable, like when they covered being diagnosed with cancer young or parenting with a mental illness. But, even if you have no previous relation to the topic, they are still super interesting.

5. The Osher Günsberg Podcast

This podcast fundamentally changed the way I saw Osher. Known most to people as “the guy who counts roses” on The Bachelor/Bachelorette, or formerly on Australian Idol, his podcast is a whole new world.

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Usually about an hour long – often running over time – Osher interviews a wide spread of individuals, some whose faces you may have seen before, and ones that could be strangers on the street.

Mike Munro, Emma Alberici Madison Missina, Mark Holden, Waleed Aly, James Mathison, Ita Buttrose, Charlie Pickering, Wil Anderson and Yumi Stynes are among the famous faces on the show.

In contrast, there are many episodes where I don’t know the person but still give it a red, hot go.

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Osher’s podcast allows him a space for him to hold his own; he is smart, incredibly informed, politically passionate, and speaks openly about living with mental health conditions.

Plus, I met him on a train one time and he talked to me all the way home.

You can find out more, here.

6. The High Low

When asking friends, this one came fiercely recommended.

I mean fiercely, which is why I have placed it on the list, even though it doesn’t reach the 50+ episode quota. One friend (who will definitely remain anonymous) admits she has listened to every episode twice.

SO.

Giving a smart and funny take on all things pop culture and politics, co-hosts Dolly Alderton and Pandora Sykes are just brilliant.

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Now, you may be thinking: Gee, that sounds awfully like Mamamia Out Loud.

Women + talking + pop culture + news = same.

Even when the topics of the podcasts cross over, every woman has her own voice and experiences to bring to the table.

It is riveting and brilliant and even the intro music makes me happy.

You can find out more, here.

7. No Filter

Hosted by Mia Freedman, No Filter will never bring you your ordinary interview.

Freedman does away with stock standard, “What is your new book about?” kind of questions and brings me a side to interviewees that is refreshing.

From Tiffiny Hall to Samuel Johnson, The Barefoot Investor, and Esther Perel, Freedman’s candid and no-holds back style often reciprocates the same in her guest.

Listen to a snippet of one of my favourite episodes of No Filter, starring Tiffiny Hall. (Post continues after audio.)

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I find myself leaning in closer and then obsessively googling everything about the interview to find out more.

Even if you don’t know the person – or think they’re not you cup of tea – every guest is FASCINATING.

8. My Dad Wrote a Porno

If you have not heard this podcast, then my dear lord your life is going to be changed.

The title is exactly the show: after Jamie Morton’s dad sent him his self-published “erotic literature”, Morton rounded up two of his best friends and every episode, they read a chapter of his dad’s books.

And, let me say, the books are terrible.

There is nothing that turns you more off sex more than these pornos. But, their commentary and hilarity are like nothing else available.

I have actually banned myself from listening to the podcast while I drive because I become dangerous from cry-laughing too much. It is that funny.

Now, if you’re at the end of this list and have listened to all of those podcasts (HOW. WHERE DO YOU GET THE TIME), then here is a wrap of some extra ones for your ears.

Some of these don’t have 50+ eps or, in the interest of keeping this as short and snappy as possible, I couldn’t write a complete review.

  • Ladies, We Need To Talk – ABC
  • Casefile
  • Trace – ABC
  • The Well – Mamamia Podcast Network
  • Alone – CBC Radio
  • Missing Richard Simmons – Topic
  • Better Off Dead – The Wheeler Centre
  • Prude and the Pornstar – Mamamia Podcast Network
  • The Hook Up – Triple J
  • Chat 10 Looks 3
  • Happier with Gretchen Rubin
  • Oprah’s Super Soul Conversations – Oprah
  • Pretty For an Aboriginal – BuzzFeed Australia
  • Where Should We Begin? – Audible
  • Wilosphy with Wil Anderson
  • Like I’m A Six-Year-Old
  • No Such Thing As A Fish – audioBoom
  • Bang On – Double J