Lenten Listening: Podcasts

Here are some of my favorite faith podcasts which can prove helpful at Lent. To be fair, I tend to listen to most of them year-round.

Every Knee Shall Bow

This is a podcast about how to evangelize, which always brings up memories of Hyde Park. No thank you. Then my daughter Rose, who listens to such things to help with RCIA conversations, recommended it. And she was right! The hosts have good chemistry and are fun to listen to. They understand the things that make most of us cringe away from evangelizing and have a lot of helpful tips — some of which I've actually used. Also, it is inspiring about how to live our faith to the fullest — which counts extra during Lent! Definitely give this one a try. (website link)

 

 

Catholic Classics

 Fr. Gregory Pine, O.P. and Fr. Jacob Bertrand Janczyk read a classic text, followed up with  insightful commentary and practical guidance. Because they do it in bite-sized installments, it's easy to digest. The first book was Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales, a personal favorite of mine. (website link)

 

The Catechism in a Year

From Ascension Press and Father Mike Schmitz, who took us through the Bible in a year — also comes The Catechism in a Year.

As before, Father reads the daily selection aloud while supplementing them afterward with context, inspiration, and insights. I actually enjoyed this even more than The Bible in a Year, and that's saying something! (website link)

 The Bible in a Year is also perfect Lenten listening. (website link)

Father Mike's weekly homilies homilies may be found here.  He also does short explanations about the Catholic faith for Ascension Press. Get them here.

Word on Fire — show

Half an hour with Bishop Robert Barron discussing everything from current movies to evangelization to pilgrimage, iPhones, and much more. They'll also feature audio from some of his talks, including those given at Facebook, Amazon, etc. Always interesting. (iTunes link, website link)

For Bishop Barron's homilies go here: iTunes link, website link

Old Books with Grace 

Grace is a medievalist, scholar and teacher. She has a very accessible style. She has done a Lenten series which I greatly benefited from — Virtues and Vices. She's also done Advent and Christmas series which I've enjoyed. Try her out to see what she's got for this Lent. (website link)

The Symbolic World

Jonathan Pageau looks at symbolism in our culture (ancient and current) and shows us meanings that we had long forgotten but that make real sense. Any reader of Scripture will recognize the way he dives through layers of meaning and pulls out the essence for us to consider. He's Orthodox and loves to show us the places faith shines through in regular symbolism. He'll also do interviews ranging from Jonathan Peterson, Bishop Barron and many more. Simply fascinating. He does both videos and podcasts.

A Good Story is Hard to Find

Two Catholic friends talk about the books and movies they love and the traces of the One Reality that lie below the surface.

Yes, this is the podcast that Scott Danielson and I do every couple of weeks. Looking for God in the stories that entertain us might be just the Lenten inspiration you need to see God interacting in your life in a whole new way. (iTunes link, website link)

Pray-as-you-go

Daily prayer. This podcast is usually about 10 minutes. It begins with music (they use quite a variety from Lady Blacksmith Mogambo to French monks to contemporary worship style), then read from the scripture for the day. They give time for contemplation of this scripture with a series of gently asked questions that invite us to think about it in ways we might not otherwise. (iTunes link, website link)

Best of 2023 — Podcasts

 My top picks from podcasts I discovered last year. As always, they may be old, but my listening was brand new in 2023. In no particular order. Links are in the podcast name.

Catechism in a Year

Fr. Mike Schmitz guides you through the entire Catechism of the Catholic Church in 365 episodes, providing explanation, insight, and encouragement along the way.

Like the Bible in a Year podcast, this is chock full of Father Mike Schmitz's explanations that help us see how the Catechism applies to everyday life. He doesn't dodge the touchy issues, because the Catechism doesn't. But his explanations help to explain the logic and love that is behind all the Church's teachings. I have thoroughly enjoyed this one.

Books of Titans

Podcaster Erik Rostad started Books of Titans as an experiment to discover how to read more books and remember what I read. I enjoyed the past episodes I tried as he was really good at pulling out big ideas from each book and often would find them connecting to other books in unexpected ways. 

In 2023 he began a project to read the Great Books and see the wisdom of the ages and the cultural influence they have imparted. Not only has Erik been discussing the ancient books but he has paired them with more modern works which help give context. Erik is a thoughtful reader and it is fascinating to hear him go through these books. His goal is to finish by 2030. Read more about that project here.

How to Eat an Elephant
A Little Book Club for Large Books 

Of course, as the saying goes, you eat an elephant one bite at a time. Podcasters Ian, Emily, and Megan do a great job of reading five chapters a week and looking at them indepth. So far they've read War and Peace and Les Miserables. It's thanks to their discussions that I made it halfway through War and Peace last year before deciding I'd read as much as I needed to and dropping the book. It wasn't them, it was just that I'd read all I needed to of War and Peace. However, they are engaging and thoughtful and I'll be on board the next time they pick up a long read that is on my list.

Anupama Chopra Reviews

Anupama Chopra, founder & editor of Film Companion, is a film critic, television anchor and book author. She has been writing about Bollywood since 1993. Here you can find all of her reviews for movies from across the globe.

I discovered this when browsing through Evergreen Podcasts listings. Anupama Chopra gives just the succinct yet personal reviews of new Indian films that help me know whether or not to put movies on my list. So far, her tastes and ours match up very well. 

Best of 2022 — Podcasts

My top picks from podcasts I discovered last year. As always, they may be old, but my listening was brand new in 2022. In no particular order. Links are mostly in the podcast name.

The Art of History

Episodes from history, viewed through great works of art. No pre-reqs required! New episodes every month. Hosted by Amanda Matta, art historian.

Every so often I go looking for a good podcast on art. This one combines two of my favorite things, explaining the meaning of a painting beyond my cursory knowledge ("hey, I like that one!") and going in-depth into the history that prompted the art in the first place.

 

Library of Lost Time

Every week: two new books and an irresistible distraction. 

 

Sure, you have important things to do. But it takes just a 10 minutes or so to learn about two upcoming book releases and something fascinating about the world. 

 

 The Library of Lost Time is a weekly podcast where we share two new book releases at the top of our TBR, then celebrate a fun book- or travel-related distraction.

This podcast is short and sweet, with a wide range of books and distractions offered. I've discovered a lot of new things thanks to the Library of Lost Time.

Every Knee Shall Bow

Lay Catholic evangelists Michael Gormley and Dave VanVickle bring you a podcast series that teaches you how to confidently share your Catholic faith with your family members, friends, co-workers, and the strangers you meet on airplanes. Every episode, Mike and Dave give you five steps you can take each week to become an instrument God uses to spread the Gospel, heal hearts, and renew his Church. Be inspired by stories of miraculous conversions and be reminded that God still powerfully intervenes to transform people's lives.

 

This is a podcast about how to evangelize, which always brings up memories of Hyde Park. No thank you. Then my daughter Rose, who listens to such things to help with RCIA conversations, recommended it. And she was right! The hosts have good chemistry and are fun to listen to. They understand the things that make most of us cringe away from evangelizing and have a lot of helpful tips — some of which I've actually used. Definitely give this one a try.

The Les Miserables Reading Companion Podcast

The Podcast about Victor Hugo's Les Misérables. In each episode, professor Briana Lewis comments on a section of the book, to make it a bit less daunting, and hopefully help you enjoy it a bit more. This podcast is created with a non-academic, non-expert, non-French-speaking audience in mind--that is, anyone who'd like to dive into this classic!

Briana Lewis truly makes Les Miserables accessible and I especially enjoy the way she will read various French phrases, translating them herself, to make points. If you have ever struggled with Les Mis, and I'm one of those people, then this is a chance to make your way through the novel with help by your side.

Sticky Notes

Sticky Notes is a classical music podcast for everyone. Whether you are a beginner just looking to get into classical music but don't know where to start, or a seasoned musician interested in the lives and ideas of your fellow artists, this podcast is for you.

 

The host is a professional conductor but he could easily be a popular teacher because his love of music is infectious. He never forgets that most of us (me, anyway) don't know even the basics about music or what it's like to live around the classical music world. So I've learned that The Nutcracker Suite has a lot of marches in it that don't sound like marches. That the Schubert Cello Quintet was ignored until 50 years after it was first written. That film music began as the solution to cover up the really noisy film projectors. And much more.

Opera for Everyone

Opera for Everyone makes opera understandable, accessible, and enjoyable for all. Pat Wright hosts the show, inviting guest co-hosts for lively discussions of operas. Music soars. Epiphanies abound. Hilarity ensues.

I never figured I'd keep listening to this one but Pat Wright makes even a 2-hour opera podcast fun. Each opera's story is described so that the pieces of music we hear (all in order) make sense. It includes history, musical information, and a lot of good humor.

Unspooled

Each episode of Unspooled covers a single film and analyzes its artistic, thematic, and historical significance. It has been described as a "book club where we are watching movies once a week." — Wikipedia

 

I came across this when looking for reviews of RRR, which I was surprised to see getting so much coverage in the podcast world. Paul and Amy seemed to have the best take overall, as well as the most enjoyment. Among all those I tried this is the one that stuck with me through the year as I listened to them talk about other films. I especially like the the hosts' give and take as they talk over elements they disagree on. They cover both old and new so it's easy to find something you like.

The Symbolic World

Jonathan Pageau looks at symbolism in all its forms, from its source in sacred stories and images to contemporary culture and ultimately how it shapes the very world we encounter.
 

Pageau looks at symbolism in our culture (ancient and current) and shows us meanings that we had long forgotten but that make real sense. Any reader of Scripture will recognize the way he dives through layers of meaning and pulls out the essence for us to consider. He'll also do interviews ranging from Jonathan Peterson, Bishop Barron and many more. Simply fascinating. He does both videos and podcasts.

Christmas Podcasts

I have one new podcast to add to my usual favorites, which are busily turning out new episodes that I'm enjoying a lot.

I'll kick us off with a new series from Hypnogoria. The Hypnogoria podcast is actually a long running horror podcast with an emphasis on deep dives into the history of such things as the Universal horror movie legacy, zombie stories, Halloween, Sir Christopher Lee, and more. Jim Moon is a host you can trust. When he began the history of Halloween and also the "Search for Santa", he was even-handed in the extreme to both Christians and pagans. He also has a jovial delivery style that I really enjoy.

He's begun an Advent series, now up to about day 8 or so. Just subscribe to the regular feed and it will pop up daily until we get to Christmas. We've heard about candles and Epiphany, but also been introduced to frumenty, the Christmas goat, and other fascinating items you never heard of, or certainly never heard related to Christmas! Website, iTunes

This is the first Christmas podcast I discovered. Lee Cameron hasn't updated it since 2018 but with 141 episodes you can go a long time before you run out. He gives great coverage of all sorts of topics, from Santa (of course) to a Medieval Christmas to Real vs. Artificial Trees. There is usually a song from an artist you might not have discovered. Website, iTunes.

It's the fascinating backstories to the Christmas traditions you cherish. Christmas Past brings you year-round Christmas history, forgotten Christmas fiction, roundtables, interviews, and most of all, Christmas cheer. And it's all from the uniquely warm and nostalgic world of Brian Earl — where the holiday season never ends!

I like Brian's laid back style. His very good 3-part history of Santa which kicked off the podcast let me know I was in good hands. He ranges from Eggnog to Christmas Advertising to NORAD Tracking Santa. Each episode ends with someone sharing a Christmas memory about the featured topic. Episodes usually range from 10 - 30 minutes. And he's now got a book out which looks really great! So check on Amazon if you want something to send to a fellow Christmas lover. Website, iTunes.

Have you ever wondered about where our favourite holiday foods come from? What really is a figgy pudding, or how does a Roman Pope stop the world from enjoying German stollen? Join host and certified baker, Glen Warren, as he dives into the history of the foods which shape our holidays in Season's Eatings: The History of Your Favourite Christmas Foods.

This is right down my alley. Food and Christmas - it doesn't get much better than this. It's a  new podcast with episodes ranging from 10-20 minutes as Glen covers Sugar Plums, the Yule Log (my mom used to make this sometimes), Sweet Potatoes, and more. Website, iTunes
 

 My Merry Christmas has been celebrating Christmas since 1991 when faxed letters to Santa helped a young newly married man explain Santa to his new 5-year-old stepdaughter who was a skeptic. Since then it has surfed every technological development gaining Christmas fans around the globe, winding up with this podcast.  (It's a great story - read it here.)

The Merry Little Podcast is a 10-20 minute exploration of Christmas history, culture, tradition and entertainment. There's usually a song or two included. The host can be opinionated but that's part of what podcasting is all about, sez I. Website, iTunes

The Old Books With Grace Podcast

 I just discovered the Old Books with Grace podcast recently and had only sampled a couple of her initial Julian of Norwich episodes. I know — Julian of Norwich — when she says "old books," Grace isn't kidding. 

Grace is a medievalist, scholar and teacher. She has a very accessible style and I liked what I tried. I was going to wait to recommend it until I'd tried some other offerings from her Persuasion series.

However, she began a Lenten series which I think a lot of people would benefit from — Virtues and Vices. Certainly it is good for me to listen and think about.

There will be an episode a week through Lent so it is early in the series and is easy to catch up.

Spooky Listening

Something to remind us that Halloween is coming at the end of the month!

A short audio program celebrating our creepiest holiday. Hosted by the Halloween Haunter. History, customs, traditions, as well as spooky stories and poems.

I've been listening to this for years and it is always entertaining. It has a great blend of material and usually isn't much longer than 7 or 8 minutes. It hasn't been updated since 2018 but there is so much material there that you won't run out or get bored.

Here you will find stories from master storytellers such as HG Wells, MR James, Edgar Allan Poe, and HP Lovecraft, and hopefully be introduced to new authors and stories you may not have encountered before. As well as short fiction, we will also present assorted weird verses and poems, and retell some old folk-tales and legends .

Mr. Jim Moon is a wonderful reader of spooky tales. From the Great Library of Dreams is a spin off of his Hypnogoria podcast where he delves into the history of the weird so that's also a good Halloween choice.

Spooked features true-life supernatural stories, told firsthand by people who can barely believe it happened themselves. Be afraid. Created in the dark of night, by Snap Judgment and WNYC Studios.

Snap Judgment has featured spooky shows since the beginning. Here they are broken out into half-hour segments, usually with a couple of stories in each episode. This has become a Halloween tradition.

The Moonlit Road features Southern ghost stories, folktales, myths, legends and other strange tales from the dark backroads of the American South, told by the region's best storytellers.

Classic ghost stories, with a few original ones mixed in, that are usually around 10 minutes long and well told. Another one I've listened to for years. You can also read them at the website.

Best of 2020 — Podcasts — updated

My top picks from podcasts I discovered last year. As always, they may be old, but my listening was brand new in 2020. In no particular order. Links are mostly in the podcast name.

The Burrowshire Podcast

Brandon Vogt and Fr. Blake Britton are best friends, two Millennial Catholics living near Orlando, FL. “The Burrowshire Podcast” is an extension of their friendship, sharing conversation about faith, culture, books, and the spiritual life.

I was turned onto this by my podcasting partner, Scott Danielson, who has really enjoyed it. I soon saw why. I already liked Brandon through his prolific blogging and work with Word on Fire. His conversations with Father Blake are really fun and inspiring. Their friendship comes through clearly and I love the way they view the world as they discuss topics ranging from Chesterton to faith and politics to leisure to the liturgy of the hours. The podcast is aimed at millennials but you don't have to be that age group, as Scott and I can attest.

Morning Glory — updated

An hour-long Catholic morning show hosted by Gloria Purvis and Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers, this ranges far and wide in topics from traditional Catholic devotions to current events and the Catholic response. 

 

I've become a daily listener even though I don't always agree with some of the takes on current events. But there is always a Catholic focus with which I can agree and my point in listening isn't to be agreed with, but to be informed. Sometimes being challenged is part of being informed. If nothing else, it makes me think through my own views more thoroughly. (Links and my review here.)

UPDATE: I was very sorry to hear today that EWTN cancelled Morning Glory. I'm going to miss it from my daily schedule, especially since I don't think there was anything else like it out there. It was the only EWTN show I listened to, which testifies to its uniqueness since Catholic radio is not my thing.

Episodic Table of Elements

A science-history podcast exploring the culture and chemistry behind every element on the periodic table. Each episode stands on its own, but the show does provide a basic chemistry education that builds on itself over time.

I enjoy the way the podcaster finds unusual stories or links to the elements.

Shelf Wear

Scott Danielson (my partner in crime from the A Good Story is Hard to Find podcast) invites friends to participate in book and story discussions. No particular theme except that each friend picks a book they love. It has provided an eclectic set of books for consideration.

American Catholic History

American Catholic History finds the hidden gems and compelling stories of Catholic Americans who have contributed to their nation by virtue of their faith over the past three centuries.

The topics range from people (Frank Capra, James Longstreet, Babe Ruth) to places (Loretto Staircase, St. Mary's in Galveston) to events (Annie Moore as the first immigrant to pass through the gates of Ellis Island). At about 10 minutes per episode it is short enough to fit into any schedule and I look forward to it each week.

Novel Conversations

Frank Lavallo hosts two readers and the three of them summarize the world’s greatest works of classic literature, giving their reactions along the way. If SparkNotes had an audio best friend, it would be us! 

 

This is wonderful for listening to if you don't ever plan to read the book but want a good overview. Conversely it has lured me into interest in books I wouldn't have otherwise considered. For example Cannery Row is on my 2021 To Read list because of listening to this podcast.

Classic Movie Musts

A weekly movie podcast that aims to provide artistic and historical context to classic films. So whether you’re seeing our featured movie for the first time, the 10th time, or sometime in between, this podcast is meant to be a fun and helpful companion guide to classic movies.

This is one of my favorites. The only caveat is that the description covers the whole movie plot so if you don't want spoilers then skip that episode until you've watched it.

Catholic Answers Live

A daily, two-hour radio Q&A program dedicated to Catholic apologetics and evangelization.

 

This is the sort of thing I usually don't like. However, Rose has become very knowledgeable about the faith after regularly listening to it to help her RCIA small group.  So I thought — hey, what can it hurt? I mostly listen to Jimmy Akin's episodes but they've got something for everyone.

Soundtrack Podcasts

I did a feature on these earlier this year. Read about them here.

From the Great Library of Dreams

Mr. Jim Moon reads classic tales of the weird and the wonderful! Here you will find stories of the magical, the mysterious, the marvelous, and the macabre! 

 

This used to be a feature of the Hypnogoria podcast which has now been pulled into a different spot in order to just feature the stories. I really like the readings of these weird tales.

Listen Up — Soundtrack Podcasts

I've lately come across several podcasts which celebrate  movie soundtracks. In one sense they're a lot alike. They all take in-depth looks at how the score serves the story, what makes it tick, and how the composer pulls it off in their own unique way. However, each has a different enough focus and hosts that I like them all. In each case I come away marveling at what the music was "saying" that I didn't know enough to hear. It's really fun.

I haven't listened to every episode on any of these podcasts but I've sampled plenty — certainly enough to want to share them with you.

 I found all these via iTunes but I'll include the website links for each.

 

This is the first soundtrack podcast I discovered. Listening to David Collins' polished yet enthusiastic two-part presentation about Jaws hooked me. And that's quite a feat, considering that I don't like the movie that much.  

He has a real love of John Williams and, in fact, I think he had an entire podcast devoted to him before this one. Luckily, he looks at movies scored by other composers too, although this podcast is heavily weighted toward Williams. Ranging from Morricone's music for spaghetti westerns to Casablanca to features about Max Steiner and Wagner as the first Lord of the Ring, there's a lot of variety to choose from. He does all this in terms that anyone can understand.

Episodes are usually half an hour although they occasionally run longer and there are often 3-4 part series of episodes about one movie. The Soundtrack Show website is here.

These three Australians (Andrew Pogson, Dan Golding and Nicholas Buc) crack me up. They are clearly good friends and just as clearly love music and movies. They know lots about the mechanics of music but when they go deep they manage to do it without making it mind-numbing, which is no small accomplishment. I also enjoy how often they find a piece of music  reflecting elements from other pieces in completely different films, which they'll then play for comparative listening. They'll review music form TV  (don't miss the Star Trek episode) and video games as well.

This is probably my favorite of these four podcasts. I find it hard to stop listening to these guys.

Episodes are usually 1-1/2 to 2 hours long with a fairly even mixture of single episodes and two-part series. The Art of the Score website is here.

 

Jon and Andy began their look at film scores by tackling the AFI's list of the 25 greatest film scores. They've since gone on to whatever catches their ear, ranging from new (Interstellar) to old (Spartacus).  I like the later shows better since at the beginning they tended to get a little bogged down in whether they liked the movie that went along with the AFI score.  Regardless, they have good chemistry and cover the music very interestingly.

They don't get too bogged down in what I call "music speak" which leaves the average non-music literate (like me) in the dark. They're also the only one of these podcasts that haven't geeked out over John Williams yet. Whether that is a good or bad thing, I leave to your judgment.

Films are covered in single episodes, just over an hour long. Settling the Score website is here.

 

Hosted by brothers Marty & Will Brueggemann, UnderScore is a podcast dedicated to celebrating the rich tradition of movie music one film at a time.

And when they say "rich tradition" that means these two are doing a very deep dive into every film. Each movie is covered in four episodes which cover, in turn, main theme, additional themes or songs, cues, and spotting (or commentary) of the full film. They also will discuss music very technically sometimes. I love their enthusiasm during those moments as each one's interest feeds the other's excitement. "I know! That chord structure would be ruined in thirds!" (Or something like that.) I just let it wash over me and, to be fair, they do explain what they are talking about. I'm just not as interested on a technical level, which is why I generally listen to the first two of each series. That said, those discussions are fascinating and I love the brothers' musical camaraderie. If you want a good sample, listen to their most recent episode about The Wizard of Oz. Really wonderful stuff.

Episodes usually run half an hour to an hour long. This podcast has been in hiatus since mid-2019 but there is plenty there to enjoy. The UnderScore website is here.

Listen Up: Morning Glory

Gloria Purvis, Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers, Msgr. Charles Pope, Fr. Bjorn Lundberg, Fr. Vincent De Rosa are talking about everything important to today's Catholic: Prayer, Life, the Church, Family, and the Culture.

This is essentially an hour-long Catholic morning show, hosted by Gloria Purvis and Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers. There is always a third person joining them, usually a priest. They will discuss a current news topic including things like statues being removed, Black Lives Matter protests, and the Supreme Court decision for the Little Sisters of the Poor. Sometimes the current topic is not specifically tied to a headline, such as discussions about food deserts, authentic feminism, or Catholic responses to immigration.

They also will have brief psalm readings to open each half hour (the show is an hour long) and talk about Catholic stuff like devotions to help Monday morning back-to-work stress, how to talk to fallen away friends about the faith, or why nuns wear habits. Often there is a "saint of the day" discussion and they are good about tying them into real life issues or that day's topics. It is a really nice blend and I enjoy the hosts, who are very personable.

I first heard of Morning Glory via an editorial at Our Sunday Visitor after the show was dropped by a major Catholic radio network for being "uncomfortable to listen to." I'd never heard of the show and even if I had this wasn't one I would have tried. I don't love morning shows, news talk, or Catholic talk shows and I don't have a lot of listening time. I mean, how am I going to fit in Rachel Watches Star Trek if I spend all my time listening to EWTN? Priorities, people!

However, I was intrigued by an EWTN show that was so topical (and controversial?) that it was dropped like a hot potato. So I tried an episode about statues being removed. And was pleasantly surprised by the nuanced response, the informed give-and-take of the discussion, and the Catholic take on everything. I might not always agree in the details with someone's take but for the big picture, I was in agreement. They also don't talk everything to death. There is just enough coverage to give food for thought and then they're on to something different.

So I tried another. And then another. With each show my liking grew. I may not keep up with each and every day's show, but there is always a Morning Glory on my iPod for easy access.

Their website is here. It's available as a daily podcast through iTunes or various podcast providers.

Listen Up: Bix Banderson Vs. The Universe

The biggest, baddest, most-all consuming Cosmic Empire ever known is about to meet its match:

An eleven-year-old Earth Boy, on the run from summer camp.

Decoder Ring Theatre presents Bix Banderson Vs. The Universe, an intergalactic adventure par excellence.

I've enjoyed Decoder Ring Theatre for a long time, specifically for the noir-style adventures of Black Jack Justice and girl detective Trixie Dixon. Gregg Taylor writes and presents all-new audio adventures in the tradition of the classic programs of radio's Golden Age. They are full-length, full-cast tales of mystery and adventure.

Right now, I've been enjoying the adventures of Bix Banderson. Cleverly playing on a lot of the tropes we know from science fiction, Bix Banderson is both an adventure and comedy. It is really well done and perfect for both kids and adults.

Their website is here. And you can find them on iTunes or other podcast providers.

Listen Up - The Episodic Table of Elements

The Episodic Table of Elements is a science-history podcast exploring the culture and chemistry behind every element on the periodic table. Explore wild tales of scientific adventure that stretch back to the beginning of time itself. We’re traveling the periodic table in order of increasing atomic number: Episode 1 is hydrogen, episode 2 is helium, and so on.

The episodes for this podcast range from 12 to 25 minutes each and that was almost a deal-breaker for me. 25 minutes about a scientific element? Booooring!

But not so. As it turns out these are wonderfully told stories that begin with an element and then follow it to surprising places. For example, the hydrogen episode looks at the development of balloonists, zeppelins, and ends up with the Hubble Telescope's first clear image of The Pillars of Creation. It ends with links to where you can do an experiment to get the element for yourself.

This is science in the way we all wish we could learn it, with engaging delivery and interesting stories.

The website is here. The iTunes link is here.

American Catholic History Podcast

American Catholic History finds the hidden gems and compelling stories of Catholic Americans who have contributed to their nation by virtue of their faith over the past three centuries. In less than 10 minutes per episode, American Catholic History will introduce you to the amazing men and women who came to these American shores and were born here and contributed in ways both great and small, celebrated and unheralded.

I just discovered this podcast and have really been enjoying it. The topics range from people (Frank Capra, James Longstreet, Babe Ruth) to places (Loretto Staircase, St. Mary's in Galveston) to events (Annie Moore as the first immigrant to pass through the gates of Ellis Island). At about 10 minutes per episode it is short enough to fit into any schedule.

Get it at SQPN or iTunes.

Summer Listening — Treasure Island, Elijah, Movie Wala, Learn Hindi from Bollywood Movies

I'm linking to websites, but these are all on iTunes or available from other podcast providers.

CraftLit is back with Chapter one of Treasure Island. This episode has split science teams - scorpion stings - and rappelling down waterfalls - and that's not even touching the book. Hop in your boat, raise your sails, and have a listen.

Heather at CraftLit has been taking a well deserved break while she adjusted to a new job and many other things. But she's back with Treasure Island and I'm thrilled. No one else has Heather's ability to dig deep into a story. If you haven't tried this podcast before, this is the perfect opportunity. Heather plays the audio for each chapter, filling in listeners on needed context, and raising interesting ways to consider the story in relation to our own lives.

St. Irenaeus Ministries scripture study podcast is beginning a new study of Elijah, one of my favorite prophets.  Right after Habakkuk. I mean, we've all got a top five prophet list. Don't we?

I've mentioned this podcast before. It's scripture study that is practical. The teacher is extremely insightful in giving connections between scripture and daily life. I don't always agree with him, but he keeps it real. Although he has an orthodox Catholic point of view, this is the podcast I often recommend to non-Catholics.

We are Flo and Tanvi! Join us as we talk about Hindi movies aka Bollywood. Each season, we will talk about specific categories like Marital Dramas, Family Saga, etc. We are not critics (thank god for that!), we pick a movie and talk about our favorite songs, favorite scenes, gossip and why we picked that movie for that category - All served with a side of nostalgia!

With my love of both Bollywood and podcasts, it was inevitable that I search for a place where they intersect. In the first season Flo and Tanvi don't discuss movies indepth, simply covering the plot in a few sentences.They are more interested in discussing the fashion, songs, and acting. As I've been delving into the second season, they've been concentrating more on the movies themselves and I've enjoyed that a lot. When they've covered movies I have seen, such as Monsoon Wedding, they've opened new vistas for my enjoyment since there are cultural things I didn't pick up on until hearing their discussion.

Even when they're talking about movies I haven't seen (which is most of them), they will take little conversational side trips that open up Indian culture to me in a fascinating way. I've learned about Indian mothers and families, the hazards of getting groped in crowds in India, how NRI (non-resident Indians) talk in London, and how adorable Shah Rukh Khan is in the iconic movie DDLJ. (We're still trying to crack the code on DDLJ's popularity - it is definitely a cultural thing!)

It's a really specific topic, but Movie Wala Podcast is a lot of fun.

Watch enough Indian movies and you begin picking up words. Dil means heart. Achha means ok. Zindagi means life.

You also start wondering why so many Indian sentences end with "hai." Turns out that it's a conjugation of "to be" and Hindi sentences put the verb last. So that's one thing solved. Not by this podcast, though. I found it when looking for grammar but I kept listening because it's really funny.

Learn Hindi from Bollywood Movies is pure comedy and hard to describe. Luckily, I found an interview with the podcaster, Arjun Krishan, which does a good job.

Mr. Krishnan integrates dialogue from Hindi movies -- often gems of language construction and delivery in their own right -- into loopy scenarios of his own invention to build a kind of fantastical basic Hindi that will help you navigate the world of masala films.

A recent episode, for example, focuses on the pragmatic topic of how to ask someone their name in Hindi. Instead of a typical scenario of meeting someone on a train or at a party, Mr. Krishnan imagines employing police interrogation techniques like Amitabh Bachchan in "Inquilaab" (1984).

I'm not learning any Hindi from them but I am laughing — a lot. Arjun stopped adding new episodes in 2014 but there are over a hundred there to enjoy.

Listen Up — Daily Poem

The Daily Poem offers one essential poem each weekday morning. From Shakespeare and John Donne to Robert Frost and E..E Cummings, The Daily Poem curates a broad and generous audio anthology of the best poetry ever written, read aloud by David Kern. Some light commentary is included and the poems are read twice.

I really enjoy this podcast which says something since I often struggle with liking poetry. David Kern's commentary has gotten more in-depth as the show has gone on, but without making the episodes longer which I appreciate. Each episode is between 4 and 10 minutes.

Listen to episodes here or subscribe.

Listen Up — The Curious Cases of Rutherford & Fry

Science sleuths Dr Adam Rutherford and Dr Hannah Fry investigate everyday mysteries sent by listeners.

Here's another great show from the BBC. This half-hour podcast combines science with light-hearted presentation. Hannah Fry and Adam Rutherford are bona fide scientists but they bring a sense of fun and discovery to each question. Finding the answers can lead them into unexpected places but the questions themselves are often very simple.

• Why do we dream?
• Why do tunes get stuck in our heads?
• How far up can a helium balloon go?
• Can horses count?
• Why don't children like vegetables?

And many, many more. I love the hosts' chemistry and banter and their willingness to investigate any question, even when they seem silly. 

These questions are often suitable for family listening, as their simplicity indicates, and the show is produced for the radio so it is fairly family friendly. However, it is produced for adult listeners so you may want to preview episodes before listening with the kids. For example, when they examine the question of hair growing to different lengths leads to discussion including  all the different places where hair grows.

Listen Up: Christmas Past podcast

Christmas Past tells the stories behind your favorite holiday traditions. Each episode is 10-15 minutes long, and features interviews with experts, archival audio, and Christmas memories from listeners.

I discovered Christmas Past a couple of weeks ago and have been thoroughly enjoying them. Brian Earl has a soothing, friendly voice and gives a thorough history of topics ranging from Santa (of course) to Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer to Eggnog to Wrapping Paper.

There are still a few days left until Christmas so I wanted to give you a chance to hear them. (iTunes link, website link)

Listen Up — Wolf 359, Gone with the Wind

As I mentioned, I've been working on a big project lately. Luckily, it's the sort that lets me listen to podcasts and audiobooks while I work. Here are one of each that have been the backbone of my listening.

Wolf 359 is a radio drama in the tradition of Golden Age of Radio shows. Set on board the U.S.S. Hephaestus space station, the misfit crew deals with daily life-or-death emergencies, while searching for signs of alien life and discovering there might be more to their mission than they thought.

Early episodes begin as Communication Officer Matt Eiffel's audio diary, broadcast into space at large to break up his boredom. He's a slacker, but an entertaining one and we learn about the crew and life aboard an out-dated space station. Day-to-day activities are more wide ranging than you'd expect and the growing sense that something sinister is intended from the employers on Earth keeps things jumpy — especially as star Wolf 359 begins acting unpredictably.

I'm hooked on this and have been binge listening, only slowing down in the last week or two as the suspense began to get to me. I've been especially impressed with the way that the show can take you from loathing to liking ... and sometimes back to loathing ... particular characters with each new revelation of backstory.

Gone with the Wind was on my parents' bookshelves when I was growing up and, as happened with so many classics, at some point I picked it up and devoured the whole thing. I've probably read it three times during my lifetime, enjoying it more each time.

Having been written in 1930 by a Southerner, some of the characters have attitudes that were unpopular when I was growing up, much less during these cracklingly divisive times. And that includes the author who will break out in little asides occasionally for commentary about the South. That's when it turns into a look into the mind of those who lost the war. At least, that's what I remember. It must have been 20 years since I've read this.

No matter what, it remains a wonderful story. I had just finished listening to the audiobook of Kim and it immersed me me in an exotic place and mindset. I missed being in such a different world. Since I'd heard several people recently mention they were listening to Gone with the Wind, it somehow seemed like it might fill that gap. And it did. I'd forgotten how many details Mitchell put into her novel and every time I felt as if I couldn't stand Scarlett for one more second something would happen which would pull me back into the story.

I'm about halfway through since I'm taking it slowly but if you've never tried this book I encourage you to pick it up. If you have read it, you'll discover, as an acquaintance said recently, "Every time you read it you find something new there."

Listen Up: More is More

Hannah spends her days looking at trees and Rose spends her days looking at computer screen but they both spend their nights watching bad movies. They can commonly be found in yarn shops, hanging off silks, and in fancy grocery stores but their natural habitat is the dollar movie theater.

We've got a long history of enjoying discussing bad movies, especially when Hannah and Rose are doing the talking. They are both funny and insightful, and I don't just say that as their mother. And they love bad movies enough to specifically go to see them at the theater.

Now everyone can enjoy that hilarious insight on their new podcast, More is More. Hannah and Rose take you through their favorite bad movies in enough detail that you don't have to have seen it yourself (for which I am truly grateful). They also discuss story elements that went wrong and why.

Episode 1 is The Scorpion King featuring everyone's favorite, The Rock, in a movie that even his charm can't salvage. Try them out! (website, iTunes)

"Don't let them tell you less is more. More is more."

Stephen Sommers

Listen Up: BirdNote, Classic Tales, Jaws of Life, Rachel Watches Star Trek

Hannah recently began listening to podcasts and was asking for recommendations. Oh, I have so many!

My own Forgotten Classics podcast is on hiatus now but I tried to always have a new podcast suggestion to give in each episode. (Check the sidebar there for a wide range of suggestions.) Sharing new podcasts is the one thing I miss at the moment. So I'm going to drop a few here occasionally, ranging from old favorites to new discoveries.

You can find all of these at iTunes but most have more info at their websites so that's where the links go.

BirdNote is one of those shows that is a bite-sized nugget of information, about 2 minutes long. It airs every day, featuring fascinating information complete with bird calls and a great photo of that day's subject.

Recent entries included how an Emperor Penguin launches out of the water to get back to shore, the tiniest hummingbird (not much bigger than a bee), how the Jaeger pursues gulls to steal their fish mid-air, and a week-long series about migration (since it is that time of year).

It's a brief investment of time but always entertaining and I never miss it.

I'm not sure how long the Classic Tales Podcast has been running but I've been listening ever since I discovered podcasts (and that was many, many years ago, y'all). No one can beat B.J. Harrison's narrative style and I can't beat his podcast description so here you go:

Every week, join award-winning narrator B.J. Harrison as he narrates the greatest stories the world has ever known. From the jungles of South America to the Mississippi Delta, from Victorian England to the sands of the Arabian desert, join us on a fantastic journey through the words of the world's greatest authors. Critically-acclaimed and highly recommended for anyone who loves a good story with plenty of substance.

It's weekly and ranges in length from half an hour to an hour long. Another one I never miss each week.

Jaws of Life is fairly new but I've been enjoying it since the first episode. Two Catholic guys discuss different aspects of modern life in the light of the faith. It's weekly and about half an hour long.

Tim and Rob apply the jaws of life to release truth from the mangled mess of modernity. In each episode we bring light and levity to our encounter with the modern world, helping to bring the contagious joy of a holy life to a world so desperately in need of our witness.

Topics so far have included: Snuffing Out Hope: The Science of Grumbling, Bored at Mass, Fighting for Entertainment, Falling in Love with Vatican II, Recreation in a Culture of Comfort, and Funny Business: The Seriousness of Faith. I've listened to all of them except the one about fighting, which was distinctly more of a guy topic. I look forward to it every week.

Rachel Watches Star Trek is a new favorite of mine.

Chris loves Star Trek. Rachel has never watched it. Until now.

This is a podcast where Rachel and Chris talk about each episode of the original Star Trek Series, from the original pilot, getting her outsider’s perspective on one of the most influential Sci-fi shows of all time.

Rachel and Chris Lackey are pure fun to listen to whether you care about Star Trek or not. They cover an episode at a time and Rachel's comments are often hilarious, coming, as they do, from a perspective that is decades after the show aired.  They also often branch out into interesting conversation I wouldn't have expected, such as musing about leadership qualities after watching The Enemy Within.

Episodes are about half an hour long and come out once a month at best. So it isn't hard to catch up, even if you don't binge-listen the way I did.

Listen Up: One Podcast and Two Classic Books

These have given me a great deal of listening pleasure, so I wanted to be sure you knew about them.

Lanky Guys

A weekly attempt to draw some meaning and humor out of the sacred treasury of the Scriptures in the context of the liturgy.

Our deacon recommended these to me and I'm hooked.

Fr. Peter Mussett and Scott Powell get us ready for each Sunday by taking us through the scriptures. They read each one aloud and dig deeper into context and background about historical, scriptural and liturgical connections. They combine scholarship, humor, and joy which makes the time fly by.

You can pick them up at their website, Lanky Guys, or on iTunes.

Pride and Prejudice

I loved Pride and Prejudice all through my youth, but never explored any of Austen's other novels. Finally having filled that gap in my education a few years ago, Pride and Prejudice sank from favorite to mid-range enjoyment for me.

I have narrations of all except this one of Austen's novels because Juliet Stephenson inexplicably only did an abridged version of it. When Rosamund Pike's new narration came out it was lauded by so many, including Orson Scott Card, that I thought it might be the fitting reading to match the others I love so much.

It is all that and more. Pike's narration raises Pride and Prejudice to the level of the sparkling, delightful tale I loved so much when I was young. In some ways it is as if I was reading it for the first time. Highly recommended.

Around the World in 80 Days 

When I discovered the talented Jim Dale had narrated a new translation of this classic adventure, I began searching ... and was pleased to see that my faithful library had a copy.

I'm not sure if it is the narration or the translation or both, but it is as if this story has new life in it. No one does it better than Jim Dale or this translator. Also Listening Library added occasional sound effects and appropriate music. At first I found it distracting but later it enhanced sense of travel and adventure.