NicheCast #3: A podcast playlist for when you're sitting on a park bench
It's summer time, after all
Hi!
Welcome to NicheCast #3. I’ve been out and about seeking inspiration in nature. This quest has led me to many a park bench.
Park benches are portals into different worlds, perspectives, and times. Something just slows down when you’re sitting on a park bench.
That’s why, today I’m sharing a podcast playlist for when you’re sitting on a park bench.
I hope that the next time you’re on a park bench, you pull this up. Or even better, this playlist spurs you to go find a park bench that might be your portal.
NicheCast #3: a playlist for when you’re sitting on a park bench
Listen on: Spotify
I have to be honest with you. Usually, I am very strict about keeping the number of episodes on these NicheCasts limited to five. But, that was hard for this particular NicheCast. However, I’ve tried. If I missed any that you love listening to on a park bench, let me know?
Magic on a Winter’s Night
No matter the weather outside, Mary Brophy’s Magic on a Winter’s Night transports the listener to a night underneath a starry Irish sky. The audio documentary unravels the stories of artists, technicians, and performers at the Ireland Wexford Festival. If audio was magic, this is it. Listen here to enter a portal into an operatic winter night like no other.
P.S. - I haven’t been able to find this on Spotify so this isn’t on the playlist links. Sorry!
Length: 50 minutes
This audio documentary is: soothing, unique, and best suited with a cup of hot chocolate.
Anthropocene Reviewed: Capacity for Wonder and Sunsets
Every park bench I sit on, this podcast episode is never far from my mind. As in each episode of this podcast, John Green rates two aspects of the Anthropocene on a scale of one to five. John Green battles, as do most writers, with the cliche of a sunset. In the end, his capacity for wonder wins out. Listen here to sail into the portal of your own wonder.
Length: 23 minutes 38 seconds
This episode is: gentle, challenging, and the reason for this playlist.
Poetry Unbound: Victoria Adukwei Bulley — not quiet as in quiet but
Am I even sorry for including an episode of Poetry Unbound on every NicheCast I make? Not in the slightest bit. What better place to experience the portal of poetry than on a park bench? Listen here to let Victoria Adukwei Bulley question the quietude gracefully.
Length: 14 minutes 46 seconds
This episode is: deep, thought-provoking, and liable to spur you into action on something you might have been avoiding.
Lexitecture: Quaint Dwang
If you find your wanderings to be wonderings like I do, this is the episode for you. Through etymology, Lexitecture has always given me food for thought on how we treat language and how we entwine our personalities into the words we use. Listen here to let Ryan and Amy welcome you to a portal of comforting nerdiness.
Length: 56 minutes 24 seconds
This episode is: reflective, intelligent, and might require you to take notes.
You Must Remember This: PROLOGUE: PO*RN, FEMINISM & THE FOLLY OF NC-17 (EROTIC 90S, PART 1)
Yes. Yes, this is the second nerdy podcast on the playlist because clearly park benches is where I nerd hard. And yes, this is a show about sex in movies. Karina Longworth continues to dazzle in this new season of the explorative movie podcast. Listen here to plummet into a portal of erotic 90s, complete with a killer intro.
Length: 1 hour 29 minutes
This episode is: sassy, well-researched, and best received by curious minds.
Listen on: Spotify
I am listening to:
I always thought that sharing what I’m listening to might be a little narcissistic but people in my community tell me that readers might enjoy this. So, here’s what I am listening to -
The complete soundtrack of Spider-Verse: The Official Playlist. On repeat.
Credits:
Erik Jones for the visual for this playlist.
Sufjan Stevens for being my writing companion in ways I can only hope to tell him someday.
This particular park bench in a small town in Alberta, Canada where I wrote this from.
With insurmountable joy,
Shreya
Love this list! It's reminded me to listen to The Anthropocene Reviewed again, it's been too long. I would also add Get Birding - particularly the little observation/meditation bits at the end of the latest episode