Best Radiotopia Podcasts (2024)

1
The Reverend 40:03

42m ago40:03

40:03

In 1977, a man named Robert Burns went to a funeral and shot someone, in the head, in front of 300 people. He didn’t deny it, and his lawyer didn’t deny it. Burns told a police officer: “I had to do it. And if I had to do it over, I’d do it again.” Casey Cep’s book is The Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee. This episode …

1
Meet Me at Riis 37:05

2h ago37:05

37:05

As the last warmth of summer fades, Riis Beach—a hidden queer oasis behind a decaying hospital—faces a new reality. With its shadowy protector demolished, can this haven survive in the open, or will its magic disappear with the ruins? Meet Me at Riis Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ on Apple Podcasts to listen to ad-free new episodes and get exclusi…

1
Constellation Prize: Nightwalking 30:53

42m ago30:53

30:53

It is Tuesday, November 5, 2024, the day when millions of Americans go to the polls to vote for who will lead their towns, their states, the nation. Souls to the polls today across the country, and so much hangs in the balance. On this fraught and tender Tuesday, when all our nerves are frayed, we offer a moment of respite and contemplation — an ep…

1
The Family Land, Part 2 31:47

1h ago31:47

31:47

This week, part two of the Reels family story – how two brothers went to jail in an attempt to save their family land, and were held there for eight years without being charged with a crime. “I’m not going to give up. I don’t think I’m wrong, and I’m willing to fight for it.” For more on the Reels family’s story, you can read Lizzie Presser’s artic…

1
How the World Ran Out of Everything 33:37

7d ago33:37

33:37

Remember when grocery shelves went bare and cargo ships clogged the California coast? That chaos wasn’t just a pandemic hiccup—it was a symptom of a supply chain stretched to its limits. With insights from Peter Goodman’s new book, discover the unlikely invention that made the modern supply chain possible—and why it’s now at risk of collapsing. How…

1
202. Singlish Singlish 42:52

17h ago42:52

42:52

There's so much more to say about Singlish after last episode that we're saying some more of it this episode. Poet and academic Gwee Li Sui, author of Spiaking Singlish: A Companion to how Singaporeans Communicate, describes the resistance he received in Singapore when he published Singlish translations of literary works - and why they are importan…

51
The Family Land, Part 1 35:47

11d ago35:47

35:47

Melvin Davis and Licurtis Reels refused to leave the land that had been in their family for generations – so they were sent to jail. They expected to be in jail for 90 days. They were there for 8 years. This week, part 1 of their story. For more on the Reels family’s story, you can read Lizzie Presser’s article, “Their Family Bought Land One Genera…

1
Spirit Halloween 32:19

7d ago32:19

32:19

Every fall, a vacant Toronto storefront is possessed by Spirit Halloween, the pop-up shop haunting 1,500 empty spaces across North America. What does this seasonal invasion say about the retail apocalypse? And why are people so drawn to its eerie aisles? Explore the spooky rise of Spirit Halloween—where the scares are temporary, but the obsession i…

1
266: The Fascinating Girl 29:52

10d ago29:52

29:52

Stories include: At the height of the Carter-Reagan election, a 10-year-old girl, Alex, imagines experiencing a future with a female President. A broken hearted teen, Erica, unleashes her romantic fury by writing her ex a 24-page letter. A girl in the 1970s, Rhonda, wrestles with who she ought to be in pages of her journals after reading a book abo…

1
EPILOGUE | Letter to Gaza 11:22

21d ago11:22

11:22

In 2024 Ashtar Theatre started a new project: letters to Gaza. During the Leo Season Birthday extravaganza, KP, Tarneem and Ahmad all created audio art in what they called "Mermaid Palace: the Cairo Office" aka: the very spacious air bnb KP rented where they each had a room and a desk to create at. When Tarneem sat down to write a letter to her hom…

1
The Power Broker #10: Clara Jeffery 2:51:43

21d ago2:51:43

2:51:43

This is the tenth official episode, breaking down the 1974 Pulitzer Prize winning book, The Power Broker by our hero Robert Caro. This week, Roman and Elliott sit down with Clara Jeffery, the editor-in-chief of Mother Jones and the Center for Investigative Reporting. She’s had a long and storied career editing works of investigative journalism that…

1
Valentine 42:34

19d ago42:34

42:34

Today, a personal story from Phoebe about her mother, Valentine, who died this spring. Say hello on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Sign up for our occasional newsletter, The Accomplice. Follow the show and review us on Apple Podcasts. Sign up for Criminal Plus to get behind-the-scenes bonus episodes of Criminal, ad-free listening of all o…

1
Cultural Marxism Industry (2024 Hard Core version) 29:09

18d ago29:09

29:09

A few years ago I put together a story about the Cultural Marxism conspiracy theory with the writer and historian Martin Jay, today in 2024 the Cultural Marxism Industry is stronger than ever. An update for 2024.By Benjamen Walker & Radiotopia

1
Trompe L'oeil 32:31

14d ago32:31

32:31

Today, we have three stories about designs meant to fool you. Camouflage meant to fool U-boats. Highways designed to fool your brain into going way faster than it should want to. And impeccably made fake signs meant to guide you to the right freeway. Three classic, favorite 99PI's completely updated, remixed, and rescored. Trompe L'oeil Subscribe t…

1
The Hope and the Scope: Young People and the Political Moment 32:07

21d ago32:07

32:07

July 17, 2024, Washington, D.C. Some 200 young people from across the nation aged 14-19 — aspiring poets, storytellers, MC's, activists — are gathered in the nation’s capital for the 29th annual Brave New Voices Festival — four non-stop days of slam poetry competition, coaching, workshops, late-night freestyling and in 2024, voting information. In …

1
AHMA-NOLOGUE | An Anniversary + A Birthday 1:04:07

22d ago1:04:07

1:04:07

This episode was named months ago: a prayer, a wish shared by one Tarneem Jaber and one Kaitlin Prest. "THE GENOCIDE IS A MEMORY, NOT AN ANNIVERSARY". The genocide has gotten even more terrifying as we mark an entire year of slaughter, terror and complacency. Attacks are now zeroing in on the North of Gaza: the home of Ahmad Tarneem and Hamza. Ever…

1
201. Singlish 35:49

17d ago35:49

35:49

"If you grow up being told that one of your first languages, Singlish, is actually a bad version of an already existing language, you kind of get this sense that “I'm just bad at language,” says Bibek Gurung, a former linguist who grew up in Singapore speaking Singlish with his family and friends, while schools and the government tried to quash it.…

1
Brilliantly Boring 27:04

19d ago27:04

27:04

In this bonus episode, Roman unearths the surprising story behind the 99% Invisible's name and delves into the unnoticed brilliance of everyday design—from the origins of reinforced concrete to the artistry of Japan’s manhole covers. This episode is sponsored by PNC Bank, where “brilliantly boring” means stability that allows you to focus on what t…

1
Under the Wall 41:05

28d ago41:05

41:05

Soon after the Berlin Wall went up, a group of students knocked on Joachim Rudolph’s door. They told him they were trying to get people out of East Germany - and they wanted his help. Helena Merriman’s book and BBC podcast are called Tunnel 29. You can hear the episode of AirSpace with Günter Wetzel here. Say hello on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram a…

1
Christiania 40:04

22d ago40:04

40:04

In the heart of Copenhagen, a former military base transformed into Christiania, a self-proclaimed anarchist commune where residents built a new way of living, free from traditional rules. But as the years passed, external pressures and internal conflicts—especially a growing drug trade—put Christiania’s radical ideals to the test, forcing the comm…

1
265: Most Mortified Semifinals - Chicago vs Portland 40:15

24d ago40:15

40:15

The Most Mortified tournament has reached the semifinals! In this head to head clash of titans, the Mortified Chicago chapter battles the Mortified Portland chapter. Stories include: Inspired by the diary of Anne Frank, a girl sets out to keep an adolescent diary that will be remembered for the ages. The epic tale of a shy kid who works up the gump…

1
A Land Without Law 1:03:08

1M ago1:03:08

1:03:08

Before Guantánamo Bay became the prison we know today, Marie Genard spent more than a year of her life there. She was 14. Brandt Goldstein’s book is Storming the Court: How a Band of Law Students Fought the President—and Won. Say hello on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Sign up for our occasional newsletter, The Accomplice. Follow the show…

1
The Infernal Machine 28:58

29d ago28:58

28:58

The unexpected story of how Alfred Nobel’s invention of dynamite—designed to build the world—was co-opted by anarchists to bring about its destruction. From revolutionizing infrastructure to arming political radicals, dynamite shaped the rise of both terrorism and modern law enforcement. The Infernal Machine Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ on Apple…

1
Tupperware 10:52

29d ago10:52

10:52

Today, The Kitchen Sisters Present: “Tupperware” — an homage and a eulogy. It was 1980. Nikki and I had just met. We had just named ourselves The Kitchen Sisters. And we had just bought our first cassette recorder, a Sony TC-D5M. We hadn’t even taken it out of the box or been trained on it when we were invited to a Tupperware party our friend Kirst…

1
Tranquillusionist: Ex-Constellations 30:41

1M ago30:41

30:41

This is the Tranquillusionist, in which I, Helen Zaltzman, give your brain a break by temporarily supplanting your interior monologue with words that don't make you feel feelings. Note: this is NOT a normal episode of the Allusionist, where you might learn something about language and your brain might be stimulated. The Tranquillusionist's purpose …

1
The Mirage 36:51

1M ago36:51

36:51

In 1977, a new bar opened on North Wells Street in Chicago. Things weren’t as they seemed at the aptly named “Mirage Tavern.” This story is from our friends at Snap Judgment. Say hello on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Sign up for our occasional newsletter, The Accomplice. Follow the show and review us on Apple Podcasts. Sign up for Crimi…

1
Cue the Sun! 35:32

1M ago35:32

35:32

What started as Emily Nussbaum’s “guilty pleasure” of watching Big Brother became a deeper dive into the world of reality TV, leading to her book, Cue the Sun: The Invention of Reality TV. From its early, often morally questionable experiments with shows like Candid Microphone, to the strategy and drama of Survivor, Nussbaum traces the history of a…

1
MONOLOGUE#10 | Whatever You Build + Empty Cans 1:03:10

1M ago1:03:10

1:03:10

Artist and business owner Doreen Toutikian, founder of Beirut Design Week (and many other beautiful things that she’s had to leave in her past due to war) sits down with KP on February 23rd 2024 and performs monologue #10: Taima Okasha. She reflects on growing up hiding from bombs, the “Palestinian exception” anti-Palestinian racism in the arts and…

1
264: Why My Name is Robert 32:45

1M ago32:45

32:45

The rebellious, fury-filled journals of a Korean-American boy who was caught in the midst of a culture clash at school and at home. Watch Robert's performance in the The Mortified Guide to Family in The Mortified Guide TV mini-series on Tubi and Freevee(Amazon Prime). The Mortified Podcast is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. This episode is m…

1
The Power Broker #9: Majora Carter 2:32:17

1M ago2:32:17

2:32:17

This is the ninth official episode, breaking down the 1974 Pulitzer Prize winning book, The Power Broker by our hero Robert Caro. This week, Roman and Elliott also sit down with Majora Carter, an urban revitalization strategist and real estate developer from the South Bronx. Growing up, she always viewed the neighborhood as a place she had to leave…

1
A Murder in the Forest 41:01

1M ago41:01

41:01

One morning, two men got in a boat and sailed down a river in the Amazon rainforest. They were never heard from again. Say hello on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Sign up for our occasional newsletter, The Accomplice. Follow the show and review us on Apple Podcasts. Sign up for Criminal Plus to get behind-the-scenes bonus episodes of Crim…

1
Planet Money: Zombie 2nd Mortgages 33:16

1M ago33:16

33:16

Karen MacDonough had paid her mortgage for years, raised her family, and lived a quiet life in her Quincy, Massachusetts home—until one day, a group of strangers appeared on her lawn, claiming her house was up for foreclosure. What followed was a surreal discovery of “zombie mortgages,” forgotten second loans from the housing bubble era that have c…

1
Flights, Finks and Secret History with Joel Whitney 33:28

2M ago33:28

33:28

Joel Whitney’s book Finks is a seminal book about American intellectuals and American security agencies, mainly because it illuminates the real story behind the CIA’s involvement with the founding of a little magazine called The Paris Review which hit the scene in the early 1950s at the height of the Cold War. In Joel Whitney’s new book Flights, he…

1
Manny's: A Civic Gathering Place 32:25

1M ago32:25

32:25

As elections loom, we need to get involved, step up to the civic plate, take part in discourse. And that’s what Manny Yekutiel has been driven to do since 2018. He’s created a community-focused meeting place in San Francisco — a gathering space for people to watch presidential debates, meet people working on the front lines of social change, and di…

1
MONOLOGUE #19 | If the Sea Could Talk 31:57

2M ago31:57

31:57

Audio artist and organizer Aliya Pabani takes Gaza Monologue #19 and binaural in-ear microphones (be sure to listen for the 3-dimensional effect: listen in headphones and you will walk with her) to a Toronto branch of the largest worldwide financier of weapons used by Israel.By Kaitlin Prest

1
200. 200th episode celebratory quiz! 45:10

2M ago45:10

45:10

I can scarce believe that I've made 200 episodes of this show, but here we are! To celebrate, here is a quiz about language where all the questions were set by YOU, the beautiful brainy listeners. Play along with me - there's a score sheet you can use over at theallusionist.org/200, plus the episode's transcript and links to more information about …

1
Into the Vault 44:17

2M ago44:17

44:17

In the summer of 1975, two best friends attempted a robbery unlike any they’d ever pulled off before. Their target: the mob. Say hello on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Sign up for our occasional newsletter, The Accomplice. Follow the show and review us on Apple Podcasts. Sign up for Criminal Plus to get behind-the-scenes bonus episodes o…

1
Medellin, Revisited 33:44

2M ago33:44

33:44

Once considered the most dangerous city in the world due to drug cartel violence, by the early 2000s Medellin had reinvented itself. But gentrification is allowing criminal gangs to reap large profits from a shadow economy powered by the tourist boom. Medellin, Revisited Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ on Apple Podcasts to listen to ad-free new epi…

1
263: Most Mortified Semifinals: Denver vs DC/Baltimore 48:03

2M ago48:03

48:03

The Most Mortified tournament has reached the semifinals! In this head to head clash of titans, the Mortified Denver chapter battles the Mortified DC/Baltimore chapter. Stories include: A grade school boy goes to great lengths to win a classroom election. A catholic school girl ventures into dating with very limited sex education knowledge. A boy d…

1
Not Built For This #6: Maximum Temperature 41:06

2M ago41:06

41:06

The impacts of climate disasters are often measured in terms of property damage. But in places like Phoenix, Arizona, and in hot places all over the world, climate change is wreaking a very different kind of havoc – on living things. In the final episode of Not Built for This, we reckon with the biological limits of climate adaptation. Not Built Fo…

1
The Petition 40:45

2M ago40:45

40:45

When Madison Smith went to her county attorney’s office to talk about her rape case, she knew she wanted to press charges. But the prosecutor told her he wouldn't bring a rape charge. Then she discovered a loophole in an old Kansas law. Say hello on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Sign up for our occasional newsletter, The Accomplice. Foll…

1
Oprah, Kamala, and The New Orleans Four 17:38

2M ago17:38

17:38

There was a moment at the 2024 Democratic National Convention when Oprah took the stage — and the crowd went wild. She spoke boldly about Kamala Harris and her place in a long line of strong Black women who have paved the way. At one point she veered into the story of Tessie Prevost Williams, who recently passed away, and the New Orleans Four. Nove…

1
Not Built For This #5: The Little Levee That Could 48:48

2M ago48:48

48:48

Most of the stories in this series have been about places that are ill-prepared for the extreme weather that is coming their way. But this story is about a place that managed to get the kind of infrastructure that will actually help it survive climate change. How after more than two decades of tireless work, the residents of Hamilton City, Californ…

1
IN THIS MONOLOGUE | A Point in the Sea + Gaza’s Dreams 1:12:52

2M ago1:12:52

1:12:52

“Before, you could count how many buildings they destroyed. Now, you count how many buildings they didn’t destroy” — Tarneem Jaber Tarneem Jaber (19 yrs old) was starting her first week of med school on October 7th. Her brother Ahmad (21 yrs old) was in his third year of dental school with only two remaining. Hamza, the oldest (24 yrs old), was sup…

1
Not Built For This #4: Unbuilding the Terrace 48:20

2M ago48:20

48:20

All across the country thousands of people are living in locations that regularly flood, and many of these places will only get more flood-prone as the climate continues to change. Residents who live in these danger zones are often trapped in a demoralizing loop—flooding, rebuilding, and praying each time that the pattern doesn’t repeat. However in…

1
199. 199 ideas that I hadn't made into podcasts yet 35:19

2M ago35:19

35:19

Next episode is the 200th, therefore this is the 199th. I raid the 66 pages of ideas for episodes I have been keeping for nearly a decade, and present to you 199 that I have not yet made into podcasts (except for this one). Find the episode's transcript, plus more information about the topics therein, at theallusionist.org/199ideas. If you fancy co…

1
Not Built For This #3: The Price is Wrong 49:36

2M ago49:36

49:36

Insurance companies are not climate activists, but they know more about climate risk than just about anyone. And as storms get more extreme and unpredictable a lot of insurers are running the numbers on Florida and realizing that the math just isn’t working anymore. For decades, low cost insurance helped mask the risks of living in some of the risk…

1
262: Crossover episode: Rock That Doesn't Roll 45:48

2M ago45:48

45:48

If you were a devout christian kid in the 1980's, there's a good chance mainstream music was off-limits. Especially debaucherous hair metal bands like Motley Crue and Poison. That one christian glam band, complete with big hair, makeup and tight spandex, changed all that... In this special crossover episode with our friends at Rock That Doesn't Rol…

1
MONOLOGUE#22 | A Cup of Tea + The Horse of Jenin 46:18

2M ago46:18

46:18

Comedian Alaa Shahada talks about artist life in Jenin, West Bank. We hear a radiomagic excerpt of his one-man show "The Horse of Jenin". He talks about his dreams for the future of Palestine and performs Gaza Monologue #22 Mahmud Abu Shaa’ban. Alaa is a graduate of the Nobel prize nominated Freedom Theatre acting and the co-founder of the Palestin…

1
Not Built For This #2: The Ripple Effect 57:22

2M ago57:22

57:22

In disasters where a lot of people lose their homes, the impacts are not confined to a single city or town. They ripple outward, cascading into the surrounding area, as the survivors are forced to go looking for new places to live. This is the story of what happened after the famous fire in Paradise, California, and where many of the survivors ende…

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