The Podcast Recommendation Twitter Thread that Will Never End: Dogs, Scams, Outdoors

By: Arielle Nissenblatt, EarBuds founder

In April, I was nearing 10k followers on Twitter, so I tweeted the following:

When I hit 10k followers, I’ll recommend a podcast episode I love for every like that this post gets. Make me regret this!!

A few days later, I hit 10k followers, and ever since, I’ve been using adding to this thread with quick podcast recommendations. I’ve been listening to podcasts with a critical ear since 2017. I listen to at least 5 hours per day on a good day and LOVE sharing my favorites with friends, family, and strangers.

While Twitter is great for a lot of things — I am on it constantly — it doesn’t give me the space I’d like to explain WHY I loved a particular episode or series. So, I will be using this blog post to add color to the podcast recommendations that I’m sharing in that Twitter thread.

Here’s the thing: every time I add a recommendation to that thread, more people see it, and new people like it. This means I will be constantly adding more podcast recommendations to that thread. This means that the thread will simply continue to grow. Forever. And thus, this recommendation chain may never end. My hope is to add more podcast recommendations to this blog on a regular basis. Stay tuned!

Let’s get into it…

1. This is Love - Roselle and Michael

Welcome to one of my favorite episodes of any podcast, TV show, or…anything, of all time. I’ve listened to this episode at least six times and truly cannot keep from crying every single time. Phoebe Judge is a haltingly brilliant speaker and storyteller. It’s clear that her voice takes on the weight of this story as she goes through the events of the day as Roselle and Michael experienced them.

This episode shares the incredible heroic 9/11 story of Michael Hingson and his guide dog, Roselle, as they descended from the North Tower’s 78th floor. If you’re the type of person who finds themselves staring at their animal and saying something like, “Wow, you’re so amazing. How did I get so lucky?” then you will bawl your eyes out at this episode of This is Love.

2. Scam Goddess - The Welfare Queen (w/ Ayo Edebiri)

Laci Mosely and Ayo Edebiri are two of the funniest people I’ve ever had the pleasure of hearing through my earbuds. If you’re unfamiliar with the concept of this show, here’s the deal: Laci Mosely, AKA Scam Goddess, and a guest (usually a comedian) go through a crime, scam, or sketch situation, whether it’s in the zeitgeist now or a historic exploit. Laci walks her guest through the story and they crack jokes along the way.

Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve admired people who have the ability to formulate snappy retorts or jokes seemingly on their feet. Laci is one of the sharpest comedians I’ve listened to. The references she pulls out will make your stomach hurt from laughter. Long live Scam Goddess!

3. The Trail Ahead - Leading with Curiosity as the Way to Change with Noël Russell

There are podcasts that entertain, there are podcasts that teach, and there are podcasts that make you think about your standing in life. This episode of The Trail Ahead hit on all three of the above for me. In this episode, hosts Addie and Faith speak with Noël Russell about what it means to be an outdoorsy person. Spoiler alert: literally just spending time outdoors makes you an outdoorsy person if you want to be! You don’t have to be an ultra-marathoner or a through hiker to be considered outdoorsy. This episode introduced the concept of gatekeeping the outdoors to me. Apparently, there are folks in outdoor communities that think it’s ok to tell other people whether or not they’re real outdoors people.

I am drawn to Faith and Addie’s interview style because it seems to come from a place of genuine interest. Faith and Addie, themselves, are major outdoor enthusiasts who are on a constant quest to bring the joys of nature of movement to others. This podcast does an excellent job of just that.

4. Work Life with Adam Grant - How To Pitch Your Best Ideas

This is one of those episodes that a. you must to everyone who you have a conversation with to listen to it as well so that you can discuss and b. that you have listen to over and over again because the takeaways are absolutely bonkers. Bonkers in a good way. As in, you can’t believe someone so eloquently laid out the answers to your questions.

We, as humans, are constantly pitching. Whether we have a job that requires us to send or speak formal pitches or not, we are ALWAYS lobbing up a statement or questions and hoping that the recipient responds kindly. In this episode, Adam Grant, through interviews and chats with a few guests, walks us through effective pitching techniques. And effective they really are! I’ve since implemented them in both my personal and professional life and have become more aware of what makes someone want to say '“yes.”

5. Natch Beaut - Cannabis as Self-Care with Ellen Scanlon

Every podcast lover interested in beauty should be talking about Jackie Johnson. She is one of the funniest, quirkiest, most creative podcasters on the airwaves nowadays. She sings her own gosh darn theme song! In this episode, Jackie speaks with Ellen Scanlon, who is all about cannabis education for women — a mission I believe in very much.

They talk about creams and CBD and getting high and sex…and everything in between. If you’re looking for a smart discussion surrounding cannabis and cannabis-derived beauty products, PLUS a frank discussion of what it means to incorporate cannabis into your sex life, this is it.

Back soon with more! In the meantime, follow me on Twitter.