Here at NY Foodie Family, we have been super late to the podcast game.  We had heard so much about the podcast Serial, but only recently, as in a couple of weeks ago, listened to our first podcast.    Who knew there were so many podcasts out there?!!   And that we’d become such podcast addicts?!!!   After listening to so many different podcasts we have determined two things that can make or break it for us.  The first is the hosts. They have to be fun and engaging!  It also helps if they stay on topic.  Listening to some podcasts, the hosts go way off-topic and lose focus.  The second is the content.  The podcast has to be about something we are interested in listening to and/or learning about.  We are also discovering that there are few quality family and children’s podcasts out there.  New podcasts are being introduced every day. So stay tuned for more reviews as we continue our podcast obsession!

Our Favorites:

Happier with Gretchen Rubin – (Self-Help, Health) – I am a big fan of Gretchen Rubin and have read her books The Happiness Project, Happier at Home and Better Than Before, all of which I enjoyed.  She co-hosts this podcast with her younger sister Elizabeth and the two discuss a lot of the topics from the previously mentioned books, with a focus on being and living happier.  They give real-life examples, take reader questions and give realistic tips and strategies.  This is one of my favorite podcasts that I listen to on my own (though the Weekend Chef could probably get something out of it if he listened to it!).

The Nosh Show: A Fast Food & Junk Food Podcast – (Arts, Food, Business, Shopping, Health, Fitness & Nutrition) –  This podcast features four guys who each write their own junk food/fast food featured blogs.  Each podcast runs close to an hour and is filled with segments including “Nosh or Not” in which they discuss whether they’d try new products, plus reviews of recent foods that they’ve tried and news of new fast food and junk food products.  I like that this is a podcast that we can listen to as a family (which we did on our recent trip to Arlington).

Serial – (News & Politics) – Hosted by Sarah Koenig, this podcast follows her as she looks into the 1999 murder case of Hae Min Lee.  Lee’s ex-boyfriend, Adnan Syed was charged with the murder and was sent to prison for life plus 30 years, despite his claims of innocence.  In weekly installments, Koenig investigates this murder case, speaking with Syed as well as key witnesses during the trial.  I think this was one of the podcasts that contributed to the popularity of podcasts.  We are late to this and know this is really old in the world of podcasts, but we’re still hooked!

New Podcast Reviews:

Girls in Heels – (Society & Culture, Personal Journals) – Episode #1:  Girls in Hells #1 (August 25, 2015) – This podcast is hosted by radio veteran Cooper Lawrence and Real Housewives of New Jersey (RHONJ) twins Teresa Aprea and Nicole Napolitano.  I was not familiar with Cooper Lawrence prior to this podcast and have only seen the twins a handful of times on the RHONJ (we got rid of cable and I have been in all Real Housewives withdrawal).   This 38 minute episode began with approximately 6 minutes of them talking about what/how they should choose their theme song.  Then another five minutes or so was spent talking about the shoes they were wearing.  The rest of the show was spent talking about a BBQ that the twins attended that was hosted by Joe Giudice and how his girls are dealing with their mom (Teresa) being in prison.

Summary:  While I found the little bits about filming the RHONJ interesting, overall this was just not worth my time.

Lady Lovin’ – (Society & Culture, Personal Journals) – Episode #1:  Cheaters (August 24, 2015)
What drew me to this fairly new podcast was Lo Bosworth.   I was introduced to her on MTV’s Laguna Beach, as Lauren Conrad’s BFF.  While I was never a big fan of hers on the show, this podcast had me curious.  This podcast is hosted by Lo Bosworth, DJ/writer, Jilly Hendrix, and comedian/writer, Greta Titelman.  This first episode was about cheating, so it was a subject that I found difficult to connect with.  The episode began with each host giving an update on what was going on in their lives.  They then chat about and stick pretty closely to the featured topic, regaling the listener with personal anecdotes. They end the episode with “Sexploration,” a segment in which they “delve” into their sexual quandaries.  This episode featured the fetish feedism.  Yeah, you just have to listen for yourself.

Summary:  This podcast was entertaining like chatting with your girlfriends.  Not for the prudish, with lots of cursing and sex talk.  Unfortunately, none of the other podcast topics are especially relevant to a married mother with children like myself (online dating, weddings and safe sex).  So, although entertaining, unlikely I will be listening to more episodes.

The Mighty Mommy’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Practical Parenting – (Kids & Family, Society & Culture) Episode 344 – 10 Essential Parenting Strategies for When Life’s Got You Down (September 13, 2015)
Host Cheryl Butler is the mother of 8 children.  In this 13 minute podcast she provides 10 parenting strategies for when “life’s got you down.”  Her strategies include “Accept It and Let It Go,” “Find Your Happy Place” and “Refuel Your Tank.”  Butler provides examples and when relevant, research to support each strategy.

Summary:  I found this podcast topic relevant and Butler’s strategies useful.  However, I found it very difficult to connect with her, as it sounds as if she’s reading from a paper and not having a “conversation” with the listener.   I am going to try to listen to a few more of these podcasts since they are short and informative.

Munchies – (Podcasts) – Episode #1:  Danny Bowien – Failure Makes Everything Easier (September 16, 2015)
The title of this podcast doesn’t really give you a good idea of what it’s about.  This podcast is going to explore food culture and the culinary world by talking to famous chefs and celebrities.    There is currently only one episode of this podcast in which the host, editor-in-chief of Munchies, Helen Hollyman, interviews chef Danny Bowien.   Prior to listening to this podcast, I was unfamiliar with this chef who co-founded Mission Chinese Food and Mission Burger.  In this 23 minute podcast, I learned that Bowien was adopted as a child from South Korea and learned a little more about his childhood growing up in Oklahoma.  In a short period of time I feel like I really got to know this chef that before I knew nothing about.

Summary:  As a food lover, I have subscribed to this podcast and will be listening to more episodes!

Do you have any podcast recommendations for us?