Feeling lonely this time of the year? This Valentine’s season, let these podcasts keep you company wherever you may be. There’s something for everyone on this list, so whether you’re a true crime fan, a history buff, or a night owl—we have the perfect suggestions for you.
RPMC
Available on: Spotify, Anchor and Facebook
So Far So Good started out as an online talk show Rafa Chua (BS COMTECH ‘20) made to shed light on the bright spots during the lockdown. Chua himself says in the pilot episode that “when we are confronted with bad news at every turn, it’s easy to lose sight of the hope that keeps us going.” So, his variety of guests show that anyone can contribute to solving our nation’s biggest problems.
As Chua puts it, he’s made it his mission to share good news to those who need to hear it—and boy, do we need those nuggets of hope sometimes.
What’s AP? Araling Panlipunan Rebooted
Available on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Player FM
Just because we’re listening to a history class, doesn’t mean that it has to be boring! What’s AP? Araling Panlipunan Rebooted hosted by Ceej Tantengco (AB COM ‘12) and Sab Schnabel brings life to lessons we might have forgotten in high school. It’s entertaining to hear how they approach history with the same casual tone as kwentuhans with friends. It helps make history less daunting, especially when it comes to the dark moments of our past.
This podcast is quick and easy to digest for anyone interested in revisiting historical events from a unique vantage point.
Hear ‘Em Out
Available on: Spotify and Apple Podcasts
“Listening is a skill we take for granted.” This is what the hosts emphasize on the pilot episode of Hear ‘Em Out, created by Avin Chugani (AB MEC ‘20) and his friends from other universities. The podcast is a practice in breaking free from our own bubbles and lending an ear to individuals that can teach us a thing or two about their expertise.
Hear ‘Em Out is an all-rounder: Suited for people out there who just want to learn, but don’t know where to start.
Areté Podcasts
Available on: Spotify and Apple Podcasts
Technology and design may be intimidating to approach for beginners. Luckily, Areté Podcasts is here to bridge lectures to our homes. The podcast, however, is not limited to those topics. Its library boasts a collection of various experts’ conversations on relevant issues of today.
Did you know that the Philosophy Department once offered a course on Heated Disagreements? An episode about this issue brings the class on air—timely, in an era defined by conflict and unhealthy discourse.
PH True Crime Stories
Available on: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Youtube
In an unlikely crossover of the beauty and true crime genres, Martin Rules narrates chilling murder cases while putting on a full face of makeup in PH True Crime Stories.
Martin’s detective (or as they call it, gay-tective) work is criminally underrated. The episodes so far are well-researched, and the careful efforts they take to educate listeners on the subject of SOGIE and LGBTQ+ violence is also commendable. Truly, the podcast embodies the expression, “slay!” in every sense of the word.
Sleeping Pill with Inka
Available on: Spotify
It’s 2021 now, but I don’t think we’ve had enough of Inka Magnaye yet. In Sleeping Pill, the voice-talent-slash-TikTok-star reads poems, books, and at times—BTS lyrics with her low and calming voice to help us sleep.
Magnaye’s narrations are soothing for anyone having trouble sleeping or relaxing. And since this is the Philippines’ first meditation and autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) podcast, I am staying tuned to hear more Filipino poems and stories to be read in the future.
Listening to podcasts is a surefire way to learn something new. But aside from that, it’s also nice to let a series fill the space of a room or make daily chores more interesting. No matter what kind of listener you are, the great thing about podcasts is that there’s no pressure to it; listen to the stories the way you like them. When they’re done, you can easily hit rewind anyway.