Unforgettable

Criminal is absolutely the best true crime podcast out there, and this episode shows you why. They are uninterested in chasing down unsolved murders or going over the gory details of serial killers. Instead, they are about finding deeply human, deeply affecting stories that center around the law and our relationship to it. This episode is not a story about crime, but about mercy.

One of my favorite works of podcast fiction ever made. It starts as a simple parody of a certain kind of Facebook post, but it quickly morphs into something much grander and more beautiful than that.

Comedy Bang Bang has had a lot of great episodes over its many years, but this is still my favorite. The chemistry between the four people involved is both hilarious and warm. It feels like hanging out with friends, even as you can’t stop laughing.

The late, great Harris Wittels was absolutely one of the funniest people to ever work in podcasting, and Analyze Phish is his greatest work. His attempt to get his friend Scott to like the band Phish is incredibly entertaining even if, like me, you just don’t like Phish very much. This episode is probably the show’s best moment, in which Harris takes Scott to finally see Phish live, and Scott, a man in his 40s, tries hallucinogenic drugs for his first time ever.

Song Exploder is often fascinating on a technical level, but this episode manages the feat of also being deeply emotional. The story of the writing of this song, and finding the right balance for what they were trying to say, is memorable. And for those who like the technical side of things, the story of how the drums were recorded is also jaw-droppingly memorable.