If you don't already know how great podcasts can be, now might be the time to find out which shows are really fun to listen to. We are presenting five tips here from a variety of areas. For at home and when you're out for a walk. Lend an ear!
Podcasts straight from life
The podcast "Einschneidend" (Cutting/Turning Point) revolves around turning points in life. About once a week, Essen city reporter Anja Wölker meets people whose lives have changed radically. These stories of overcoming crises cover a wide range of topics, such as fleeing one's home, HIV, gambling addiction, or the unexpected birth of triplets. Gripping and educational real-life stories that inspire courage!
A slightly different approach to everyday life is taken by "Hart unfair" (Hard unfair). Once a week, three young friends—Anna Dushime, Yelda Türkmen, and Ari Christmann—chat for a good hour about current topics in politics and pop culture. Their very different backgrounds provide interesting perspectives and multifaceted conversations about Trump, Beyoncé, or self-care in times of crisis.
Audio files for crime fans
Seven awards were presented this year for the best podcasts. The true-crime podcast from ZEIT received an award in the "Best Journalistic Achievement" category. In "Verbrechen" (Crime), author and journalist Sabine Rückert talks to science journalist Andreas Sentker about true criminal cases from the past. What makes it special: Sabine Rückert is an expert on crime and how to combat it. She has investigated unimaginable criminal cases and written award-winning court reports. In doing so, she has uncovered, among other things, two miscarriages of justice and is able to select the most interesting cases from a wide range of true crimes.
Americans Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark take a more casual approach in their podcast classic "My favorite murder." While they also recount true crimes that pack a punch, the two Californian women spice up the unsettling stories in their episodes, which are often over 90 minutes long, with plenty of humor.
Podcast for elementary school children
Elementary school children are curious. The podcast "Schlaulicht" (Smart Light) takes advantage of this. In 20- to 30-minute episodes, the three "Schlaulichter" cover an exciting knowledge-based topic every week. Most recently, the focus has been on everything related to viruses, but episodes about "Star Trek," "Vikings," and climate change can also be found in this informative and humorous podcast. Ideal for listening to with children and talking about afterward.
• Concentrated listening can put you in a flow state and keeps you mentally fit to boot. You can find an interview with further tips for your mental fitness here.
