Interested in checking out some entertaining, thought provoking podcasts?
Here are 20 of my favorite episodes from the top 4 podcasters I subscribe to...
I get asked all the time "What do you do all day back there in the wilderness by yourself?" When I'm not picking up trash, performing trail maintenance, fly fishing, hiking, backpacking, or developing custom break dance moves; I spend my time relaxing listening to podcasts. I was never really into podcasts when I lived in the city because I always had something to do. Now that I've boiled down my life to simpler terms, I have quite a bit of free time and that's allow me to explore other forms of entertainment & education. I've compiled a list of which podcasts I really enjoy...
The Joe Rogan Experience
I didn't know much about Joe Rogan other than his various tv endeavors. I just mistakenly thought his focus was just on MMA these days. Boy was I dead wrong, his podcast is incredible! The wide range of guests have introduced new perspectives in my life which I'd not previously considered. The topics discussed are very compelling and I've learned quite a bit from subscribing to his podcast. Here are some of my favorites....
DR PAUL STAMETS
Paul Stamets is a mycologist, author and advocate of bioremediation and medicinal fungi. Check out www.fungi.com.
BRET WEINSTEIN AND JORDAN PETERSON
Jordan Peterson is a clinical psychologist and tenured professor of psychology at the University of Toronto. You can check out all Dr. Peterson's self-improvement writing programs at www.selfauthoring.com. Bret Weinstein is a biology professor at Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA. Currently he is in the middle of an intense controversy that has been documented by the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and several other mainstream media outlets. Sign up for a free crash course on Evolutionary Thinking at http://bretweinstein.net/early.
BILLY CORGAN
Billy Corgan is a musician, songwriter, producer, poet, and entrepreneur. His new album "Ogilala" produced by Rick Rubin, is available now.
CAMERON HANES
Cameron Hanes is a bowhunting athlete, “training intensively each and every day to become the Ultimate Predator” and he also has a podcast available on iTunes called Keep Hammering with Cameron Hanes.
MEL GIBSON & DR NEIL RIORDAN
Mel Gibson is an actor and filmmaker. Neil Riordan, PA, PhD is one of the early pioneers and experts in applied stem cell research.
Dan Carlin's Hardcore History
I have to admit, Hardcore History is probably my favorite podcast. I'm a HUGE fan of history and Dan's way of explaining things is unmatched. If history were taught like this in the classroom, we'd all be history nerds. Be sure to give give one of these podcast series a listen, you will not be disappointed! These are great for long road trips. Some content is free while other some episodes cost a minimal charge of a few bucks.
WRATH OF THE KHANS
In one of the most violent outbursts in history a little-known tribe of Eurasian nomads breaks upon the great societies of the Old World like a human tsunami. It may have ushered in the modern era, but at what cost?
DESTROYER OF WORLDS
What happens if human beings can't handle the power of their own weaponry? This show examines the dangerous early years of the Nuclear Age and humankind's effort to avoid self-destruction at the hands of its own creation.
GHOSTS OF THE OSTFRONT
Covering the conflict of the Germans and Soviet Union in the Second World War. This series discusses in great depth the German advance on Moscow, the Battle to take Stalingrad, the extremely harsh Soviet winter conditions and it's effect on the German offensive, and the Russian vengeance exacted on Germany.
THE PUNIC NIGHTMARES
Was it geopolitics or simply bitter hatred that field the ancient bloodbaths known as "The Punic Wars"? Darkness, horror, war and carnage descends on Italy as Hannibal rampages across the countryside and pushes Rome to the brink of doom. In one of the great displays of resiliency in all history, the Romans refuse to buckle under murderous Carthaginian pressure. Instead they recover, defeat and destroy Carthate, and conquer most of the Mediterranean.
APACHE TEARS
A traumatized people who traumatized their neighbors, the Native American tribe known as Apache were among the last Indians to current to the US Government. Incredible insight from Eve Ball who was able to record first hand accounts of the warriors who rode with the famous Apache medicine man, Geronimo.
LORE
Fascinating storytelling with a dark twist, the compelling and sometimes frightening tales are rooted in common folklore. Add in some historical context and you've got a recipe for great entertainment that will have you looking over your shoulder for dark forces lurking in the shadows!
Written and produced by Aaron Mahnke, with research assistance by Marcet Crockett.
ON THE EDGE
Humanity seems to always be at risk of suffering through another major outbreak. History is full with dark moments of biological chaos, and despite constant advances in medical science, there seems to be no end in sight. We’re afraid of getting sick, and sometimes it feels like we’re right on the edge. And that can be a terrifying place to be.
IF WALLS COULD TALK
Humans have an innate desire to fix what’s broken, and that’s a good thing. We’re not the best at it, though, and we often fail—sometimes horribly. And few examples are as powerful as the world of mental health.
THE RED COATS
There are some locations that seem to draw humans closer. Places that are away from the bustle of everyday life, that almost seem part of our soul. We go there for solitaire, or for rest, or recreation. Sometimes, though, we don’t return.
QUARANTINE
Nearly four centuries ago, a wave of sickness spread through a community in the French countryside. It wasn’t a traditional disease they were fighting, though. This plague had a more sinister source.
DOWNRIVER
Tragedy is never something we plan for. It sneaks up on us like a bandit in the night, and takes away our sense of security and purpose. But throughout history, there have been places so plagued by tragedy that those who live near them consider these locations to be cursed.
Deviate with Rolf Potts
Rolf Potts has reported from more than sixty countries for the likes of National Geographic Traveler, The New Yorker, Slate.com, Outside, the New York Times Magazine, The Believer, The Guardian (U.K.), Sports Illustrated, National Public Radio, and the Travel Channel. His adventures have taken him across six continents, and include piloting a fishing boat 900 miles down the Laotian Mekong, hitchhiking across Eastern Europe, traversing Israel on foot, bicycling across Burma, driving a Land Rover across South America, and traveling around the world for six weeks with no luggage or bags of any kind.
WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE A BLACK POLICE OFFICER IN AMERICA
“We have a lot of conflict in this world because we’re too busy putting ourselves into groups.” – Bear Manuel.
Jerry “Bear” Manuel is a detective assigned to the gang unit in the Wichita Police Department. Prior to his work as a police officer, Bear was a teacher at Head Start, which provides comprehensive early childhood education services to low-income children. He attended junior high and high school with Rolf in the 1980s, and they competed together on the track team. In this episode of Deviate, Rolf speaks with Bear about growing up poor in Wichita (5:10); his decision to become a police officer (10:20); the day-to-day of being a detective and the importance of community policing (14:30); the importance of having a police department that reflects the community you serve (19:30); and the use of deadly force (25:00).
COMEDIAN ARI SHAFFIC ON 'SHROOMS, HUGGING, AND QUITTING YOUR SMARTPHONE
“These travel podcasts are great because you just drive around talking, and people feel like they’re sitting in the back seat.” – Ari Shaffir.
Ari Shaffir (@AriShaffir) is a comedian whose standup special Double Negative recently debuted on Netflix. He is the former host of Comedy Central’s storytelling show This is Not Happening, the current host of the Skeptic Tank podcast, and the perennial host and organizer of Shroomfest. In this freewheeling episode of Deviate, Rolf drives Ari around Los Angeles on a quest to get a burrito. Along the way they cover numerous topics, including Tinder and dating (8:30); their conflicted relationship with smartphones and technology (32:30); the psychic merits of taking magic mushrooms (55:15); and the awkward etiquette of when it is and is not appropriate to hug someone (1:36:50).
EVEREST MOUNTAINEER ALISON LEVINE ON INTROVERSION AND FINDING MENTORS
“The top of a mountain is just a pile of rock and ice, and it’s really not much different than being a couple hundred feet lower. What’s important are the lessons that you learn along the way when you’re fighting like hell to get up there. And then what you’re going to do with that information to be better going forward.” – Alison Levine
Alison Levine (@Levine_Alison) is an American mountaineer, leadership consultant, and public speaker. She is one of less than 60 people to have ascended the highest peaks on every continent and skied to both the North and South Poles (known as the Explorers Grand Slam). Her 2014 book On the Edge: Leadership Lessons from Mount Everest and Other Extreme Environments was a New York Times Bestseller. In Episode 4 of Deviate, Rolf discusses introversion versus extroversion (1:45); summiting Mount Everest and overcoming obstacles (18:55); respecting culture while fostering progress (37:00); Alison’s career path, and lessons learned along the way (51:20); finding mentors (1:04:30); and Alison’s most important life advice, including the importance of failure (1:16:26). You can find out more about The Glass Ceiling, Alison Levine’s documentary project about the first Nepali woman to climb Mt. Everest, at theglassceilingmovie.com or via her Indiegogo fundraising campaign.
WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE A LATINO POLICE OFFICER IN AMERICA
“I want to be as clear as I can be on this. Mental health is one of the largest problems we have in society today.” – James Espinoza
Lt. James Espinoza is a 25-year veteran of the Wichita Police Department. His father, John Espinoza, who came from a large Mexican-American family in Hutchinson, Kansas, was also a career police officer. James and Rolf attended Wichita North High School together in the 1980s. In this episode of Deviate, Rolf speaks with James about his decision to become a police officer (2:30); community policing (11:05); being a rookie on the police force (18:15); dangers involved with the job (25:30) bad police officers versus bad administrative policies (30:00); changes in policing and technology (34:40); mental health (39:15); and what is misunderstood and underappreciated about police officers (43:15).
FILMMAKER ROD POCOWATCHIT ON NATIVE AMERICAN ZOMBIE MOVIES AND DIY FILM
“I tell people that all the time. Just do it. Just dive in and figure it out. And you’re going to make mistakes and you’re going to fail. But I learned incredible things from that first experience…just from doing that first film.” – Rod Pocowatchit
”Rodrick Pocowatchit (@rawd) is a journalist, screenwriter, actor, and film director. In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Rod discuss Native Americans in popular culture and movies (3:10); Native American identity (13:40); creating art within your means (23:00); Rod’s entrance into the film industry, and his distribution strategies (30:00); and pow-wow and Native American culture (42:00).