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Wendy’s Podcast Recommendations for the Pandemic

Hi again!

So, I’m a big podcast listener, and they are currently a part of what is helping me stay sane these days. I wanted to recommend a handful so far that I have really enjoyed because they are specifically helpful, hopeful, funny or all of the above. All of them acknowledge the existence of coronavirus, which is what I was looking for. There is something about having it acknowledged in the podcast that I find comforting — like I KNOW they are in the thick of it with me!

If you’re looking for something like this to listen to, here’s my curated list. If you know of more, please send them my way and I’ll add them to the list!

Staying In with Emily & Kumail

This podcast began on March 19th and will go until we don’t need it anymore. Kumail Nanjiani of “Silicon Valley” and “The Big Sick” co-hosts with his wife Emily V. Gordon, a writer who was formally a therapist who lives with a chronic illness. It is super sweet, funny and chock full of ideas on how to live your best life while trapped at home.

The Happiness Lab With Dr. Laurie Santos

This podcast was already awesome (so go back and listen to all the episodes!) but starting March 15th they began focusing specifically on how to cope with a global pandemic and there are really excellent pointers in all of these episodes.

Unlocking Us with Brené Brown

You can’t go wrong to listening to anything Brené Brown has to say, really. But her podcast is a beautifully timed gift in the midst of this pandemic. I recommend all the episodes but especially these:

Checking In with Susan David

For me right now, I need things in bite-sized pieces. A looooooong podcast on how to cope during these times is not what I need. Enter “Checking In with Susan David,” hosted by a psychologist at Harvard Medical School (so she knows stuff!), who is here to offer us strategies to handle our heightened emotions during this global pandemic. An easy and quick listen (each episode is 15 minutes or less) chock full of tools and ideas.

Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend

Okay, this podcast is just silly, but if you weren’t already listening to it, Conan is a fantastic interviewer, whip-smart funny and interviews really, really cool guests. The Mar 13th episode is sheer silliness and not at all helpful in terms of coping strategies or information about the virus itself, but is IS helpful if you just need to laugh for a bit.

The Mental Illness Happy Hour with Paul Gilmartin

This show is a gem at all times, so I highly encourage you check out the considerable archive of incredible episodes the NY Times describes as “a perversely safe place in which he and his guests talk about their fears, addictions and traumatic childhoods.” Paul has a fantastic sense of humor (he is a stand-up comedian) and asks great questions. He surveys listeners on the effects of this pandemic on them as well as shares his own thoughts on getting through this with our mental health intact.

The Hilarious World of Depression

What I love about John Moe is that he is someone who lives with depression and he created a podcast where all he does is talk to others (mostly funny, creative people) about mental illness in a light, authentic and entertaining way. He addresses the coronavirus from his closet and reminds listeners that those of us who have struggled with mental illness have coping skills we already know how to use – we just need to remember to keep using them.

Hope you are staying safe, healthy and entertained.

—Wendy


March 23, 2020