Self-Preservation in the Age of Podcasting
It’s time to take a closer look at your podcast queue.
Like many, I have felt a sort of low-grade depression since November 9 when I woke up and realized the election had taken a distinctly wrong turn. Celebrating anything — a vacation, the holidays, even a great movie — felt as if I was choosing to ignore the reality of our situation.
The persistent anxiety caught up with me when I had a panic attack at work just after inauguration. I was scrolling through Twitter, watching as my feed erupted in outrage pointed at the latest executive order. Suddenly, I felt my chest start to constrict, and my heart raced so fully that I could barely catch a breath. After what felt like an eternity, I was able to calm my racing heartbeat, though I was still trembling. When I finally turned back around to face my computer, my chest seized again. I tried to walk away this time, but I feared my legs wouldn’t hold me. I turned away from the computer and waited for it to pass again.
I spent much of the afternoon thinking about how my routines could have led to that panic attack and it was easy to see how it happened:
I begin most mornings listening to BBC World News or my local NPR station, which these days are heavily focused on the actions of the new administration. On my way to work, I listened to political podcasts as I tried to make sense of the news I had just heard — shows like The FourFiftyOne,1A, NPR Politics, Slate’s Amicus, The Ezra Klein Show, Pod Save America, The United States of Anxiety, and even The Axe Files. Once I arrived at work, I was immediately on Twitter, scrolling the headlines, feeling chained to my desk chair as protests erupted and unfolded. During my commute home, I plugged into more news shows or political podcasts. While I stood over my sink eating comfort foods, I watched CBS Evening News and then spaced out into my Twitter feed again while re-runs of shows I didn’t find funny the first time auto-played on Netflix. As I crawled into bed, I might turn on Reply All, or 99% Invisible, but by then my head and my heart were already imagining the doom we might face tomorrow.
“…there is something embedded in this idea that is necessary for our self-preservation.”
I’ve seen a lot about self-care these days, but I’ve mostly dismissed it as a rather privileged act. You mean I can remove myself from the trenches of resistance to go get a pedicure and call it self-care? Bullshit. Yet after my panic attack at work this week, I realized there is something embedded in this idea that is necessary for our self-preservation — that self-care can simply mean adjusting my media diet to ensure my heart and my body are prepared to meet the headlines I will encounter.
I know this will look different for everyone. Maybe that means digging in more deeply on podcasts that allow one greater clarity around the issues; after all, being informed is an act of self-care too. Maybe that means playing more shows that remind us of the human condition before we are asked to tackle the harder stuff. Maybe that means using podcasts to escape for just a little while. Maybe it means letting your queue grow long while you take a break completely.
For me, my acts of self-care began by eliminating crime-related shows. I’ve always struggled with the entertainment we find in someone else’s tragedy, and when tragedies are in ready supply these days, there is no need to look for more. Last year I introduced more diversity to my playlists, and I’ve doubled-down on that commitment. Instead of listening to every daily or weekly episode from political podcasts, I’ve been selective about only tuning in to those with an interesting guest or analysis. Finally, and perhaps most crucially, I’ve stopped listening to podcasts on my morning commute. For the first time in months, I turned on music instead and, truly, it changed everything about my day.
Alter your queue in ways that will provide the greatest emotional benefit to you and your family. Some days, choose to turn on more Gravy and less Stranglers, on others choose to start your morning with whatever will get you fired up and ready to go. Maybe decide to dig in on one issue and one issue only; spend the week listening to episodes that will improve your knowledge on immigration, climate change, or intersectional feminism. And finally, be mindful if kids are listening: they can and will internalize these weighty issues.
There are important stories being told through audio. We should all identify healthy ways to remain active, engaged, and informed.
Recommendations
Sometimes we need to explore our political landscape through a different lens than the ones offered by TV’s talking heads. Here are a few suggestions.
HumaNature
You could listen to any number of podcasts on climate change, but HumaNature from Wyoming Public Media provides a more thoughtful meditation on why our environment is sacred.
Planet Money
Sooner or later, we’re going to have to talk about the economic ramifications of these early decisions, and Planet Money dives right in with a conversation on the proposed “border tax.”
Baltimore: The Rise of Charm City
Donald Trump has been unsparing in his depiction of “inner cities,” but this podcast from Stacia Brown offers a more complex and nuanced perspective of one such city. While you’re touring Baltimore, also check out the excellent Off the Block.
Civics 101
We are all realizing our basic knowledge of social studies, history, and government affairs is not enough to keep pace with how quickly our democracy is evolving. The best thing we can do is arm ourselves with knowledge.
More Perfect
As Yale professor Joanne Freeman says, “Destroy the authority of the judiciary — make it the enemy — and you’ve disemboweled our republic.” This mini-series from RadioLab looks at the critical checks and balances provided by the Supreme Court.
Q’ED Up
This podcast is just getting started, but promises to offer a fascinating discussion on gentrification, displacement and America’s aging suburbs.
Off the Block
America’s prison industrial complex can upend entire lives and communities. This podcast from KCRW takes a closer look at its long-term effects.
The Bello Collective is a publication + newsletter about podcasts and the audio industry. Our goal is to bring together writers, journalists, and other voices who share a passion for the world of audio storytelling.
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