By Andrea Rogers
Hygge is all about taking pleasure in the small things and being present, so it might not immediately bring to mind your smartphone and earbuds.
But thanks to a boom in podcasting over the last couple years and a trend toward higher production values, better writing, and professional voice acting, I’m just as likely to listen to a podcast as read a book.
In honor of hygge week on The Smart Domestic, here are a few podcasts to savor.
You Must Remember This: Six Degrees of Joan Crawford
You Must Remember This is devoted to the untold stories of Hollywood. The creator, Karina Longworth, describes the most recent season, which focuses on Joan Crawford, as a “beach read.”
Imagine yourself lounging with a swanky old-time cocktail (a Paper Plane, perhaps?) listening to the scandalous exploits of Crawford, a self-made star who expertly used her sexuality, wit, and drive to conquer Hollywood. With great music, sound effects, and excellent narration, you’ll feel like you’ve been whisked back to the golden age of Hollywood.
Stranglers
Stranglers is my top podcast recommendation at the moment, and if you were a fan of Serial, you’ll love it. The show’s creator, Portland Helmich, takes on the case of the Boston Strangler, one of America’s most notorious serial murderers.
Through recordings, interviews, and re-enactments, Helmich peals back each layer of the case to reveal that it was likely multiple murderers who committed these crimes. She paints a detailed portrait of the terror that gripped the women of Boston at the time, and interweaves the perspectives of victims, law enforcement, and superstar defense attorney F. Lee Bailey (lawyer for O.J. Simpson and Patty Hearst) to create a story that will really suck you in.
The NoSleep Podcast
The NoSleep Podcast is a horror fiction show with several stories in each episode. Stories run anywhere from 10 to 40 minutes, and you’ll find some top talent among the writers and voice actors. Occasionally, the show will do an hour-long special edition. I highly recommend the Season 7 finale, “Borrasca.”
And sure, you can listen to NoSleep in the car or while you’re doing chores. But where’s the hygge in that? Turn down the lights, grab a blanket (you just might want to pull it over your head), and in the spirit of old-timey radio, enjoy these chilling stories.
In between watching horror movies and perfecting her eyeliner wings, Andrea Rogers tries to focus on adult pursuits including a career in PR and marketing, motherhood, and marriage. She blogs about the four Ms she likes most (music, movies, make-up and monsters) at mamawearscombatboots.com. Follow her on Twitter @andrearogers.
Photo by Alice Moore via Unsplash
Sometime in the last few years, I became a podcast junkie. I’m all over the map with them, from advice about creativity to spooky fictional tales to celebrity interviews.