love is a battle

I never really used to listen to podcasts much, and I totally regret this now. I think about how my London tube rides from Hammersmith to the city could have been so much more productive, if I had known about their magical wonder.

Now, given my ridiculously jammed route to work, listening to podcasts has been my favourite bit of the day. In the morning, when everything is dark, and it’s some indeterminate colour outside your car windows, you pop in your headphones and you learn. You learn about your world, and listen to these incredible stories you wouldn’t have had access to before, and you marvel at science, technology, music, the human body, the human mind and our capacity for unconditional love, empathy, the ability to push our bodies to the limit, and so much more. 

This particular one I’ve attached the link to (just click the title), is by WNYC’s Radiolab, and it’s one of the best episodes I’ve heard from them. The theme is Lost and Found, and the first story talks about a woman who would have her brain just change orientation and flip 90 degrees whenever she was spun around! The second story was about pigeons, and how they managed to save thousands of lives in the war, with their natural instincts in knowing exactly where they were and always, always going home. And finally, a gut wrenching, unconventional love story of a man who does everything he possibly can for the woman he loves. 

Enjoy! 

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Some good podcasts, all available on iTunes: 

1. This American Life 

2. The Moth Podcast 

3. TED Talks

4. Stuff You Should Know

5. NPR’s All Songs Considered - though Bob Boilen is not my favourite voice. 

6. Slate Culture Gabfest