Giorgi recommends:

In Our Time: the podcast that was meant to be. Forty-five minutes of illumination. So far over 900 episodes recorded. I suggest browsing their archive by topic (anything from Chekhov to the Dark Matter and how the Industrial Revolution came to be). Goes with a strong cup of tea.

Life Kit: I’m not into the self-help industry but this one is my guilty pleasure. Pairs with household chores.

Talking Politics — History of Ideas: Each episode zooms in on one big name in philosophy and one grand idea that lies behind modern politics.

Word Matters: for the ultimate word nerds. When four lexicographers can’t get enough of work and turn their water cooler talk into a weekly podcast.

Tunnel 29: a true story of a German student who escapes to West Berlin and later decides to sneak back into the DDR to help others flee. Seasoned with cool sound effects.

FiveThirtyEight Politics: a data-rich take on American politics.

The Russia Guy: Features many lesser-known (for the English-speaking audience) scholars, activists, and Russia watchers. Healthy substitute to garden-variety Kremlinology seminars.

Hidden Brain: Quirky cognitive phenomena and unconscious biases explained in layman’s terms. A fine companion to long solitary walks.

I Spy: If you’re fond of things cloak-and-dagger. Firsthand accounts of espionage adventures. The third season gets a tad boring/predictable.