If you’re like me and you’ve been a ball of anxious nerves these past few weeks, you’ve probably tried going on your phone to find something to ease your worrisome thoughts. The only problem is that, once you’ve reached any social media app, all anyone can talk about is Ms. Rona. While social media has provided us with laughs to alleviate a world of uncertainties, I find it hard to be able to take my mind off of COVID-19. Here are a few podcasts I have gravitated towards to either have a laugh or take my mind off of things and relax.

The Science of Happiness

Co-Produced by PRI and UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, this podcast gives listeners research-tested strategies to live their lives with more happiness. Some episodes include how to deal with anxiety, making time for happiness, and how to be less hard on yourself. They even have a podcast about staying close with friends and family while social distancing.

The H3H3 Podcast

Looking for goofs and gaffs? This is the podcast to listen to. As an avid follower of H3H3 production’s YouTube channel, I’ve always found their content to be rather funny and it makes me see things in a different light. Hosts Ethan and Hila Klien regularly invite others to their podcast to discuss a multitude of topics. Some guests include Andrew Yang, Post Malone, Trisha Paytas, Papa John, and Casey Neistat. My favorite thing about this podcast is how laid back the hosts are — they seem like they’re just straight vibing with whatever happens.

Gaslight

The storytelling in this podcast is absolutely amazing — it’s more of an audio drama. The premise of the story is when a girl goes missing towards the end of her senior year and the fallout that ensues. The cast includes Chloe Grace Moretz, Kelsey Asbille, Taran Killam, and John Gallagher Jr.

Bagman

If you remember learning about the 1970s in U.S. History, you know Richard Nixon and Watergate were a big deal. But what if I told you that there was another scandal going on in the White House at the time? One involving Nixon’s Vice-President, Spiro Agnew. In her first original podcast, MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow goes back 45 years to dig further into the scandals of Agnew. Maddow does an amazing job with her research and retelling the story to listeners.  You’ll find yourself captivated by the bribery and corruption of Spiro Agnew’s time in the White House.

The Joe Rogan Experience

Ok, hear me out — this isn’t as bad as I expected it to be. I had stumbled across a few clips on YouTube and they left me in stitches. Unlike more professional podcasts, the Joe Rogan Experience inserts humor into current events and, while I may not agree with all of the guests, most of them are pretty funny. 

Bon Appetit Foodcast 

If you’ve been on YouTube recently, chances are that much like myself you’ve watched too many Bon Appetit videos and believe that you are, in fact, the best chef ever. Hosted by Editor-in-Chief Adam Rapoport, the Bon Appetit Foodcast features some of their best chefs in the world. Perhaps my favorite episode features Sohla El-Waylly, one of the newest chefs in the kitchen. Sohla talks about how she developed her chicken thigh biriyani, normally a challenging recipe techniques, but simplified brilliantly for home cooks. This podcast uploads every Wednesday.

Point of Origin 

Ever wonder about history of food? This podcast transports listeners throughout the world by telling stories about specific foods, examining their past and present. From natural wine in Australia, tea from Taiwan and Sri Lanka, and eating Frejon, a Nigerian staple, Point of Origin spans the culinary world.  Notably, the podcast aims to tell diverse stories that uplift the unheard voices of women and people of color. The show so far has two seasons and educates listeners what life and cuisine is like all over the globe.