🧁Tink Media’s Audio Delicacies: The Best Podcasts of 2022 🍩
🍭 👂 You're in for a treat! 🌈 🤸♀️
Bonjour!
Years ago I joined Bello Collective, which put out some of the best podcast criticism in existence, including the annual Bello 100—the best 100 podcast episodes produced that year, according to Bello writers. (Who were always the most interesting and loving podcast nerd detectives in the world.) As Bello Collective closed its doors (after sparking a community of podcast lovers who carry on the spirit of Bello) I think I could hear the world mourning the loss of it, especially that year-end list, which was always completely diverse and unlike every single other list that is published in December. With Ashley Lusk and Galen Bebee’s permission, the Tink team set out to create our own version, reaching out to podcast tastemakers from all over the world to recommend their favorite piece of audio made this year.
The list is, I’ll say it, the best “best of” list that’s been made this year. It’s not the same ten shows that have already trended everywhere, it’s the hidden gems that didn’t get the attention they deserved. Get out your phones and start subscribing, you are about to be inundated with shows that will make you wonder, “how did I miss that?” It’s Tink’s Christmas gift to you, and if you want to show gratitude, please share it and reach out to the contributors and creators of the shows listed and thank them for their wonderful work. I’ve included a few below, but make sure to read the full list or check out our playlists on Spotify, Podchaser, Listen Notes, and Goodpods. Happy holidays and here’s to a happy new year.
Celebrity Book Club with Chelsea Devantez
I personally love celebrity memoirs, and Chelsea's show does a great job of covering a wide variety of celebrity memoirs with nuance and humor. I am always blown away by what interests her or catches her eye in the book. She's a truly great host for a show that was literally made for all my interests! She also gets great guests to talk about the books with, so every episode is a delight.
- Anna Hossnieh, Managing Executive Producer at iHeartPodcasts
FeMANism
Of all the wonderful things I’ve listened to this year, I had the most fun listening to FeMANism. It’s a comedy podcast where Sam Martin and Jamie Hoggart play characters of two clueless bros (trying to be feminists) who give us their own, completely misdirected version of feminism, by leaning heavily into stereotypes, spreading inaccuracies about women and their bodies, making swift, unvalidated judgments, and both interrupting and misinterpreting their female guests. It's hilarious and an almost painfully accurate take on that guy who thinks he's lifting women up and loves himself for it. The dialogue is sharp-witted and deeply humorous — Sam and Jamie are the perfect duo to pull off this nifty trick. When I first listened, I actually thought it was hosted by two men — Sam and Jamie have slowed down their audio so they truly sound like those terrible guys at the bar telling you how they can’t possibly be sexist because they love women so much. You know the type.
- me
In The Scenes Behind Plain Sight
Why hasn't anyone thought of doing this before? With the popularity of TV re-watch shows, why hasn't anyone come up with a parody? In the Scenes Behind Plain Sight does just that, with two hosts (using made-up names —even their picture on the show's tile art is stock imagery), playing actors who starred in a mildly successful TV show 20 years ago called "Behind Plain Sight" (I'll save you the IMDB search…it is completely made up), filling each episode of their podcast dissecting and sharing memories of an episode that...never existed. The podcast is gloriously bad, by design, and just keeps entertaining you with goofs on Hollywood, podcasting, and dying dreams of faded glory. The whole thing is just brilliant.
- Eric Nuzum, Co-founder, Magnificent Noise
Fawx & Stallion
Fawx and Stallion follows the less well-known and slightly less brilliant residents of 224B Baker Street, London, and their quest to prove themselves as detective equals to their famous neighbor, Sherlock Holmes. This show is not only proof that you can tell funny, joyfully queer stories in historical fiction, but a rallying cry for more of them. A razor-sharp Victorian farce with a solid mystery, genre-perfect sound design, and a found family of characters it barely takes a second to fall in love with.
- Newton Schottelkotte, Head of Caldera Studios
Modes of Thought in Anterran Literature
This is a science fiction podcast that follows the format of a college lecture — in this case, one about a 60,000-year-old recently re-discovered civilization that may or may not be Atlantis. As a sci-fi/fantasy fan across all mediums, I've thoroughly enjoyed listening to this show because it's trying something different format-wise and succeeding. While it's a bit of a slow burn, it drops in a good amount of intrigue in each episode. Plus, the production and dialogue are both incredibly well done, so it really feel like you're listening to a bizarre college class led by an eccentric professor.
- Camila Victoriano, Co-Founder, Sonoro
Small Victories
Small Victories is a new fiction podcast to 2022 I can't stop thinking about. Marisol is a charismatic, immediately loveable protagonist with an active inner voice and rampant self-destructive tendencies. The audience follows along, starting at her 20th day sober, and the season that follows is like a mechanical bull ride to stay sober, waiting to see what could throw her off. For a podcast that is largely about addiction, it's so tastefully funny and deeply human; creator Jade Madison Scott really did her research about addiction and recovery and is intent to constantly remind the audience that addicts are real human beings in a world that is prone to dehumanizing them.
- Wil Williams, CEO of Hug House Productions
The Goblet Wire
The Goblet Wire is a show I feel like I've always been waiting for; the type of art that can only exist as an audio drama. I love how the language of The Goblet Wire flows, the vivid visuals it builds in my brain, and the alluring sound design that lends a layer of texture on top. It's about connection and stories, capturing the ephemeral nature of life, yet creating something that sticks around long after the episodes end. The definition of an audio experience!
- Tal Minear
Who Killed Avril Lavigne?
Who knew pop-punk was such a vital format? Who knew it was such a perfect genre for soundtracking a story of time travel, alien invasion, and being dunked into a porta-potty? Ben Lapidus and the creators of SF musical Gay Future return with a podcast that will have you singing teenage rebel anthems like "B*tch Mom" long after the credits fade. Hilarious, silly, gross, pop-punk fun.
- Martin Austwick
¿Quién Are We?
¿Quién Are We? is an exploration of what makes us who we are. It's sort of like a love letter to the Latinx community. Through stories like Brandon's, in which he tries to answer questions about his own roots and connect to his culture through food, the show does an incredible job of illustrating the complexities of identity. I love this series because it feels like home, and allows me to feel connected to my own culture and community.
- Manuela Bedoya
Say Their Name
Say Their Name released two episodes in 2022 on the killing of Miriam Carey, which were among the most memorable episodes of the year for me. In 2013, D.C. Capitol Police shot Miriam Carey while she was in her car with her baby in the backseat. Miriam’s sister, Val, is the primary interviewee throughout these episodes, offering a unique perspective both as Miriam’s close sister and as a retired NYPD sergeant. As a listener, you can tell that the Say Their Name production team develops an environment of respect and trust with the family members, creating candid and powerful interviews. Even if you know Miriam Carey’s name, you likely haven’t heard her story told in this way. You should.
- Joshua Rae, APM Studios
in-betweenish
As a child who grew up in many different places and cultures, this podcast has been a personal treat for me to find this year. I love sound artist Axel Kacoutié's work, and this episode deepened my appreciation. The host, Beatriz, is an excellent interviewer who creates space for her interviewees to share thoughtful stories and reflections about what makes them who they are. This episode made me more comfortable with not knowing who I am and being many things at once.
- Aakshi Sinha, Tink Media
Banned
This episode dropped after we learned that Roe would potentially be overturned, but before it actually happened in June. There was a heightened sense of awareness surrounding the situation but I don't think the average person knew too much about the Pink House at the center of it all. When I lived in Jackson, Mississippi, I lived walking distance from the house. I passed it regularly. I still have good friends who live nearby. I recommend the entire series.
- Arielle Nissenblatt, Founder of EarBuds Podcast Collective, Head of Community & Content at SquadCast.fm
Bone Valley
If you haven't listened to Bone Valley, you haven't listened to the best podcast of released in 2022 - and one of the best podcasts of all time. This isn't just a story about Leo Schofield, a man wrongfully imprisoned for the murder of his wife, it's also a deep dive into truths you have no idea you'll be exploring when you press play on episode one. Hosted by Pulitzer Prize winner Gilbert King and featuring his essential researcher Kelsey Decker, the series first explores the wrongs of Schofield's conviction, and then accomplishes journalistic feats I guarantee you've never heard before (spoiler alert: one of them is SOLVING AN ACTUAL MURDER.). Along the way, King questions the confines of journalism itself, and in doing so, makes you realize that the wrongful conviction/true crime podcasts that came before his, even the great ones, could perhaps have gone a whole lot further if they'd said, "fuck it," as he chooses to do at the most critical moments of his and Decker's reporting.
- Rebecca Lavoie, Critic/Host of "Crime Writers On..." and head of podcasting at New Hampshire Public Radio
Burn Wild
Burn Wild! This eight-episode series brings a rich, layered, and surprisingly personal investigation into the story of two of America's most wanted environmental activist-fugitives: Joseph Mahmoud Dibee and Josephine Sunshine Overaker. Co-producers Leah Sotille and Georgia Catt elegantly chronicle the rise and fall of the Earth Liberation Front and bring its ambitions and relevance right up to present-day eco-activism, by talking with many people close to the story, including Dibee himself. Leah and Georgia ask big, chunky philosophical questions throughout about personal responsibility and stewardship, and let you ponder and grapple with your own answers. Textured sound design and original theme music immerse you right in the heart of the story emotionally without overpowering. Bonus: Burn Wild's a great audio complement to Richard Powers' epic novel "Overstory."
- Julie Shapiro, Executive Creative Director, Novel
Nobody Should Believe Me
My friend Andrea Dunlop has been working on her incredibly personal podcast, Nobody Should Believe Me, for years. I can’t say enough wonderful things about this fascinating dive into Munchausen by proxy from the intimate vantage point of family members, survivors, and experts who've dedicated their careers to protecting children. This podcast could easily devolve into a bizarre exploitative Ryan Murphy-esque horror story. But Andrea isn’t just a reporter on Munchausen. Her own family was torn apart when her sister was investigated for Munchausen by proxy. She doesn’t just share parts of her own story. She also delves into the story of Hope Ybarra, a Munchausen by proxy perpetrator who spent a decade in prison. Dunlop speaks to those most familiar with the case, from the reporter who broke the story, to the detective who investigated it, to the family who lived through it, and, finally, to Hope herself.
- Jo Piazza, iHeart Media podcast host, creator and executive producer
Buffy
The thing about making podcasts for a living is that I listen to a lot of shows and have a strong 'don't-fall-in-love' filter. Buffy walked straight past it. Host Falen Johnson, like Buffy Sainte Marie, brings you into this story word by elegantly-written word. It is superbly sound-designed and brilliantly paced. Craft aside, Buffy's voice and story, and the issues around Canada and America's treatment — erasure — of indigenous communities are powerful. This one has a long emotional tail, and it stayed with me for a long while after I was done listening.
- Golda Arthur
Finding Raffi
I, like many kids, grew up with the songs of Raffi, and to this day, I can still sing from memory at least a half dozen of his tunes. Host Chris Garcia didn't grow up with Raffi's music, but his wife did, and as the two of them became first-time parents, Chris found himself captivated by these timeless tunes that speak so directly to children while enthralling adults as well. This ten-part series covered the personal and professional life of a beloved children's musician, featured TONS of music (because hey, did you know Raffi owns the rights to all of his songs?), and constant reminders of Raffi's philosophy of child honoring — the simple yet radical idea that children are whole people, and by thinking of them as such, we'll build a better world for all of us. This series will tickle your heart and tap your toes, and don't look at me if you have “Baby Beluga” or “Banana Phone” stuck in your head for the rest of the week.
- Ma'ayan Plaut
Las Raras
This podcast from a mostly Chile-based team explores stories of history, migration, bodily autonomy, and freedom. It’s built by a group of incredible journalists and storytellers, always with attention towards context, sensitivity and the different experiences that shape a single “story.” This is the most recent episode, one of many that explore Chile in the midst of a revolutionary political period. I also *highly* recommend diving into their archive!
- Anna Oakes, Hark Audio, freelance audio producer
Rubirosa
Both as a man and as someone whose work focuses on men, it continues to shock me how much masculine identity is still defined by the James Bond mythology. When actor and writer Christopher Rivas discovered the name Porfirio Rubirosa — a Dominican diplomat rumored to be the inspiration for the Bond character — it threw his life into a tailspin of sorts. Rivas' investigation of Rubirosa's life eventually led to a 10-part series about the life of this, for some, man of mystery and an examination of our host's own sense of cultural identity. Rubirosa approaches themes and stories involving colorism, dissecting masculine mythology, the complications and confusions that stem from a diasporic upbringing in incredibly nuanced and surprising ways using elements of what I love from this format — dope tape, colorful family admissions, and introspective writing, all guided by an incredibly warm, gentle, and trustworthy voice. Note: to listen to Rubirosa, search for Brown Enough, the new name for the feed. Christopher Riva has extended some of the themes from Rubirosa to a weekly interview show about being brown in America.
- Mark Pagán, Host/Creator - Other Men Need Help
Sorry About The Kid
CBC Podcast's Sorry About the Kid pulls you in from the moment episode one drops. Host Alex McKinnon opens up to share decades of his deeply personal grief and unravels the events that led up to his brother's death in 1990. I personally took to this show because it retells the events that took place in my hometown, Montreal. Every detail, every soundbite, every signpost was familiar. The grief and the journey felt that much closer because of it.
- Stephen, Podcast Delivery
Tales of the Town
"The Town" (AKA the Bay Area) is a place I've always been fascinated by. Not just the region, but the people that come out of it. There is a certain energy and confidence that people from The Town possess, and this podcast is a deep dive into what makes this area and its people so unique. Particularly within The Town's Black community. The storytelling and sound design of this podcast make me forget that I'm getting a history lesson. I feel a connection as if I was there during these conversations!
- Chris Colbert, CEO/Founder of DCP Entertainment
The Allusionist
My year-end barometer for favorite podcast episodes is how much I still think about them weeks or months after first listening. An episode I thought about maybe more than any other is the episode about Asperger’s syndrome from The Allusionist. This term is no longer utilized by the current psychiatric manual for diagnosis (DSM-V), and with good reason. Hans Asperger was a Nazi sympathizer and in general, a bad man. Helen Zaltzman walks us through the history and complexities of the subject with her signature empathy and wit. This is an episode I think everyone should hear.
- Erik Jones, Creator of Hurt Your Brain
The Loudest Girl in the World
To hit record on one of the biggest moments in your life takes courage and so much honesty. Lauren Ober might say she’s clumsily navigating her way through her autism diagnosis but I think what she’s doing is one of the most beautiful things I’ve heard in a long time. The Loudest Girl in the World is a personal documentary-style podcast that lets us learn what it’s like to realize why you are the way you are and how to make sense of that in a world that doesn’t quite get it yet. Not only is it an emotionally difficult experience to go through, but it’s also so brave to share behind the scenes. By listening, we can all learn how to be more understanding of ourselves and each other.
- Devin Andrade, Tink Media
The Plot Thickens
I love the idea of an audio biography and The Plot Thickens season three on Lucille Ball set the gold standard in my mind. The use of interviews and archival footage is excellent and the idea of hearing someone's life story unfold week by week had me hooked from the first episode. I'm looking forward to season four on Pam Grier!
- Jenna Spinelle, Host/Producer, Democracy Works and When the People Decide
Welcome to Provincetown
This is such a nuanced exploration of gay culture, but also so much more. It's the purest form of audio documentary — the type of work I hope to make. Going to the place, following the people, coming to conclusions about what's going on there and what it means about the time we are living in.
- Haley Paskalides, freelance audio producer and editor
Keep It!
Justice for Keep It!!! I feel like this show doesn't get the love it deserves, and it is my one and only MUST-LISTEN every week. Yes, it's partially just how entrenched in their inside jokes I am at this point (and also the fact that I'm the exact same age as the hosts and therefore have all the same cultural references— geriatric millennials, this one's for you!) But Louis & Ira are — imho — the funniest duo in the game by FAR. So freaking smart, so incredibly well-versed in everything pop culture, and often have insider knowledge. And I will put their next-level banter up against ANYONE. This is the only podcast that makes me (actually) LOL on the reg.
- Rachael King, CEO, Pod People
Today, Explained
This is actually a recommendation for two episodes: first, the February 24 episode of Vox's Today, Explained (titled "A Phone Call From Ukraine"), which is arguably one of the best podcast episodes the show has released to date. This episode had everything: hard news shared in such a humanizing way, and just a bit of humor to keep the heartbreak at bay. But the second episode recommendation ("The Making of The Phone Call Explained," recorded live at the annual On Air Festival) is just as important of a listen as it details how that particular episode came to be, reminding us of the power of podcasting in finding answers and making connections. If anything, these two episodes combined show that Vox is ahead of the podcast news curve, and rightfully so.
- Joni Deutsch, Vice President of Podcast Marketing & Audience Development at The Podglomerate
99 Years
Unlike "traditional" narrative podcasts, journalist, storyteller, and musician Samuel James' 99 Years relies on his voice alone to tell the story of how Maine became the whitest state in the union. James weaves color, texture, and critique into this riveting exploration of his home state's history from "a Black perspective." Spare production creates the space to receive the depth of James' research and reporting, as his smooth bass voice delivers sharp quips, dry wit, and justified jabs at Maine's painful racist history — and its political and social implications today. All the while, your soul is (somehow??) soothed by the delicate dance of blues guitar riffs and poetic refrains that will stay with you long after you put your earbuds down. Long live hyperlocal, community-serving, universally valuable content!
- CC Paschal
Shameless Acquisition Target
This podcast is incredibly unique: both in its topic and style. Host Laura Mayer has a lot of first-hand experience with the podcast boom, but she missed out on a few chances to get rich. Her podcast explores what it really takes to find success in podcasting and beyond.
- Kate Evans, CBC's Podcast Playlist
Soundworlds
I love absolutely everything about this episode. I close my eyes and am right there as four trans people leave their house. There's great world play, sound design, and music....it takes me into a new world with immersive sound. Other episodes are equally delectable.
- Gayathri Vaidyanathan
Tea Time with Twaambo
This podcast by Zambian podcast creative producer Twaambo Kapilikisha is a must-listen. You have brief bites of time with Twaambo, filled with self-reflection, with helpful prompts and more. Her voice powerfully guides you through each short episode, and gifts you time to be, rather than to do. In a world full of noise, she reminds us to be still, stop, and reconnect. Start with this episode and explore all of them.
- Josephine Karianjahi, Africa Podfest
Words and Roses
Words and Roses is a new talk podcast about stationery that I'm obsessed with. The two co-hosts get in the weeds about all things journaling, pens, set-ups, planning, memory keeping, creativity, and more. I'm a massive stationery lover and the joy I get from listening to two people talk about stationery helps me feel connected to my stuff and brings me joy. I also dig that they have a weekly journal prompt! This type of podcast is representative of a podcast that serves a hobby community. The podcast is a way for the hosts to express themselves about something that they love and, in turn, further the connections and friendships that a particular community is building. It is not "podcasty" — and it's not meant to be. These are the shows that support many of us on the daily to keep on living our lives and connecting with other humans. The podcast is a vehicle to another end which is to enjoy our stationery.
- Elsie Escobar, Director of Community and Content at Libsyn, She Podcasts Co-founder