I’m addicted to podcasts. I listen to them in the car and on the train. I fall asleep with my headphones on. And as I’ve been promising to release the Writing Journey Co podcast for about a year now (and still haven’t launched) I thought I’d put together this list of writing related radio shows that you can cut your teeth (ears??) on in the meantime.

#1 The Allusionist  with Helen Zaltzman 

Probably my favourite podcast at the moment, Helen Zaltzman takes listeners on ‘small adventures in language’. And while to some (mostly non-writers and those not interested in languages) the idea of a radio show about etymology and lexicography may sound completely boring, the injection of Zaltzman’s personality and dry British wit makes it one of the funniest podcasts you’ll ever hear. Just don’t listen to it on the train if you want your dignity in tact—I laughed so hard in one episode I snorted water out my nose and looked up to find the entire carriage staring at me like I was a martian.

#2 Lore with Aaron Mahnke

Our darkest nightmares have real fear and facts at their core and exploring truths more frightening than fiction is Aaron Mahnke’s specialty. Each episode investigates what really lies behind spooky stories, myths, urban legends and folk lore. In his spare time Mahnke writes scary novels.

#3 Grammar Girl with Mignon Fogarty

A nuts and bolts approach to grammar Fogarty shines a light on the common errors people make when writing in English. Earning her crust writing technical documents, Fogarty’s focus is on making your writing better—something I’ll never say no to.

#4 Nerdist Writer’s Panel moderated by Ben Blacker

This podcast is set up as a series of informal chats with various professional writers about their processes as well as discussing the business of writing. They cover various mediums—television, film, comic books, music, and novels.

#5 The Literary Salon with Damian Barr

Presented in front of a live London audience this podcast features some of the best-known writers reading from their latest work and sharing their personal stories.

#6 The Dead Robot’s Society currently helmed by Justin Macumber, Terry Mixon, and Paul E. Cooley

The 2009 and 2010 Parsec finalist in the Best Writing-Related Podcast category, the idea of The Dead Robot’s Society is for aspiring writers to podcast to aspiring writers—supporting each other to publication. Aside from having an awesome name it includes ‘occasional forays into the territories of brown dragons, taco eating cowboy space ninjas, or random discussions involving monkeys are all considered rumor at best and none of the hosts are willing to admit any of that actually happened.’ 

#7 The New Yorker Fiction Podcast with Deborah Treisman

Each episode features a guest writer who chooses a story from The New Yorker’s archives to first read and then discuss with Treisman—the magazine’s fiction editor. I devour short stories featured in the magazine so love being able to consume them in a different medium—as well as hearing the various takes people can have on a single piece of writing.

Do you have a favourite podcast that you find help you with your writing? Are there any you are addicted to? Let me know in the comments.

Krystina Pecorari-McBride

Krystina Pecorari-McBride

Krystina is a writer, lawn flamingo enthusiast & founder of Writing Journey Co. She would love to fall headfirst into a book and live there. Or down the rabbit hole...

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