Life has been a little hectic lately, as might have come across in my recent posts (or lack there of). With work, summer semester classes, and all the things I’ve been trying to cram in between, I’ve been keeping busy.
I mentioned last time that I was going to review some podcasts that I’ve been listening to in lieu of reviewing books, because I can listen to podcasts while working, driving, doing housework, and just about any other time. The first podcast I reviewed was a super useful personal finance podcast, and that will likely be a theme going forward– that or general personal betterment. But I thought this time, in honor of turning in the final assignments for my summer courses over the weekend and starting a two-week break before fall semester starts, that I would go with something a little more fun.
Lore by Aaron Mahnke is a delightful distraction from the everyday. Author and narrator Aaron Mahnke explores supernatural tales, ancient myths that survived the passage of time, and urban legends from around the world. Sometimes they’re super creepy, other times they’re a nice reminder that we can’t always explain everything. I personally find a new perspective and a greater appreciation for the world around me, which is always nice.
The thing I love most about this podcast is how non-patronizing it is. Mahnke presents everything as it is, without scoffing at how ridiculous some of it sounds to our allegedly rational and scientific minds. He presents everything in context, whether that be the culture or time frame that the tale comes from, which allows for a human understanding of things so far removed from our personal experience.
So far, the worst thing about the podcast is that I have to wait two weeks for a new episode. I binged it in a couple of months, and can’t stand the wait for a new episode– I am not a fan of iTunes telling me, “You’re all caught up!” Luckily, he’s also come out with a more frequent (albeit shorter) podcast called Aaron Mahnke’s Cabinet of Curiosities, which keeps me going in between. He also has a show of the same name on Amazon Prime that brings some of the stories told on the podcast to life. And apparently there are books, too, so I guess I’ll need to add those to my list… He’s a pretty productive guy.
Would I recommend this podcast? Most definitely. Unless you don’t like getting goosebumps, or want to be able to sleep at night. Then maybe this podcast isn’t for you. But you’d definitely be missing out.
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