We recommend: Podcasts for varied hobbies & interests
Editor’s Note: The new year is for new passions, and the splainer team has picked out an excellent list of podcasts to cultivate them. Get ready to explore your inner birder, crochet queen or Hindi film nerd.
The Science of Birds: Our resident birder, Aarthi, recommends this birder podcast to everyone who wants to start learning about birding or is interested in picking up birdwatching. Hosted by Ivan Phillipsen—who has a PhD in Zoology and a passionate naturalist—it covers everything from migration patterns to bird behaviour to endemic beauties. It is a great way to introduce kids to birding as well. You can start with this episode in which Ivan talks about how he got into birdwatching as a kid.
Keep Calm and Carry Yarn: The pandemic gave us two very practical hobbies to pick up—baking and knitting. This podcast is about both knitting and crocheting and follows a mother and daughter duo—Vivian and Alyson. They discuss their process, projects and designs in each episode which lasts about an hour. The candidness of their sweet camaraderie is bound to make anyone want to start learning! You can start with the very first episode here.
Designed This Way: Hosted by Bangalore-based graphic designer Kawal Oberoi, this one is for every design nerd out there, or for someone who has been curious about the role of design in our lives. Oberoi dives deep into the subject matter with each of his guests—illustrators, graphic designers, product designers, interactions, and designers and most interestingly, typeface designers. There are 40 episodes so far, and each is packed with information and conversation that will make you think deeply about the importance and impact of design. Prachi particularly enjoyed episode 28 with type designer Kalap Gajjar. If you want to know what makes for great letters on the page or simply want to nerd out on typography, this is a great start. Listen to the episode here.
The Desi Gaze: Hosted by US-based desi scholars Ankita Rathour and Azharuddin, this all-new podcast focuses on hatke Hindi films released between the 1930s and the present day. Their goal? Move away from the Westernised gaze that dominates academic readings of Hindi cinema and bring out more authentic takes on the nuances of socio-political subject matter. The first episode performs as advertised—the duo break down the Marxist influences behind Khwaja Ahmed Abbas’ ‘Dharti Ke Laal’, which released in 1946 and is set during the Bengal famine. The film’s biggest fans? The Soviet Union—yes, they weren’t just Raj Kapoor lovers. Check out the episode here.
And for your inner trivia nerd…
If your real hobby is collecting information—useless or otherwise—these podcasts are perfect for you.
Sociotechs: Hosted by Silvia, a data justice expert, and Tejas, a researcher of digital behaviors, Sociotechs is a podcast that explores how technology intersects with complex social issues, aiming to imagine fairer and more inclusive systems. Featuring voices from academia, activism, and civil society, each episode dives into topics like data-generated harm, NFTs, and the politics of digital identity systems. With candid conversations and accessible discussions, Silvia and Tejas break down critical sociotechnical issues for a broader audience. Join the dialogue and start listening here!
Whats your ism?: Yash swears by What’s Your Ism?, in which The News Minute's Sudipto Mondal takes you on a fascinating journey through the big ideas—like Marxism, Feminism, Ambedkarism, and religious systems—that claim to change the world but often stumble on their contradictions. Sudipto and his guests dive straight into the heart of these ideologies, unpacking their flaws and grappling with the questions activists, artists, academics, and rebels wrestle with every day. Packed with sharp insights and bold conversations, this podcast will challenge how you think about the world. Start listening here!
Lateral: Not all New Year’s resolutions need to be overly serious or promote practical hobbies—this UK comedy panel pod encourages you to embrace ‘useless’ trivia and random common ground. In each episode, YouTuber Tom Scott brings together three guests to ask each other questions with unexpected googlies. From ‘Breaking Bad’ behind-the-scenes tidbits to the world’s longest ship, no topic is off-limits. The best bit: Scott’s been doing this since October 2022, so there are over 100 episodes’ worth of material to get lost in. Check out the first episode here.
