10 Podcasts to Get You Through Spring Cleaning

By Molly Hammond, Storage.com

Storage.com is an advocate of a cleaner home, whether through helpful tips for tackling clutter or the use of a storage unit.

Spring has sprung, and that means that your favorite bloggers (and let’s face it, your super organized siblings or coworkers) are jumping into spring cleaning mode! If you’re preparing to tackle the behind-the-oven spot you haven’t seen since last year or the closet where you throw items that don’t have a designated place in your home, you’ll need something to keep you going so you don’t waste precious tidying time sifting through knick-knacks and poring over old birthday cards (It happens to the best of us).

The solution, my friends, is podcasts.

If you find yourself dusting and vacuuming, it’s tough to keep eyes on Netflix or be the perfect iPod DJ. That’s why podcasts are great. You can binge on them like candy, and they’re utterly portable. Be you a proclaimed lover of the podcast or someone unsure of why they’re even a thing, we’re here to help—and to distract you enough to help you throw out those socks with the holes in the toes without getting sentimental!

Here are some of our favorite podcasts right now, categorized for your convenience.

LEARNspring cleaning 1

Podcasts are an effortless way to find yourself brimming with interesting talking points. What’s brilliant about these brainy pods is the incredibly accessible way the facts are presented.

Freakonomics: Allow Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner to blow your mind a little with Freakonomics radio. Dubner hosts the program (with Levitt as a frequent guest), which uses principles of economics to explore real-life behavior. A riveting marriage of hard science and fascinating social phenomena, there’s a reason this podcast is one of the most popular. Ever.

Stuff You Should Know: The title of this podcast says it all. Hosts Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant release two episodes a week that cover pretty much every topic under the sun. From the mechanics behind the slinky to everything about earwax, as well as more scientific topics like the use of anesthesia or “the deal with blood types,” this podcast is a potpourri of stuff that’s just plain interesting presented by two funny guys.

Invisibilia: Invisibilia may be a baby with only ten episodes compared to the hundreds logged by Stuff You Should Know, but it definitely serves a similar purpose. This NPR program is hosted by Lulu Miller and Alix Spiegel, who explore all of the unseen forces at work in our lives, from the effects of wearable technology to how we live with fear. Not to mention, you could knock out all of the episodes in one cleaning-fueled day.

Serial: Serial was far from the first popular podcast, but it managed to spark conversations in pop culture in a way that made it seem like it was everywhere. If you’re not familiar, Serial follows host Sarah Koenig’s journalistic investigation of the murder of Hae Min Lee and conviction of Lee’s ex-boyfriend, Adnan Syed, in 1990s Baltimore. Whether you love it or hate it, this 12-episode season is definitely one worth discussing.

This American Life: Three of my “learn” suggestions are from NPR, but I won’t feel ashamed! This American Life is actually the parent program to Serial and also deals in true life stories. Rather than mining the same tale across many sessions, This American Life focuses on a different subject every episode, from “Magic Words” to “Switched At Birth”—nothing is too curious for TAL. With more than 500 episodes, this classic podcast is a continual treat, and if you like the brand of storytelling, you’ll be set for a long time.

spring cleaning 2LAUGH

What better way to keep your mind off scrubbing the sink than to laugh? Some of the best comedic minds are lending their talents to these podcasts, and we couldn’t be happier.

How Did This Get Made?: This author’s personal favorite on the list, How Did This Get Made? (or HDTGM) is pure gold. Hosted by Jason Mantzoukas, June Diane Raphael, and Paul Scheer, this podcast is centered around terrible movies. From classically-panned films like Gigli to cult classics like The Room, or films that are simply, as Mantzoukas would put it, “stone cold cuckoo bananas”—they cover it all. With the help of a different guest every episode, you can hear some of the funniest people in the podcast community walk you through movies you loved, hated, and never even heard of. The time will absolutely fly by.

For TV Lovers: I’ll admit, I couldn’t choose just one TV-centric podcast to suggest, but that’s sort of the point. Whatever TV show you love, there’s a podcast for it! Grab some ’90s nostalgia with Saved by the Bell mega-fan April Richardson and her podcast, Go Bayside! Kumail Nanjiani hosts The X-Files Files, and his knowledge of the show nears encyclopedic levels. If Game of Thrones is more your taste, there are SO many to choose from—we recommend A Cast of Kings or Game of Microphones. Even shows you might not think of are being examined. Both Gilmore Guys and Bros Watch PLL Too bring comedy and genuine fandom to the table regarding Gilmore Girls and Pretty Little Liars. If you don’t want to lock yourself into one series, Pop Culture Happy Hour and Grantland’s Hollywood Prospectus talk television, movies, and more.

Welcome to Night Vale: Welcome to Night Vale is a world all its own. The podcast is treated as a radio show for the fictional town of Night Vale and reports on the goings-on about town, all of which are a little off-kilter. While there’s certainly a spook factor, the world of Night Vale is mostly just fun. If you’re going to give this one a try, do yourself a favor and start from the beginning.

spring cleaning 3WIN

Do you talk back to the TV when Jeopardy is on? These podcasts are perfect for your on-the-couch competitive spirit.

Ask Me Another: Ask Me Another is a podcast of puzzles, word games, and trivia that features contestants and VIPs (very important puzzlers). Played in front of a live studio audience and hosted by the delightful Ophira Eisenberg, this podcast is a perfect grab-bag for trivia lovers since the games are never the same episode to episode.

Doug Loves Movies: Movie buffs, look no further. Doug Loves Movies is a podcast of recorded live shows in which host Doug Benson brings on a panel of guests to compete in movie trivia, from the absurd to the esoteric. The stage is typically full of comedians who make listening a complete delight, even when you have NO idea what the right answer could be.

As podcasting grows, it’s impossible to list all of the best ones, but these are a great start! Pop your earbuds in and get ready for learn, laugh, and win all while your space gets a much-needed scrub!