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Have you ever wondered what’s behind certain items of clothing? Common styles, like kids clothes, plaid and even Hawaiian shirts are garments we see all the time, but often we don’t even begin to think about where they came from. Well, host of the show Articles of Interest Avery Trufelman is interested in exactly that. In the podcast, Avery dissects the hidden histories of the clothes we take for granted – and in the latest season she explores the rise of “preppy” clothing. She joins Leah-Simone Bowen to share her career in podcasting, her beginnings as part of the hit show 99% Invisible, her views of podcasting as an art form and why “mainstream” culture is actually surprisingly counter-cultural. Plus, we’ll hear some of her favourite podcasts, and she shares her love of late designer Vivianne Westwood. Podcasts featured this week: Articles of Interest, Millennial History, 99% Invisible, Natch Beaut, Imaginary Advice For links and more info on these shows, head to https://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist

A pop culture podcaster, a poet and a Tony award-winning journalist sit down for a chat. No, this isn’t the lead up to a joke, it’s the premise of the podcast Vibe Check. The weekly news and culture series is hosted by Sam Sanders, Saeed Jones and Zach Stafford as they make sense of what’s making headlines. Sanders is the host of Vulture’s Into It and the former host of NPR's It's Been a Minute, Jones is the author of the award-winning memoir How We Fight For Our Lives, and Stafford is not only a journalist but he picked up a Tony Award in 2022 for co-producing the musical, A Strange Loop. Every episode captures the energy and spirit of a group chat: It’s a lively conversation among friends (who’ve done their research) as they go deep on the issues of the day and figure out in real time how they feel, what they understand and what questions remain. The trio sits down with host Leah-Simone Bowen this week to share how they made sure they got the right vibe with the show. They also share their favourite podcasts – from a documentary storytelling podcast that dives deep into family history to a pop culture show that breaks down method acting. Podcasts featured this week: Vibe Check, Decoder Ring, Death, Sex & Money, Family Ghosts For links and more info on these shows, head to https://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist

This week we're pulling an episode to lift your spirits from the archives. This episode was originally released in June of 2021. Looking for a new podcast that's not dark true crime or troubling news? Back in March of 2021 we brought you a playlist full of uplifting stories — and there were plenty more good vibes where that came from. This episode we're bringing them back! Enjoy a cast of characters who will make you smile: a worm who becomes human, a mischievous AI at summer camp, and a poet learning to turn poems into food. If you listen until the end you will be showered with compliments. Guaranteed! Featuring: Paired: "Guided meditations and musings from your digital assistant." Personal Best: "Fan is a poet and writer of love letters. He basks in fantasy, but he's never been able to muster any passion for cooking." The Story Seeds Podcast: "On this week's episode, 12 year old Brooklynite, Irthan joins forces with the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, Jason Reynolds, to grow his story seed about an earthworm that turns into a human every 28 days, on the night of a full moon. Join Irthan and Jason as they meet up at the Youth Wing of the central branch of Brooklyn Public Library where they get to know each other and plant the seeds for their collaboration which explores music, social justice, and being seen. Then, sit back and listen to the lyrical and timely short story, 'Hoo and Wut,' that Jason grew out of Irthan's idea." The Science of Happiness: "There are millions of YouTube channels with people crinkling bubble wrap or whispering about folding laundry. Our guest talks about why autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) makes her, and many others, feel more calm and happy." Sit There & Do Nothing: "Take a deep breath while Meg showers you with compliments in this incredibly relaxing episode of Sit There & Do Nothing."

It's tempting to blame misinformation on social media, but it turns out fake news has been around for longer than you'd think. From Slate, the history podcast One Year recaps the moments that transformed politics, culture, science and religion in one year from American history. In the fourth, and latest, season the series covers 1942, a year when inflation threatened to sink America, a worker revolt changed music forever and disinformation was rampant. And, whether or not you enjoy it, working from home does have its benefits. We'll listen in on an episode from advice show Work Appropriate that tackles the great remote work debate. We'll showcase those stories and several more this week and make sure your 2023 begins with the very best podcasting has to offer. Podcasts featured this week: One Year: 1942: "Every season of One Year tells the story of one year in history, and this season is focused on 1942. In this episode, host Josh Levin tells the story of the propaganda war that played out on radio waves during the Second World War." Work Appropriate: "Author Anne Helen Petersen invites guest experts in the world of work to answer listener questions and give advice about navigating modern working life. In this clip, Anne and her guest Jessica Grose unpack the tension around returning to the office post-lockdown, and why it's particularly hard on working parents." The Prince: "In this series from The Economist, host Sue-Lin Wong takes listeners through the life of Chinese president Xi Jinping, from the son of a political outcast to the most powerful man in the world." Pop Chat: "How come horror movies never seem to win any Oscars? Since the first Academy Awards in 1929, only six have even been nominated for best picture." If Books Could Kill: "Each week on If Books Could Kill, hosts Michael Hobbes and Peter Shamshiri break down "the airport bestsellers that captured our hearts and ruined our minds." In their first episode they take aim at the 2005 book Freakonomics." Pale Blue Pod: "Pale Blue Pod is an astronomy podcast for people who are overwhelmed by the universe but want to be its friend. Astrophysicist Dr. Moiya McTier and comedian/science educator Corinne Caputo demystify space one topic at a time with open eyes, open arms, and open mouths (from so much laughing and jaw-dropping). By the end of each episode, the cosmos will feel a little less "ahhh, too scary!" and a lot more "ohhh, so cool!" New episodes every Monday."

This week, an episode from the archives (which originally aired in January of 2022). Self-help doesn't need to be self-critical. Need help sticking to your New Year’s resolutions? Or have you ditched them altogether? (We support you either way.) Whatever your strategy, this time of year many of us are thinking about self-improvement. We’ve curated some of our favourite self-help and lifestyle podcasts to help guide you through whatever changes you want to make—without beating yourself up! Featuring: TED Radio Hour, Maintenance Phase, Life Kit, Am I Normal? with Mona Chalabi, Adult ISH

Snow and Christmas lights, busy malls, gifts to be wrapped, and Mariah Carey on repeat. It's that time again. The last stretch before Christmas can get really busy, but when the work is done, there's nothing better than cosying up at home with some excellent podcasts. We've got an assortment of seasonal selections to make you think, help you bask in nostalgia and learn something delightful. Santa's elves work hard building toys to bring joy to children's hearts … but have you ever thought about the person who writes the lyrics to the songs those toys sing? Every Little Thing introduces us to the number one "toy songwriter" on his tricks for coming up with earworms for kids. Plus, Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol is a holiday staple – it's sparked retellings by the likes of Mickey Mouse, the Muppets, and even The Simpsons. But when you think about Dickens, and the rest of his body of work, focused on the plight of people living in poverty and exploited by the industrial revolution, it's a bit surprising he's come to be so closely associated with Christmas. The Allusionist host Helen Zaltzman unpacks how it happened. Warm up a cup of cocoa, get your slippers on and find a cosy place near some twinkling lights and enjoy these festive listens! Featuring: Every Little Thing: Listener Megan asks guest host Ian Chillag about who writes the weird lyrics for her son's talking toys. Premiere toy song writer Jay Elkinton tells us all about how he writes super short earworms for kids. The Allusionist: "Charles Dickens wrote about the plight of the impoverished and destitute members of British society. So how come his name is a synonym for rosy-cheeked, full-stomached, fattened-goose, hearty merry 'God bless us every one' Christmas?" Secret Life of Canada: "When candy maker A.J. Russell created a recipe for puffed wheat bars in 1913, it became a popular dessert. But only in one half of the country." The Moth: "Mark Redmond works with a homeless shelter in Vermont."

The Podcast Playlist team has done a lot of listening over the past year. So today, the whole team joins Leah to give our picks for the best podcasts of 2022. Featuring: Media Circus with Kim Goldman, The Loudest Girl In The World, Best Laid Plans, Kuper Island, True Crime Byline For links and more info, head to http://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist

Sweet Bobby host Alexi Mostrous is back with a new podcast about a satanic panic in the UK. This week, he sits down with host Leah-Simone Bowen to talk about the hoax and how its repercussions are still being felt eight years later. Plus, we’ve got more noteworthy series: from a deep dive into the fashion trend that never goes out of style, to why more fire can help save California’s sequoias, to the new CBC podcast that uncovers how a labour dispute at a northern mine turned deadly. Featuring: Hoaxed | Articles of Interest | Giant: Murder Underground | The Big Burn | Run, Hide, Repeat For links and more info, head to http://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist

Splashed on magazine covers, all over Instagram feeds, and getting clicks on TMZ, celebrity gossip is a steady presence. But fame and fortune have their downsides, and from the experiences of stars from Marilyn Monroe to Britney Spears, it's clear there's a dark side to the gossip mill. So, what if there was an ethical way to satisfy our curiosity about the lifestyles of the rich and famous? Comedians Ashley Hamilton and Claire Parker created a podcast to do just that. In Celebrity Memoir Book Club, the co-hosts recount the juicy details as recorded by stars themselves. From Victoria Beckham to Mariah Carey, the duo reads the memoirs, recounts the highlights and recommends which ones are worth a look. This week, Leah chats with Ashley and Claire about their favourite memoirs, getting on TikTok during the pandemic, and finds out what podcasts they can't get enough of. If you're craving a pop culture deep dive, this episode is made for you! Featuring: Celebrity Memoir Book Club, Beyond The Blinds, My Therapist Ghosted Me, Sentimental Garbage, Dunzo! For links and more info head to http://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.

The podcast Unladylike explores how being a woman impacts every aspect of lived experience – from career, to choosing birth control, to medical care, to which beauty standards to buy into. This week, Unladylike creator and host Cristen Conger opens up. She shares how she accidentally found herself in podcasting, how she approaches intersectionality, and how the frustration of having to continually fight for her idea (and some fan encouragement) drove her to create Unladylike. Cristen also takes us through what she's listening to – from the TikTok lifestyle trends that are setting feminism back, to the internet feud over fibre, to the awful discourse incorrectly linking the violent attack on Salman Rushdie with cancel culture. We've got your soundtrack for staying curious, building empathy, and raising hell. Featuring: Unladylike, Fed Up, Shameless Acquisition Target, ICYMI, Cancel Me Daddy For links and more info head to http://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.

Adam Conover has made his career in comedy. Now, on his podcast Factually, he interviews some of the world’s most brilliant minds. Every week, the show features a different expert – from scientists to authors to philosophers and journalists – and invites them to dive deep on fascinating topics. This week, Adam joins Leah-Simone Bowen to share how the show came about, what it was like to work with Barack Obama, and his tip for conversing with intimidatingly well-read folks and asking them ignorant questions (spoiler alert: you’ve got to embrace the ignorance). He’s also sharing his favourite podcasts. We’ll hear the story of how his friend was once fired from an acting gig by Tom Hanks for having “dead eyes,” and a snippet from the scripted comedy podcast about Edith Wilson, who secretly ran the U.S. after the First World War, while her husband Woodrow was sick. Featuring: Factually! With Adam Conover, Dead Eyes, Edith!, The Cooligans For links and more info head to http://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.

This week on Podcast Playlist, we listen to the latest and greatest in new podcasts. Lauren Ober has worked in podcasting for 20 years, making award-winning shows about other people’s stories. But her latest series is all about a breakthrough moment in her own life: In her 40s, Lauren learned that she is autistic. Her show The Loudest Girl in the World explores what this new revelation has meant to her. She’ll join us to talk about the show. Plus, Frank Dumis was nervous when he signed up for his 4th grade spelling bee, but he won. And after that, he just kept on winning. This is Love has his story. That and much more on the show this week! Featuring: The Loudest Girl In The World, Terrestrials, This Is Love, Pop Chat, Africville Forever For links and more info on all these shows, head to http://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.

On the water, international boundaries – and legal jurisdictions – are murky. And, when journalist Ian Urbina was handed video evidence of murder at sea, he learned that pirates are making the most of that lawlessness and wreaking terror. This week we’re highlighting engrossing stories about crime. How an investigation into sexual assault allegations against director Bryan Singer was botched by editors at Esquire magazine, a look at the victims of a WWII serial killer, and a conversation with a former true crime fanatic who says surviving an attack changed her mind about the genre. This episode will make your heart pound and give you something to think about. Featuring: Bad Women: The Blackout Ripper | The Outlaw Ocean | Killed | On The Media For links and more info on all these shows, head to http://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.

Every winter, Chuck and his family rented a cabin in the mountains of North Carolina's Valle Crucis. One year, he and his uncle drove to town – a trip they'd made countless times before – only this time, they were stalked by an unwanted presence. Out of the darkness, all they could discern were the red eyes chasing them down, so they fled for their lives. As the years passed, Chuck is haunted by what he saw that night ... the demon dog. Spooky season is upon us and, this week, we've got frightful (in a good way) podcasts to get you in the mood for All Hallows' Eve. We'll also learn how "Halloween" got its name, beginning with the ancient Celts who recognized the day as a spiritual celebration to placate vengeful fairies. You might want to turn on a light – maybe a jack-o'-lantern – before you listen to this one: things are about to get scary.

This week’s guest curators have never met a self-help method they wouldn’t try. In their podcast, By The Book, Kristen Meinzer and Jolenta Greenberg have made a name for themselves living by the rules of a different self-help book. Now, for their new series, they’re getting even more personal. For Romance Road Test, every week for 15 weeks, Kristen and Jolenta each tried out a new strategy for revitalizing their relationships with their partners — with their tape recorders running. This week, they share what they learned with Leah. We’re also benefiting from their listening experiences as they share some of their favourite podcasts. From an inside look at some of the ethical challenges posed by assisted reproductive technology (ART), to the dynamics at-play behind social media hate for Meghan Markle, to the series that dives deep into all things reality TV … and more! Featuring: Romance Road Test, Biohacked: Family Secrets, Why Won't You Date Me?, Cancelled, and Reality Life with Kate Casey Fore links and more info on these podcasts, go to http://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.

It's our monthly New and Notable episode for October, and this month we’ve got intriguing new podcasts and exclusive interviews with some of their creators. True crime is one of the most popular podcast genres, but the stories we hear don’t often centre the victims or the people left in the wake of tragedy. That’s what the new podcast Media Circus with Kim Goldman aims to change. The course of Goldman’s life changed when her brother, Ron Goldman, was murdered alongside OJ Simpson’s ex wife, Nicole Brown Simpson. In the media circus that ensued, and her enduring grief, Kim was struck by the disparity between how the media covers crime and what it’s like to be personally affected by it. This week, Kim joins us for an interview about her hopes for the podcast and what she’s learned from speaking to so many families stricken by trauma. Plus, a conversation with one of the creators of Hot Money, the series that takes listeners inside the porn industry. And, Serena and Venus Williams are revered as tennis greats, but it hasn’t always been that way. This week we’re bringing you the inspiring minds behind the latest and greatest podcasts – and, of course, a sampling of their work. Featuring: Media Circus with Kim Goldman, Hot Money, All American: Venus & Serena For links and more info, head to http://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.

From Inventing Anna to The Tinder Swindler, tales of scammers and grifters on streaming platforms have captured people’s attention in a big way. Now, podcasts are following suit. In the 1990s, the world was transfixed by the legal troubles of Heidi Fleiss. Known as a madam to the stars, Fleiss was reportedly clearing around $300,000 a week until her arrest in 1993. The podcast HeidiWorld: The Heidi Fleiss Story gives listeners a deeper look at her life and upbringing. Hear why she learned how to hustle at a young age and why a car accident changed the course of her life. Plus: the F-Factor diet promised people they could lose weight without feeling hungry all the time by eating more fibre. Creator Tanya Zuckerbrot spent decades growing her fibre-empire. In Fed Up, host Casey Wilson unpacks how, and the social media feud that spread from Instagram to the courtroom. You don’t want to miss these stories about hustle culture, people who’ve gamed the system, and catfishers gone wild – you might even learn some warning signs to avoid getting grifted yourself! Featuring: HeidiWorld: The Heidi Fleiss Story, Scamfluencers, Fed Up, Stuff The British Stole, Maintenance Phase For more info and links, head to http://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.

From cinnamon toast shrimp to why Black TikTok creators went on strike, the podcast ICYMI stays on top of the latest trending Internet shenanigans so you don’t have to go Googling for yourself. This week ICYMI host Rachelle Hampton joins Leah-Simone Bowen to talk about the challenges of being online all the time, why she tries to cover not only what everyone’s talking about but also what isn’t being discussed, and what internet culture says about us in a time where the line between our digital and IRL lives gets blurrier and blurrier. Plus, we’ll hear some of her favourite podcasts. There’s a series that fans of cringey reality dating shows will love, one of the scandals that shaped the U.S., a thoughtful discussion on how much celebrity culture has changed, and a clip from ICYMI that explains what exactly Elomir Axis Klarity is. Featuring: ICYMI, This Is Dating, American Scandal, Food 4 Thot For links and more info on these shows, head to http://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.

Who needs a laugh? You don’t have to look far to find one. This week we’ve got a lineup of podcast picks that will make you giggle, groan and guffaw. Sometimes the cringiest moments become the funniest stories. That’s the case for Felicia, who broke her rule of not dating coworkers only to experience a date so bad, so unbelievable, that she’d go on to share it on the CBC podcast True Dating Stories. Plus, is there anything more incredible than what people choose to share on the internet? The podcast Beach Too Sandy, Water Too Wet uncovers the comedy of online reviews. What’s not to love about a children’s book? Just read the reviews. Siblings and hosts Alex and Christine have curated some of the worst reviewed children’s books. You’ll find a new funny favourite in this episode. Featuring: Off Menu | Beach Too Sandy, Water Too Wet | True Dating Stories | We Got This with Mark and Hal | Mortified | Maintenance Phase For links and more info on all these podcasts, head to http://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.

An investigation into what led a couple to the fringes, the ongoing work to reverse racial segregation in U.S. schools, and a recommendation podcast that’s offering up undiscovered gems. This week we’re introducing you to these stories and more … plus we’re joined by some special guests. When Dan Pierce was looking for an idea for a new documentary, a story he’d read in the news immediately came to mind. In the new CBC podcast Pressure Cooker, Dan is joined by journalists to unpack the anti-terrorism case against John Nuttall and Amanda Korody and where the undercover police investigation went wrong. He joins Leah-Simone Bowen to share more. And: you can never have too many recommendations! We’re chatting with the hosts of Feed The Queue – a buffet of underrated podcast picks curated by hosts Lauren Passell and Adela Mizrachi who share their suggestions for your fall playlist. Featuring: Pressure Cooker, The United States of Anxiety, Radiotopia Presents: My Mother Made Me For links and more info on everything in today's show, head to http://cbc.ca/podcastplaylist.