NPR's Pod Club: Handpicked recommendations from the folks who live for this stuff

LAUREN GONZALEZ
SENIOR PODCAST EVANGELISTA

It’s that time of year again. For most of us, Thanksgiving marks the start of the holiday season, packed with travel snafus, busy social calendars and lots of leftovers. Those long holiday lulls can actually be a gift: a rare block of uninterrupted time.

And the thing about podcasts is that they have the power to transport you. You could be on a plane, train or automobile – or maybe on your mom’s couch – and find yourself at a Texan standoff. Or on an active crime scene in the Florida Keys. Or in 1974.

Whether you’re looking for pre-Thanksgiving zen or Black Friday thrills, here are ten binge-worthy pods that’ll take you places:

🫣Dreading the inevitable moment your uncle brings up politics at dinner?
Check out: Embedded’s Alternate Realities, a series that brings together a father and son on opposite ends of the political spectrum. It’s not easy to talk politics with your loved ones, especially if they’re swimming in conspiracy theories. But this series made me believe that it’s always worth a try.

Also queue up: This episode of Life Kit, which shares practical tips on navigating tense conversations.

🕵️Are you a true crime sleuth on the hunt for your next case?
Check out: NHPR’s Operation Night Cat, which follows one of the biggest poaching cases in New England’s history. Bobcats aren’t the only victims – the story has a surprising connection to a cover-up within the New Hampshire State Prison for Men. Animal lovers, only tune in if you want to be absolutely enraged.

Also queue up: WLRN’s Keeper and Killer, a tale of one family torn apart by mental illness and murder.

🌐Curious about the fringe communities that live next door?
Check out: A Whole Other Country from Marfa Public Radio. Texas's history is spotted with secession attempts. This series explores one of the more recent incidents: a Midwestern transplant's fight to create his own Republic of Texas. It's a wild, Western ride.

Also queue up: BPR’s Onward Christian Soldiers, where one pastor wants to claim a college town for Jesus.

🤑Have a soft spot for modern-day Robin Hoods and money schemes?
Check out: GBH’s Scratch and Win, a show that traces America’s multibillion gambling industry back to the Massachusetts Lottery. Learn how state legislators from the 1970s tried to beat illegal bookies at their own game. After listening to this series, I’ll never look at a scratch ticket the same way.

Also queue up: GPB’s Robbery, Inc., which delves into the life and schemes of a Georgian career burglar.

⛰️Do you need to get outside after your second helping of leftovers?
Check out: WNYC’s Our Common Nature, a cross-country road trip set to Yo-Yo Ma’s music. The cellist travels from Alaska to West Virginia, meeting with local leaders who care for the natural world. I found my new morning routine after listening to Wabanaki singers welcome the dawn with a song.

Also queue up: IPR’s Points North if you’d rather be kayaking through the Great Lakes.