PLUG INTO PANHANDLE PODCASTS BY DAKOTA PARKS
reak out your stretchy pants and noisecancelling headphones, it’s podcast season, baby. You heard that right, ‘tis the season of road trips, traffic jams and family gatherings. Whether you’re heading home for the holidays and need the soothing voice of a stranger to keep your eyes open while you drive, a good laugh to pacify your road rage or you’re trying to avoid those annual family feuds, pop on one of these local podcasts and fuhgeddaboudit. Some folks might be skeptical about podcasts and claim they make you think too much or can’t compare to a good ole Netflix bingewatch, but unlike other forms of media, with podcasts you can multitask and listen from more places than just your couch. Nothing beats mowing the lawn and learning about serial killers or scrubbing a dish listening to a comedy skit. With an estimated two million podcasts and 48 million podcast episodes in existence, as of 2021, there are podcasts on every topic you can think of—from comedy and celebrity interviews to storytelling, business, improv, pop-culture, film and book reviews, politics and investigative journalism. If you can talk about it, chances are there is a podcast about it. We gathered up a handful of our favorite Panhandle podcasts to plug into just in time for the busy holiday and travel season. You can listen to them on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or anywhere you get your podcasts!
Meredith for Real: The Curious Introvert meredithforreal.com • @meredithforreal Meredith Edwards, a self-identified tice, sex positivity and technology. geriatric millennial plant mom, curi- Listeners, or Curiositers, as Edwards ous introvert and model has spent calls them, can search episodes by the last two years recording her subject matter on YouTube or listen podcast that she calls a “hybrid of to podcast episodes in any order societal, cultural and personal devel- they see fit. opment that is not usually safe for work, always ADD-friendly and short “People are so layered—they are enough to fit your daily commute.” never just one of anything. Just a After spending two decades work- mom. Just a lawyer. If you ask the ing in sales, Edwards decided she right questions with genuine curiwanted to live in a more creative way osity, you’ll find the paradoxes that and channel her imagination into a exist,” she said. “Most guests are a podcast that explores curiosity and paradox of some kind, like the atheparadoxes. Each episode showcas- ist doctor who studied near death es unique guests from around the experiences for 50 years (episode world and topics that range from 93). We have news and social mecults, UFOs and travel to social jus- dia algorithms that serve up exactly
Behind the Grind
business owners and entrepreneurs to inspire listeners and the community at large.
behindthegrindshow.com @behindthegrindshow
For co-hosts Jimmy O’Donovan and Tucker Massey, podcasting was an untapped source to meet and network with other entrepreneurs, mentors and investors. O’Donovan is a realtor for Kuhn Realty and Massey owns a personal training business called Tuck Training. Together, they own Mastered Craft Media, which produces the podcasts Behind the Grind Show and Project: Leaders. When they started Behind the Grind Show in October 2019, there were no other business podcasts highlighting local entrepreneurs and creating consistent content, so they set
what we already believe. We live and work with the same people every day. The wash, rinse, repeat of our lives create a bubble of re-circulated ideas and experiences. The podcast is my way of offering people a dose of anti-algorithm for bright, meaningful entertainment.”
out to create an entrepreneur think tank, or a body of experts providing advice and ideas on entrepreneurship and what it takes to succeed. Each episode shares the origin story, growth and background of local
“We’re passionate about sharing our guests’ stories because there’s nothing more rewarding than being able to help our listeners master their craft. Pensacola is a tight-knit community and being able to add a small amount of value to it is what drives us every week” Massey explained. “We always aim to have an organic conversation with our guests. We don’t cut anything out or edit the podcast too much. We want our listeners to be able to tune in each week to an interview that’s easy to listen to and informative.” DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM | 11
