Learning Through Podcasts

Kimberly Vu-Smith

When thinking about my favorite educational websites, the first thing that came to my mind was a podcast, called “The Daily,” created by The New York Times. I’m not sure whether or not a podcast constitutes necessarily as a website, but it is one of my favorite ways to educate myself. The Daily is a podcast hosted by Michael Barbaro and powered by New York Times journalism. It’s hosted five days a week and usually gives a recap of the latest news, but also has special episodes that aren’t so political/news heavy. I love the way this podcast is done because it is usually no longer than 30 minutes and is perfect for when you are driving or getting ready in the morning. “I have been listening to the Daily every morning for the past year and it is one of my favorite educational podcasts,” says Nairobi Toombs ‘21. A lot of the time, people don’t feel as if they have time to read the newspaper or long articles, so educational podcasts can be a great way to get your daily dose of the news. 

However, there are some people that don’t like podcasts. “I find myself getting distracted and it just becomes background noise. I’d rather read something,” says Miguel Tolentino Loyola University ‘24. While I understand this, I do think that the Daily has very captivating stories and the host does a wonderful job of narrating them. If you are looking for something short and easy to deliver your news, the Daily podcast is the perfect thing for you. “Alongside the Daily podcast, The New York Times website is generally a great education resource for me. It does cost money, but right now the subscription is very affordable!,” notes  Ruthie Zolla DHS ‘21. 

Fortunately, there are many venues where you can listen to the Daily podcast: the NYT website, Spotify, and Apple Music. Happy podcasting!