Do you like art? Do you like music? Do you like movies, musicals, plays or anything in between? The answer is likely between “yes” or “maybe” but I’m certain it is not an outright “no”.

In this edition of Podcasts for your Major I’m taking a look at the majors that aren’t just there to educate us or make us feel intellectual — although they certainly can — but the ones that feed our souls and get us thinking about, and interpreting, the then and the now.

1. The Art Angle

Starting off the list is a perfectly eclectic podcast that covers everything in the art world – and I mean everything. Be it modern, classic, renaissance, post-modern, ‘old’ or ‘new’ this podcast has an episode discussing its background, its place and its future in whatever art scene it pertains to. 

The Art Angle, according to its Spotify page, is “a weekly podcast that brings the biggest stories in the art world down to earth” through the exploration and discussion of what is popular and growing in modern art circles, what role and purpose museums play in legitimizing and establishing art and artists today, and how growing social media platforms influence art movements. 

This podcast truly is a beast as it takes swings into every realm of artistry possible. Whether it be theatre, fashion, music, traditional fine arts or digital arts, or digging through art history and uncovering its truths, secrets, and conspiracies – it has it all. Additionally, the podcast features frequent guest collaborations from experts in their respective fields of art study, practice and more.

Some episodes I would recommend giving a listen to include “Why Digital Art Lives Fast and Dies Young”, “Ishmael Reed on Basquiat Myths and Realities”, “Are Climate Activists’ Art Attacks Helping or Hurting Their Cause” and “How Virgil Abloh Changed the Contemporary Art World”.

2. All Songs Considered

If you’re looking for a podcast that is a little more synthesized in its topics but still passionate and in-depth then take into consideration NPR’s All Songs Considered podcast.

Launched twenty-four years ago as a multimedia internet radio show, All Songs Considered has maintained its cultural staying power as a weekly dive into new bangers to get your playlists bumping. This podcast, hosted by self-proclaimed music nerds Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton, all features conversations with emerging artists and long-time industry icons, discussions of the modern music industry, specialty performances from musical guests, and Boilen and Hilton sharing their top songs of the week. The pair promise listeners that they will discover songs that “can completely change your day, with humour, heart, and (sometimes) a whole lot of noise” throughout the course of an episode.

A word of warning to those who wish to seek this podcast out and venture into expanding your musical palette, to get full-free-access to all of the All Songs Considered episodes, you will have to venture to NPR’s website (npr.org/podcasts) as any episodes listed on Spotify are just cut-up bootlegs.

That said, I can assure that venturing to NPR’s website is well worth it as the roughly thirty-minute to hour-long episodes are perfect for listening while driving, studying, doing the dishes or laying around the house. I’d personally recommend the episodes: “Why the Oscar-winning score for ‘All Quiet On The Western Front’ still gives chills”, “Songs we should retire”, and “Hip-hop is 50. Its formula for global domination? Staying local”. 

3. Little Known Facts with Ilana Levine

The last podcast on this edition’s list covers everything from the silver screen to bigstage. Little Known Facts is a weekly podcast hosted by television, film and Broadway actress Ilana Levine who “engages her celebrity guests in intimate conversations that are hilarious, vulnerable, revealing and inspiring.” This podcast gives listeners fly-on-the-wall insight into the personal lives of performers, as well as the technicalities and realities of the television, film and stage performance industries. 

Those with a particular interest in hearing long-form conversations from their favourite Broadway stars, directors and producers will likely find a particular affinity with this podcast as it offers new views into their lifestyles, careers, trials, tribulations and triumphs.

With 386 episodes total — and more on the way — this podcast dives into the depths of show business bringing a wistful sense of life and humanity to an industry that from outside can often look cutthroat and foreboding.

While I have not spent as much time with this podcast as the other two on this list some episodes I would recommend are “Episode 60 – Julianne Moore”, “Episode 152 – Ben Stiller”, and “Episode 9 – Ben Platt”. 

You, or someone you love, probably enjoys some form of art. Be it music, television, painting, sculpture, fashion, theatre — or something else that I have not listed here — there has got to be some artform you enjoy. Unfortunately, these fields that make life worth living are often left underappreciated at the academic level. I hope that in reading this article you have not only been inspired to check out a new podcast, but in some haphazard backwards way, been reminded of the importance of art in all its forms, whether as a hobby, a profession or a university level class.