Manjushree Thapa is a well-known Nepali-Canadian writer who has published several books, including ‘Mustang Bhot in Fragments’, ‘Forget Kathmandu’ and ‘The Tutor of History.’

This American Life

I used to listen to this podcast hosted by Ira Glass back when it was a radio show that aired on National Public Radio (US). It is well-produced; with a team of qualified researchers, presenters and sound engineers working on it. The podcast shares unexpected, counterculture stories about contemporary America.

In Our Time

In Our Time is produced by BBC and hosted by Melvyn Bragg. It covers many topics, including science, history and culture. The host gets experts from academia to discuss these topics. I end up gaining a lot of information through it.

I think this podcast is a good source of academic knowledge presented in an easy-to-understand format.

The Infinite Monkey Cage

This is another interesting podcast by the BBC. Hosted by comedian, actor and writer Brian Cox and physicist Robin Ince, they cover everything from the basics to the latest discovery in quantum physics on the show. I recommend it to anyone interested in the subject, as the hosts present it in a way that is very easy to follow.

Writers & Company

Hosted by Eleanor Wachtel, Writers & Company is a CBC production. In the show, Wachtel—who is a writer herself—invites other writers to discuss their works. What I like about this podcast is how well-researched the host is about the guests. She poses nuanced questions that bring out good answers.

Longform

Longform is the podcast for anyone who likes reading longform journalistic pieces. Hosted by Aaron Lammer, Max Linsky, and Evan Ratliff, this weekly show features interviews with non-fiction writers—focusing primarily on how they tell their stories. It covers everything from how each guest conducts interviews to the problems they face during the research process. Longform is a great way to understand journalists’ perspectives on events.

Aria Code

In Aria Code, host and musician, Rhiannon Giddens dissects iconic operatic performances and discusses it with people involved in the project—from writers to stage directors. It is a fun podcast produced by the Metropolitan Opera in New York.

Anyone who hasn’t quite grasped classical music but wants to understand will benefit from this show.