Audio Delicacies 2022: Best Podcasts Of The Year Served A La Carte

 Podcast listeners are rewarded by the seemingly infinite depth of "ear worthy" podcast content. Podcast listeners also suffer from that same strength. Why? Because, when there are tens of thousands of podcasts worth minutes of your audio focus, two things will happen. First, podcast fans will certainly miss some terrific content. Second, great podcasts will slip into oblivion because listeners don't know their podcast exists.

That's one reason why podcast blogs like this one, Podcast Reports, and our sister blog, Ear Worthy, toil in self-inflicted obscurity to connect listeners with podcasts they'd love.

Thankfully, there is a company, Tink Media, that is run by podcast experts, connoisseurs, tastemakers, and bellwethers (Note: I'll use any synonym to avoid using influencer). 

Here's how Tink Media can help listeners find podcasts that complement their listening interests. The company is like Match.Com, making hookups between podcasts searching for a Platonic yet ear-intensive relationship with listeners, and podcast fans searching desperately for podcasts that "complete them."

First, Tink Media has developed and released a daily, weekday podcast called Pod-At-Me. The podcast's premise is simple, yet deliciously inspired. 

I'll let them explain it: "If you’ve called Tink’s podline already, you've heard how it works. We feature a new podcast recommendation every week day, and you can leave your own recommendation at the sound of the beep. Honestly, the voicemails make our day. There’s something so delightful about the soundscape as someone is describing a podcast they’re excited for you to listen to."

Aakshi Sinha of Tink Media says, "This leads us to how podcasters can get involved and do a little shameless, self-promo and fun marketing."

"The voicemails we receive are added to our list of recommendations for the chance to be featured on the hotline," Aakshi continues. "That means calling in could get your show featured! Of course, just like any time you’re talking about your show, your recommendation should be as captivating and intriguing as possible!"

Here are some examples already featured on Pod-At-Me:

Meet Lauren Ober. Through her exceptionally raw and honest storytelling, she’s taking us along on her journey of being diagnosed as autistic at the age of 42. In The Loudest Girl in the World, she challenges the stereotypes society holds about autism and helps us rethink what society could look like if it was more inclusive to autistic and neurodivergent people. Lauren is making herself the subject of a very up close and personal documentary to help us all realize how we can be more understanding of ourselves and those around us. Experience neurodiversity in a way it’s never been portrayed before.

When you’re dealing with a dark season of your life, it can feel like the light is so far away. Thankfully, All the Wiser is here to prove that there is hope and possibility on the other side of pain. Host Kimi Culp brings you dramatic stories of survival, the realities of life when facing death, and unforgettable lessons on love and loss. All while donating $2000 every episode to a nonprofit making a difference in the world. Today's episode is an interview with Meyli Chapin, who survived an attack on a hotel complex in Kenya by Al-Shabaab terrorists that left 22 civilians dead.

The episode I listened to was about 10 minutes in length and was filled with terrific podcast recommendations. For example, I've already tried the Tracing The Path podcast, a history podcast with episodes ranging from a town in Norway that banned clocks to Winnie The Pooh and copyright law. 

The host of Pod-At-Me, Devin Andrade, has a voice that could lead meditation chants, it's so soothing. Her comments after each call-in are short, informative, witty and reassuring. The podcast is well produced with superior sound quality, the use of the old-timey telephone ring is inspired, and the pace and length have "perfect pitch."

Anyway, you can call in yourself with your own recommendation. You can call 844-763-2863 for the Pod-At-Me hotline.

Second, Tink Media has created Audio Delicacies 2022 for podcast listeners.

“I’m thrilled to have contributed to Tink Media’s Audio Delicacies 2022," begins Tink's Devin Andrade. "It's a list of the best podcasts and episodes from 2022 as contributed by over 50 audio creators and industry professionals. Peruse through the complete playlist here.” 

Some of Audio Delicacies's recommendations include: 

FeMANism - "It’s a comedy podcast where Sam Martin and Jamie Hoggart play characters of two clueless bros (trying to be feminists) who give us their own, completely misdirected version of feminism, by leaning heavily into stereotypes, spreading inaccuracies about women and their bodies, making swift, unvalidated judgments, and both interrupting and misinterpreting their female guests. It's hilarious and an almost painfully accurate take on that guy who thinks he's lifting women up and loves himself for it. The dialogue is sharp-witted and deeply humorous — Sam and Jamie are the perfect duo to pull off this nifty trick." Recommended by Lauren Passell, Tink Media. 

In the Scenes Behind Plain Sight  -- "two hosts (using made-up names —even their picture on the show's tile art is stock imagery), play actors who starred in a mildly successful TV show 20 years ago called Behind Plain Sight (I'll save you the IMDB search…it is completely made up), filling each episode with their podcast dissecting and sharing memories of an episode that...never existed. The podcast is gloriously bad, by design, and just keeps entertaining you with goofs on Hollywood, podcasting, and dying dreams of faded glory. The whole thing is just brilliant." Recommended by - Eric Nuzum, Co-founder, Magnificent Noise.

 Banned -- "This episode dropped after we learned that Roe would potentially be overturned, but before it actually happened in June. There was a heightened sense of awareness surrounding the situation, but I don't think the average person knew too much about the Pink House at the center of it all. When I lived in Jackson, Mississippi, I lived walking distance from the house. I passed it regularly. I still have good friends who live nearby. " Recommended by - Arielle Nissenblatt, Founder of EarBuds Podcast Collective, Head of Community & Content at SquadCast.fm

Check out Audio Delicacies 2022 for a smorgasbord of great podcast content. It's low-cal, completely organic, even gluten-free, that is guaranteed to make your ears perk up and your mind to light up.