Forget The Best Read: Do A Beach Listen With These Wondery Shows

 For those not intimately familiar with the podcast industry, Wondery is an American podcast network and publisher of podcasts including Dirty John, Dr. Death, and The Shrink Next Door. Wondery was founded in 2016 by entrepreneur and media executive Hernán Lopez. The company was launched with backing from 20th Century Fox (now 20th Century Studios). In late 2020, it was announced that Wondery had been purchased by Amazon Music. The acquisition enabled Amazon to establish a beachhead in podcasting. Amazon does produce podcasts via its audiobook company, Audible, but many of those are for subscribers only.

My favorite Wondery podcasts are Business Wars with David Brown, American History Tellers with Lindsay Graham (not the douchey politician), American Innovations with Steven Johnson, and History Chicks with Beckett Graham and Susan Vollenweider. 

 Wondery has two premium subscription options, Wondery+ and Wondery+ Kids for those who either have money to burn, hate ads that much, or enjoy getting stuff before others.

Anyway, Wondery does have some podcasts that are ear worthy, especially for a summer beach listen instead of a beach read.

Whether you’re cooped up in a car, plane, or train to reach the ultimate summer vacay spot, showing off your Ozempic body at the pool, or you’re simply trying to avoid your family at a summer BBQ, Wondery has listeners covered with several podcasts that will make the time go by faster than the amount of time summer seems to last.

Here are some recommended listens:

Lemme Say This (NEW)

New episodes weekly with more pop culture gossip + guests For those of us who are chronically online and need all the entertainment gossip/news, this is for you! Hosted by journalists and real-life best friends, Peyton Dix and Hunter Harris (Hung Up Substack), the weekly convo series is basically a glorified group chat. Each episode focuses on a few recent pop culture moments with a guest and offers highly entertaining opinions on each – for instance, the summer of Charli XCX vs. Sabrina Carpenter, Selena Gomez’s naked feet boyfriend, and who takes the crown for Hollywood’s most divorced man. Watch episodes on YouTube

Happily Never After: Dan and Nancy (NEW)
New episodes premiering weekly until July 1
The real life story of how to murder your husband! This true crime/dark comedy show surrounds romantic suspense writer, Nancy Brophy, whose written horrific fictions start bleeding into her real life when her husband is found murdered at work. Fellow romance novelist and former true crime reporter Heidi Joy Tretheway, who was a member of Nancy’s writing club in Portland, OR, hosts the series, bringing her first-hand knowledge and insights to the unbelievable twisted tale

This is Keke Palmer (NEW)

 New episodes weekly  Baby, Keke is back! Keke Palmer has questions for days, about everything under the sun, and each episode is a journey down the rabbit hole on a topic that she cannot stop obsessing over. She’ll also get deep with special guests, trying to answer the questions that keep us up at night. We are getting INTO IT. Season two guests include Amy Poehler, Vivica A. Fox, Kel Mitchell, Skilla Baby, JT, Giovonnie Samuels & Bryan Hearne (from “Quiet on Set”), and more. 

● BONUS! Need summer accessories, clothing, or other lifestyle items? Check out Keke’s new apparel line, "Keke Says."

Blame it on the Fame: Milli Vanilli

This podcast details the rise to fame and swift downfall of Rob Pilatus and Fab Morvan, the infamous R&B duo known as Milli Vanilli who were taken under the wing of German producer Frank Farian, and quickly discovered – the hard way – the difference between star power and real power. Comedian and actress Amanda Seales (“Insecure,” “The Real”) hosts the series.

The Competition

  The world of pageantry is going through a major reckoning, and journalist/podcaster Shima Oliaee (formerly NPR and “Dolly Parton’s America”) is here to explain what value (or lack thereof) they provide for young girls. When Shima was 17, she competed in the long-running (since 1958) Distinguished Young Women (DYM) contest against 49 other high school senior girls for the big prize – a scholarship – and lost. With the 2024 contest taking place this June in Alabama, Shima takes listeners behind the scenes of this wild contest, following seven contestants to show us what it’s like to be a teen girl in America today.

The Last City

 Not traveling anywhere this summer? How about venturing to the futuristic, utopian land of Pura? This two-part, immersive, cli-fi narrative drama weaves together elements of the climate crisis, its subsequent mental health consequences, and complicated feelings about our shared future, as it explores the brewing mystery beneath Pura’s perfect exterior, while ultimately sharing an inspiring message about the power of humanity to create positive change. Cast members include Rhea Seahorn (“Better Call Saul”), Maury Sterling (“Homeland”), Jeannie Tirado (“Fairy Tale Zero”), Skye Lourie (“The Pillars of the Earth”), and Celia Rose (“Star Trek: Strange New Worlds”). 

Check out these Wondery podcasts based on your individual tastes.  I'm not much for celebrity podcasts, but Keke Palmer is an exception to my own rule. And how the hell did Milli Vanilli fool so many people? Finally, given the recent throne abdications in several key beauty pageants, it's time to reassess the value they bring to society and to the participants.