How do you entertain yourself when you’re sewing? I mean, when you aren’t really concentrating on a tricky step or focusing on getting the most perfect edgestitching ever, what do you do with your brain? Personally, I love to listen to podcasts, and I’ve assembled quite a few that I like. Actually, I subscribe to more podcasts than I have time to listen to. Here are some of my favorites. Do you have any to add to the list?
1. Freakonomics. My current favorite, not least because of the catchy theme music. But also because it’s so interesting and full of fascinating facts about economics and their extraordinarily large reach across our lives. I honestly thought economics was all numbers until I started listening to this show.
2. This American Life. I love all the wonderful stories and glimpses into people’s lives. Plus, who can resist guests like David Sedaris?
3. Radiolab. (Can you tell I’m a public radio junkie?) This show focuses on really interesting science-oriented bits that you’ll find yourself thinking and talking about for weeks afterward.
4. StoryCorps. If you want to feel connected to humanity, here’s how to do it. Some are funny, most are touching, all are beautifully edited and presented.
5. The New Yorker: Fiction. In which authors select and read aloud a piece of fiction that was previously published in the New Yorker and talk about why they chose it and what they love about it.
6. After the Jump. Grace Bonney of DesignSponge hosts this interview radio show/podcasts that focuses on designers and design-related topics. (Some of these episodes are really interesting and others are just ok, so listen to a few before you decide whether it’s for you.)
7. The Dinner Party Download. A fun pre-weekend podcast filled with lots of current events, factoids, interesting guests, and even a theme-related drink recipe each week.
8. Pat Sloan’s American Patchwork and Quilting Radio. Hear interviews and discussions about sewing, quilting and all things fabric-related. (I’ll be doing another interview for this podcast in September, so stay tuned!)
9. CoffeeBreak French. Learn French on the go.
10. Learn French by Podcast. A new one for me, but so far I really like this topic-related method of learning French.
11. The Moth. Stories told in front of a live audience. (Some of these can be explicit, so be warned if your kids hang out around the sewing room.)
12. The Longest Shortest Time. The podcast is all about the trials and tribulations of parenting. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll connect with other parents over all sorts of topics.
What do you do when you’re sewing?