Accessibility links
Nick Quah
Stories By

Nick Quah

Story Archive

Thursday

Media

In a tough year for podcasts, these 3 stood above the rest

Fresh Air

The podcasting world faced layoffs, retrenchment, and cancellations in 2023, but amidst the turmoil, "If Books Could Kill," "You Didn't See Nothin" and "The Retrievals" topped the list of offerings.

In a tough year for podcasts, these 3 stood above the rest

Listen · 7:34
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1221609185/1222005159" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Monday

Pop Culture

'Dreamtown' podcast examines how legal marijuana transformed one small town

Fresh Air

Dreamtown: The Story of Adelanto is a true-story, Coen brothers-esque caper about a California desert town that tried to revive its economy by turning to legal cannabis sales.

'Dreamtown' podcast examines how legal marijuana transformed one small town

Listen · 7:49
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1190700880/1191109629" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Tuesday

'The Coldest Case' is Serial's latest podcast on murder and memory

Serial's new true-crime podcast, The Coldest Case in Laramie, revisits a 1985 murder. Above, storm clouds over downtown Laramie, Wyo., on Aug. 13, 2022. Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

toggle caption
Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

Pop Culture

'The Coldest Case' is Serial's latest podcast on murder and memory

Fresh Air

In 1985, a University of Wyoming student was killed in her apartment. A new audio documentary series grapples — again — with the unreliability of memory and the slipperiness of truth.

'The Coldest Case' is Serial's latest podcast on murder and memory

Listen · 7:11
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1159786894/1160100525" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Wednesday

Pop Culture

'Dead Eyes,' but tons of heart: This small podcast is among the year's best

Fresh Air

The podcasts that spoke to me the most this year tended to be small and scrappy. The best was Dead Eyes, Connor Ratliff's quixotic quest to reconcile himself with the frustrations of life in show biz.

'Dead Eyes,' but tons of heart: This small podcast is among the year's best

Listen · 7:29
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1145601985/1145833733" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Tuesday

Technology

Life is chaotic. White noise streams can help you tune out (and fall asleep)

Fresh Air

White noise streams are a kind of sonic wallpaper. For many, they help keep some parts of the brain distracted so that other parts may better focus on things, like writing, studying or sleeping.

Life is chaotic. White noise streams can help you tune out (and fall asleep)

Listen · 6:55
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1136791365/1136879096" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Tuesday

Pop Culture

'Reality' podcasts draw on the appeal of reality TV — with mixed results

Fresh Air

The podcast world is abundant with shows about reality TV. Now a few podcasts are trying to capitalize on reality TV popularity more directly, by emulating the genre's conceits, mechanics and style.

'Reality' podcasts draw on the appeal of reality TV — with mixed results

Listen · 7:57
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1108219173/1108273667" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Tuesday

Pop Culture

'The Trojan Horse Affair' is Serial's best podcast since 'S-Town'

Fresh Air

In 2014, an anonymous whistleblower leaked a copy of a letter that allegedly revealed an Islamist plan to take over schools in one English city. A new podcast tells the story behind the fake document.

'The Trojan Horse Affair' is Serial's best podcast since 'S-Town'

Listen · 7:34
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1080799503/1080854972" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Tuesday

Pop Culture

2021's standout podcasts feature personal stories, and plenty of surprises

Fresh Air

Three podcasts with a keen interest in inner lives captured the attention of critic Nick Quah this year. His picks for the best of 2021? S***hole Country, Storytime with Seth Rogen and Aack Cast.

2021's standout podcasts feature personal stories, and plenty of surprises

Listen · 8:12
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1068451424/1068536482" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Wednesday

Review

Pop Culture

Spotify's 'Music + Talk' shows capture the magic of early podcasts

Fresh Air

Critic Nick Quah says the streaming giant's foray into the music podcast field has been pleasantly experimental, with casual, compelling shows that sound lo-fi and intimate.

Spotify's 'Music + Talk' shows capture the magic of early podcasts

Listen · 7:39
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1054255398/1054333885" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Tuesday

Pop Culture

'Ocean's Eleven' Meets '30 Rock' In The Queer-Centric Podcast 'Hot White Heist'

Fresh Air

A new fiction podcast from Audible stars SNL's Bowen Yang as a fortune teller who's trying to steal samples from a sperm bank. Hot White Heist is a playfully zany production with an all-star cast.

'Ocean's Eleven' Meets '30 Rock' In The Queer-Centric Podcast 'Hot White Heist'

Listen · 5:30
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1013397154/1013428184" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Wednesday

Fresh Air

Stunning New Podcast Investigates 'The Line' Separating Combat From War Crimes

Fresh Air

In 2018, former Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher was charged with committing war crimes. An Apple podcast hosted by Dan Taberski, creator of Missing Richard Simmons and Running from COPS, unpacks his story.

Stunning New Podcast Investigates 'The Line' Separating Combat From War Crimes

Listen · 6:12
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1000510149/1000571438" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Tuesday

Pop Culture

'Renegades' Podcast With Obama And Springsteen Is Interesting ... Enough

Fresh Air

There's clearly a limit to what the former president will say --even on his own platform. Obama's conversation with the Boss is at its most fluid and introspective when the two discuss masculinity.

'Renegades' Podcast With Obama And Springsteen Is Interesting ... Enough

Listen · 6:31
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/989084879/989154502" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Thursday

Opinion

Media

Trump Podcasts, The Product Of A Confusing Presidency, Face An Uncertain Future

Fresh Air

A podcast cottage industry that first emerged in the 2016 presidential election is drawing to a close. Critic Nick Quah wonders if the shows, designed to help explain the chaos, simply added to it.

Trump Podcasts, The Product Of A Confusing Presidency, Face An Uncertain Future

Listen · 6:29
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/963990502/964107183" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript

Thursday

Pop Culture

'Floodlines,' The Story Of Hurricane Katrina, Tops The List Of 2020's Best Podcasts

Fresh Air

Podcasts have been doing a great job keeping people company during the pandemic. Critic Nick Quah shares some of his favorites, including Lost Notes: 1980, Reply All, My Year in Mensa and Floodlines.

'Floodlines,' The Story Of Hurricane Katrina, Tops The List Of 2020's Best Podcasts

Listen · 7:13
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/949846368/950049254" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Browse archive or search npr.org