Obsession Worthy Podcasts Episodes

There’s a reason some episodes stay in your head long after they end, and a lot of it comes down to the storytelling tricks happening underneath the surface that you barely notice while you’re listening. In this episode, the PMS cast and crew break down how a bizarre tech problem from 99% Invisible turned into a fully addictive audio mystery, and why the tension, pacing, curiosity loops, and live experimentation kept everyone locked in even while feeling frustrated the whole time. We talk about ...

What if the real reason The Daily pulls you in has nothing to do with the topic and everything to do with how the story is told? In this Obsession Worthy episode, we sit with that question together, because you’ve probably been there, hitting play while your mind is half somewhere else, and then suddenly you’re locked in. The PMC cast and crew walk through how a simple, specific opening gives you something to grab onto right away, how the story keeps widening just enough to keep you curious, and...

What if the reason a podcast sticks with you has less to do with what’s said and more to do with what you feel while listening? In this Obsession Worthy Podcasts episode, the PMC cast and crew unpack Twenty Thousand Hertz’s Hamilton feature to explore how intentional sound design shapes emotion, attention, and the overall listener experience. Led by Jonathan Howard and Ralph Estep Jr., the conversation begins with a breakdown of iconic moments like “My Shot” and the duel scene, then opens into a...

In this week’s Obsession Worthy Podcasts series returns and we break down an episode of Search Engine to explore what makes the show so compelling, and what the rest of us can learn from it as podcasters. Using their episode about Anthropic’s Claude AI as our example, we look at how Search Engine pulls listeners in with emotion, builds curiosity by expanding the questions at just the right moments, and uses layered storytelling to keep people engaged from start to finish. Along the way, we unpac...

Have you ever listened to a podcast and wondered why some episode openings pull you in right away while others take too long to get going? While Marc is out, Ralph Estep Jr. and Jonathan Howard lead us through an appreciation of Swindled and the storytelling choices that make it so effective. What starts as a close look at one show becomes a practical conversation about stronger intros, emotional hooks, and the storytelling devices that make listeners lean in. As the panel studies how the episod...

The most addictive podcasts don’t just inform you, they make you feel like you’re sitting at the table. In this Obsession Worthy episode, while Marc is out, cohosts Ralph Estep Jr and Jonathan Howard take the reins to lead a discussion on No Such Thing As a Fish and what you can take away for your own show. We break down why the banter works and how inside jokes keep people listening. We also talk about how the cast builds momentum with quick turns, clear roles, and a format that lets them cover...

How do you turn an abstract idea into a gripping audio experience? In this installment of our Obsession Worthy series, we study “Colors” by Radiolab and pull out what makes its production so effective. While Marc is out, Jonathan Howard and Ralph Estep Jr. lead the conversation and show us why this episode works so well. We talk about how the opening hooks you fast, and how multiple voices weave together to keep you locked in. If you want your podcast to feel more immersive, this breakdown will ...

What makes a story so striking that it changes how you see the person telling it? In this installment of our Obsession Worthy series, we study the narrative craft behind the podcast Ear Hustle and what makes its storytelling so effective. Co-host Jonathan walks us through how layered sound design, emotional contrast, and thoughtful narration can shift perception and deepen listener connection. We explore how devices like curiosity loops and identity shifts reveal that structure is not accidental...

Great podcasts don’t just share information. They guide listeners through an experience. In this installment of our Obsession Worthy Podcasts, co-host Jonathan Howard guides us on a close look at Hyperfixed to understand why some narrative shows are so easy to fall into and so hard to forget. Using this show as a case study, we explore how strong storytelling choices shape attention and keep listeners engaged from start to finish. We unpack what makes Hyperfixed obsession-worthy and how its desi...

Today, we’re asking you to rethink how you judge progress in podcasting. Is it really about choosing quantity or quality, or does the answer depend on where you are and what you’re building? In this installment of our Obsession Worthy Podcasts series, led by co-host Jonathan Howard, we break down How I Built This, focusing on the Taylor Guitars episode. We look closely at how a strong cold open widens the audience, builds curiosity, and signals that a show is worth sticking with. From there, the...

What makes a podcast worth coming back to again and again? What turns a single episode into something listeners want to sit with, revisit, and recommend? Today, we continue with another installment of Jonathan Howard’s Obsession-Worthy Podcast series, using Song Exploder as a case study to explore what makes a podcast truly re-listenable. We take a closer look at an episode, breaking down Fleetwood Mac’s Go Your Own Way, focusing less on the song itself and more on how the story is told. We expl...

Some podcasts become part of your routine not because they teach you something new every time, but because they make you feel connected. Jonathan Howard leads the charge, with commentary and real world examples from me and the rest of the team, as we take a close look at what makes a podcast truly obsession worthy. We break down the storytelling framework behind Normal Gossip and talk about why relatability matters more than celebrity, how listener participation turns an audience into a communi...

Do you remember when Olympic figure skater Tonya Harding was accused of having her ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly, injure Nancy Kerrigan’s knee before the 1994 Olympics? If you lived through the 90s, this story dominated the news, and many of us formed strong opinions based on a narrative the media pushed at the time. That familiar story becomes the starting point for a deeper look at podcasting craft. Co-host Jonathan Howard, leads the team through a case study of You’re Wrong About, using their 'Ta...

Today, we’re focusing on what podcasters can learn from shows that break the mold and still manage to form deep connections with their audience. Jonathan Howard continues our Obsession-Worthy Podcast series with a look at "Everything Is Alive," a show that turns simple ideas into emotionally charged, memorable storytelling. We explore how a strong creative constraint can open new doors and why unexpected formats can be effective when rooted in intention. We also weigh in on sound shaping emotion...

What can indie podcasters learn from one of the most talked-about podcasts of the year? Quite a lot, actually. Today, Jonathan Howard walks us through why New Heights, hosted by Jason and Travis Kelce, keeps fans coming back…and what we can apply to our own shows, even if we don’t talk about football (or engaged to Taylor Swift). From authentic emotional moments to naming your community, building recurring segments, and leveraging vulnerability, we explore what makes a podcast not just popular—...