Ear candy: Engrossing podcasts for fledgling listeners

To pod or not to pod; is that the question?

As it happens, no. Podcasts have long been established as the go-to format for listeners young and old, inhabiting a niche in the entertainment zeitgeist many have missed since the glory days of radio.

Unfortunately, an inevitable content glut has accompanied the popularity of podcasts, and it can be tough to know where to turn. From improvisational theater to sober living to investigative deep-dives, the kitchen sink has been thrown at the typical podcast listener; make a bad choice and you might find yourself in the middle of a muddy, meandering monologue you can’t escape.

Thankfully, we’ve got you covered. The list of shows and series below will keep you busy through winter, offering entertainment while you lift weights, take walks and commute. So cast aside the plodding pods — it’s time to listen, and maybe even learn. These selections can be found at all the traditional pod spots (however, don't be afraid to simply Google them).

“Haileywood,” iHeartMedia (iheart.com)

What if Bruce Willis moved to your town and started throwing his considerable celebrity weight around, opening taverns and buying up properties? Would you embrace his presence and seek autographs, or line up in opposition? That’s the quandary residents of Hailey faced when Mr. Die Hard himself, then-fiance Demi Moore in tow, strutted into their town and started making moves and, later, movies.

“Haileywood” details Willis’ arrival and the fallout that resulted when his requests – heated sidewalks outside his bar, extra sewer-connection permits for his real estate holdings – raised the hackles of longtime residents. With so many current celebrities trying to turn smaller municipalities into playgrounds for the rich, it’s interesting to hear locals balance their appreciation for the growth Willis offers with distaste for the trappings of it.

Enjoy that small ski mountain Willis opened with the $18 lift tickets? Well, how do you like the idea of being refused entry into his sometimes-exclusive bar? Whatever side of the fence you fall on, “Haileywood” succeeds in shining light on a small town and its fraught relationship with its – until 2018, when Willis sold his Hailey ranch – most famous resident.

“Your Own Backyard” (yourownbackyardpodcast.com)

Kristin Smart, at the time a student at California Polytechnic State University, has been missing since she attended a birthday party at a friend’s house May 25, 1996. As is typical, at first the case generated a ton of heat and leads for local police, but as time passed and memories faded, her disappearance became relegated to the back pages of local memory. Enter Chris Lambert, a podcaster who remembers the pall the Smart case cast upon the San Luis Obispo area of California.

Wanting to shed light on a forgotten missing person, and hoping to satisfy his own curiosity, Lambert digs into the Smart case with rare aplomb, hunting down leads and attempting to speak with suspect Paul Flores and his relatives. His deliberate speaking style will make you cringe, but Lambert’s dogged attention to detail rivals that of any bloodhound, and he’s received thousands of tips since debuting “Your Own Backyard.”

That, and the aforementioned Flores and his father, Ruben, were taken into custody April 13 by the San Luis Obispo Sheriff’s Department, at least partly as a result of Lambert’s (still-ongoing) gumshoeing.

“Boring Books for Bedtime” (boringbookspod.com)

Having problems sleeping? You’re not alone. Unfortunately, you can’t hire your high school social studies teacher to ramble at your bedside each night. “Boring Books for Bedtime,” however, might be the next-best thing. It's a veritable snore-cast that exists to lull you into a deep, drifting state of REM.

Reading through semi-slumber-inducing classics like “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” alongside all-out yawn-inducing titles such as “The History of Bread,” host Sharon Handy’s whispers gently cocoon the ear with mellow vibes until it’s impossible not to succumb to Mr. Sandman.

It’s a tough job (how does she not doze off herself?) but someone’s gotta do it, and you’ll be glad you entrusted Handy with regulating your sleep cycle. Warning: Do not operate heavy machinery while imbibing “Boring Books for Bedtime.”

“North Idaho Now,” Hagadone Corp. (cdapress.com)

It would be a crime to ignore the “North Idaho Now” podcast helmed by Chanse Watson, Josh McDonald and Madison Hardy.

NIN keeps you up-to-date on all topics close to home, covering information from around the Idaho Panhandle.

From interviews with local officials (check out Episode 43 for an interview with Idaho State Police Sgt. Jess Stennett on the dangers of fentanyl in the area) to deep dives on regional events, “North Idaho Now” chases down the news of the day so you don’t have to. Tune in every Tuesday and Friday to find out what’s going on in the Panhandle now.