Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein is a new reimagining of Mary Shelly’s classic gothic horror tale about a misunderstood monster who’s abandoned by his creator and shunned by society. Oscar Isaac is the narcissistic doctor Victor Frankenstein, and Jacob Elordi has a gargantuan yet humanizing turn as The Creature. Now streaming on Netflix, Frankenstein is dark, epic, and preoccupied with the existential dread of life and death. Follow Pop Culture Happy Hour on Letterboxd at letterboxd.com/nprpopculture Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
1D AGO
How Orwell’s words became our reality
Writer George Orwell has had a major impact on the way we talk about and view the world. His book 1984 introduced us to words and phrases like “thoughtcrime,” “doublespeak” and “Big Brother,” which have become common parts of our vocabulary. Seventy five years after his death, his ideas around mass surveillance and propaganda continue to resonate in a world of Big Tech, challenges to democracy, and distrust of institutions. The new documentary Orwell: 2+2=5 by filmmaker Raoul Peck explores the origin of Orwell’s ideas, and how they connect to political events like the January 6th insurrection, the persecution of the Rohingya people in Myanmar, and the invasion of Ukraine. Raoul Peck joins guest host Daemon Fairless to talk about Orwell’s life, his words, and the ideological battle over his ideas. For transcripts of Front Burner, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/frontburner/transcripts
1D AGO
TBD | The Nick Fuentes Problem
Nick Fuentes—an openly antisemitic, openly racist, openly sexist type who once was persona non grata in all but the unseemliest of online spaces—sat down with former Fox News star Tucker Carlson this week, setting off a debate between the “whoa whoa whoa, we’re not Nazis over here” branch of conservatives and the “well now, hold on a minute” wing. Guest: Ali Breland, staff writer for The Atlantic and author of “The Firewall Against Nick Fuentes Is Crumbling.” Want more What Next TBD? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
1D AGO
Nancy Pelosi’s legacy after nearly four decades in Congress
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced she will retire after nearly 40 years in Congress. The San Francisco Chronicle reports she led the Democratic Party during some of its best and worst times. Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister is backing Trump’s strikes against suspected drug boats in the Caribbean. The Wall Street Journal’s Kejal Vyas breaks down why it’s a big risk for the dual-island nation. Millions of sports fans who subscribe to YouTubeTV can’t access ESPN because of a dispute over carriage fees. The Athletic reports on the arguments from both sides. Plus, Tesla shareholders value Elon Musk at $1trn in record-setting pay package, what’s next after a judge ruled SNAP benefits must be fully funded, and a big security failure in the Louvre heist case. Today’s episode was hosted by Shumita Basu.
2D AGO
Will 2026 Be a Fair Fight?
Go ahead, Democrats. Enjoy your victory parties. But after that, brace yourselves, because Republicans may not be playing by the same rules a year from now. Since President Donald Trump took office for his second term—indeed, since his loss in 2020—he has shown his willingness to subvert the rules of free and fair elections. In various ways, he’s used his power to intimidate potential opponents, Democratic donors, and even voters who might oppose him. We talk to the Atlantic staff writer David A. Graham about this week’s election as a test run for 2026, the gerrymandering arms race, and future possible scenarios of election meddling. Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you subscribe. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news to fascinating explorations of our world. Atlantic subscribers also get access to exclusive subscriber audio in Apple Podcasts. Subscribe today at TheAtlantic.com/listener. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2D AGO
Your flights will be canceled
The government shutdown is making flying even worse. And maybe more dangerous. This episode was produced by Hady Mawajdeh, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Noel King. A security checkpoint line at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston. Photo by MARK FELIX/AFP via Getty Images. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at vox.com/today-explained-podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
It’s the early 1970s, and a young British family is attempting to sail around the world when catastrophe strikes. The Robertsons have sold everything they own to embark on this trip. But their epic odyssey soon turns into a desperate fight for their lives in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Dougal and Lyn, their teenage son Douglas, 12-year-old twins Sandy and Neil, and young hitchhiker Robin find themselves hundreds of miles from land, with few supplies, no radio contact, and surrounded by sharks. Drifting in the vast emptiness, they must rely on their instincts and harness the elements to survive. Yet even with deadly predators circling, they discover that sometimes their worst enemy is...themselves. Adrift is an Apple Original podcast, produced by Blanchard House. Follow and listen on Apple Podcasts. apple.co/Adrift
4.6 (12)
DOCUMENTARY
Hosted by Below Deck’s Chief Stew Daisy Kelliher and former charter guest and world traveling director Marc MacNamara! On Yacht Mess we unpack the wildest, most cringeworthy, yet somehow fascinating people and events that make you shake your head and say, “Did that really just happen?” Whether it’s a charter gone completely wrong, a vacation that turned into a nightmare, or the hot viral story, we’ve got it all—and we're here to laugh through the madness with you. Let’s navigate the waves of drama, from celebrity meltdowns to hilarious mishaps in pop culture and the high & low tides of luxury getaways – and the sometimes-outrageous behavior that makes yachting and travel so irresistible. It’s travel and gossip like you’ve never heard before: hilarious, unfiltered, and unapologetically messy from the experts who have lived it. Join us for a mix of laughs, shade, and of course a whole lot of messy goodness. Because let’s face it: everyone loves a Yacht Mess. For advertising opportunities please email PodcastPartnerships@Studio71us.com We wanna make the podcast even better, help us learn how we can: https://bit.ly/2EcYbu4 Privacy Policy: https://www.studio71.com/terms-and-conditions-use/#Privacy%20Policy
4.6 (9)
TV & FILM
Welcome to the official Wicked podcast! Consider this your all-access pass to the land of Oz. Presented by Universal Pictures and Vanity Fair, and hosted by Chris Murphy, this series features intimate conversations with Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, and the cast – along with Director Jon M. Chu and the visionary creative team that brought this beloved story to life. Over eight weeks, we’ll pull back the emerald curtain to uncover the secrets of making Wicked – from building the massive sets and recording the iconic songs, to crafting the dazzling costumes, makeup, and visual language that reimagined Oz for a new generation, all while tackling the challenge of filming two movies at once. Following the release of Wicked: For Good on November 21, we’ll travel even further down the yellow brick road to explore story changes, performances, Easter eggs, and the creative evolution that makes these films one of cinema’s most spellbinding productions.
5.0 (86)
ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
The Harvard Plan is about the fight for the soul of America’s oldest and most prestigious university. Hosted by award-winning reporter Ilya Marritz, the podcast is a co-production of The Boston Globe and WNYC’s On The Media. Season One explores the chaos at Harvard University in 2024, with the rise and fall of its first Black president, Claudine Gay. Season Two reveals the broken friendships and knotty moral quandaries caused by the Trump administration’s pressure campaign on higher education.
5.0 (5)
DOCUMENTARY
Almost Athletes with Dude Perfect is (almost) a sports podcast. Tune in weekly to hear the dudes’ hottest sports takes, great debates, interviews with your favorite athletes and entertainers, and hilarious BTS from all things Dude Perfect. New episodes drop every Wednesday. A Wave Original.
4.9 (1352)
FOOTBALL
The Secret Life of TK Dutes is the story of what it means to become when the system won’t let you be. One woman sets out into the world, looking for ways to get ahead as an Artist. Producer. Daughter, Sister. Partner. Together with those who bear witness, TK throws away the scripts and looks for answers, in airports, dentists offices, across borders. Each episode is a new world, pioneering the art of loose autobiography to build the picture of a life in a community of voices. What happens when you stop doing what is expected of you and start doing YOU? A better life can be a hustle. It doesn’t have to be a secret.
In the Dark, hosted by Madeleine Baran, is an award-winning investigative-journalism podcast that started in 2016. Its first season looked at the mysterious abduction of Jacob Wetterling in rural Minnesota and the lack of accountability that sheriffs face when they fail to solve cases. Season 2 examined the case of Curtis Flowers, who was tried six times for the same crime. In 2020, In the Dark released a special report on the coronavirus pandemic in the Mississippi Delta. In 2023, In the Dark joined The New Yorker and in 2024, it released “The Runaway Princesses,” a four-part series that asks why the women in Dubai’s royal family keep trying to run away. Season 3, released in 2024, asked why no one was punished for the killings of twenty-five civilians in Haditha, Iraq. In the Dark won the Pulitzer Prize for audio for Season 3. The podcast is a three-time Peabody Award winner and, in 2019, became the first podcast to win a George Polk Award, one of the top honors in journalism. The program has also received an Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award and a Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award. New Yorker subscribers get early, ad-free access. In Apple Podcasts, tap the link at the top of the feed to subscribe or link an existing subscription. Or visit newyorker.com/dark to subscribe and listen in the New Yorker app. If you have comments or story tips, please send them to inthedark@newyorker.com.
4.6 (27610)
TRUE CRIME
We’re at our most vulnerable when we go to our doctors. But what happens when we can’t trust them? Dr. Death is the award-winning series hosted by Laura Beil, now in its fourth season: Bad Magic. Need more Dr. Death? With Wondery+, you can listen to all episodes, unlock exclusive content, get early access to upcoming episodes, and enjoy an always ad-free experience. Start your free trial in the Wondery App or visit wondery.com/links/dr-death/ now. When a charismatic young doctor announces revolutionary treatments for cancer and HIV, patients from around the world turn to him for their last chance. As medical experts praise Serhat Gumrukcu’s genius, the company he co-founded rockets in value to over half a billion dollars. But when a team of researchers makes a startling discovery, they begin to suspect the brilliant doctor is hiding a secret. Season 3: Paolo is a smart and handsome surgeon, renowned for his ability to perform surgeries that transform his patients’ lives. When television producer Benita covers him for a story, he’ll transform her life too, but not in the ways she expects. As Benita crosses professional lines to be with him, she learns how far Paolo will go to protect his secrets. And halfway around the world, four doctors at a prestigious medical institute make shocking discoveries of their own that call everything into question. Season 2: If someone you love is diagnosed with cancer you want them to get the best treatment from the best doctors. In 2013, patients in Michigan thought Farid Fata was that doctor. Between his prestigious education, years of experience and pleasant bedside manner, Fata was everything you could want in a doctor. But he was not who he appeared to be. From Wondery, this is the story of hundreds of patients in Michigan, a doctor, and a poisonous secret. Season 1: We’re at our most vulnerable when we go to our doctors. We trust the person at the other end of that scalpel. We trust the hospital. We trust the system. Christopher Duntsch was a neurosurgeon who radiated confidence. He claimed he was the best in Dallas. If you had back pain, and had tried everything else, Dr. Duntsch could give you the spine surgery that would take your pain away. But soon his patients started to experience complications, and the system failed to protect them. Which begs the question: who - or what - is that system meant to protect? From Wondery, the network behind the hit podcast Dirty John, Dr. Death is a story about a charming surgeon, 33 patients and a spineless system.
4.8 (87727)
TRUE CRIME
Explore true stories of the dark side of the Internet with host Jack Rhysider as he takes you on a journey through the chilling world of hacking, data breaches, and cyber crime. ¿Hablas español? Escucha en español aquí ➔ https://darknetdiaries.com/es/
4.9 (7832)
TECHNOLOGY
How did 9/11 the day become 9/11 the idea? That question drives Pineapple Street Studios and award-winning host Dan Taberski (Missing Richard Simmons, Running From COPS, The Line) to shift the focus to what happened on 9/12, and every day after that. 9/12 is a poignant, surprising, and surprisingly funny seven episode series about people who wake up on 9/12 having to navigate a new, radically altered world. A teenager gets caught up in an out-of-control conspiracy theory that he helped start. A Pakistani business owner finds hundreds of his Brooklyn neighbors are disappearing. Joke-writers at The Onion must figure out just how soon is “too soon”? 9/12 asks what it all means. We know what happened on 9/11. But what happened on 9/12 to alter our memory and our perspective forever? The series 9/12 earned three Podcast Academy Awards at the 2022 Ambies, including Podcast of the Year. Binge all episodes of 9/12 ad-free by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/9-12/ now.
3.7 (1150)
SOCIETY & CULTURE
How do you take down a criminal network that’s hidden in the shadows? How do you rescue child abuse victims who could be anywhere in the world? Hunting Warhead follows the journalists and police on a global mission to expose the darkest corners of the internet. What they discover shocks them. Host Daemon Fairless tracks down the investigators, survivors and criminals themselves. A co-production of CBC Podcasts and the Norwegian newspaper VG. For the best in true crime from CBC, ad-free, visit apple.co/cbctruecrime.
4.9 (3446)
TRUE CRIME
Why do I feel stuck? How can I become more creative? What can I do to improve my relationships? If you’ve ever asked yourself these questions, you’re not alone. On Hidden Brain, we help you understand your own mind — and the minds of the people around you. (We're routinely rated the #1 science podcast in the United States.) Hosted by veteran science journalist Shankar Vedantam.