Engaging Stories to Break the Doom-Scrolling Cycle
In a world overflowing with news, it can often feel overwhelming to keep up, making it nearly impossible to take a break from the constant influx of information. However, immersing yourself in a captivating story can serve as a refreshing antidote to the relentless doom-scrolling. If fiction isn’t quite doing the trick, consider tuning into some extraordinary yet true audio narratives. Here are five compelling podcasts that center around astonishing stories, filled with unexpected twists that may seem too unbelievable to be real.
‘Noble’
“It takes 28 gallons of fuel, and a spark, to burn a human body.” This chilling statement sets the stage for the gripping podcast “Noble.” In February of 2002, investigators, acting on an anonymous tip, stumbled upon a grim scene in Noble, Georgia—a small town nestled in the Appalachian foothills. They discovered a disturbing pile of over 300 corpses abandoned in a wooded area, all linked to the Tri-State Crematory. It was revealed that the owner had been committing the horrific act of improperly disposing of bodies for years, all while deceiving grieving families into believing that their loved ones had been cremated as promised.
In this poignant eight-part series, journalist Shaun Raviv, known for his work with Wired and The Washington Post, meticulously unpacks the emotional and legal complexities of this harrowing saga. Through interviews with investigators, experts, and affected family members, “Noble” not only explores this singular horror story but also delves into profound questions about our responsibilities to the deceased and the complexities of our relationship with death.
Starter episode: “The Gas Man”
‘Sold a Story’
For decades, a staggering number of high-performing primary schools across the United States have struggled to teach children how to read effectively. This assertion may come as a shock, but the American Public Media podcast “Sold a Story” meticulously lays out over 13 detailed episodes how a deeply flawed teaching methodology has taken root, despite being widely discredited by cognitive scientists.
The approach, known as the “whole language” method, encourages young learners to decode words by grasping the overall meaning of a text rather than through phonics, which teaches them to sound out words. The conflict between these two approaches has sparked what is now referred to as “The Reading Wars,” with increasing demands for reform echoing across the nation. In “Sold a Story,” host Emily Hanford engages with educators, linguistics experts, and parents, weaving a comprehensive exposé of this systemic failure and its dire consequences for children’s literacy.
