The Big Listen

Musicians Tegan and Sara are podcast obsessives. This episode, we take a peek at their extensive playlist and hear about their own idea for a podcast. Also, the hosts of the LGBTQ show Nancy share their funny and tragic coming out stories. And the Pakistani-American host ofBeginner walks us through all the things she never learned as a immigrant, like biking and swimming. Plus: saving podcasts for posterity at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

In this very special LGBTQ Pride bonus episode of The Big Listen, we talk with Canadian musical duo Tegan & Sara about the joys of air travel, the business of music and Sara's Beatles of podcasting. Plus, we chat about LGBTQ podcasts, and the twins reveal their idea for an official Tegan & Sara podcast.

Pajama-wearing podcaster Katie Couric explains why she's over being America's sweetheart. And we talk Hawaii's complicated racial history with the host of Offshore. Plus, untold stories from the Middle East from the folks behindKerning Cultures. And a senior citizen podcast club where wine plays a prominent role.

"America's Dad" Bill Cosby is on trial for sexual assault in Philadelphia. We check in with folks behind Cosby Unraveled about the entertainer's Philly roots and his impact on the City of Brotherly Love. Also, Obama advisor David Axelrod chats about the art of telling politicians' stories, and comedian Aparna Nancherla explains why it isn't always good to say yes, especially to podcast hosts. Plus: the ultimate public radio send-up—the parody podcast,Consider Our Knowledge.

With Special Guest Lauren Lapkus is the perfect podcast for the actress and comedian, because she'd much prefer to play a character than be herself. Also, we askStrangers' Lea Thau how she maintained her radical empathy by bunking with Trump supporters and rescue the host ofHow's Your Day from endless newspaper archives. Plus: How Rep. Keith Ellison uses a podcast to talk to his constituents (and the Congressman's spot-on Ira Glass impersonation).

Malcolm Gladwell tells us why he tries to get people to cry during interviews. And podcaster Sam Sabin finds her Native American heritage by way of her estranged father's obituary. Plus, why Alec Baldwin has the best celebrity podcast.

We're celebrating Mother's Day with stories from all kinds of women — a single lesbian mother by choice (Not By Accident), a young woman who chose sterilization (Tie My Tubes) and a Korean mom raising a multi-racial daughter (Other: Mixed Race In America), among others. Plus, mom tributes from your favorite audio producers.

The Lower Eastside Girls Club in New York City produces an all-girl podcast called WGRL. So naturally we had to put aside our fear of teens to go visit. Plus, we talk tragedy and healing with the documentarian behindFirst Day Back. And find out why mental illness can be so dang funny from John Moe ofThe Hilarious World of Depression. Bonus: writer, actor and media entrepreneur Tavi Gevinson ofRookie magazine gives us her top podcast picks.

We brush up on our Supreme Court history with the folks behind More Perfect, explore George Washington's home with Alexis Coe, the host ofPresidents Are People Too! and pick up some podcast recommendations from our foreign correspondents, the Auditors. Plus: a father/son super duo who are truckers during the day and podcasters at night.

S-Town has everyone hooked. But what to think about this complicated piece of aural literature? Media ethicist Kelly McBride helps us sort through our feelings. And we visit a lively S-Town Hall in Chicago. Plus, we unpack the many Muslim-American identities withSee Something Say Something's Ahmed Ali Akbar. And Irish writer and comedian Maeve Higgins introduces us to some of her favorite immigration stories. Including her own.