There is a specific kind of satisfaction that comes from finishing a really good podcast episode. Not the quick dopamine hit of your favorite song (though we love that too). It's something much slower, fuller. And it turns out we're not the only ones feeling that way. The average podcast listener now spends 7 hours a week tuned in, and 93% of them finish every episode they start a completion rate that almost no other media format can touch. People aren't passively consuming, they're committing to the slowness of it all. Every quarter we share a playlist with our readers and this quarter the playlist requires a little bit more of your time, but trust us it's worth it. So we did what we always do went straight to the team. We've got our picks linked below but first, our Creative Director Garrett Brooks couldn't help but write a little love letter to his favorite. Give it a read then hit play.

The Right to Ricky Sanchez - The Sixers Are In The Postseason, What Do We Want Out Of It? As a truly insane person, I love the Philadelphia 76ers. But maybe even more than that, I love this over decade long running podcast that goes on multiple times a week, whether in season or off season. It's a whole other type of fandom with its own lingo ("yeah, you know lickface" ends every episode) and its own songs (although actual musician Amos Lee made the theme song, my favorites are the fan made creations like "no help" about bad defensive scheming and "schedule talk" about, well the schedule). If all of this sounds insane, it is. But just as insane as hoping the Sixers can make it out of the 2nd round. Honestly, no better time to jump in than the present.

Honorable Mentions: The Watch, The Big Picture and The Press Box

The full playlist is here. You're going to want your headphones for this