Best Soft Ears Media Podcasts (2025)

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Ryder Cup Bonus episode - Waffling Over, Time for Golf 38:33

Play Pause

3h ago38:33

38:33

The final day of build-up to the Ryder Cup is over and Eddie returns to discuss the opening day's pairings, while also including the vital information that he has successfully hung up some pictures. Andrew takes us down memory lane to remember the feats of a less celebrated European Ryder Cup star and Eddie then gives us very specific predictions f…

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Why does everyone want your 5-star rating? 18:40

6m ago18:40

18:40

The request for five stars — from airport parking lots, orthopedists or even your local liquor store — seems to be filling our inboxes more and more every single day. But do our reviews and ratings even matter? Host Elahe Izadi chats with feature reporter Ashley Fetters Maloy about review culture, how our feedback can transform businesses big and s…

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Ryder Cup Bonus - Woden's Day 39:31

3h ago39:31

39:31

The long build-up to The Ryder Cup continues as Andrew and Iain convene at Bethpage - wearing very large headphones - to discuss any important matters and tell a man asking for directions where to go. Just not in the way that he expected. There its also a chat with the legendary caddy Billy Foster about his Ryder Cup memories. This bonus episode is…

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Trump’s pressure on Pam Bondi and the DOJ 28:53

21h ago28:53

28:53

As soon as he lost the presidential election in 2020, Donald Trump vowed he would go after his perceived political opponents. Now that he’s president again, he’s escalated his calls for criminal charges to be brought against some of those people — New York Attorney General Letitia James, former FBI director James B. Comey, and Sen. Adam Schiff (D-C…

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Ryder Cup BONUS - Scheffler eats The Badger 38:52

3h ago38:52

38:52

On Tuesday at the Ryder Cup, Andrew is stuck on a plane getting angry about a situation which he is powerless to prevent, yet he is somehow soothed by a voice message from Laurie Canter confirming that, it is true, his mother was one of Pan's People. Eddie and Iain chat in a more focussed way about the build-up at Bethpage and after hearing from Lu…

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The confusion over Tylenol, pregnancy and autism 26:34

2d ago26:34

26:34

President Donald Trump has made the search for finding a “cure” for autism a centerpiece of his public health agenda. This week he shared major developments in that effort. On Monday, the Trump administration announced that the Food and Drug Administration would be adding a warning label to Tylenol and similar drugs that contain acetaminophen. Trum…

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The Long Good Monday 1:08:34

1d ago1:08:34

1:08:34

The Chipping Forecast spans the globe at the start of Ryder Cup week, by which we mean that Andrew is not very fresh off a plane from Tokyo to Los Angeles, Iain is battling with the roads of Long Island and Eddie is barely coherent, since it's after 11pm in Oxfordshire. However, our Tour pro stays awake long enough to tell us that his form is actua…

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Brendan Carr, the FCC muscle behind Trump's anti-media crusade 19:56

3d ago19:56

19:56

After the abrupt suspension of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” last week over comments host Jimmy Kimmel made following the killing of Charlie Kirk, many credited one person for getting Kimmel off the air: Brendan Carr, chair of the Federal Communications Commission. Hours before the suspension was announced, Carr seemed to threaten FCC action against network…

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How to be a ‘super ager’ 11:41

5d ago11:41

11:41

It’s hard to age gracefully. Social isolation, physical immobility, mental decline — these are all problems that most people struggle with as they get older. But one group of people prove that it’s possible to thrive into your 80s and 90s. Researchers call them “super agers.” And one of them lives just down my block. Ednajane Truax, who is known to…

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Jimmy Kimmel, free speech and the crackdown after Charlie Kirk’s death 22:52

6d ago22:52

22:52

In the week since Charlie Kirk’s death, public officials including Vice President JD Vance and Attorney General Pam Bondi have called for Kirk’s critics to face consequences. People seen as celebrating his killing online have lost their jobs or faced harassment. That crackdown has extended to media figures, with ABC deciding to pull “Jimmy Kimmel L…

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How fan fiction went mainstream 21:13

7d ago21:13

21:13

In fan fiction, nothing is off limits. Writers create stories about popular media like “Twilight,” while others envision romantic relationships between world leaders. Until recently, this type of fiction wasn’t taken seriously by the publishing world. But now, major deals are being made — like a reportedly seven-figure movie rights deal paid for a …

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Kash Patel’s contentious leadership of the FBI 33:59

8d ago33:59

33:59

FBI Director Kash Patel had a tough week. He’d already been slated to appear before both the House and Senate judiciary committees – hearings at which he was sure to be peppered with questions about his leadership of the FBI, his handling of the Jeffrey Epstein saga, and allegations that the FBI had fired people over their political preferences. Bu…

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The Fed is expected to cut rates. Here's why. 21:45

9d ago21:45

21:45

Since the coronavirus pandemic, the United States economy has been in flux. While high inflation has slowly cooled off in recent years, consumers are still feeling the pressures of a weak job market and rising prices at the grocery store. Now the Federal Reserve looks to be taking matters into its own hands; Fed watchers expect the United States’ c…

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A Throw Too Far 1:10:27

8d ago1:10:27

1:10:27

A logistically challenging episode with Andrew appearing between athletics sessions in Tokyo, Eddie still in Portugal and Iain recovering from a cold while trying to make his garden a barren, wildlife-free zone. Eddie talks about his poor form last week and offers contrition after recognising that he might have gone too far in his frustration. The …

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Why the U.S. military is striking boats from Venezuela 22:46

10d ago22:46

22:46

President Donald Trump recently celebrated the destruction of a boat that was allegedly carrying illegal narcotics from Venezuela to the United States. The 11 people on board were killed, according to the White House. Trump released a video on social media showing the boat going up in flames, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that more at…

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Deep Reads: L.A. fires burned their block. For each, the disaster was just beginning. 31:11

12d ago31:11

31:11

The Eaton Fire tore through the Los Angeles suburb of Altadena, part of a storm that killed 19 people. It became one of the most expensive natural disasters in U.S. history, but the ultimate cost won’t be tallied in dollars and cents. That will be calculated on a different ledger: the number of residents who return to this block of West Las Flores …

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The political divides after political violence 30:55

11d ago30:55

30:55

Charlie Kirk’s shooting has left both Republicans and Democrats worried about more political violence. How are prominent leaders in both parties responding to the tragedy?By The Washington Post

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Charlie Kirk’s killing and a new age of political violence 29:36

14d ago29:36

29:36

Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed Wednesday at Utah Valley University. As officials seek details on the identity and motive of the shooter, Americans are beginning to process Kirk’s death and what this might mean for a new era of political violence and fear in the United States. In a video posted online on Wednesday night, Pres…

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Meet the people signing up for Trump’s ICE 27:52

15d ago27:52

27:52

In Arlington, Texas, thousands waited in line at a career fair in the hopes of getting hired as an ICE officer. Criminal justice reporter Robert Klemko was there and met a diverse mix of people – a former MMA fighter, a community college student and a former Marine. President Donald Trump has pushed to deport a million people during the first year …

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Confused about fall vaccines? We have answers. 31:40

16d ago31:40

31:40

Since taking over as health and human services secretary earlier this year, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has fired members of a key vaccine panel, signaled shifts to the childhood immunization schedule and changed guidelines about who should receive the coronavirus vaccine. Now there are questions about which pharmacies will offer shots and whether insura…

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Éamonn O'Pepperell & The Super Special Guest 1:34:53

16d ago1:34:53

1:34:53

The longest ever episode of TCF - not a fact of which we are proud, so we strongly suggest that you think of it as two episodes squashed together and treat it as such, being happy just to have the extra content. The reason is that there is plenty to talk about: Rory's dramatic win at the Irish Open and the fan reactions - both good and bad - which …

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Trump promised to end DEI. Then, rural teachers lost money. 22:37

17d ago22:37

22:37

Montgomery County is a small, rural area in the middle of North Carolina. The county has struggled financially for years, and its school district depends on government grants to survive. This year, the Trump administration cut $600 million in grants to teacher-training programs across the country, and Montgomery County’s $21 million grant was inclu…

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Deep Reads: A songwriter had part of his brain removed. The music flowed. 21:27

19d ago21:27

21:27

The songwriter was unconscious, but his voice filled the operating room. Mike Frazier’s dirty-blond locks had been partially shaved and his head sanitized. The surgeon standing over him slid his blade in a crescent over Frazier’s right ear and tugged his scalp into position. Then he began opening a window into the musician’s brain. The task that da…

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Congress returns to Epstein drama, shutdown threats, 2026 plans 30:53

20d ago30:53

30:53

Congress has less than a month to figure out how to fund the government. But instead of that pressing business, calls for greater government transparency over allegations against convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein dominated Capitol Hill this week. On Tuesday, the House Oversight Committee released more than 33,000 documents related to the inves…

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RFK Jr.'s showdown with the Senate 20:13

21d ago20:13

20:13

The sparks flew in Thursday’s Senate Finance Committee hearing. Senators – Republicans and Democrats alike – grilled Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. over his handling of vaccines and the shakeup at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Kennedy, for his part, doubled down on his ouster of CDC director Susan Monare…

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What happens when fake AI celebrities chat with teens 28:00

22d ago28:00

28:00

Character.AI became one of the world’s most popular artificial intelligence apps by letting tens of millions of users, many in their teens, text and talk to chatbot versions of celebrities and fictional characters. But conversation with these seemingly friendly chatbots can easily veer into topics unsafe for minors. Host Colby Itkowitz talks to tec…

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They were deported to El Salvador's megaprison. What happened inside? 36:01

23d ago36:01

36:01

In March, as part of President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown, the United States sent more than 250 migrants, the majority being Venezuelan nationals, to El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center, a megaprison often referred to by its Spanish acronym, CECOT. In July, four months later, the men from Venezuela were released to Venezuela as par…

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Death by Shot Tracker 1:17:58

23d ago1:17:58

1:17:58

This week Eddie has returned from the mountains, where he produced a performance that has inspired him to consider a major equipment change. There is also mulling over the Atlantic imbalance, whereby those who lose their cards on the PGA Tour have the opportunities to play some often terrible golf on the DP World Tour. Of course the European Ryder …

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Labubus: China's plushy, soft power tool 20:41

24d ago20:41

20:41

Labubus — small plush toys that look like mischievous monsters — have taken the world by storm. Chinese toymaker and retailer Pop Mart has sold millions of dollars’ worth of Labubus. There’s even a booming resale market, on top of a thriving operation of counterfeits called Lafufus. Host Elahe Izadi speaks with reporter Kelly Kasulis Cho about how …

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Tommy's Triumph 1:23:46

26d ago1:23:46

1:23:46

And lo, did Tommy Fleetwood smite all of those unbelievers before him, winning the Tour Championship and with it ten million dollars. Andrew Eddie and Iain convene to discuss that, as well as Ryder Cup team selection, Eddie's new found peace at the Belfry (despite a missed cut), which golfer had his waxwork repurposed and news of some very disturbi…

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Trump firings spark CDC chaos, Fed uncertainty 25:41

27d ago25:41

25:41

Susan Monarez says she refused to restrict access to vaccines as the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It wasn’t long until Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. decided she needed to go. Monarez’s firing led to the resignations of some of the CDC’s top scientists. It comes on the heels of President Don…

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Taylor and Travis: It's a love — and business — story 26:30

28d ago26:30

26:30

Taylor Swift and NFL player Travis Kelce announced their engagement Tuesday. Fans mobilized, groups chats lit up, and social media posts of Swifties celebrating went viral. “Post Reports” host Elahe Izadi speaks with pop culture reporter Emily Yahr about this announcement, why it was an unusual move for Swift, and what it could mean for Swift’s mus…

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'These kids were literally praying': The Minneapolis school shooting 22:33

29d ago22:33

22:33

On Wednesday morning, students from Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis were in church for an all-school Mass when a shooter opened fire through the church windows. An 8-year-old and a 10-year-old from the private K-8 school were killed, and the shooter died after shooting himself. More than a dozen people were injured, and several remain i…

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Trump makes the government Intel’s largest investor 22:01

1M ago22:01

22:01

Late last week, President Donald Trump announced the federal government will now own 10 percent of the chipmaker Intel. The move is just one in a pattern of unprecedented deals the Trump administration has struck with tech companies, reshaping the relationship between the federal government and big business. Host Elahe Izadi talks with technology r…

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Inside Trump’s plans to send troops into more American cities 18:52

1M ago18:52

18:52

The Defense Department is outlining plans to send troops to Chicago as soon as September. These plans have been in the works for weeks – long before Trump’s declaration Friday that “it won’t even be tough” to send troops to the third-largest city in the U.S. Pentagon reporter Dan Lamothe uncovered the details of these military plans, which are part…

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Deep Reads: A last lifeline in ‘detention alley’ 30:06

1M ago30:06

30:06

Christopher Kinnison, 46, worked at his own one-man law firm in the central Louisiana city of Alexandria, putting him within a two-hour drive of the state’s nine ICE facilities, the highest number of any state other than Texas. Most of his clients were detainees, and his business cards promised “Fervent Representation for Uncertain Times,” because …

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Trump's peacemaking dreams and D.C. pizza party 28:59

1M ago28:59

28:59

This week, President Donald Trump claimed he’s ended six — or maybe even seven — wars. But his efforts to bring about peace in Ukraine, three years after Russia’s invasion, appear stalled. Guest host Cleve Wootson speaks with White House reporter Cat Zakrzewski and White House correspondent Michael Birnbaum about the latest in the negotiations with…

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The Texas-California showdown over redistricting 26:09

1M ago26:09

26:09

With a vote of 88 ayes and 52 nays, the Texas House passed a controversial new election map on Wednesday night. If approved in the state Senate, the redrawn lines would create five new congressional districts that lean heavily red. The Texas House vote comes a few weeks after Texas Democratic lawmakers fled the state in an attempt to stall the GOP …

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The presidential fitness test: An exercise in humiliation? 25:04

1M ago25:04

25:04

At the end of July, President Donald Trump signed an executive order reinstating the presidential fitness test. The test was administered in public schools around the country from 1950 to 2012, when it was ended by President Barack Obama. After health columnist Gretchen Reynolds heard the news, she put out a call to Post readers asking about their …

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Fear, confusion, resistance: One night under Trump's D.C. crackdown 27:46

1M ago27:46

27:46

A team of “Post Reports” producers join Post reporter Olivia George for a Friday night out on U Street NW, a major hub for nightlight in the nation’s capital and an area that has experienced one of the highest number of crimes reported this year. They speak with businesses, partygoers and workers to hear their experience during the first weekend si…

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After the Gold Rush 1:22:09

1M ago1:22:09

1:22:09

We are reduced to only two members of the TCF team and - whoever they may be - are left to discuss all the usual goings on in this crazy game we call golf. Scottie Scheffler's won a tournament, which is nice, and we wonder which will earn him more money this season - the prize money or the bonuses? And why do you need both? A more pertinent debate …

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Trump's push to end the war in Ukraine 26:08

1M ago26:08

26:08

President Donald Trump stunned the international community when he invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to Alaska for a high-stakes summit on the war in Ukraine. Just hours after Trump greeted Putin on his first visit to the U.S. in a decade, he watched him leave with no ceasefire deal in hand, however. Now, Trump is turning to Ukrainian leader…

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Trump’s D.C. police takeover was planned and the Putin meeting stakes 26:17

1M ago26:17

26:17

President Donald Trump began his second term with a playbook in hand for how he might take control of aspects of D.C.’s government, according to Post reporting. Trump’s takeover of the city’s police department this week was just one possible outcome. Host Colby Itkowitz speaks with White House reporter Cleve Wootson and The Post’s White House burea…

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Why is Trump so obsessed with the Kennedy Center? 22:48

1M ago22:48

22:48

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has long been an important cultural landmark in D.C., bringing a variety of arts programming to the region while also serving as “the Nation’s Cultural Center.” Since it opened in 1971, the Kennedy Center has also been largely apolitical. It receives some federal dollars, but sitting presidents hav…

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In the job market, Gen Z is cooked 24:03

1M ago24:03

24:03

Gen Z is having a rough go at finding a job. AI tools are making it easier for companies to downsize. In an effort to cut costs, many workplaces are laying off people en masse. And all of that talent is flooding a job market where entry-level positions often require multiple years of experience. That’s leaving Gen Z workers at the bottom of the hir…

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Netanyahu’s plan to take over Gaza City 28:12

1M ago28:12

28:12

Israel has announced a plan that could eventually allow it to take military control of the entire Gaza Strip. But the announcement has been met with widespread criticism inside and outside Israel. Foreign leaders and protesters say this approach lacks clarity and will prolong the suffering of Palestinian civilians and endanger hostages still held b…

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Pain is so close to Pleasure 1:21:32

2M ago1:21:32

1:21:32

In an endearingly self-deprecating description of this episode we would say that it's about twenty minutes longer than it needs to be. But there really is a lot to talk about with Eddie entertaining us all at Trump International and finding a top-10 finish on the main tour again. Yet even in finding form he still flirts with the darkness and is sta…

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What Trump’s D.C. police takeover means 19:41

2M ago19:41

19:41

On Monday morning, President Donald Trump announced that he is putting Washington, D.C., under federal control and deploying the National Guard to fight crime. While police data shows a drop in violent crime in D.C. in recent years, Trump said this historic action would “rescue our nation’s capital from crime, bloodshed, bedlam and squalor and wors…

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Trump's battles with data, DC, and world trade 24:38

2M ago24:38

24:38

In the past week, President Donald Trump has imposed sweeping tariffs on dozens of countries – and made moves to suppress signs of a weakening economy. Today on the politics roundtable, host Colby Itkowitz speaks with White House reporter Emily Davies and senior national political correspondent Naftali Bendavid about how Trump’s recent economic mov…

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Trump’s tariffs are finally here. Now what? 25:18

2M ago25:18

25:18

David Lynch covers trade for The Post, and he joins us to explain how the tariffs will affect consumer prices and the broader economy. David is the author of the forthcoming book “The World’s Worst Bet: How the Globalization Gamble Went Wrong (And What Would Make It Right).” Today’s show was produced by Sabby Robinson. It was edited by Maggie Penma…