Up First from NPR Your Next Great Listen
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Nov 30, 2025 
Lauren Gonzales, a writer and co-creator of NPR's Pod Club newsletter, shares her expertise in curating podcast recommendations. She discusses the evolution of Pod Club from Slack origins to a listener-friendly newsletter. Lauren highlights how personalized curation can reduce decision fatigue, making it easier to find hidden gems. Recommendations include tech-focused 'Close All Tabs,' the eerie 'Spooked,' and the compelling ThruLine episode about Captain America's cultural impact. Get ready to discover your next favorite listen!
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From Internal Slack To Public Curator
- PodClub grew from an internal NPR Slack channel into a public curator connecting listeners to podcasts they might miss.
- Lauren Gonzales says fandom and curiosity drove the team to share handpicked episodes beyond algorithmic picks.
Curation Starts With Personal Relevance
- PodClub curates podcasts starting with personal relevance: what resonates with writers' current lives and curiosities.
- Lauren uses episodes that helped her understand topics like perimenopause and digital minimalism to guide selections.
A Mom's Rediscovery After Menopause
- Lauren recounts listening to an episode about menopause that reminded her of her mom's difficult but transformative experience.
- The episode reframed menopause as a moment of rediscovery and new passions for her mother.