Two podcasts you should listen to this week: 'Radiolab' and 'The Daily'

Do you love podcasts, but don’t know how to find new shows? Are you new to podcasts, and don't know where to start?

Welcome to “Thanks for Listening,” a column about the absolute best podcast episodes to listen to this week according to two producers at KUOW who make podcasts for a living. Every Monday, we'll both suggest a podcast that we really enjoy listening to and tell you why we like it.

You’ll hear about shows that span (and overlap) a variety of topics and genres: investigative journalism, fiction, food, feminism, comedy, history, true crime, mental health, Harry Potter and much more.

So kick back and enjoy this week's picks.

Caroline’s Pick: Radiolab

Suggested Episode: "G: The Miseducation of Larry P"

Length: 1 hour 6 minutes

Listen while: Cooking dinner

Brainpower required: 4/5

Family Friendly? Yes

Radiolab is a podcast that needs no introduction. But I’m going to give it one anyway. It’s the sound-rich, brilliantly executed creation of Jad Abumrad out of WNYC that has inspired the sound of so many podcasts you hear today. It explores a variety of topics, but the fast-paced, surprising storytelling paired with thrilling sound design are the defining characteristics of the show.

What caught my eye about this episode in particular, was that Chenjerai Kumanyika was a consultant on it. I am a big fan of Kumanyika’s work on Scene on Radio's “Seeing White” series and on Gimlet’s Uncivil (both of which you should listen to).

The episode, produced and reported by Lee Romney, Rachael Cusick and Pat Walters, did not disappoint. It explores the backstory behind why California has made it illegal for schools to administer IQ tests to black students.

Turns out that ‘Larry P’ (in the episode title) is a pseudonym for a man who currently lives in Tacoma. It’s a heartbreaking and fascinating story.

Clare’s Pick: The Daily

Suggested Episode: "A New Way to Solve a Murder (Parts I and II) "

Length: 25-30 minutes

Listen while: At home with all the lights on

Brainpower required: 3/5

Family Friendly? Yes – but deals with some sensitive topics

I’m going to get something out of the way right now: I am not a fan of The Daily. And frankly, I feel some podcast shame about this fact. EVERYONE likes The Daily.

It’s a daily (surprise) podcast from the New York Times that tells in-depth stories from their newsroom. It changed the landscape for news podcasts.

But I just don't' like it very much; 20-30 minutes is a lot of time to put towards a daily show, and I also don't enjoy how host Michael Barbaro speaks.

That being said, I really enjoyed these two episodes. They’re about genetic genealogy, a really cool application of genetic science. It’s how police caught the Golden State Killer.

Basically, you use an anonymous DNA sample (like one from a crime scene) to search a genetic database for relatives of that person. Then you research those relatives’ families and create a huge family tree to figure out who the DNA belongs to.

It’s sci-fi as all heck, and like a good sci-fi story, you can see the outlines of hope and optimism alongside the shadow of a potential dystopia. These two episodes tell stories of how genetic genealogy is changing peoples’ lives – including putting away killers and rapists.