Sony Kassam is the editor-in-chief of 1440 Media’s Daily Digest, leading the editorial team behind the fact-focused newsletter helping 4.5 million curious readers learn about the world each day. She also created 1440’s Weekend Edition newsletter and is the host and executive producer of 1440 Explores, the company’s flagship podcast, which uncovers the fascinating stories behind ordinary topics. Before joining 1440 in 2021, Sony spent five years as a reporter and editor at Bloomberg Industry Group in Washington, DC.
One of the things I love about podcasts is how elastic the medium can be, from deep reporting to intimate conversations. My queue blends curiosity and comfort, with shows that explain the world, plunge into compelling investigations, or showcase candid conversations that reveal just how strange and human life can be.
How I Built This with Guy Raz
How I Built This was the first podcast that truly pulled me into the medium. Beyond origin stories, it’s a study in risk, failure, and persistence. It’s also a reminder that behind every successful company is a messy, human story.
Radiolab
Radiolab excels at turning abstract questions into deeply human stories. At its best, it blends science, philosophy, and emotion in ways that change how you see everyday ideas.
Search Engine
Search Engine feels like a guide to the internet’s collective curiosity. Each episode explores a simple question and follows it through technology, culture, and human behavior, often landing in unexpected places.
The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
A wide-ranging interview show that spans everything from alcohol and women’s health to economics and the universe.Its strength lies in allowing curious conversations to roam across disciplines without losing depth.
Shadow Kingdom: God’s Banker
God’s Banker is a gripping investigative series about the Vatican Bank and the mysterious death of Roberto Calvi. It combines financial intrigue, religious power, and true crime into a story that feels both cinematic and unsettling.
Criminal
Criminal explores crime in the broadest sense–not just what’s illegal, but what’s morally complicated. Phoebe Judge’s calm storytelling gives even the strangest stories a surprising sense of empathy.
This American Life
A foundational show for narrative audio storytelling. Its ability to weave personal stories into something universal shows the power of empathetic reporting.
The Economics of Everyday Things
A clear, engaging breakdown of how ordinary products and services actually work, from movie popcorn to wedding flowers. It’s economics at a human scale, stripped of jargon and full of practical insight.
Science Vs
A show that takes a curious, evidence-first look at popular claims, from diets and 5G to seed oils and manifestation. It blends research, expert insight, and humor to separate fact from fiction while keeping the stories engaging and accessible.
1440 Explores
And finally, I have to include my own podcast. 1440 Explores is a sonic encyclopedia for the insatiably curious, diving into the fascinating history, science, and stories behind everyday topics that shape our world. From the birth of credit cards to why humans drink alcohol or what science says about ghosts, each episode blends expert insight with storytelling that uncovers knowledge you didn’t know you were curious about.
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