Two podcasts you should listen to this week: 'The Last Days of August' and 'Harry Potter and the Sacred Text'

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 new 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.

Caroline’s Pick: The Last Days of August

Suggested Episode: "Last Days of August: Episode One"

Length: 33 minutes

Brainpower required: 4/5

Family friendly? No!

The Last Days of August is a serialized podcast hosted by Jon Ronson and produced by Lina Misitzis that investigates the suicide of the 23-year-old porn star August Ames. Her death came a day after Ames experienced a twitter pile-on after she made comments online that many considered homophobic. But is that the full story? That's the subject of the series.

The Last Days of August is a beautifully produced show that offers a fascinating window into the porn industry, and a surprising look at how narratives take shape and online shaming, which Ronson has explored at length. Start with the first episode.

Clare's pick: Harry Potter and the Sacred Text (HPST)

Suggested episode: “The Women of Harry Potter and the Sacred Text”

Length: 20 minutes

Brainpower required: 3/5

Family friendly? Yes!

Harry Potter and the Sacred Text (HPST) is unlike any podcast I have ever heard. Yes, it’s a show about Harry Potter. But really this podcast is a weekly dose of introspection, love and curiosity about the human condition. I think of it as podcast therapy.

The show is co-hosted by Vanessa Zoltan and Casper ter Kuile, who started HPST as students at Harvard Divinity School. They read the classic Harry Potter books chapter-by-chapter using universal themes and ancient sacred reading practices. I’m always amazed at the wisdom they arrive at during episodes, and many of the insights they’ve shared on the show have actually changed how I live my own life. Plus, they’re funny.

The episode I’m suggesting comes from a sub-series of the show called “The Women of Harry Potter and the Sacred Text,” where Vanessa and another female host (normally producer Arianna Nedelman) bless women from the books. This episode looks at Molly Weasley as a figure of a female warrior – whose work is often overlooked because it isn't on the front lines. I think this stands alone as a really eye-opening episode, and a great entry into the world of HPST.