No, Oprah Winfrey is not the reason I started adding podcasts to my morning ritual.

Well, actually, to be honest, she is.

I thought I was a morning person up until my junior year of college, when I started getting two hours of sleep instead of 15. That might be an exaggeration – kind of. I did, however, start questioning if I was ready for adulthood because of it. My insufficient sleeping schedule is a story of its own, though.

I needed something besides coffee and alternative rock to get me through my early mornings and lack of sleep. No offense to Red Hot Chili Peppers, but “Scar Tissue” wasn’t giving me the morning boost Oprah told me I needed in order to have a successful day. So, I settled for podcasts.

If you are new to podcasts or are interested in finding one, I hope this weekly podcast roundup serves as guidance for you. We are in the golden age of podcasts, and there are many platforms and topics to chose from. Go to Google Play, the Apple App Store or Soundcloud to listen and download new episodes.

Here’s a list of this week’s podcasts for your listening pleasure:

1. Dear Sugars – Hosts Cheryl Strayed and Steve Almond team up every week to cover listener concerns, no matter how deep or dark they are. From body weight and romance to marriage issues, “Dear Sugars” provides advice for the lost and lonely. The podcast commits to featuring different people each week, welcoming guests like George Saunders, Oprah Winfrey and Ashley C. Ford. 
2. Talk of Champions – What’s better than a sports podcast about Ole Miss football that covers everything sports-related? Hosted by Ben Garrett and former defensive end Kentrell Lockett, “Talk of Champions” brings you the latest information about what’s happening in Ole Miss sports. In recent months, Garrett and Lockett have focused on the NCAA investigation and given us information that we all are curious about.
3. Reveal – In 2013, the Center of Investigative Reporting, best known for its investigative stories about scandals and more, launched a podcast, website and social media platform called “Reveal.” The podcast centers on uncovering hidden messages and stories impacting the world. A personal favorite has been “Nowhere to run,” which is about how the Texas foster care system is failing vulnerable children and leaving them without a place to live.
4. Presidential – After the 2016 presidential election, the Washington Post launched a new podcast examining the legacy of American presidents. Hosted by the editor of the Washington Post, Lillian Cunningham, each podcast takes an in-depth exploration into what it’s like holding the most powerful office in the nation. Be sure to listen to “Richard Nixon: Looking inward,” guest starring Bob Woodward, one of the two Washington Post investigative reporters who uncovered the Watergate scandal.
5. Constitutional – A follow-up of the Washington Post’s podcast “Presidential,” Lillian Cunningham goes back in time to explore the Constitution from its framers to presidents to abolitionists. Episodes in the past have talked about ancestry, race, nationality and the preamble.