Am I Doing Wrong Podcast: Season Three

When print journalism went into its death throes in the early aughts, the modern replacement for antiquated ink was supposed to be digital journalism.

In the beginning, the headwinds were promising, and new players emerged with names like AOL, BuzzFeed, HuffPost, and the Daily Beast. What we learned over the prevailing two decades is that digital journalism dances on a knife’s edge continuously.

Digital ad rates always seem underwhelming, and subscriptions are anathema to consumers who read in digital format.

That’s why BuzzFeed’s partnership with Acast, one of the largest independent podcast companies, is so critical to their future. HuffPost, once saddled with ownership by the overlords of the strategically dense Verizon, is now back under the leadership of Jonah Peretti, who originally co-founded it in 2005.

Podcasting offers BuzzFeed a growth opportunity and a robust ad market in which to grow revenues at a healthy margin.

The podcast series is titled Am I Doing It Wrong? — now into its third season — proves that digital journalism and podcasting can be cozy partners. The weekly show, presented by HuffPost is hosted by HuffPost’s Raj Punjabi and Noah Michelson, and explores the all-too-human anxieties we have about trying to get our lives.

Every week on the podcast, hosts Raj Punjabi and Noah Michelson choose a different topic — from apologizing to tipping to online dating — and enlist experts and guests with big opinions to debate and strategize the best ways to tackle everything that’s constantly thrown at us. By the end of each episode, you’ll be wiser, less worried, and more equipped to do every day a little better. Every episode will feature a guest — from HuffPost editors and reporters to psychologists to couples counselors to comedians — who will help them break apart the struggle, analyze it, and provide their expertise and hot takes.

Rajul “Raj” Punjabi is the head of Voices, HuffPost’s identity section, and co-host of HuffPost’s “Am I Doing It Wrong?” podcast. Her journalistic work can also be found at VICE, in the Village Voice, and the Atlantic. Raj currently resides in New York but threatens to move back to New Orleans every time she eats mediocre gumbo here. She is obsessed with her cat, Gina, who, despite her pampered lifestyle, will always belong to the streets. Find her (and too many pictures of Gina) on Instagram @rajji_f_baby.

Noah Michelson is the head of HuffPost Personal, which he launched in 2018, and the host of HuffPost’s “Am I Doing It Wrong?” podcast. He received his MFA in Poetry from New York University and has been featured on MSNBC, Fuse, Entertainment Tonight, and other outlets. He lives in Brooklyn with his partner, Benji, and their dog, Jumi. When he’s not working, he’s traveling, watching trashy TV, and listening to woebegone women artists from the ’90s. He’s never met a French fry he didn’t like. Find him on Instagram and Twitter at @NoahMichelson

About the show, Raj and Noah observe, “We knew we were doing a lot wrong in our lives, but we had no idea just how much until we started working on ‘Am I Doing It Wrong?’ We love doing the show because we’re learning in real time alongside the listeners. It’s hands-on training in topics like laundry or pooping — things we’re dealing with every day — but none of it feels like a chore because there’s no judgment, and we’re having a blast doing it. We hope the listeners are, too.”

Season three launched strong on January 1 with Dr. Marisa G. Franco as the guest — sharing the secret to making friends as an adult. I’m wondering if imaginary friends count? If so, I have 12 friends. If not, does the DoorDash guy count?

My favorite episodes in their lifecycle include the January 16th episode, when Raj and Noah welcomed licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, Dr. Esther Boykin, to talk about the difference between forgiving and reconciling, the necessity of apologies, and all the dimensions of the value we call forgiveness.

Perhaps because — like too many adult men — I enjoy toilet humor, I learned a lot — and laughed — at the Halloween 2024 show about surviving a trip to a public restroom. My bathroom at home is adorned with a lavender scent, unread magazines, the best bathroom tissue money can buy, and even a Bluetooth speaker in case I want to listen to a podcast. In the show, I learned how to protect myself from all the horrors that may lay within? I enjoyed their guest, Jason Tetro (The Germ Guy!), who talked about toilet seat strategies, how to handle handles, and how to wash your hands for ultimate bathroom protection.

Am I Doing It Wrong? has joined the YouTube crowd with video clips playing on the platform.

There are plenty of things to like about Am I Doing It Wrong?

There’s the cool jazz riff that plays as the show begins. It’s the warm, vaguely 70s FM voices of the co-hosts. Maybe it’s the earnestness of the co-hosts when doing host-read ads. I’d buy stuff they recommended. It’s even the sly genius of their design logo, with the R in Wrong turned the wrong way. Nicely done. Do you know how many great podcasters have terrible show logos? It’s sand on the beach numbers. I admire how the show, though similar in structure and topic to NPR’s Life Kit, carves out its own identity, offering more detailed discussions and skipping the Hallmark Christmas movie tone.

Am I Doing It Wrong? is part of BuzzFeed Studios and Acast’s existing partnership, which was announced in 2022 and includes a slate of audio series for global listeners with diverse programming and talent from BuzzFeed, Inc.’s global brands and fan-favorite franchises.

Check it out. After all, we all say, Am I Doing It Wrong? regularly. And if we aren’t, then welcome to the know-it-all club.