Further reading
Podcasts may be the most valuable peace divident the Internet has to offer. Today’s podcasts go a long way in replacing broadcast over-the-air radio, and because podcasts can explore any area of interest imaginable and in great depth, even the most obscure topic that would never have made it onto the conventional or commercial airwaves, can command a rapt international audience. And that’s only one reason why podcasts are awesome, even if they may finally kill radio. You can stream them at home, or download them on your smartphone and listen to them on your daily commute.
With radio’s limited bandwidth and increased control by large media companies, the depth and variety — not to mention local flavor of programming — has contracted over time. At the same time the use of smartphones and internet connectivity has become almost ubiquitous. The downside is that there are so many to pick from. We compiled a list of the best podcasts around — covering a variety of topics — so you can spend less time sifting through the bad and more time listening to the good.
News
The Rachel Maddow Show is one of the most popular TV shows on MSNBC. Book author and scholar Rachel has the best, up-to-the-minute political guests to help viewers navigate the current political landscape. And you don’t need a cable account — cord cutters can watch the audio or video podcast, often on the same night as the TV broadcast. The video part includes only the first two segments, but the audio has the whole show.
Gaslit Nation
Gaslit Nation is hosted by writers Sarah Kendzior (View from Flyover Country) and Andrea Chalupa. Both specialize in authoritarian states and were on to election hacking before the 2016 election. The show delivers sharp analysis, history, context, and insight on global affairs.
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The Daily
If you need to stay up to date on the latest events, The New York Times’ podcast The Daily provides all the news that’s fit to listen to in a tidy format. Twenty minutes a day, five days a week, host Michael Barbaro guides listeners through the biggest news stories of the day, talking to experts and other Times reporters.
The Impact
Politics (particularly in America) can be so theatrical sometimes that it’s easy to overlook how policy decisions actually affect people’s lives. Vox’s The Impact delves into the aftermath of public policy debates, exploring how decisions — such as Seattle’s “democracy voucher” program, which gave citizens money to donate to political candidates — did or didn’t change life for ordinary citizens.
Undisclosed
The justice system doesn’t always work, and podcasts like Undisclosed are there to make sure we don’t forget. Undisclosed takes the listener through the investigation, trial, and verdict of controversial cases, such as the death of Freddie Gray, with meticulous detail that makes every episode sound ripe for a multipart TV documentary.
Rachel Maddow Show
PRI’s The World
The World is Public Radio International’s daily news show. What makes it a standout is how the reports connect listeners to topics and people from around in the world in surprising ways — making bus riders in Bogota, Columbia relevant to morning commuters in San Francisco, for example — while covering some of the most interesting stories of the day.
Global News
This podcast features just what the name implies — news from around the globe. It consists of a pair of 30-minute news broadcasts compiled twice a day from the 24-hours news coverage offered by the BBC World Service.
Left, Right & Center
Left, Right & Center is a weekly podcast assembled by Los Angeles radio station KCRW. The debate forum of the podcast allows Josh Barro, Rich Lowry, and their special guests to analyze politics, policy, and culture from every angle.
Democracy Now
The award-winning show hosted by investigative journalists Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez is unique in its independence. If you took media theory 101 (or you listen to On the Media), you know just how unique and important independent news media is — making this arguably the most essential news podcast of the bunch.
Slate Political Gabfest
Slate’s Political Gabfest is a weekly news roundup featuring discussions between hosts David Plotz, John Dickerson, and Emily Bazelon. Their political analysis is on point and their repartee adds some levity to the top stories of the week.
On the Media
The award-winning On the Media is one of the only shows dedicated to covering media news. Hosts Brooke Gladstone and Bob Garfield talk about how the news is covered, regulated, and disseminated. They examine threats to free speech, the element of transparency, and hidden agendas with both intrigue and authority.
The Takeaway
The Takeaway, hosted by Tanzina Vega and Amy Walter, offers a fresh alternative to daily news. Live reports from the field and listener call-ins round out the show and provide an extremely diverse analysis that makes for a good podcast to listen to at work.
Reveal
As investigative reporting gradually vanishes from American print and broadcast news, podcasts and radio try to pick up the mantle. Reveal, the Center for Investigative Reporting’s radio show and dedicated podcast is one such example. The hour-long show, hosted by Al Letson, aims a spotlight at each topic it covers, remaining interesting and analytical while covering urgent and relevant topics.
The Weeds
News website Vox’s podcast, The Weeds, digs into the nitty-gritty of policy thoroughly enough to satiate even the biggest policy nerds. In a conversational format, Ezra Klein, Sarah Kliff, and Matthew Yglesias discuss how policy changes the public, and in turn, how the public changes policy.
Caliphate
This 10-part series follows Rukmini Callimachi, who covers terrorism for The New York Times, on her journey to understand ISIS. Every story is beautifully woven, capturing how everyday people can be persuaded into this terrorist organization. Callimachi, along with the series producer Andy Mills, spends countless hours and risk their lives to uncover the truth behind ISIS.
Comedy
The Adventure Zone
The McElroy brothers (Justin, Travis, and Griffin), hosts of My Brother, My Brother and Me, have recruited their dad to chronicle their adventures through various Dungeons & Dragons campaigns in The Adventure Zone. The brothers have a great rapport and knack for improv; their shenanigans put the average D&D campaign to shame.
WTF with Marc Maron
We all have “WTF” moments in our lives and Marc Maron is just pointing a few of them out. His twice-weekly podcast, usually recorded in his Los Angeles garage, consists of him talking with comedic friends, writers, and celebrity guests.
Judge John Hodgman
Humorist John Hodgman’s podcast is like no other. The show sees him adjudicating trivial domestic disputes within a simulated courtroom, complete with real-life sound effects and the balmy Jesse Thorn as the bailiff.
The Bugle
This satirical “audio newspaper” stars comedian Andy Zaltzman as he breaks down the news from across the globe with comedians including Wyatt Cenac, Hari Kondabolu, John Oliver, Nish Kumar, Anuvab Pal, and his sister, Helen.
Comedy Bang! Bang!
Hosted by man-of-many-nicknames Scott Aukerman, Comedy Bang! Bang! is the pinnacle of improv comedy podcasts. Each week, Aukerman is joined by various comedians, actors, and other celebrities, with the guests often appearing as outlandish characters (such as The Time Keeper or musical theatre composer Andrew Lloyd Webber). The show has a deep roster of returning guests and characters, and yet every episode goes in unexpected directions.
My Brother, My Brother, and Me
In this hilarious podcast, three brothers — Justin, Travis, and Griffin McElroy — field questions and concerns from listeners, and give some of the funniest advice you will hear in a podcast. Their thoughts on toilet comfort, Billy Joel Cosplay, and gargoyles might not be the most appropriate, but they will make you laugh.
The Dollop
Do you find it hard to digest American history? The Dollop has you covered. Every week, hosts and comedians Dave Anthony and Gareth Reynolds tell a story from American history that you have most likely never heard of. Like, did you know in 1976 a plane with 60,000 pounds of pot crashed in Yosemite? That’s only the beginning, you’ll laugh till you cry and learn some history in the process.
How Did This Get Made
Three comedians get together, often with their comedian friends, and watch some of the worst movies ever made. It’s like Mystery Science Theater 3000 for the radio, minus the robots and the heavy focus on B movies. In fact, part of what’s so hilarious about How Did This Get Made? is that many of the crappy movies were intended to be blockbusters. Winter’s Tale, anyone?
Throwing Shade
Hosts Erin Gibson and Bryan Safi discuss the issues most important to women and gays with hilarious irreverence. Often explicit, always germane, Throwing Shade rightfully calls out bigotry and sexism within a tightly rolled comedic wrapper.
Music
The Combat Jack Show
The Combat Jack Show was hosted by Reggie Ossé until December 2017, when he passed away of colon cancer. As one of the longest-running hip-hop podcasts, The Combat Jack Show is one to go back and listen to for years to come. Ossé interviewed everyone from Get Out director Jordan Peele about the black Hollywood renaissance to former Baltimore police officer Michael A. Woods Jr. about police corruption.
Rap Radar Podcast
In Rap Radar Podcast, Brian “B. Dot” Miller and former XXL editor-in-chief Elliott Wilson speak to a variety of guests in the entertainment business about nearly everything under the sun. The most up-to-date episodes can be found exclusively on Jay-Z’s streaming service, Tidal. But for old episodes, including an interview with Hamilton’s Lin Manuel Miranda about making a mixtape, and one with A$AP Rocky and A$AP Ferg about recent run-ins with the law, look to iTunes or Stitcher.
All Songs Considered
Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton are big names in the NPR music scene. Their show introduces listeners to all genres of music, from that emerging Latin America band you’ve never heard of to the more mainstream indie fixes.
Music That Matters
Seattle’s’ KEXP is constantly at the forefront of broadcasting new alternative and indie music. The show features both prominent and emerging artists from the Pacific Northwest and around the world.
Above & Beyond
Electronic music more your thing? Then Above & Beyond is where it’s at. The London DJ trio Above & Beyond hosts the weekly two-hour show, bringing in 30-minute guest mixes from some of their favorite artists.
Sound Opinions
Sometimes it’s not enough just to listen to music. We have to have opinions about it as well. Sound Opinions features music critics discussing music news, reviewing new releases, and debating the musical merits of songs.
Song Exploder
Music lives and breathes in songs. Exploder takes apart a single song — its structure, inspiration, and production — with the original musicians who created it. Artists include everyone from Wolf Alice and Nine Inch Nails to R.E.M and Lorde.
Popcast
A panel of music critics, including the New York Times’ Jon Caramanica, discusses the latest pop news, songs, albums, and artists. It’s opinionated, sure, but the excess of music knowledge and sharp commentary make it worthwhile.
Song of the Day
Minnesota has one of the best music scenes around and a great public radio presence to boot. The Current’s Song of the Day offers upcoming artists one song at a time.
Tiny Desk Concerts
Imagine your favorite band playing an unplugged concert in your living room. That’s essentially the premise behind NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts. Musicians play their songs at the desk of one Bob Boilen, aka the All Songs Considered host, casting the music in a more intimate light and helping you discover new favorites.
This Must be the Gig
In the podcast This Must Be The Gig, host Lior Phillips, talks to artists and industry personalities about their first concerts, preshow rituals, trends in the festival scene, and much more. From the lead singer of The Talking Heads, David Byrne, to John Linnell from They Might Be Giants, you’ll get firsthand accounts from your favorite people in the music industry.
Science and philosophy
Go Vegan Radio
Vegan activist Bob Linden was one of the first radio broadcasters and podcasters to go mainstream in dealing with issues of animal rights, diet, the environment, world hunger, public policy, justice, peace, cookie recipes, and the path forward from vegetarian to vegan. His perspectives and weekly guests are always illuminating.
Science Vs
In each episode of Science Vs, host Wendy Zukerman dives into contentious topics, with the goal of finding out what the scientific community has to say. Topics range from serious (fracking, gun control, nuclear energy) to lighthearted (hypnosis, meditation, even ghosts), and chances are you’ll laugh while you learn.
Open Source with Christopher Lydon
This podcast tackles complex issues, such as deportation and the American empire, with astute analysis and meticulous breakdowns. One of the longest-running podcasts, Open Source originally aired in 2003 with current host Christopher Lydon, and it has lost none of its luster in the time since.
Radiolab
Each edition of RadioLab focuses on one particular idea or concept, homing in on the people, sounds, and stories that work to bring the show to life. Hosts Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich tackle scientific and philosophical topics.
Stuff You Should Know
This podcast is a fantastic way to learn how a Tsunami works, what’s the deal with North Korea, and who killed JFK. The topics are interesting, entertaining, and laid out in a manner that is easy to digest.
Freakonomics Radio
Hosted by Stephen Dubner, co-author of the mega-best-seller of the same name, this podcast “explores the hidden side of everything” from an economical/sociological perspective.
Stuff to Blow Your Mind
Ever wonder how the electric eel generates juice or what trypophobia is? Robert Lamb and Joe McCormick have answers, whether talking about mind-blowing mysteries or the newest scientific revelations, in this hour-long podcast.
The Memory Palace
Each story is a perfectly told and produced bite of the past. This tiny podcast crams a million visceral responses into each episode, presenting history in a way that makes you feel as if it were recounting one of your own memories — one you’d almost forgotten but now is forever ingrained in your mind.
The Partially Examined Life
Short readings that present large philosophical ideas is the general gist of this podcast. Four former philosophy students discuss the biggest philosophers and their ideas from the Western canon of the field, breaking them down in an informal roundtable discussion (read: after-lecture bar talk).
Stuff Mom Never Told You
Dissecting the biological, psychological, and sociological aspects of being women, Stuff Mom Never Told You presents a candid and fresh view on gender. Whether delving into feminist transphobia or following a professional dominatrix, this podcast is sharp and informative while remaining accessible.
Science Friday
I each episode, host Ira Flatow interviews the top scientists and inventors, ranging from Jane Goodall to Elon Musk. There’s hardly an aspect of science or technology that Science Friday hasn’t covered, whether it be woolly bear caterpillars, the lingering effects of sneaker innovation, or what happens to plants when jettisoned into the vastness of space.
Hidden Brain
Hosted by NPR science correspondent Shankar Vedantam, Hidden Brain illustrates the unconscious patterns behind human behavior using psychology and neurobiology.
More Perfect
A spinoff of WNYC’s Radiolab, More Perfect focuses on the United States Supreme Court. Each episode focuses on a specific Supreme Court case, some more famous than others, examining the court’s decision-making process and the social context of the times. More Perfect is a fascinating look into the most secluded branch of government, and a delight for legal history enthusiasts.
The Ezra Klein Show
On his eponymous podcast, journalist Ezra Klein explores the big topics in modern culture by talking to experts, artists, and luminaries. The show journeys far and wide into different subjects: Klein might bring on Nate Silver to talk about the tricky business of election forecasting, or economist Dani Rodrik to argue the weak points of globalism. One of the things that sets this show apart from other interview podcasts is that Klein is (usually) willing to challenge his guests’ views, poking and prodding to get straight answers.
Storytelling
Crimetown
This podcast explores the history of crime within the United States — one city at a time. From Gimlet Media and the creators of HBO’s award-winning documentary series The Jinx, Crimetown works to decipher the mob ties, wise guys, institutional bias, and everything that came before in gripping detail.
S-Town
S-Town is a podcast from the folks behind This American Life and Serial. Hosted by Brian Reed, a longtime TAL producer, the show follows the story of a man named John B., who asks Reed to investigate a murder in his hometown of Woodstock, Alabama. The premise may not seem all that enticing, but the deeper you get into the investigation, the stranger the whole ordeal becomes.
Lore
Lore is a collection of real-life stories so scary, you probably wish they were fake. Each episode of the bimonthly podcast — which became a full-blown TV series in late 2017, thanks to Amazon — tackles historical events that often venture into the supernatural. With the help of host Aaron Mahnke, each segment carries a campfire-esque vibe.
This American Life
No podcast collection would be complete without This American Life. Host Ira Glass delves into first-person stories and short fiction pieces from around the country. It will make you laugh just as often as it will make you cry. TAL holds the torch by which others are judged.
The Moth
A different breed of storytelling than This American Life and Radiolab comes from the Moth organization. Each storyteller stands under a bright spotlight, in a crowded room, sharing their true experiences with a live audience.
Serial
Serial, a spinoff of This American Life, is The Wire of podcasts, unfolding a single, nonfiction story over the course of an entire season. A project of ace reporter Sarah Koenig, it quickly became one of the most popular podcasts on the planet when it debuted in 2014. Season 1 followed the murder of Baltimore teen Hae Min Lee, while the second season examined the case of Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, a soldier who was charged with desertion while serving in Afghanistan. Season 3 premiered in September 2018.
Here Be Monsters
This podcast is like a cross between This American Life and The Twilight Zone. The (mostly) true stories are alternately spooky, humorous, intense, and fascinating, and the experimental and eerie sound design is spellbindingly fun.
Welcome to Night Vale
This series purports to be the local radio announcements of the titular weird desert town. Welcome to Night Vale is a bit like Twin Peaks if it were a podcast — with menacing glow clouds and monstrous mayors.
Snap Judgment
This podcast is, as host and producer Glynn Washington puts it, “storytelling with a beat.” Snap Judgment is a profound, engaging, and humorous listen. It puts a new kind of spin on standard storytelling.
Death, Sex, and Money
Polite conversation often omits some of the most important topics of our day — and that’s where Death, Sex, and Money steps in. Celebrities and everyday people use the podcast as a vessel to discuss some of the hardest choices they’ve had to make, the biggest questions they’ve had to ask, and the things that have affected their lives the most. Anna Sale hosts.
Criminal
Fans of Serial will enjoy this podcast about crime, which is a pet project of professional radio producer Phoebe Judge. Criminal incorporates reimagined versions of murder ballads, investigations into historical crimes, and stories on the wrongdoings within the criminal system. Whether moving or macabre, this podcast keeps its listeners interested.
Revisionist History
Journalist and author Malcolm Gladwell adds “podcaster” to his résumé with Revisionist History, in which he tackles a different subject each episode, with topics ranging from Wilt Chamberlain’s free-throw shooting form to the shady economics of golf courses. No matter how inane a subject may seem at first, Gladwell manages to find a compelling story within.
Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History
If history interests you, but you find most history podcasts a bit dry, Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History is sure to entertain. Carlin has a flair for the dramatic, which is good because episodes tend to run hours in length. Episodes involve intensive explorations of different historical stories, with a focus on brutal events like the rise of the Mongol Empire or the Anabaptist takeover of Münster.
This is Actually Happening
In This is Actually Happening, you are given the firsthand account — with zero commentary — from someone who has experienced something life-changing, devastating, and oftentimes unbelievable. If you have ever thought failure is the only option, these brave people will show you how they persevered through a time that seems too much for anyone to handle.
The Last Days of August
Always warm and compassionate, Jon Ronson investigates the suicide of porn star August Ames in this captivating podcast which starts out as a look at cyberbullying and then goes way beyond to delve into some uncomfortable truths about a very controversial industry.
Sports
The Lowe Post
While basketball media is split between those who favor in-depth analysis and those who enjoy drama and storytelling, ESPN’s Zach Lowe walks in both worlds, and that makes his podcast one of the most entertaining in sports. Lowe is capable of breaking down any play to show what players did and why they did it, but he’s also an insightful reporter, drawing on sources — including players, managers, and other journalists — to shed light on the world behind the scenes of the NBA.
Dunc’d On
If you love nitty-gritty details of NBA cap management, Dun’d is for you. With a deep knowledge of the NBA’s contract system and statistical analysis, host Nate Duncan offers deep dives into games and roster moves. An excellent podcast for aspiring GMs/fantasy league players.
Playing With Science
If you combine the enthusiastic nerd talk of Neil DeGrasse’s Star Talk with ESPN, you’ll end up with Playing With Science. In it, Stark Talk co-host Chuck Nice and Gary O’Reilly, a professional soccer player and sports broadcaster, speak with some of the smartest minds to break down some of the more unbelievable moments in sports history, like the physiology behind Steph Curry’s historic jump shot.
The Bill Simmons Podcast
If you were able to go inside the irrational — yet highly-analytical — mind of a sports fan, it would sound like Bill Simmons Podcast. The famous sportswriter and creator of ESPN’s docu-series 30 for 30 has taken his long-running podcast to his site, The Ringer. Thankfully, Simmons has lost none of his flair when interviewing athletes, celebrities, and sports experts.
Sklarbro Country
Sklarbro Country features Randy and Jason Sklar, two comedians who offer up their take on sports and pop culture. Even if you’re not a huge sports fan, you’ll enjoy hearing their humorous take on recent events.
Men in Blazers
Hosts Michael Davies and Roger Bennett wears blazers and discuss soccer. They’re passionate and knowledgeable, providing both in-depth analysis and riveting guest interviews with equal jest.
Grilling JR
Hall of Famer Jim Ross may remain the greatest WWE announcer in wrestling, but this podcast’s celebrity roster of friends and weekly discussion of today’s stars and storylines make it the go-to for wrestling fans.
Golic and Wingo
Longtime friends and veteran voices Mike Golic and Trey Wingo join forces to bring you four hours of nonstop sports news. You can expect anything from the FIFA World Cup to a full hour about Kevin Durant quotes. Golic and Wingo give you everything you need and a lot of what you didn’t know you needed from sports news.
The Starters
The Starters covers the day-to-day happenings of the NBA and touches on everything that occurs on and off the court. The crew on this show brings a wicked sense of humor to the table, along with basketball knowledge.
Jalen & Jacoby
Jalen Rose is a unique voice in the sports broadcast world. He’s a former NBA player who spent plenty of time in the limelight and isn’t afraid to dish insider knowledge when it can provide better context to current stories.
Technology and video games
This Week in Tech
This Week in Tech has been one of the premier tech podcasts for a while now. The weekly show features tech enthusiasts Leo Laporte, Patrick Norton, Kevin Rose, John C. Dvorak, and others as they discuss trending tech.
Reply All
If you’re familiar with Gimlet Media, you know that its podcasts contain a narrative thread regardless of the topic they’re covering. Reply All, Gimlet’s tech podcast, is no different. The stories center on how the internet and technology affect people (and vice versa) while remaining insightful and interesting throughout.
Digital Planet
The BBC podcast provides an alternative viewpoint from the American tech shows while examining the many facets of technology and the role each one plays in our lives. The show often focuses on the internet and social networking.
Giant Bombcast
The crew of Giant Bomb is a collection of veteran video game journalists and on their weekly podcast, they embark on lengthy excursions into the world of gaming, discussing games they’ve been playing, breaking down the news of the week, and responding to listener emails. The Bombcast crew has great chemistry and approaches gaming with passion and humor.
ShopTalk
ShopTalk isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s essentially a podcast for web design, one that delves into front-end development and UX. Hosts Chris Coyier and Dave Rupert answer questions and calls, typically with a knowledgeable guest.
Trends with Benefits
A shameless bit of self-promotion, sure, but if you’re here already you might like this. Our podcast is a casual and comical discussion between our writers and editors about the latest happenings in the tech industry and beyond.
Note To Self
If you’ve ever wanted to know if Alexa is listening in on you, Note to Self is for you. Host Manoush Zomorodi offers insight into the world of tech, approaching it through the lens of human experience. Every topic is covered with a focus on how it affects humans and our daily lives.
Codebreaker
A collaboration between Marketplace and Tech Insider, Codebreaker takes a hard look at the technology that runs our lives, starting with the essential question: is it evil? In a playful move, the podcast also functions as a code for careful listeners to decrypt.
The Giant Beastcast
After years of success, the next phase for any show is to create a spinoff. Video game website Giant Bomb entered the podcast arena with The Giant Bombcast. After building up an office in New York City, the East Coast staff established its own podcast, The Giant Beastcast. Hosts Vinny Caravella, Alex Navarro, Dan Ryckert, and Abby Russell — with a little help from CNET’s Jeff Bakalar — talk about the culture and industry surrounding games, as well as offer humorous riffs on pop culture and life in general.
Arts and culture
Bullseye
This is the latest iteration of Jesse Thorn’s arts and culture program, which started a decade ago on college radio. Thorn discusses and interviews a highly curated list of top influences on pop culture — from rapper Rakim to poet and novelist Margaret Atwood.
Fresh Air
Beloved host Terry Gross has done a few difficult interviews. However, she remains one of the most empathetic, intelligent, and well-prepared journalists in all of radio — regardless of which luminary she features on the show.
Slate Culture Gabfest
At this point, the “roundtable discussion about pop culture” format is kinda clichéd. But Slate’s is one of the first and best. Each week, the three hosts pick three cultural topics, a mix of timely and timeless, and just gab about them.
99% Invisible
This “tiny radio show about design” makes you appreciate the big and small decisions that shape the world we live in, from purple hotels and traffic markings to camouflage and parentheses around area codes.
RiYL
Brian Heater has a quiet, open-ended conversation with a writer, cartoonist, musician, podcaster, artist, or comedian, and you’re dropped somewhere in the middle of it. Listen to learn how creators create.
offcamera
Director Sam Jones believes the best interviews happen off camera. His long-form podcast is lined with honest interviews from the likes of actress Sarah Paulson and musician Common, along with a myriad of other artists.
NYT Book Review
Looking for a good book? The taste-makers at the New York Times can point you in the right direction. Authors and critics join the show to discuss literature, art, and ideas with host and editor Pamela Paul.
Arts and Ideas
The BBC is a great place to go for cultural and artistic influences. BBC Radio 3’s Arts and Ideas program is one of the best. It has interviews, talks, and debates with artists, scientists, and public figures.
Longform
An essential listen for anyone who writes and an interesting listen for anyone who doesn’t, Longform interviews a different nonfiction writer or editor once a week about their process and career. Guests run the gamut, from literary superstars like Ta-Nehisi Coates to indie darlings such as Lena Dunham, providing insight and backstory regarding their most recent and famous works.
Filmspotting
For the most comprehensive film reviews — and worst movie segment reenactments — you need to listen to Adam Kempenaar and Josh Larsen’s Filmspotting. The Chicagoan film professor and critic, respectively, give their incisive opinions of films old and new while laying down some of the most definitive top-five lists around.
The Treatment
It’s only fitting that this podcast out of L.A. should take its name from Hollywood parlance. Host Elvis Mitchell uses it to converse with some of the entertainment and art world’s most influential creators. Mitchell is a deft hand at getting even the most reticent guests to open up, and what they have to share is always interesting and insightful.
Still Processing
On Still Processing, New York Times writers Wesley Morris and Jenna Wortham dissect the cultural issues of the day, covering a variety of topics including movies, music, and politics. It’s a podcast that can move between highbrow and pop culture.
Shut Up & Sit Down
Board games are having a moment, as more and more people experience the thrill of getting people together around a table for a night of fun (and maybe even intellectual stimulation). If you need a guide to the vast, treacherous world of board games there are none better than the folks at Shut Up & Sit Down, who review board games with a focus on the great social experiences they can create.
Business
FT Alphachat
Very few sites discuss business better than the Financial Times, and FT Alphachat brings that same expertise to the podcast realm. Host Cardiff Garcia uses the podcast as a means for interviewing economists, financial advisers, authors, and a litany of other business experts about why a universal basic income is good, among other topics.
Planet Money
Initially launched to cover the global financial crisis of 2008 and 2009, the biweekly Planet Money presents an excellent roundtable discussion that dissects the state of the global economy (with guests).
StartUp
StartUp touts itself as a “podcast about what it’s really like to start a new business.” Alex Blumberg, a former This American Life producer and the Planet Money co-founder, created his own podcast company. Season 1 of StartUp is a reflexive examination of the process of starting up that company, Gimlet Media. The first season examined the setbacks and pitfalls that plagued Gimlet Media. StartUp is now on its eighth season, which examines the acquisition of Gimlet Meida by Spotify.
Marketplace
Kai Ryssdal breaks down what’s going on in the world of current economics, not just relating the news but making it accessible to non-economy majors. It currently serves as one of the most digested pieces of media regarding business in the country, likely because Ryssdal regularly interviews entrepreneurs, CEOs, small business owners, and average participants in the economy.
Working
Slate’s aptly titled podcast revolves around what Americans actually do at work, digging into the minutiae of their day-to-day lives. It explores these topics by interviewing those with interesting jobs, allowing it to explore everything from the boring parts of being a porn star to the exciting calculations of forensic anthropologists.
How I Built This
In this once-a-week podcast, host Guy Raz examines the stories behind some of the world’s best-known companies. From innovators to entrepreneurs to idealists, Rax takes you on a narrative journey of how their movements came to be. Some interviews include the founder of 1-800-GOT-JUNK, how Wikipedia became our online encyclopedia, and even ice cream kings Ben and Jerry.
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