The Best Podcasts for Everyone

We are fortunate to be living through the golden age of both radio and streaming services. With great choice comes great choice, but you might need a helping hand to find the best podcasts worthy of your ear. Whether you are doing the dishes, working out, or lazing in the bath, our list will entertain and educate you.

We have a guide on how to listen to more podcasts, the best podcasts for kids, and our recommendations on the gear you need to start a podcasts.

There is a table of contents.

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The drop out.

The trials and downfalls of Theranos, the tech startup that promised to disrupt blood testing but failed in the face of false claims, are chronicled in this podcast. The scandal was broken by John Carreyrou's reporting, and his book Bad Blood spawned another interesting show. The Dropout is a clear depiction of the sordid tale, with season two tackling the trial.

All replies.

Beautifully paced and always pleasant, Reply All drags you down internet rabbit holes to investigate long-forgotten songs, phone scam, hackedSnapchat accounts, and Team Fortress 2 bots. The show suffered a scandal and accusations of hypocrisy for reporting on a toxic and racist workplace, which led to long-term host PJ Vogt and producer Sruthi Pinnamaneni leaving. Alex Goldman remained and it was still an amazingly crafted and inventive show.

Twenty thousand years.

The world of sound is explained in a very Painstakingly researched way on this podcast. Learn how sound makes us feel, why certain sounds make us feel different, and how sound makes our lives better.

There are other great tech shows.

• WIRED's Gadget Lab: Want to catch up on the week's top tech news? Listen to our very own podcast hosted by senior writer Lauren Goode and senior editor Michael Calore.
• The Lazarus Heist: This captivating investigation starts with the Sony hacks, digging into the involvement of North Korean hackers, and moves on to a billion-dollar cyber theft.

The last days of August.

Jon Ronson is a master storyteller who brings an inquisitive, empathetic, and slightly neurotic intelligence to bear on fascinating tales no one has told. The Last days of August investigates the death of August Ames, a porn performer who was killed in the line of duty. This is a great place to start since all of Ronson's other shows are equally good.

Day 10.

The prospect of a far-right plot to bring down the government is a description that could fit many nations right now. There is a plan involving a military officer and a faked refugee identity, as well as a neo-Nazi threat in modern-day Germany.

Revisionist history.

The eclectic mix of quirky stories sees Malcolm Gladwell tackle misunderstood events and rarely discussed ideas, such as the firebombing of Tokyo at the end of World War II and the Toyota car recall. Gladwell enjoys challenging conventional views and mixes research and opinion, but every episode contains fascinating facts and captivating stories you have never heard before.

The Other Great Society is a radio show.

• Missing Richard Simmons: Ebullient fitness guru Richard Simmons used to be everywhere, and this podcast charts an investigative reporter's attempts to find out why he disappeared.
• The Moth: This podcast offers random folks the chance to tell deeply personal stories to a crowd of strangers and reinforces just how weird and wonderful humans are.
• The Trojan Horse Affair: This tale unpacks the British scandal over an alleged attempt by Islamist extremists to take over a Birmingham school and radicalize the students.

It sounds like a cult.

Fanatical fringe groups have never been so prevalent, and there is something more than a little cultish about celebrity stans, multilevel marketing, and marathon runners. This is always a fun listen because the hosts are witty and irreverent.

The read.

The comedians with chemistry are brutally honest and give their harsh opinions on everything. Insightful, funny, challenging, and refreshingly different from the podcast pack, these lengthy conversations run for a couple of hours, covering recent events and frequently touching on social justice, mental health, race, and sexual identity.

It's forever35.

LA-based writers Doree Shafrir and Kate Spencer are the brains behind the talk show, which started as a physical self-care show but has evolved into a discussion of mental health, relationships, and any other topic that appeals to them. They go from chatting about creams and serums to how to deal with a new stepmother as an adult, but always in a fun, inclusive, and down-to-earth way.

There are other great culture shows.

• Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard: Now a Spotify exclusive, this often funny and always insightful podcast seeks out human truths and sometimes finds them.
• Geek’s Guide to the Galaxy: Ably hosted by author David Barr Kirtley, this sci-fi fantasy extravaganza digs into fascinating topics with the help of accomplished guests like Neil Gaiman, Brent Spiner, and Steven Pinker.
• Welcome to Our Show: A warming dose of nostalgia and comfort for New Girl fans as Zooey Deschanel, Hannah Simone, and Lamorne Morris rewatch the show together.
• The Allusionist: If you are interested in words, this witty but accessible show will delight you as it unpacks the evolution of slang, explains euphemisms, and generally celebrates language.

Criminal.

In this polished production about the spectrum of crime, host Phoebe Judge is soothing and soporific. Criminals, victims, lawyers, police, historians, and others whose lives have been altered by crime voice their stories as Judge carefully avoids the sensational and exploitative by respectfully teasing out the heart of each subject.

S-Town.

You will be hooked after five minutes. John B. McLemore, an eccentric horologist, claims that the son of a wealthy family has gotten away with murder. Everything about this production is perfect.

The Hollywood Con Queen is a person.

There are other fascinating stories worth telling in the world of crime, like this one, which is about a scam artist posing as a Hollywood mogul. This weird, compelling, investigative podcast has a very satisfying tale that is free of blood and violence. The second season of Wild Boys tells a completely new story.

There are other great true crime shows.

• The Clearing: The families of serial killers often seek obscurity (understandably), but that means we never hear their stories. That's something this podcast about April Balascio, daughter of American serial killer Edward Wayne Edwards, rectifies.
• The Trials of Frank Carson: Police and prosecutors go after the defense attorney who has been beating them in court for years, sparking accusations of conspiracy and one of the longest trials in US history.
• Sweet Bobby: This British catfishing tale charts successful radio presenter Kirat's relationship with handsome cardiologist Bobby, and things get impossibly weird.
• Dr. Death: This gripping podcast focuses on incompetent or psychopathic (maybe both) ex-surgeon Christopher Duntsch and exposes terrifying institutional failures.
• Crimetown: A forensic examination of organized crime in American cities, this slick podcast comes from the supremely talented makers of The Jinx.
• Hunting Warhead: A journalist, a hacker, and some detectives go after a chilling child abuse ring led by a criminal known as Warhead in this tactfully told and thorough podcast.

The maintenance phase is over.

There are a lot of questionable products and advice in the world of health and weight loss. It's more fun than it sounds, thanks to the entertaining hosts, and there's even a fascinating episode on the history of health scam.

There is a hidden brain.

Hidden Brain is an absorbing deep dive into human behavior with the help of psychologists, sociologists, and other experts. The host, NPR's science correspondent, Shankar Vedantam, skillfully renders complex ideas accessible and offers us all more insight into the inner workings of our minds.

The Monkey Cage is Infinite.

The show is hosted by physicist Brian Cox and comedian Robin Ince and is usually a mix of experts and entertainers. It is always articulate, enthusiastic, and thought- provoking, even though there are no definitive answers.

There are other great science shows.

• Science Rules!: Bill Nye, the science guy, teams up with science writer Corey Powell to question experts on all sorts of interesting science-related topics.
• Stuff You Should Know: Prizing knowledge for its own sake and provoking healthy curiosity, this podcast is comical, charming, and full of interesting conversational nuggets.

The signal.

The stories on business and the economy that are delivered in this Planet Money spin-off are short and to the point. Each enlightening episode is a quick primer that will leave you well informed.

There is a radio show about freaksonomics.

The show is hosted by Stephen J. Dubner, who is also the author of the book "Freakonomics". It is a clever mix of economics and pop culture that flows easily and balances entertainment with education, presenting both sides of debates while consulting relevant guests.

There are macro musings.

If you want to understand the economy better, this show hosted by David Beckworth of the Mercatus Center is for you. The conversations do a good job unpacking complex topics, but it is serious stuff on macroeconomics and monetary policy.

There are other great economics shows.

• Planet Money: This top-notch podcast has entertaining, digestible, and relatable stories about the economy, unraveling everything from health care to income taxes.
• EconTalk: This no-frills show sees economist Russ Roberts engage in sprawling conversations with writers and academics on a range of economics topics.

The best celebrity interview shows.

The Adam Buxton show.

Adam Buxton has interviewed a lot of interesting people on his show, from Jeff Goldblum to Charlie brooker. Buxton pulls fascinating insights from his interview subjects, bouncing between personal lives, work, and popular culture with ease.

Life is short with him.

The Long brothers host an interview show where they chat with guests like Billy Crudup. The show is made by the siblings getting sidetracked by nostalgic reminiscences and occasional squabbling, but they are always generous and kind to their guests.

Less is more.

The show is funny and has a surprise celebrity guest, like Ryan Reynolds or Reese Witherspoon. It is warm, gentle, easy listening, and often laugh-out-loud funny, but don't expect challenging questions or bared souls.

There are other great interview shows.

• WTF With Marc Maron: Self-deprecating, sardonic, supremely skilled interviewer Marc Maron interviews some of the world's most famous people, from Barack Obama to Paul McCartney.
• Grounded With Louis Theroux: A soothingly gentle facade belies Louis Theroux's ability to draw fascinating insights from his subjects with tact and humor.

There are sports wars.

This slick production focuses on the rivalries and long-awaited showdowns that are part of the appeal of sports. Host Dan Rubenstein digs into their background to understand why some face-offs get so highly charged.

The Bill Simmons show.

Fast-paced roundtable conversations with athletes and celebrities are usually focused on the NBA or the NFL. This is accessible for casual sports fans to enjoy, and it has unfiltered opinions, witty remarks, and a lot of sports knowledge.

The show is called The PosCast.

Primarily focused on baseball, this long-running podcast sometimes covers other sports and often ends up into comical conversations. The chemistry between hosts Joe Posnanski and Michael Schur is what makes this show so special.

There are other great sports shows.

• Undr the Cosh: Open and honest banter from ex-professional football (soccer) players, as they talk to current pros and recount hilarious on- and off-pitch anecdotes.
• Around the NFL: This funny, fast-paced look at the National Football League runs through all the latest football news, blending anecdotes and analysis.
• 32 Thoughts: A slickly produced, insightful dive into all the latest hockey news and controversy from knowledgable hosts who bounce off each other.

How did this happen?

We have all asked for a movie at some point, but the hosts invite guest creatives to have heated and hilarious chats about some of the worst films ever. Face/Off to Junior to The Room are just some of the movies that are so bad they are entertaining.

The film review was written by Kermode and Mayo.

Mark Kermode is a respected film critic with an infectious love of movies and an incredible depth of knowledge about the world of film, as well as a highly skilled, veteran radio host. They discuss the latest movies, interview top-tier directors and actors, and invite views from their audience.

You have to remember this.

Diving into Hollywood myths to investigate and uncover the truth about famous scandals and legends is a compelling premise for a show, and talented creator and host Karina Longworth makes the most of it. Marilyn Monroe, the run on Manson, and the episode of Frances Farmer are some of the best.

There are other great movie shows.

• The Rewatchables: Bill Simmons and a rotating cast of cohosts discuss and analyze beloved movies and dig up interesting nuggets of trivia.
• Lights Camera Barstool: Reviews, interviews, rankings, and accessible chats about the movies with pop culture debates on random questions thrown in.
• Black Men Can't Jump [in Hollywood]: This comedic movie review podcast highlights films featuring actors of color and analyzes them in depth, with an eye on race and diversity.

It was Darkest Night.

Fans of horror will enjoy reliving the last gruesome moments of corpses that have landed at the mysterious Roth-Lobdow Institute. A wonderful narration from Lee Pace, acting from the likes of Denis O'Hare, Missi Pyle, and RuPaul, and clever sound design combine to make for a thrilling ride that you just know is going to end badly.

Hello from the Magic Tavern.

The brainchild of a Chicago comedian, the show is about a man who falls through a portal at a Burger King and ends up in the magical world of Foon. The role-playing game and fantasy references come thick and fast, guests play bizarre characters of their own creation, and loyal listeners are rewarded with silly long-running gags and rich lore.

We fix space junk.

Short and sweet episodes of this sci-fi comedy-drama fit neatly into gaps in your day and whisk you away to a nightmare corporate dystopia in a galaxy fraught with evil artificial intelligence and monstrous aliens. Struggling repair technician Kilner gets stuck with a rich murder suspect and her polar opposite, after accidentally smuggled her across the galaxy in this polished show with a distinct 1980s feel.

There are other great fiction shows.

• The Bright Sessions: The therapy sessions of mysterious psychologist Dr. Bright, bookended by voice notes, form intriguing short episodes, as all of her patients seem to have special abilities.
• Welcome to Night Vale: This pioneering creepy show is presented as a community radio broadcast from a desert town beset by paranormal and supernatural happenings.

Nice try!

Striving for utopia has led to the development of some fascinating communities over the years, and season one of Nice Try! tries to understand the idealism that drove them, and why these communities ultimately failed. The second season of the show focuses on lifestyle technology, from doorbells to vacuums, all designed to help us realize a personal utopia in the ideal home.

There are revolutions.

The English Civil War, American, French, Haitian, and Russian revolutions are just some of the revolutions that shaped the modern world. The narration is engaging, the writing is concise, and host Mike Duncan does a great job contextualizing revolutionary events.

There is a memory palace.

These tales of seemingly random moments from the past are beautifully told by the eloquent Nate DiMeo and backed by wonderful sound design. It's hard to think of another podcasts that is as artful and poignant as this one.

There are other great history shows.

• Something True: Enjoy utterly bizarre true stories, as every episode of this podcast explores a unique but seemingly forgotten historical footnote.
• Lore: Spooky and witty, this classic podcast plumbs history to uncover horrifying folklore, mythology, and pseudoscience.
• Medieval Death Trip: An enthusiastic and well-researched look at medieval times, this podcast offers a witty analysis of the primary texts left behind.

A hot dog is a sandwich.

This fast-paced, often funny show will suck you in as it poses tough food-related questions and then debates them. Chefs Josh and Nicole decide if Popeye's and In-N- Out are good or bad, and what the best pasta shape is.

There is a Gastropod.

If you're interested in the history and science of everything from the humble potato to the ever controversial Licorice, then this is for you. Cynthia Graber andNicola Twilley talk to experts and serve up a feast of delicious bite-sized facts that surprise and delight.

The show is hosted by Dave Chang.

Dave Chang is a celebrity chef who is best known for his show, "Ugly Delicious." He talks about food, guilty pleasures, and the creative process with other chefs. Some of the funniest moments come when the show covers other random topics, like the perfect email sign-off or wearing shoes indoors.

There are other great food shows.

• Out To Lunch With Jay Rayner: This podcast seats you at a top restaurant to eavesdrop on consummate food critic Jay Rayner with a celebrity guest at the next table.
• The Sporkful: You can learn a lot about people and culture through food, and this podcast proves it by serving up delectable bite-sized insights.

There is a Wolf and Owl.

Comedians and friends Tom Davis (the Wolf) and Romesh Ranganathan (the Owl) chat aimlessly and poke fun at each other for around an hour. It is always warmhearted and funny, and sometimes offers decent advice.

Why don't you date me? With Nicole Byer.

Nicole Byer is a charming and funny stand-up comedian, just like in the show Nailed It baking show. Byer is open about her struggles and is funny at the same time. She hosts hilarious conversations with comedians.

Athletico Mince.

The show is brought to life by British comedy legend Bob Mortimer with the help of his sidekick Andy Dawson. Tall tales about real football players, with strange voices and fictional characters, are mixed with songs and silly inside jokes. You don't need to know much about soccer to enjoy it.

There are other great comedy shows.

• Locked Together: Only on Audible, this show features lockdown chats between comedian pals like Simon Pegg and Nick Frost or Rob Delaney and Sharon Horgan.
• Fake Doctors, Real Friends: Rewatching Scrubs with Zach Braff and Donald Faison is a joyous experience that's every bit as entertaining, poignant, and silly as the TV show.

There are more great WIRED stories.