Podcast Subscriptions

Best Tech Podcasts

Flesh and Code

Courtesy of Darknet Diaries

Courtesy of ABC News

Courtesy of Center for Humane Technology

Courtesy of Dallas Taylor

Other Great Tech Podcasts

• WIRED’s Uncanny Valley: If we may be so bold, our flagship podcast offers an insider look at the people, power, and influence of Silicon Valley. Check out our Big Interview episodes hosted by Katie Drummond, and our roundtables with Zoë Schiffer, Brian Barrett, and Leah Feiger.
• The Lazarus Heist: This captivating investigation starts with the Sony hacks, digs into the involvement of North Korean hackers, and moves on to a billion-dollar cybertheft.
• Rabbit Hole: What is the internet doing to us? New York Times tech columnist Kevin Roose investigates things like the impact of algorithms on radicalization with a dreamy soundscape backdrop.
• Reply All: The beautifully paced, always convivial, and sorely missed Reply All dragged us down internet rabbit holes to investigate long-forgotten songs, phone scammers, hacked Snapchat accounts, and Team Fortress 2 bots.
• Click Here: With a focus on cybersecurity, this podcast unravels tales of hacking, misinformation, cyberterrorism, and more, with interviews and insight from experts in episodes that usually come in under half an hour.
• Waveform: Laid-back chats about the latest gadgets and developments in the world of tech with tech YouTuber Marques Brownlee (MKBHD) and cohost David Imel.

Best Society Podcasts

Courtesy of BBC

Things Fell Apart

Courtesy of Apple

Courtesy of Pushkin Industries

Other Great Society Podcasts

• Mother, Neighbor, Russian Spy: You will be shocked by this true story about All-American Cindy Murphy with her two daughters, a house in the burbs, and a finance job in Manhattan, who turns out to be a deep cover Russian spy. There’s narration by Rosamund Pike and interviews with Cindy’s best friend and employer.
• Dreamtown: The Story of Adelanto: This story of a small California town that turns to cannabis cultivation to try and revive itself soon descends into chaos.
• Run Bambi Run: The riveting story of former Milwaukee police officer and Playboy Club bunny Laurie Bembenek, who was convicted of murdering her husband’s ex, despite conflicting evidence, and subsequently escaped prison and fought to have her conviction overturned.
• 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 its students.
• Day X: A sobering look at the neo-Nazi specter in modern-day Germany, its possible infiltration of police and government, and a plan involving a military officer and a faked refugee identity.
• Project Unabom: Delving into the life of Ted Kaczynski, this podcast interviews his brother and recounts the FBI investigation to try to make sense of Kaczynski’s terrifying bombing spree.
• Will Be Wild: Curious about the January 6 insurrection? This podcast interviews people from both sides, examines the struggles of law enforcement and intelligence under Trump, and charts the anti-government extremism that led to this dark day for democracy.

Best Culture Podcasts

Courtesy of Imperative Entertainment

Courtesy of Novel

Courtesy of The LoudSpeakers Network

Courtesy of Forever35

• The Big Flop: Where did all go wrong? From Watergate to Tom Cruise, this podcast pokes fun at pop culture fails. Host Misha Brown unpacks each disaster with the help of different guests and keeps things breezy and silly.
• KILLED: Many magazine or newspaper stories are spiked every day, filed away, never to be seen again. This podcast delves into often shocking or disturbing stories silenced because they were considered dangerous, with interviews from the journalists who wrote them.
• Sounds Like a Cult: Fanatical fringe groups have never been so prevalent, and there’s something more than a little cultish about celebrity stans, multilevel marketing, and marathon runners—just three of the subjects this lighthearted podcast unpacks.
• 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 Brent Spiner and Steven Pinker.
• The Allusionist: If you are interested in words, this witty but accessible show will delight you as it charts the evolution of slang, explains euphemisms, and generally celebrates language.

Best True-Crime Podcasts

Courtesy of CBC

The Outlaw Ocean

Courtesy of Las Vegas Review Journal

Courtesy of Vox Media

Courtesy of WBEZ

Courtesy of Lava For Good

Courtesy of Campside

Courtesy of Wondery

• Someone Knows Something: David Ridgen skillfully and sensitively interviews bereft families about cold cases and investigates to try and figure out what really happened. There are several seasons of this harrowing podcast and it is beautifully made.
• West Cork: This engrossing, nuanced, and insightful podcast investigates the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier which shocked bucolic West Cork in Ireland. A local reporter inserts himself into the story and soon becomes the chief suspect.
• Cold: Investigative journalist Dave Cawley investigates missing persons cases, starting with the tragic tale of Susan Powell. Well-researched and respectful, this slow-burn podcast is a must for true crime fans.
• The Thing About Pam: Beautifully narrated by Keith Morrison, this podcast is a rollercoaster ride that gets weirder as it goes on. This case inspired a mini-series with Renée Zellweger playing Pam.
• Your Own Backyard: This sensitive and meticulous investigation into the disappearance of Kristin Smart from Cal Poly in 1996 uncovered fresh leads for detectives and doggedly fought for justice.
• Who Killed Daphne: Investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia was murdered by a car bomb in Malta, and this podcast delves into her work exposing the unscrupulous elite to identify her killers.
• 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: A gripping podcast that focuses on incompetent or psychopathic (maybe both) ex-surgeon Christopher Duntsch and exposes terrifying institutional failures.
• Crimetown: Taking a forensic approach to 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.
• Love Janessa: Catfishing scams are big business, but why do so many use photos of Janessa Brazil? This podcast tracks her down to find out.
• The Evaporated: Gone With the Gods: Journalist Jake Adelstein dives deep into Japanese culture, pursuing his missing accountant and exploring the mysterious disappearances of thousands of people in Japan every year.
• Wisecrack: A stand-up comic tells the tale of his brush with a killer, sparking a true-crime podcaster to investigate.
• Aftermath: Hunt for the Anthrax Killer: A look at the FBI’s investigation into the Anthrax-laced letters that terrified the country in the aftermath of 9/11.
• The Ballad of Billy Balls: This beautifully made podcast delves into the death of punk musician Billy Balls in early ‘80s New York.
• The Retrievals: A shocking look at how badly ignored and mistreated female patients often are by contemporary medicine.

Best Science Podcasts

Courtesy of Ologies

Courtesy of Aubrey Gordon & Michael Hobbes

Courtesy of NPR

Courtesy of BBC

• Stephen Fry’s Inside Your Mind: Listen to Stephen Fry tell easily digestible stories about the brain, drawing on research from neuroscientists, psychologists, anthropologists, and philosophers.
• Houston, We Have a Podcast: Anyone interested in spaceflight must give NASA’s official podcast a listen, for interviews with astronauts and scientists.
• Science Rules!: Bill Nye, the science guy, teams up with science writer Corey Powell to grill 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.
• From First Principles: Two Princeton graduates (one PhD, as they jokingly point out), cover the top science news of the week, breaking down complex research into fun and understandable stories anyone can get excited about.

Best Economics Podcasts

Courtesy of Audacy

What We Spend

Courtesy of NPR

Courtesy of Freakonomics Radio Network

Courtesy of Macro Musings

• Scene on Radio: Capitalism: As we descend into increasingly dystopian late-stage capitalism, this intelligent deep dive outlines its history and explores how it might be reformed or radically overhauled.
• Conversations with Tyler: American economist Tyler Cowen interrogates some of the world’s smartest people in this intellectually challenging interview podcast.
• 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.

Best Business Podcasts

Courtesy of Wondery

Courtesy of Steven Bartlett

Courtesy of TED/Audio Collective

• The Pitch: Fans of Shark Tank will enjoy this podcast, which features entrepreneurs pitching investors to secure real money for their startups.
• Ask Martin Lewis: Personal finance guru Martin Lewis has been helping folks in the UK save money for years and provides straightforward financial advice here.
• BizChix: This podcast from business coach Natalie Eckdahl is aimed squarely at female entrepreneurs and is packed with no-nonsense expert advice.
• Teamistry: With a focus on teams and what they can achieve, the latest season of this podcast tells the fascinating story of the supersonic passenger jet Concorde.

Best Celebrity Interview Podcasts

Courtesy of Adam Buxton

Courtesy of Wondery

Courtesy of Wondery

• 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.
• Where There’s a Will, There’s a Wake: Kathy Burke laughs in the face of death, asking guests like Stewart Lee and Dawn French how they’d like to die, what sort of funeral they want, and who they plan to haunt.
• Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend: Fans of Conan’s late-night talk shows will feel right at home here as the host interviews celebrities like Ben Stiller and Ted Danson. He hosts it alongside his long–time assistant-turned-friend Sona Movsesian and Matt Gourley.
• Mad, Sad and Bad with Paloma Faith: Singer Paloma Faith invites all kinds of celebs to discuss the most challenging moments of their lives.

Best Sports Podcasts

Courtesy of Goalhanger

Courtesy of Wondery

Courtesy of The Ringer

Courtesy of The Athletic

• Soccer A to Z: If you remember watching Soccer AM on lazy Saturday mornings this reunion podcast gets the gang back together, including Tim, Helen, Tubes, and the rest, for sprawling chats on soccer, interviews, anecdotes, and banter galore.
• Broomgate: A Curling Scandal: This comedic exploration of the furor around new broom-head technology that threatened to sweep away the curling competition will spark your interest in this gloriously peculiar sport.
• Undr the Cosh: Open and honest banter from ex-professional soccer (football) 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 knowledgeable hosts who bounce off each other.

Best Music Podcasts

Courtesy of Spotify

Courtesy of Aquarium Drunkard

Courtesy of BBC

Courtesy of Tyler Mahan Coe

• 60 Songs That Explain the 90s: A funny, thoughtful skip down nostalgia lane, as host Rob Harvilla (usually with a guest) dissects all the big tunes of the decade, some you love, some you hate, but he explains why they mattered.
• Song Exploder: Learn exactly what some of your most-loved tracks are about and how they came to be from the people who wrote and performed them.
• Lost Notes: Billed as the “greatest music stories never told” this podcast is a blend of music, interviews, and well-researched history that delivers fascinating insights.
• No Dogs in Space: This sweet, smart, and funny music history podcast delivers biographies of bands like the Beastie Boys, the Stooges, and Joy Division.

Best Movie Podcasts

Courtesy of Earwolf

Courtesy of BBC

Courtesy of You Must Remember This

• The Director’s Cut: Listen to directors like Benicio del Toro, Steven Spielberg, and James Cameron being interviewed about their latest movies by their peers in roughly half-hour episodes.
• 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 thrown in.
• Black Men Can’t Jump (in Hollywood): This comedic movie review podcast highlights films featuring actors of color and analyzes the movies in depth, with an eye on race and diversity.

Best TV Podcasts

Courtesy of Headgum

Courtesy of HBO

Courtesy of Wondery

Courtesy of Steve Schirripa

• Shrink the Box: Actor Ben Bailey Smith talks with psychotherapist Sasha Bates as they put some of the best TV characters of all time (like Walter White and Omar Little) on the couch for analysis.
• Obsessed With…: This BBC podcast is hosted by celebrity superfans of various TV shows, including Killing Eve, Peaky Blinders, and Line of Duty.
• 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.
• 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.

Best Fiction Podcasts

Midnight Burger

Courtesy of The Paragon Collective

Courtesy of Hello from the Magic Tavern

Courtesy of Battle Bird Productions

Courtesy of Audible

• Marigold Breach: This intriguing sci-fi tale about a soldier with a sentient AI implant stars Jameela Jamil and Manny Jacinto.
• DUST: This podcast started as an anthology of audio sci-fi stories from the likes of Philip K. Dick and Ray Bradbury but has changed things up with each new season.
• 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.

Best History Podcasts

Courtesy of Vox Media

Courtesy of Revolutions

Courtesy of Radiotopia

Courtesy of Grim Mild

• Something True: Enjoy utterly bizarre true stories, as every episode of this podcast explores a 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.
• Hardcore History: Relatable and endlessly fascinating, Dan Carlin brings history to life with his riveting narratives on notable events and periods, peppered with facts and hypothetical questions.

Best Food Podcasts

Courtesy of BBC

Courtesy of Ramble

Courtesy of Gastropod

Courtesy of The Ringer

• 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-size insights.

Best Health and Wellness Podcasts

Courtesy of Lionrock

Courtesy of LYT

Courtesy of Great Love Media

• The Big Silence: Host Karena Dawn has conversations about mental health with an eclectic mix of therapists, psychologists, and ostensibly successful folks.
• Spiraling With Katie Dalebout and Serena Wolf: Candid chats about anxiety with advice on how to cope. The relatable hosts are open and honest about the anxious feelings that modern life can evoke.
• Huberman Lab: Host Andrew Huberman, a professor of neurobiology and ophthalmology at Stanford School of Medicine, interviews various experts to offer advice on optimizing your health and fitness.

Best Comedy Podcasts

Courtesy of Kayvan Novak

Fonejacker

Courtesy of Audible

Dara Ó Briain’s Timewasters

Courtesy of Global Player

Courtesy of Shiny Ranga

Courtesy of Team Coco

Courtesy of Athletico Mince

• Old Harry’s Game: A sitcom set in hell, written by and starring Andy Hamilton as a jaded Satan, this deliciously satirical show may have landed in the late 90s but is still worth listening to. Slightly cheating here because this was a radio show rather than a podcast but you can get all the episodes online now.
• 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.
• My Neighbors Are Dead: The wonderful premise of this hit-and-miss improvised show is interviews with lesser-known characters from horror movies, like the caterer from Damien’s party in The Omen and the neighbors from Poltergeist.