Whether you’re cooking, working out or on a road trip, podcasts are a great way to expand your mind or just enjoy some good laughs. With too many podcasts to count, it can be hard to jump into new ones. But if you know what you’re in the mood for, here are a few recommendations to get you started in the wonderful world of podcasts.
If you want to learn:
Ologies: Host Alie Ward interviews an expert in a different field every episode, finding areas of study you’ve probably never heard of. You can listen to the episodes in any order or just pick and choose which topics look interesting. That said, this podcast will get you interested in subjects you would have never thought about.
Alie’s enthusiasm for every subject is infectious, and the passion of the guests is always contagious enough to give the listener a new appreciation for their field. From the natural sciences to space exploration to societal oddities, Ologies will give you a whole new perspective on the world around you and remind you to ask smart people stupid questions.
Short History Of…: Do you ever find yourself wishing you knew more about the Suez Canal, the Gunpowder Plot or the time Agatha Christie disappeared for 11 days? This podcast tells the stories of the past in a well-written narrative style. The narrators have excellent pacing, but the real magic is in which stories are told.
This podcast has a knack for choosing the true tales that many have heard of, but few truly know inside and out. The immersive storytelling will give you a whole new appreciation for the fascinating history of the individual people, places and events that formed our modern world.
If you want to laugh:
We’re Here to Help: Jake Johnson of “New Girl” fame and Gareth Reynolds, a standup comedian and podcaster, offer advice to listeners who call in with their strangest problems. Callers’ issues range from getting caught in lies to planning elaborate parties to convincing a spouse that self-defense lessons are paying off.
Reynolds and Johnson have fantastic comedic chemistry and almost always manage to find a solution that walks the line between hysterically funny and actually feasible for the caller to do. This show also includes follow-up calls, so feel free to get invested in the caller’s struggle!
Til Death Do Us Blart: This podcast has crossed the line from being a ridiculous comedy roundtable to becoming some kind of bizarre performance art. Every year, podcasting brothers Justin, Travis and Grant McElroy and New Zealand comedians Tim Batt and Guy Montgomery watch and review “Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2.” The five of them have committed to doing this every single year for the rest of their lives (hence the podcast’s name). Since the movie came out in 2015, there are only 10 episodes so far, in addition to a bonus episode released during the pandemic where they finally review the original “Paul Blart: Mall Cop.”
Listening to all the episodes at once is a fascinating study in hearing five grown men lose their minds as they stare down the decision that will follow them for the rest of their time in this world. Episodes release every Thanksgiving, so you’ll have something to look forward to if you start listening now.
If you want to get deeply invested in a story:
The Magnus Archives: There’s no better time to start this one than the beginning of spooky season. In this narrative podcast, each episode recounts someone’s paranormal experience, all logged at the mysterious Magnus Institute by the organization’s new archivist. As the podcast goes on, the skeptical archivist begins to notice connections between the seemingly unrelated statements as the horrors start to bleed through into his own life.
It’s best to start this podcast at the beginning and listen in order if you’ve never heard it before. The way the stories begin to intertwine is a genuinely thrilling experience. Despite the lovable characters and occasional funny moments, this is a horror podcast to the core, so be sure to check episode content warnings. The podcast is 200 relatively short episodes, but a sequel series called “The Magnus Protocol” just concluded its second season and will soon begin releasing its third.
Midnight Burger: Any fan of “Doctor Who” should check out this interdimensional diner and its permanently trapped employees. This podcast has some of the most immediately entertaining characters and purely wacky plots each episode. After mixing in a little well-placed social commentary and a classic found family, you have a recipe for casual entertainment that you’ll occasionally find yourself far too invested in.
Whether you’re just starting to get into podcasts or you thought you’ve heard everything out there, I hope this list helps you find your next listen. Go forth and learn, laugh and live all through your headphones this week as you try out these amazing podcasts.
great article. Till death do us Blart is my favorite podcast to hear about.