The Best Podcasts You Need to Listen to Right Now
There's comedy, true-crime, history and so much more.
Whether you're just getting into the wonderful world of podcasts and figuring out how to listen to podcasts in a way that fits your lifestyle, or you're a longtime pod-lover in the market for great new shows to add to your queue, this list of the best podcasts has something for every taste and listening style. While those who haven't explored the offerings may think of podcasts as consisting largely of opinionated people monologuing into a mic, this incredibly diverse audio medium encompasses a dizzying array of topics and styles.
Podcasts can cover everything from comedy, news, cooking (and eating), celebrity gossip, self-help, true-crime and so much more. And just like our attention spans, there's also a range of lengths available. Some offer bite-sized learning or entertainment in just five or 10 minutes, while others can go on for hours, perfect for long road trips, exercise sessions or house cleaning. Just like a great audiobook, beloved musical album or well-curated radio station, podcasts are a fantastic way to keep your mind engaged while commuting, working out or whenever your brain needs a distraction. There are also podcasts for kids that can add a little learning to the carpool, or at least save you from listening to the kiddos' song of the week for the millionth time in a row. Whatever your genre of choice, we can virtually guarantee you'll find a new favorite on this list.
The Best Podcasts of 2023
Weight For It
People of size already know that weight is a complex, often painful topic. This six-part series by Ronald Young, Jr. delves into it in a narrative way that feels both personal and approachable.
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Normal Gossip
This podcast, hosted by journalist and gossip enthusiast Kelsey McKinney, is exactly what the title promises: low-stakes goss, collected from reader stories, that runs the gamut from banal to downright outrageous. If you're the type of person who has occasionally missed their train stop because they're eavesdropping on their fellow passengers (guilty), this delightfully lukewarm tea is for you.
Love, Janessa
If you like true crime stories with a bit of a twist, you'll steam right through this BBC limited series that looks at catfishing scams through a different light. Janessa Brazil's likeness has been used to fool thousands of people—but who is she, and what is her role in all this? This engaging story is also only seven episodes, so it's nice and bite-sized.
Sold a Story
If you or your kids have struggled with reading, you're not alone. Scientists have spent decades digging into the ways the human brain learns to turn letters into words and words into meaning, but those aren't necessarily the ones being used in schools. Why not? In this engrossing series, investigative journalist Emily Hanford seeks to find out.
The School of Greatness
Host Lewis Howes' inspiring interviews with successful people will energize you to make the most of your day, even if your work is less moon-landing and more email. This one tackles big topics with the people who know what they're talking about, so you're guaranteed to learn something along the way.
American Radical
Over a year after the insurrection at the Capitol on January 6, MSNBC digs into what brought one woman to the riot in the first place. Host and family friend Ayman Mohyeldin talks through how the late Rosanne Boyland got sucked into the conspiracy theories that led to that fateful day.
Princess of South Beach
Fans of telenovelas will be clutching their pearls along with this bilingual audio soap opera. It's all about twin sisters María del Carmen and Gloria who were separated at birth and raised in two different worlds – one in a convent and the other in a rich enclave. When Gloria dies suddenly and María del Carmen assumes her identity, things start to go deliciously awry.
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Dark House
At the intersection of interior design, true crime and the paranormal sits this delightful podcast hosted by House Beautiful editors Hadley Mendelsohn and Alyssa Fiorentino. Join them and guest paranormal investigators, authors and other experts as they take on the fascinating backstories of America’s most infamous homes.
70 Over 70
With a wink at the eponymous "30 Under 30" and similar lists, this podcast interviews 70 fascinating people over the age of 70 about what they're up to. But host Max Linsky doesn't just focus on their history; the guests' outlook on their lives today makes this show not only an inspiring listen, but a unique one.
Hot White Heist
A star-studded cast featuring Bowen Yang, Cynthia Nixon, Jane Lynch and others performs this fictional podcast that can only be described as what would happen if James Bond was made for an all-adults crowd. It's a wild ride all the way from the hysterical theme song through the last scene.
Fat Mascara
The Improvement Association
While a podcast about voter fraud in a small town in North Carolina might sound dry, this limited series about a powerful political action committee that's tampering with elections is anything but. Those who live in tight-knit communities may recognize elements of their own towns here, and others will just enjoy the drama.
You Must Remember This
Hosted by Karina Longworth, a former film critic for LA Weekly, YMRT dives into the forgotten — and often scandalous — history of Old Hollywood. Extensively researched and deeply fascinating, Longworth untangles the off-screen drama of everything from Disney's controversial film Song of the South to Howard Hughes' infamous love affairs.
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