10 Podcasts You Should Listen To

Podcasts and audiobooks are great resources to educate and entertain yourself through the day. While you do the dishes, commute, or walk the dog — you can listen to great stories and interesting ideas.

There comes a time in our life when we ask: which podcast should I listen to? Maybe your old favorites are feeling stale. Maybe you’ve never really checked them out but have decided to give them a try.

Whatever your reason, if you’re looking for a podcast to listen to, you’ve come to the right place! We’ve assembled the must-hear podcasts in the categories of Education, Health and Wellness, Career and Self Development, and Entertainment.

Educational

Philosophy Bites

This is a classic. It was started by David Edmonds and Nigel Warburton in 2007, so it’s ancient as far as podcasts go. In that time, they’ve assembled an incredible amount of bite sized interviews on different topics in philosophy. They’ve also sprouted spin-off podcasts on ethics and aesthetics, both in the same format as the original. At 15-20 minutes a piece, this is a great, friendly, non-pretentious initiation in philosophy.

Fall of Civilizations

A relatively new option, Fall of Civilizations presents long form tales of, what do you expect, the fall of civilizations. The host Paul M.M. Cooper does a great job providing the background to these historic moments of collapse, and his research is impeccable. If you really like what you hear and want some visuals, the YouTube channel has the audio accompanied by video. It’s just getting started, but this one will be one podcast to keep an eye on.

Hardcore History

Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History is the stuff of podcasting legend. His series covers a range of topics through history, and the man is thorough. Some episodes last multiple hours, providing interesting details and stories from the events that changed the world. There is a reason Carlin is one of the most downloaded voices in history, too — he sounds great and his production is top-of-the-line.

Health and Wellness

Sleep With Me

Drew Ackerman’s scandalously titled podcast is much more wholesome than it sounds. Twice a week, he sends out a long, rambling episode meant to help you fall asleep. This one-man storytime works because Ackerman has the perfect voice for entertaining you just enough to keep your mind off your worries but so calm and sonorous that you can drift off into la-la-land. If you ever have difficulty going to sleep, it’s a great podcast feed to have on hand. Sure beats counting sheep!

The Mental Illness Happy Hour with Paul Gilmartin

It might sound too good to be true: a comedian hosting an hour long podcast about mental health, addiction, and related topics. But Paul Gilmartin’s podcast delivers. He brings in artists and doctors to talk about the experience and treatment of mental illness. If you are having a hard time, it helps to hear others talk openly about their own struggles, and it might provide the encouragement you need when you need it most.

Stronger by Science

Most workout media is built around a single trainer trying to sell you his or her “system” — complete with their own line of supplements. But you want the real evidence-based approach to get in shape. Hosted by Greg Nuckols and Eric Trexler, Stronger by Science is a super-long format (around 2 hours a show) podcast bringing you the science of fitness and nutrition. The hosts don’t want to bore you though, so there is plenty of loose conversation to keep it light. If you are a fitness freak or trying to get into shape, this podcast gives you reliable information rather than gimmicks.

Career and Self-Development

Duncan Trussell Family Hour

This podcast blew up in early 2020 after episodes were animated by Adventure Time creator Pendleton Ward and packaged as Netflix’s Midnight Gospel. But Duncan Trussell has been delivering up audio gold for years. His interviews range from Buddhists to occultists, comedians to musicians, but they are always insightful and far, far out. This is great for opening your third eye and exploring the spiritual side of life.

Manager Tools

This podcast delivers up no-nonsense advice on how to lead in the workplace. Even if you don’t manage anyone (yet), it’s always important to build leadership skills. The best part of this podcast is that it avoids the “secrets of the greats” kind of snake oil that some finance and career shows fall into. This is useful, tried-and-true wisdom, presented in a no-nonsense way. It takes this stuff seriously, as we all should.

Entertainment

Song Exploder

Now a Netflix show, Song Exploder began as one of the best podcasts ever conceived. Each episode focuses on a single song, with interviews with the musicians and producers who wrote and recorded it. The episodes cover every element, from the reasoning behind the drum beat to the little dabs of synth over the outro. The discussions are fascinating, and you can’t help but appreciate music more after listening to an episode.

Comedy Bang! Bang!

Scott Aukerman’s long running comedy series brings the laughs non-stop. The long episodes feature celebrity guests and include skits and improvised act-outs, and the format usually breaks open into strange turns of events. If you like it, you’ll find endless hours of entertainment in their back catalogue.

So, what did you think about our suggested podcasts? Is there a podcast we should have included? If so, let us know in the comments below. We are sure our readers would love to hear your suggestions.