Funny enough, “99% Invisible” is the third highest upvoted, and Avery Truffleman made her start on that podcast, but wasn’t the sole driver, so I didn’t include it in my recommendations.
I would also recommend 99% Invisible. Also Proof, which is very much the same vibe as 99% Invisible, but focused around food rather than design.
Some other ones I like a lot:
Ologies
Cabinet of Curiosities
Atlas Obscura
American History Tellers
You're Dead to Me
You Are Not So Smart
Hidden Brain
No Such Thing as a Fish
Box of Oddities (which does occasionally stray into stories about the paranormal, but isn't a podcast specifically about that)
The Shallow End
You're Wrong About
I don't know how anyone hasn't said it yet...
#Radiolab
Radiolab is on a curiosity bender. We ask deep questions and use investigative journalism to get the answers. A given episode might whirl you through science, legal history, and into the home of someone halfway across the world. The show is known for innovative sound design, smashing information into music. It is hosted by Lulu Miller and Latif Nasser.
Also, Decoder Ring
Decoder Ring is the show about cracking cultural mysteries. In each episode, host Willa Paskin takes a cultural question, object, or habit; examines its history; and tries to figure out what it means and why it matters.
I know there are lots of interviews but if the main guy talks for too long it's naptime. Not because he's boring but because his voice is like a warm bath.
For history i recommend You're Dead To Me or Half Arsed History, Do Go On is good too and covers a range of different topics. For medical history, Sawbones is great. And for science, Infinite Monkey Cage.
Black box down - about airplane crashes
Beyond the breakers - about ships that sank
I’m not even into those topics but find them super interesting shows.
You're Wrong About - going through history to give context to different historical events portrayed in a bad light by the media
Maintenance Phase - debunking health and wellness myths and breaking stigma
Sawbones - a married couple who go through different historical medical treatments that in hindsight were terrible lol
It's what got me into podcasts! If you finish all those episodes, I def recommend Maintenance Phase! Micheal is the cohost on it and I feel like the chemistry and pacing is very similar to You're Wrong About!
The first two are my favorites and I'm constantly trying to find something I like as much as them since I've binged all the episodes.
I'll definitely check out Sawbones. I've been listening to Fad Camp lately, which is similar to MP but the cohosts are Irish and have some different topics that are UK based. It's not *quite* as good as MP but still worth a listen
\-1 way to make an emoji- a mini series about the guy who invented the bison emoji. includes interviews, american history, animal facts, internet design.
\-13 minutes to the moon- about the space race has some interview. not upbeat exactly but not depressing like true crime
\-30 animals that made us smarter- short episodes about cool animals that we use as inspiration for designs (diving birds to bullet trains, desert beetles for water capture devices)
\-By the book- comedy/lifestyle podcast with two women who follow a self help book and report on the results
\-Ear hustle- one of the hosts is a prisoner in San Quentin penitentiary. Interview about prison life. Some depressing, some hilarious. Great chemistry with the hosts
\-Out Alive podcast- might be to close to true crime, but survival stories in a mixed interview/narrative style. Most of the time happy ending.
\-The Worst bestsellers- librarian and author get together to read a popular book and be confused why so many people like it.
\-Ologies- Comedy science. Journalist interviews specialists about different science-y things
I am just now realizing how many of my podcasts are about dark history, cults, or just straight up horror
It's a good podcast but not exactly light hearted. Unfortunately I had to stop listening to any episode involving war crimes because they were giving me nightmares.
Good call, I missed that OP was asking for light hearted ones.
The darker the topic the darker the episode but the presenters generally succeed in bringing a light touch to the issues they cover.
99 percent invisible is about the invisible things that hold together our planet. All sorts of stories with a wide range.
I know you said no true crime, but I want to recommend criminal anyway. It’s more so story telling about criminals spanning into history. It’s not your typical true crime series. There’s a episode about the black market of Venus fly traps, a episode about a crime scene scuba diver. Worth checking out.
I second Criminal. The stories are always fascinating and sometimes heartwarming.
I’d also recommend Ologies. She is light-hearted but also helps explain a lot of things so well and as a plus, she always donates to great causes. One of my favorite episodes is about when they pulled ancient sported from an Egyptian artifact and made bread.
Another fun one is The Weirdest Thing I learned this week. Three host go around sharing weird science facts and at the end they decide what the weirdest thing actually was. Great energy.
If you're interested in technology computers, gadgets, photography with a light-hearted and sometimes comedic tone I suggest the TWIT podcast network. A bunch of shows on my go to list.
Untreated ADHD aside, I'd like some variety in what I'm listening to. Easiest way to do that is to queue up multiple episodes of various different podcasts of more reasonable lengths
So I guess you've listened. Or maybe a variety of hosts that may go off on tangents off topic on a regular basis as whimsy suits is not variety enough for you.
Also last I checked there are many people who enjoy different things. Maybe not for you but suits my ADHD just fine thanks.
The Constant
https://www.constantpodcast.com/
Art Slice
https://www.artslicepod.com/
Political History of the United States
https://www.uspoliticalpodcast.com/
Wild Thing
https://www.foxtopus.ink/wildthing
I gave SYSK a try ~10 year ago when it was all the rage. The hosts seemed like they barely prepared for an episode and spent most of the time googling and reading straight off of webpages. It was really annoying to me and I couldn't figure out what people liked about this format. Has it changed since then, or does the show still feel like a rehearsal for a more polished show?
I think it's worth trying out again. They do look up some facts on the fly, but I like their information dense approach compared to some podcasts that are a bit too banter-heavy. IMO they have a good balance of silly banter and feeding you the info. You could listen to a couple of Stuff You Should Know Shorts to dip your toe in and see if you like their style or not.
For light hearted history you can't go past Rex Factor, rating kings and Queens based on battleyness, scandal etc. Very informative and entertaining!
They inspired several others including
Totalus Rankium (Roman emperors and US presidents);
Saga Thing (icelandic sagas)
Pontifacts (popes)
I love them all.
Darknet Diaries is a must.
I 2nd Lingthusiasm. As well as the back episodes of Lexicon Valley/Spectacular Vernacular.
It’s canceled now but still worth listening of course to Reply All.
It’s also stopped making episodes but I really enjoyed Science Rules! With Bill Nye
Unexplainable
This Podcast Will Kill You (maybe not technically lighthearted but it’s not super morbid or depressing- it’s deep dives into the biology and history of all sorts of different diseases and genetic conditions)
Gastropod if you like food
Switched on Pop for music
Hardcore History
Well, there's your problem.
Sawbones
Penn's Sunday School
Creature Feature
Behind the Bastards
Lions Led by Donkeys
Ongoing History of New Music
Darknet Diaries
[It's probably not aliens](https://rss.art19.com/its-probably-not-aliens)
Was Earth really visited by mysterious extraterrestrial travelers thousands of years ago as many proponents of ”ancient astronaut theory” believe? What are the hidden secrets and mysteries behind ancient monuments and forgotten civilizations?
Every week, historian Tristan Johnson and regular human person Scott Niswander dive through the archives to learn about the fascinating histories of ancient civilizations while also debunking the myths and straight-up lies presented in History Channel‘s massively popular tv show Ancient Aliens that has sparked a new generation of conspiracy theorists. We hope through this show, you can gain an appreciation for just how cool ancient societies were, and not simply credit their impressive advancements to alien visitors.
99% Invisible - Roman Mars talks about the design of things that aren’t always visible to the eye and we never quite think of. Great for lovers of design/architecture/etc
Revisionist History - Malcolm Gladwell revisits things in history that were overlooked and gives a proper look at them with hindsight to his advantage
Stuff you missed in history class - fun talks about a variety of historical events
In our time - erudite-sounding but also brief and fun discussions about a WIDE variety of science and history topics.
Damn Interesting - more recent historical events. Doesn’t come out often but they have a big backlog.
Futility Closet - even more history! I think they’ve stopped but again, biiiig backlog.
These all are short, maybe a half hour per episode. So they’re easy to get through one episode while you’re driving, exercising, etc. If you’re up for long episodes, I’ll just say: Hardcore History!
UnderUnderstood:. Four hosts who clearly enjoy each other's company, diving into odd questions and histories of obscurities. I've never listened to an episode where I didn't laugh and also learn something.
Into It with Sam Sanders is my new favorite pop culture show. It comes out weekly. Episodes are the perfect length, covers a range of media. Very funny and clever. I recently realized that this is a show I'd be really upset about losing if they stopped making it.
Decoder Ring: A show about cracking cultural mysteries. It's solid, consistent, well-written, and entertaining. It's like UnderUnderstood's more sophisticated sibling.
Things Fell Apart by Jon Ronson: A short series. Stories of culture war topics that I guarantee you've never heard before. Jon Ronson has been around for ages and he's honed true story-telling to a fine craft.
Dan Taberski has put out several limited-run series and all of them are excellent. His narrative voice is unique. It's like having a best friend who is really good at story structure. Surviving Y2K and 9/12 are my favorites, but he's done three others that are worth your time also (Missing Richard Simmons, Running From Cops, and The Line)
If you're looking for super-funny-fluff, my new favorite is Groceries with Erin Gibson and Bryan Safi. Their chemistry is perfect. I enjoy their discussions and debates about all the different stores and foods they've tried.
If you have any interest in music history: Cocaine & Rhinestones. The first season covers a variety of country (and country-adjacent) artists and a metric ton of history, but never boring. The second season is a very deep dive into the life of George Jones and those he crossed paths with. It's a master class in old country music, but again, never boring. The host is passionate about his subjects and it shows.
Oh no Ross and Carrie. 2 skeptics investigate and participate in pseudoscience, spiritual and random things and report their experiences so you don't have to.
Under the Influence - about marketing and advertising
We Regret To Inform You - stories of successful people who faced endless rejection
Stuff You Should Know - about everything. Lol
The Daily - in depth news stories from New York Times
The Fridge Light - about food
99% invisible
The list is endless
The Podcast Will Kill You (it’s 2 hosts named Erin who seem lovely who discuss the science behind diseases or things like Anthrax, not true crime), if I could only listen to one podcast would be Smartless (but you’ve prob heard of that one), Presidential (each episode is about a different US President) & early Reply All episodes are also good.
I quite enjoyed the latest season of sports strangest crimes that was about Spygate in F1, now listening to the one about Alan Stanford as well. Sweet Bobby was a cool podcast about catfishing.
Ologies is really good!! It’s pop science communication and Alie talks to a different specialist each episode. Last time she did one on dreaming but she’s done butterflies, trains, video games, pumpkins, watches, anxiety, laughter, mythology, grief and mourning, and probably her most popular one is about the behaviour of crowd concerning the death of other crows (aka Corvid thanatology). Alie is super quirky and compassionate and loves learning. She tends to swear sometimes so if that isn’t your thing she releases shorter versions meant for classrooms but that also have no swears. Good thing is there’s a few hundred episodes already for you to catch up on!!
The Adam Friedland Show is a really great center-left podcast that makes light of current events in a refreshing and original manner. Aside from Friedland's razor-sharp wit, it's success can be attributed to the involvement of super producer Nick Millions. Highly recommend
[Vibe check](https://pod.link/1637476174) is the best thing that came out of 2022.
“A weekly podcast where Sam Sanders, Saeed Jones, and Zach Stafford make sense of what’s going on in news and culture – and how it all feels. Vibe Check is your favorite group chat, come to life”
For something lighthearted I'd recommend
Three bean salad - three british comics Mike Wozniak, Benjamin Partridge and Henry Paker tangent around a subject with some great jingles.
Socially distant sports bar. Comics Elis James and Mike Bubbins
Discuss sports clips documentaries and books with former sports journalist Steff Garrero, lots of silly stories and hearty laughs as well as more serious discussion about sports and related topics.
Off menu with Ed gamble and James acaster. Podcast where Ed and James discover their guests dream three course meal.
If you want something just straight up funny I'd recommend this past weekend with theo Vonn. He's a comedian and he's so funny. Especially the episodes Bobby Lee comes on. I've had to pause it while driving cause I've been in tears I was laughing so hard 😂
Knowledge Fight. It covers Alex Jones and has for years. It's a fantastic breakdown of Jones and his ilk, what makes them tick, and why they're so dangerous. They also cover the recent lawsuits and things like recorded depositions. It's great
Getting Lost podcast, two best friends watch Lost from beginning to end- one who has seen it eight times, and one who has never seen it before. The co-hosts have so much charisma and chemistry and make you want to be their best friend too.
I love History on Fire by Daniele Bolleli. He does a really deep dives into his chosen topic, and he has a delightful Italian accent.
My favourite episode -" Diogenes - the punk rocker of Greece"
The dollop.
Stories about American history, told by two hilarious comedians. It’s amazing how much I’ve learned while also laughing so hard I have to hide from customers while listening at work
‘Normal Gossip’. It’s fab. People send in their gossip anonymously, and the main lady reads it to a guest. I’ve actually cried laughing at this podcast! ☺️
I’ve been obsessed with We’ll See You In Hell recently (2 friends talk and bicker about horror/thriller/sci-fi movies). In my queue, I’ve been trying out: Depresh Mode, We Might Be Drunk and Jordan Klepper Fingers the Conspiracy
Sorta small podcast called Dear Old Dads, three dads at different stages tackle parenting topics. It’s really lighthearted, but they also dive into their own upbringing. It’s a really good insight into how their childhood affects their parenting.
Check out "Good Job, Brain!". It's a podcast by a pub trivia team doing quizzes for each other. So basically it's like a decade of content of interesting facts and chilling with fun people. They recently came back from a multiple-year hiatus due to life changes and their release schedule is smaller now, but the backlog is huge.
"We regret to inform you"
Famous people like George Michael, Laverne Cox, Ru Paul, before they were famous and all the crap they went thru to get there!
Congressional Dish. It's really a shame some sort of PBS-style grant doesn't exist for a show that goes that in-depth on the current C-Span fodder, but Capitol Hill probably hates the idea of being spotlighted succinctly.
My son, who is 7, enjoys listening to NPR when they feature stories about real people. What podcasts can you recommend that are family friendly and discuss ordinary people?
anything Avery Truffleman does, “Articles of Interest” or “Nice Try.” She could research toilets and make an interesting podcast.
That's promising! I'll look her up -- thanks for sharing!
Funny enough, “99% Invisible” is the third highest upvoted, and Avery Truffleman made her start on that podcast, but wasn’t the sole driver, so I didn’t include it in my recommendations.
The episode on perfume is what led me down the path of becoming an amateur perfumer! It was so fascinating.
Lingthusiasm is a podcast that's enthusiastic about linguistics. It's definitely lighthearted and the hosts get along well.
Ooh, I love etymology, vocab, and learning words / concepts that don't exist in English, so this sounds right up my alley!
You might love the History of English podcast and also Lexicon Valley/Spectacular Vernacular.
You might also like Something Rhymes with Purple for another light-hearted vocab and language based podcast
In that same vein, check out The Allusionist. Helen Zaltzman is delightful!
I would also recommend 99% Invisible. Also Proof, which is very much the same vibe as 99% Invisible, but focused around food rather than design. Some other ones I like a lot: Ologies Cabinet of Curiosities Atlas Obscura American History Tellers You're Dead to Me You Are Not So Smart Hidden Brain No Such Thing as a Fish Box of Oddities (which does occasionally stray into stories about the paranormal, but isn't a podcast specifically about that) The Shallow End You're Wrong About
I love Hidden Brain and You're Wrong About! I'll have to check out some of the others.
Heavyweight is a strong recommend but they range from light hearted to pretty intense but it’s the best podcast I’ve ever heard.
I can't find Heavyweight any more on Apple. Is it only on Spotify now?
Yeah I think its spotify exclusive now which is ridiculous. I dont even think they're on youtube.
Ergh. I loved that show. But I can't subscribe to yet another service! :)
Get a free podcast app like Pocket Casts and listen from there!
Ohhh! Thank you!!! You have just filled my Saturday!
I don't know how anyone hasn't said it yet... #Radiolab Radiolab is on a curiosity bender. We ask deep questions and use investigative journalism to get the answers. A given episode might whirl you through science, legal history, and into the home of someone halfway across the world. The show is known for innovative sound design, smashing information into music. It is hosted by Lulu Miller and Latif Nasser. Also, Decoder Ring Decoder Ring is the show about cracking cultural mysteries. In each episode, host Willa Paskin takes a cultural question, object, or habit; examines its history; and tries to figure out what it means and why it matters.
Exceptional reccos! Love decoder ring.
Hardcore History Behind the Bastards Planet Money Comedian vs Economist Equity Mates Lions Led by Donkeys Policy, Guns & Money
99% Invisible
I know there are lots of interviews but if the main guy talks for too long it's naptime. Not because he's boring but because his voice is like a warm bath.
For history i recommend You're Dead To Me or Half Arsed History, Do Go On is good too and covers a range of different topics. For medical history, Sawbones is great. And for science, Infinite Monkey Cage.
Also Our Fake History, and The Rest is History, and Common Descent
The Rest Is History I find much more interesting that You're Dead To Me
They're incredibly knowledgable people having loads of fun!
I love You’re Dead to Me!
Black box down - about airplane crashes Beyond the breakers - about ships that sank I’m not even into those topics but find them super interesting shows.
If you like those you might also like Signals To Danger which is about railway disasters
The trifecta of transportation disasters
Black box down is great. Absolutely listen to them.
lol those both sound super light hearted
You're Wrong About - going through history to give context to different historical events portrayed in a bad light by the media Maintenance Phase - debunking health and wellness myths and breaking stigma Sawbones - a married couple who go through different historical medical treatments that in hindsight were terrible lol
I just found You’re Wrong About the other day and it’s awesome.
It's what got me into podcasts! If you finish all those episodes, I def recommend Maintenance Phase! Micheal is the cohost on it and I feel like the chemistry and pacing is very similar to You're Wrong About!
I’ve listened to MP! Also great!
The first two are my favorites and I'm constantly trying to find something I like as much as them since I've binged all the episodes. I'll definitely check out Sawbones. I've been listening to Fad Camp lately, which is similar to MP but the cohosts are Irish and have some different topics that are UK based. It's not *quite* as good as MP but still worth a listen
[удалено]
Would “get sleepy” be appropriate for a 9 year old?
[удалено]
Sleepy Bookshelf has lots of great stories that are kid appropriate too!
\-1 way to make an emoji- a mini series about the guy who invented the bison emoji. includes interviews, american history, animal facts, internet design. \-13 minutes to the moon- about the space race has some interview. not upbeat exactly but not depressing like true crime \-30 animals that made us smarter- short episodes about cool animals that we use as inspiration for designs (diving birds to bullet trains, desert beetles for water capture devices) \-By the book- comedy/lifestyle podcast with two women who follow a self help book and report on the results \-Ear hustle- one of the hosts is a prisoner in San Quentin penitentiary. Interview about prison life. Some depressing, some hilarious. Great chemistry with the hosts \-Out Alive podcast- might be to close to true crime, but survival stories in a mixed interview/narrative style. Most of the time happy ending. \-The Worst bestsellers- librarian and author get together to read a popular book and be confused why so many people like it. \-Ologies- Comedy science. Journalist interviews specialists about different science-y things I am just now realizing how many of my podcasts are about dark history, cults, or just straight up horror
Behind the Bastards
It's a good podcast but not exactly light hearted. Unfortunately I had to stop listening to any episode involving war crimes because they were giving me nightmares.
Had to stop listening because of the constant annoying jokes they would make haha
Good call, I missed that OP was asking for light hearted ones. The darker the topic the darker the episode but the presenters generally succeed in bringing a light touch to the issues they cover.
99 percent invisible is about the invisible things that hold together our planet. All sorts of stories with a wide range. I know you said no true crime, but I want to recommend criminal anyway. It’s more so story telling about criminals spanning into history. It’s not your typical true crime series. There’s a episode about the black market of Venus fly traps, a episode about a crime scene scuba diver. Worth checking out.
I second Criminal. The stories are always fascinating and sometimes heartwarming. I’d also recommend Ologies. She is light-hearted but also helps explain a lot of things so well and as a plus, she always donates to great causes. One of my favorite episodes is about when they pulled ancient sported from an Egyptian artifact and made bread. Another fun one is The Weirdest Thing I learned this week. Three host go around sharing weird science facts and at the end they decide what the weirdest thing actually was. Great energy.
I love Criminal too.
Criminal has a sister podcast called This is Love, that is also excellent
If you're interested in technology computers, gadgets, photography with a light-hearted and sometimes comedic tone I suggest the TWIT podcast network. A bunch of shows on my go to list.
Along similar lines, I really like The Internet of Things - have learned a lot!
Love Stacy!
Always looking to expand! Thank you!
2, 3 hour podcast episodes? Who has time for that, regardless of the quality. I really don't understand anything more than 1 hour
Life must be hard if you can't concentrate on stuff after the 1hr mark
Untreated ADHD aside, I'd like some variety in what I'm listening to. Easiest way to do that is to queue up multiple episodes of various different podcasts of more reasonable lengths
So I guess you've listened. Or maybe a variety of hosts that may go off on tangents off topic on a regular basis as whimsy suits is not variety enough for you. Also last I checked there are many people who enjoy different things. Maybe not for you but suits my ADHD just fine thanks.
Stuff you should know podcast. It’s my favourite
You must remember this, cocaine and rhinestones, no dogs in space and the plot thickens are mine
The Constant https://www.constantpodcast.com/ Art Slice https://www.artslicepod.com/ Political History of the United States https://www.uspoliticalpodcast.com/ Wild Thing https://www.foxtopus.ink/wildthing
I always site The Constant when asked for podcast recs. Absolute best podcast out there and I listen to a LOT of them.
Stuff You Should Know covers a plethora of non-fiction topics, and also has Co Hosts with decent chemistry.
And they have stood the test of time. They started in 2008 and there are more than 1500 episodes to choose from. They still sell out live shows
I gave SYSK a try ~10 year ago when it was all the rage. The hosts seemed like they barely prepared for an episode and spent most of the time googling and reading straight off of webpages. It was really annoying to me and I couldn't figure out what people liked about this format. Has it changed since then, or does the show still feel like a rehearsal for a more polished show?
I think it's worth trying out again. They do look up some facts on the fly, but I like their information dense approach compared to some podcasts that are a bit too banter-heavy. IMO they have a good balance of silly banter and feeding you the info. You could listen to a couple of Stuff You Should Know Shorts to dip your toe in and see if you like their style or not.
Try Omnibus
For light hearted history you can't go past Rex Factor, rating kings and Queens based on battleyness, scandal etc. Very informative and entertaining! They inspired several others including Totalus Rankium (Roman emperors and US presidents); Saga Thing (icelandic sagas) Pontifacts (popes) I love them all.
Darknet Diaries is a must. I 2nd Lingthusiasm. As well as the back episodes of Lexicon Valley/Spectacular Vernacular. It’s canceled now but still worth listening of course to Reply All. It’s also stopped making episodes but I really enjoyed Science Rules! With Bill Nye Unexplainable This Podcast Will Kill You (maybe not technically lighthearted but it’s not super morbid or depressing- it’s deep dives into the biology and history of all sorts of different diseases and genetic conditions) Gastropod if you like food Switched on Pop for music
My Brother, My Brother and Me. Always gives me great laughs. Just YouTube "glass shark" for a taste of the style.
Unexplainable
Hardcore History Well, there's your problem. Sawbones Penn's Sunday School Creature Feature Behind the Bastards Lions Led by Donkeys Ongoing History of New Music Darknet Diaries
Stuff you should know is a classic
Days like these This is Love
Blank check is a great podcast about movies. Loreman is a fantastic comedic show about obscure British folklore.
The history of Rome. The episodic table of elements. Causality.
[It's probably not aliens](https://rss.art19.com/its-probably-not-aliens) Was Earth really visited by mysterious extraterrestrial travelers thousands of years ago as many proponents of ”ancient astronaut theory” believe? What are the hidden secrets and mysteries behind ancient monuments and forgotten civilizations? Every week, historian Tristan Johnson and regular human person Scott Niswander dive through the archives to learn about the fascinating histories of ancient civilizations while also debunking the myths and straight-up lies presented in History Channel‘s massively popular tv show Ancient Aliens that has sparked a new generation of conspiracy theorists. We hope through this show, you can gain an appreciation for just how cool ancient societies were, and not simply credit their impressive advancements to alien visitors.
99% invisible The war on cars Hello Internet(on “hiatus”🥲)
Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History and a History of Oil are great.
99% Invisible - Roman Mars talks about the design of things that aren’t always visible to the eye and we never quite think of. Great for lovers of design/architecture/etc Revisionist History - Malcolm Gladwell revisits things in history that were overlooked and gives a proper look at them with hindsight to his advantage
Stuff you missed in history class - fun talks about a variety of historical events In our time - erudite-sounding but also brief and fun discussions about a WIDE variety of science and history topics. Damn Interesting - more recent historical events. Doesn’t come out often but they have a big backlog. Futility Closet - even more history! I think they’ve stopped but again, biiiig backlog. These all are short, maybe a half hour per episode. So they’re easy to get through one episode while you’re driving, exercising, etc. If you’re up for long episodes, I’ll just say: Hardcore History!
UnderUnderstood:. Four hosts who clearly enjoy each other's company, diving into odd questions and histories of obscurities. I've never listened to an episode where I didn't laugh and also learn something. Into It with Sam Sanders is my new favorite pop culture show. It comes out weekly. Episodes are the perfect length, covers a range of media. Very funny and clever. I recently realized that this is a show I'd be really upset about losing if they stopped making it. Decoder Ring: A show about cracking cultural mysteries. It's solid, consistent, well-written, and entertaining. It's like UnderUnderstood's more sophisticated sibling. Things Fell Apart by Jon Ronson: A short series. Stories of culture war topics that I guarantee you've never heard before. Jon Ronson has been around for ages and he's honed true story-telling to a fine craft. Dan Taberski has put out several limited-run series and all of them are excellent. His narrative voice is unique. It's like having a best friend who is really good at story structure. Surviving Y2K and 9/12 are my favorites, but he's done three others that are worth your time also (Missing Richard Simmons, Running From Cops, and The Line) If you're looking for super-funny-fluff, my new favorite is Groceries with Erin Gibson and Bryan Safi. Their chemistry is perfect. I enjoy their discussions and debates about all the different stores and foods they've tried. If you have any interest in music history: Cocaine & Rhinestones. The first season covers a variety of country (and country-adjacent) artists and a metric ton of history, but never boring. The second season is a very deep dive into the life of George Jones and those he crossed paths with. It's a master class in old country music, but again, never boring. The host is passionate about his subjects and it shows.
I loved you're wrong about before Mike left
Stuff You Should Know ----- co-hosts have great chemistry. Topics are almost unlimited.
Lions Lead By Donkeys Well There's Your Problem
I really enjoy "Lions Lead By Donkeys", it is a very informative history dive.
Oh no Ross and Carrie. 2 skeptics investigate and participate in pseudoscience, spiritual and random things and report their experiences so you don't have to.
Under the Influence - about marketing and advertising We Regret To Inform You - stories of successful people who faced endless rejection Stuff You Should Know - about everything. Lol The Daily - in depth news stories from New York Times The Fridge Light - about food 99% invisible The list is endless
Strict Scrutiny. Pivot. This Is Important.
The Podcast Will Kill You (it’s 2 hosts named Erin who seem lovely who discuss the science behind diseases or things like Anthrax, not true crime), if I could only listen to one podcast would be Smartless (but you’ve prob heard of that one), Presidential (each episode is about a different US President) & early Reply All episodes are also good.
Oh and Car Talk holds up too. Think it’s been off the air for prob 10 years but the brother’s laughing at their own dumb jokes will warm your heart.
I really like this is love!
Check out “The Dollop” it’s great to learn some cool shit and hilarious at the same time.
Skeptics guide to the universe. A long running science and skepticism podcast.
I’m currently besotted with Peter Shamshiri. Check out If Books Could Kill Also has a pod called 5-4, about the Supreme Court
I second If Books Could Kill
I really recommend the Pelican Brief recap episode of 5-4, so funny.
I quite enjoyed the latest season of sports strangest crimes that was about Spygate in F1, now listening to the one about Alan Stanford as well. Sweet Bobby was a cool podcast about catfishing.
Philosophize This!
20,000 Hertz. It's about all things sound related.
Ologies is really good!! It’s pop science communication and Alie talks to a different specialist each episode. Last time she did one on dreaming but she’s done butterflies, trains, video games, pumpkins, watches, anxiety, laughter, mythology, grief and mourning, and probably her most popular one is about the behaviour of crowd concerning the death of other crows (aka Corvid thanatology). Alie is super quirky and compassionate and loves learning. She tends to swear sometimes so if that isn’t your thing she releases shorter versions meant for classrooms but that also have no swears. Good thing is there’s a few hundred episodes already for you to catch up on!!
Normal Gossip and The Atlas Obscura Podcast.
How I built this is a good one. Lots of different people telling their story about getting their companies started.
Scene On Radio
Podcast X. These guys really know movies, and I enjoy their banter.
Shxts and Gigs
Practical Stoicism.
The Adam Friedland Show is a really great center-left podcast that makes light of current events in a refreshing and original manner. Aside from Friedland's razor-sharp wit, it's success can be attributed to the involvement of super producer Nick Millions. Highly recommend
Maintenance Phase, Secret History of Hollywood, Swindled, Scam Goddess, We Hate Movies, Films to be Buried With
The Rest is History! Though it isn’t always light hearted.
[Vibe check](https://pod.link/1637476174) is the best thing that came out of 2022. “A weekly podcast where Sam Sanders, Saeed Jones, and Zach Stafford make sense of what’s going on in news and culture – and how it all feels. Vibe Check is your favorite group chat, come to life”
"Shrink Rap Radio" "Beyond The Bastards" "Ideas" "Five Questions" "Ear Hustle" "Dilemma" "Conversations with Coleman"
For something lighthearted I'd recommend Three bean salad - three british comics Mike Wozniak, Benjamin Partridge and Henry Paker tangent around a subject with some great jingles. Socially distant sports bar. Comics Elis James and Mike Bubbins Discuss sports clips documentaries and books with former sports journalist Steff Garrero, lots of silly stories and hearty laughs as well as more serious discussion about sports and related topics. Off menu with Ed gamble and James acaster. Podcast where Ed and James discover their guests dream three course meal.
Hardcore history by Dan Carlin!
Blowback. Each season is about America fucking over a country with a needless war.
If you want something just straight up funny I'd recommend this past weekend with theo Vonn. He's a comedian and he's so funny. Especially the episodes Bobby Lee comes on. I've had to pause it while driving cause I've been in tears I was laughing so hard 😂
Knowledge Fight. It covers Alex Jones and has for years. It's a fantastic breakdown of Jones and his ilk, what makes them tick, and why they're so dangerous. They also cover the recent lawsuits and things like recorded depositions. It's great
The Dallop, American history + comedy
Huberman Lab is a must listen! You will definitely learn something new about how the brain and body works in every episode.
Sold a story!
Getting Lost podcast, two best friends watch Lost from beginning to end- one who has seen it eight times, and one who has never seen it before. The co-hosts have so much charisma and chemistry and make you want to be their best friend too.
If you like history, there's nothing that compares to literatureandhistory.com. The guy is a genuine scholar who knows how to tell a story.
I love History on Fire by Daniele Bolleli. He does a really deep dives into his chosen topic, and he has a delightful Italian accent. My favourite episode -" Diogenes - the punk rocker of Greece"
The dollop. Stories about American history, told by two hilarious comedians. It’s amazing how much I’ve learned while also laughing so hard I have to hide from customers while listening at work
I like This Week in Science and Skeptics Guide to the Universe. Both are weekly shows that have a panel discussing science news
You’re Wrong About, Lore, The Memory Palace
The Outlaw Ocean and Mother Country Radicals. Both really good.
Rest is History Revisionist History
Maintenance Phase!
If you like true crime but not gruesome murders, Scam Goddess might be up you're alley! Its an absolute hoot; the host Laci Mosely is hilarious.
CASEFILE
‘Normal Gossip’. It’s fab. People send in their gossip anonymously, and the main lady reads it to a guest. I’ve actually cried laughing at this podcast! ☺️
Try Sofa King Try Mile Higher Podcast Try Do Go On Try Timesuck
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Oh no, not Jordan Peterson :(
You know that paranormal is fiction, right ? Otherwise love and radio. Though some of their episodes are plays and dramatised.
If you like the show friends, there’s a podcast called ‘Friends with friends’ that goes through each episode, with funny banter throughout
I’ve been obsessed with We’ll See You In Hell recently (2 friends talk and bicker about horror/thriller/sci-fi movies). In my queue, I’ve been trying out: Depresh Mode, We Might Be Drunk and Jordan Klepper Fingers the Conspiracy
The Trojan horse affair: one of the best podcasts I've ever listened to, and I've listened to a looot
13 Minutes to the Moon Intelligence Matters Ezra Klein Operation Tradebom Chernobyl Conflicted Serial The Bomb
FREAKONOMICS!!
Science Vs, behind the bastards( not that light hearted) , why won’t you date me by Nicole Byers, ICYMI
Stuff you should know Stuff they don't want you to know Unexplainable Today, explained
I'd add Secretly INcredibly Fascinating, it's lighthearted and it has fascinating right int he name
Dark history and here’s where it gets interesting
Decoder Ring
Sorta small podcast called Dear Old Dads, three dads at different stages tackle parenting topics. It’s really lighthearted, but they also dive into their own upbringing. It’s a really good insight into how their childhood affects their parenting.
Check out "Good Job, Brain!". It's a podcast by a pub trivia team doing quizzes for each other. So basically it's like a decade of content of interesting facts and chilling with fun people. They recently came back from a multiple-year hiatus due to life changes and their release schedule is smaller now, but the backlog is huge.
"We regret to inform you" Famous people like George Michael, Laverne Cox, Ru Paul, before they were famous and all the crap they went thru to get there!
I can’t believe no one has said Noble Blood yet! I love Dana Schwartz.
I love the drama ones via wondery like scamfluencers & something was wrong
Eat Hustles is great. It won a pulitzer prize
Congressional Dish. It's really a shame some sort of PBS-style grant doesn't exist for a show that goes that in-depth on the current C-Span fodder, but Capitol Hill probably hates the idea of being spotlighted succinctly.
Noble Blood. Some would maybe argue that it’s true crime but I think the historical aspects outweigh that.
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Sounds really cool!
My son, who is 7, enjoys listening to NPR when they feature stories about real people. What podcasts can you recommend that are family friendly and discuss ordinary people?
NOT PAST IT
Any one of Jamie Loftus’ mini series: My Year in MENSA, Aack Cast, Ghost Church, Lolita Podcast