What podcasts should I listen to?

New to podcasts? Good news: there's a show for every interest, mood, and spare 10–60 minutes in your day. This guide highlights top podcasts across key categories and gives you a simple way to discover what you'll actually enjoy—and stick with.

How to find your first favorites

Start with topics you already love (news, comedy, tech, sports, hobbies).
Sample 2–3 episodes before you subscribe—hosts and formats vary a lot.
Try different lengths: short daily shows for commutes, long-form on weekends.
Use "similar shows" and charts in your app, but trust your own taste.

News and current affairs

The Daily — Apple · Spotify A 20–30 minute deep-dive into one big story each weekday.
BBC Global News Podcast — Apple · Spotify World headlines in a brisk, BBC style.
Today, Explained — Apple · Spotify Vox's explainer journalism with approachable storytelling.

Tip: For news, subscribe to one daily show plus one weekly analysis show to avoid overload.

True crime and investigations

Serial — Apple · Spotify The modern classic that launched a million investigations.
Criminal — Apple · Spotify Thoughtful, human stories around crime—often unexpected angles.
In the Dark — Apple · Spotify Award-winning investigative reporting with real-world impact.

Try this: If you like serialized stories, follow a season from episode 1; if you prefer one-offs, pick an anthology format.

Comedy and culture

Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend — Apple · Spotify Celebrity interviews with surprising sincerity and big laughs.
SmartLess — Apple · Spotify Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, and Sean Hayes with a mystery guest.
Off Menu — Apple · Spotify Comedians talk dream meals; surprisingly cozy.

Technology and science

The Vergecast — Apple · Spotify Weekly tech news and industry trends.
Accidental Tech Podcast (ATP) — Apple · Overcast Three developers discuss Apple, software, and hardware—deep but fun.
Radiolab — Apple · Spotify Sound-rich storytelling about science, philosophy, and wonder.

Business, careers, and money

How I Built This — Apple · Spotify Founders share the real stories behind big brands.
Planet Money — Apple · Spotify Economics for everyday life, richly explained.
Acquired — Apple · Spotify Deep dives into business histories and big acquisitions.

Health and wellness

Huberman Lab — Apple · Spotify Neuroscience-backed tools for performance and wellbeing.
Ten Percent Happier — Apple · Spotify Meditation and mindset, made practical.

Storytelling and documentary

This American Life — Apple · Spotify Narrative journalism with heart; a perfect entry point to the medium.
99% Invisible — Apple · Spotify Design and the hidden stories of the built world.

Sports, hobbies, and niche passions

The Bill Simmons Podcast — Apple · Spotify Sports discussions, interviews, and pop culture crossovers.
Choose niche shows around your hobbies (running, chess, woodworking, photography); search by topic in your app and sort by rating or popularity.

Kids and family

Brains On! — Apple · Spotify Curious, science-y fun for kids and parents.
Wow in the World — Apple · Spotify Big, wow-worthy ideas—high-energy and educational.

A simple starter plan

Pick 3 categories you care about.
Subscribe to 1–2 shows in each.
Try 2 episodes per show. Keep what clicks; unsubscribe from the rest.
Re-balance: One daily, one weekly, one "treat" (storytelling/comedy).

You'll have a great personal mix within a week.

Listen smarter with Podtastic

Get more out of every podcast you follow. Podtastic is a fully featured podcast player for iOS and Android, built around Smart Features — a set of AI features that helps you get more out of every show:

Smart Summaries — AI summaries of every podcast and episode so you know what's coming before you hit play
Smart Topics — key topics surfaced across your favourite shows so you can jump straight to what matters
Smart Skip — automatically skips past the interruptions other listeners skip, so episodes flow naturally

Join the waitlist at podtastic.app to get early access.

What Podcasts Should I Listen To?