Last year, two friends and I embarked on a road trip to Panama City Beach, Florida—and it was a Long trip (14 hours! Podcasts saved our lives that day. We listened to podcasts all the way down from Florida and were captivated by the stories and conversations. Since then, podcasts are my go-to for entertainment not just during long drives, but all the time—and for good reason.
Podcasts can be informative, educational, entertaining, or terrifying. However there are so many podcasts that it can be difficult to find the right one. Instead of searching for podcasts by trial and error, our team did the research. Here are the best podcasts for binging right now:
Seasons: 4
This podcast was what drew me and my friends on our Florida trip. And, truth be told, the spookiness factor kept me awake after the sun set. If you’re into true crime or want a story that will keep you on your toes, this is the podcast for you. In season 1, RAmber Hunt, an eporter, as well as Amanda Rossman (a photographer) tell the story of the 1978 murder of Elizabeth Andes who was a student at Miami University of Ohio. This eight-part true crime series has many twists and turns. It reached #1 on Apple’s podcast charts. After Andes’ body was found, the case was open and shut within hours, and her boyfriend, Robert Young, was charged with her murder. But according to Hunt and Rossman, details from the case weren’t matching up and more investigating needed to be done. So did Elizabeth’s boyfriend really kill her, or is her murderer still on the loose? You’ll have to listen to find out.
Episodes: 100+
Alie Ward, a writer and science correspondent, interviews professionals (“-ologists”) in all types of fields about what they do. It is entertaining, informative, and funny. Her podcast’s topics range from gastroegyptology (bread baking) to cosmology (the universe) to one of my personal favorites, cynology (dogs). If you’re looking for something that’s educational and fun to listen to, Alie Ward is your girl—with all these topics, you’ll never get bored.
This Dateline NBC podcast explores yet another nail-biting mystery that’ll make the hours fly by as you sit at the edge of your seat, itching to figure out the next detail. We start in 2011, two days after Christmas. Russ Faria is returning home at night from Betsy’s house to find his wife. Multiple stab wounds leave you dead. In typical fashion, he is the one who is charged with the murder but vows that he wasn’t the culprit of this brutal incident. Watch the trial unfold and learn more about this story set in Troy, Missouri.
Episodes: 16
After the 2018 Charlottesville Unite the Right Rally Jack Hitt and Chenjeraikumanyika dive into the history of the United States to discuss where the divisions in our country began: the Civil War. Then they discuss the impact on America today. Though this one is a bit older, these issues are still more relevant than ever, and the show is extremely well-produced—it’s like listening to a documentary. If you want to learn more about American history, give this a try.
Seasons: 2
This podcast is serialized and narrated in part by Lia Haddock, an American Public Radio reporter. We explore the mystery of a small Tennessee town where more than 300 people mysteriously disappeared 10 years ago. The Chicago TribuneThis podcast shares many similarities with hit drama shows. like Twin Peaks and The X-Files, as their eerie atmospheres and paranormal essences truly mirror the undercurrents of this story. It’s radio entertainment at its finest.
Episodes: 100+
This podcast is hosted by journalists Michael Hobbes and Sarah Marshall. They do deep dives into events and people of the past and explain how they were presented (and often misrepresented) to the public. Sprinkled with snark throughout, the highly-articulate pair running this podcast is highly entertaining. Basically, they take situations in historyLike The Stonewall Uprising, or a popular figure like Yoko Ono,And dig into why they think the way we thoughtEverything went down mightNot entirely correct. Did Yoko OnoIt is reallyBreak up The Beatles? Or was she vilified in pop music? Listen to the audio to find out!
Seasons: 2
This serial podcast, hosted by Neil Strauss (author and journalist), is for those who have seen every true crime documentary on Netflix. When a 25-year-old aspiring actress named Adea disappeared from her Hollywood home without warning, Strauss—a journalist for Rolling Stone—was assigned to investigate the mystery and discover secrets from her family that could lead to figuring out her sudden disappearance. As you go through each episode, you’ll uncover clues and unravel theories in real-time. Get ready to have some absolutely InsaneYou’ll find many twists and turns
Seasons: 2
Episodes: 15
Podcast featuring two best friends discussing sex, relationships and friendships is sure to send your endorphins racing as you laugh, cry, and reflect on it while you listen. Molly, a stage IV breast cancer patient, has received some shocking news. Instead of dwelling in self-pity, Molly decides to take control and live her life on her terms. She breaks up with her unhappy marriage to embark on a sexual journey that has many rewards. Listen to her wild adventures with Nikki Boyer, her best friend. These conversations go beyond the surface-level details of her anecdotes. You’ll go on a ride of emotions that explore the concepts in layers of depth.
Episodes: 100+
Minji Chang, an actress, entrepreneur, and activist, hosts this podcast. She has unfiltered conversations about all things life with her friends. She is a woman and a POC and she and her guests discuss topics relating to their careers, culture and relationships. Chang is not afraid to speak her mind. She will talk about people and situations she cares about. Her thoughts and conversations are often about difficult topics. She does a great job of advocating on behalf of others and giving voice for those who are not part of the mainstream. This is a great place to have heartfelt conversations.
Episodes: 1500+
Holly Frey (host) and Tracy Wilson (host) share stories about historical people and events. They make difficult topics fun and digestible by adding humor. You definitely won’t catch me dozing off listening to this (unlike in high school history class, oops). Every episode, from the story of Levi Strauss to Disney’s Haunted Mansion, is engaging.
Episodes: 200+
Who hasn’t heard of Queer EyeWhat do you think this is? Well, the fabulous Jonathan Van Ness has created his own podcast where every week he explores a topic that he’s curious about. Each episode features Van Ness interviewing or talking to experts about something he is interested in. Topics include politics, the economy and the holocaust. For Van Ness’ fans, this podcast is a great opportunity to get to know him better and see what he’s really interested in. He does a wonderful job of basically dumbing down some complex topics into digestible and more easily understood information for those of us who don’t really know much about them. His episode on ableism is a great example.
Episodes: 300+
I’ll be honest, I was obsessed with the Percy Jackson & The OlympiansAs a child, I was obsessed with series. Like being obsessed. As an adult, I was thrilled to find a podcast on mythology. Liv Albert is a host and discusses the mythology of Greece and Rome through a contemporary perspective. Who are the titans really? How did Hades get to the underworld? This is how Liv Albert explains it all in a modern manner.
Episodes: 19
There are very few in this country who haven’t heard of WeWork. The coworking space giant was founded on the belief that it was ready for its big stock exchange launch. It had been valued at $47 million and its CEO believed it would be a major force in the world. The events that followed were not what was expected. WeWork’s steep rise ended in a steep fall. You’ll love to hear the story of this company—hosted by business podcast aficionado David Browne—play out and take you on a wild ride.
This podcast, hosted by ABC News correspondent Rebecca Jarvis is about the story of Theranos’ infamous MedTech company, Theranos. It also features Elizabeth Holmes, its founder, and CEO. What started out as an ambition to change the world soon became a complicated web of passion, money, manipulation, and deceit, as Holmes (who had been dubbed “the next Steve Jobs”) ended up being criminally charged with fraud (Holmes pleaded not guilty.) This world-famous case will show you what happens when you have an excessive appetite for fame, money, success, and fame.
Episodes: 400+
Crissle East and Kid Fury host this pop culture podcast. Both are queer and black. This podcast is full of humor and banter. They discuss pop culture, current affairs, their lives, as well as their sexuality. As the description accurately states, this weekly podcast is “throwing shade and spilling tea with a flippant and humorous attitude.” These two don’t mince their words and aren’t afraid to really speak their minds. Basically, they shit talk with a purpose, and it’s worth a listen if you’re in need of some sass and shade.
Episodes: 300+
POC journalists Gene Demby, Shereen Marisol and Gene Meraji host the NPR show. This group, which is always incisive and important, tackles the topic of race head-on. It brings race issues to our attention and explains how they impact every part of society. They bring in guests to provide different perspectives on various topics. For example, they’ve brought in professors who teach about critical whiteness studies, inviting those who are both white or POC to speak about their experiences. Meraji and Demby’s show is so valuable, it’s worth taking the time and listening to.
Episodes: 200+
For those of you who love stories of romance, writing, and celebrities, this one’s for you. Modern Love is a podcast produced by the New York Times. Many episodes feature actors and actresses reading pieces and articles about love, loss and redemption. This podcast is often poetic, lyrical and even tragically beautiful.
These 12 episodes of true-crime are about a case that began in 2015 with a house fire in a wealthy D.C. area. A man driving through the area noticed smoke coming out of one of the houses, which led to the discovery of its tenants, their 10-year-old son, and their housekeeper’s bodies inside. After being held hostage for nearly a day in their home, they were tragically killed. This podcast explores the incident and the events leading to it. It also dives into the possible motives that could have led to this terrible act.
Seasons: 3
I don’t know about you, but I will never say “no thanks” to a new rom-com. This podcast is a fiction podcast that tells a story filled with romance. We start with the story of Claire, a Chicagoan in her 20s whose life is going pretty smoothly until she discovers her fiancé cheating on her—right before their wedding. After having that completely derailed and not wanting to waste a perfectly good honeymoon, she decides to venture out to Italy on her pre-booked romantic couples tour… solo. As you’d imagine, it’s filled with all of the hilarity, quirky characters, romance, and heartfelt moments you could desire.
Episodes: 100+
Being a child raised by immigrants can be difficult. Talking about certain topics can prove frustrating and difficult to navigate. Juleyka Langtigua-Williams, host and producer of this podcast, talks to adult children of immigrant parents. Each week, she tries to help them communicate better with their families by bringing in a different expert professional guest. According to Lantigua Williams, there is no topic too sensitive or off-limits. These episodes have already covered topics such mental illness and voting as well as spreading misinformation. This podcast is great for anyone who struggles to communicate with their loved ones.
Episodes: 16
If the TV show by the same name has been on your watchlist for ages, you’ll be happy to know that there’s an amazing podcast version of it available to you for your next binge! This true story, set in Los Angeles, begins with Debra Newell, an interior designer. John Meehan is a charming, charismatic man she meets. It is perfect with hisHis charismatic personality, humor, and looks are all striking. He just returned from a year of working with Doctors Without Borders. Debra’s family quickly judges his character as being super suspicious and relays their concerns to her, but she’s already caught in his tangled web. You won’t believe how this pans out.
Episodes: 8
This podcast miniseries consists of seven episodes. Brian ReedJohn, a local resident in Alabama who hates his neighborhood, starts the story. Many years ago, he wrote an email to Reed with the subject line “John B McLemore lives in Shittown Alabama” and asked him to help investigate and report on the son of one of the town’s wealthy families who had “allegedly been bragging that he got away with murder”. After the investigation begins, more insane occurrences take place—we’re talking more deaths, nasty feuds, treasure hunts, and unearthed secrets of the town and its people.
Episodes: 8
Imagine being afraid your father might be a murderer and then discovering decades later that those fears were correct. That’s exactly what happened to 40-year-old April Balascio. This podcast contains 12 episodes that detail the events that occurred after April contacted a detective with concerns about her father’s possible crimes. With each episode, you’ll go deeper and deeper inside the minds of this man and his daughter, who found her life wasn’t at all what she thought it was.
Episodes: 7
This major history lesson is hosted by Nikole-Hannah Jones (an investigative journalist and NY Times reporter) and focuses on the 400 years before the first enslaved Africans arrived in America. Telling the true tales that have been omitted from classrooms and books, the institution that is known as physical, mental, and spiritual slavery (up to the current day) becomes an earthquake of a story that can’t help but be dissected.
Episodes: 38
Okay, so we all love true crime, but what about “fun true crime”? Laci Mosley, who was the star of “Fun True Crime”, hosted the event. Sketch Show by A Black LadyThe iCarlyThis hilarious podcast, reboot is a great reminder that grifting was and continues to be a major part of America. She updates us on current frauds as well as the masterminds behind them. She also explores some of the most famous hoodwinks in the past.
Episodes: 96
Bim Adewunmi, Nichole Perkins, and their quest for the perfect cookie, they partner up. By illuminating conversations about men (and every single one of their issues) and the portrayal of what love looks like in Hollywood, you’ll need to buckle up for this hilarious take on navigating romance in the 21st century. Did we mention fanfics are available?
Episodes: 100+
Real talk from real women is more authentic than ever. FriendsLikeUs is a platform that explores the many problems in American society through a lens of Women of Color. The economy, financial literacy, and the effects of the pandemic are major topics, but there’s an amazing balance of pop culture takes, dating, and overall human purpose.
Episodes: 200+
This podcast discusses the important truths of life every day. Prepare to find some gems. Through moments of sadness to extreme highs, you’ll feel like you’re talking to a friend. Breaking down the side effects of everything from politics to relationships to art and mental health, Amanda Seales is the only comedian and truth-teller you’ll want to listen to, we promise.
Source: The Every Girl
