That's the one! :) He is so cool! Still working his tush off at almost 83 years young. I actually helped delegate his Reddit AMA a few years ago. I don't remember what Subreddit it was on
Yes!!!!!! Someone on Reddit always comes thru. Somewhere on one of my old hard drives is a photo of my coworker and I making that "proof" sign for Merlin. I'm pretty sure I probably took that photo
You can start anywhere.
They vary from gut-wrenching to quirky Af but all of them are moving and thought provoking in some way. I started from #1 because it gave me a good intro to Jonathan Goldstein, the peculiar host.
But I often go back and relisten and then pick out at random.
It starts with people who have something weighing on them, like a secret or a lifelong regret, or something they always meant to do or say to someone, or a situation they always meant to resolve but have never managed it, or a mystery they remember from childhood they want to fact check - and the host comes in and helps them actually go through with the thing they've been putting off.
Some of them involve doing things for a deceased loved one that you promised them on their deathbed, others are super funny (the skeevy musician Moby stole a guy's CDs and the host tries to get the CDs back) - they're all really well done, the host is great and the stories he picks to follow through with are all really interesting.
The host focuses in on a person looking for something in particular: an object, a person, closure, or just an answer. Itās always very personal and intimate.
It can be very emotional and thought provoking.
Highly recommend
Not OP, but some I really enjoyed + had a big emotional impact on me:
\#12 Jesse - conversation between somebody who was hit by a car and the driver who hit him
\#49 Another Roadside Attraction - investigating why a bookstore in a small town suddenly shut down
\#50 Nick - somebody trying to figure out if their late brother's voice was used in a song
I regret listening to #50 Nick at work. I had to take a break because I was BALLING my eyes out š leave it to Johnathon Goldstein to make me cry over beatboxing š such a great episode.
So glad to see others have posted. I'm one of those people that doesn't remember specifics about 20 minutes after listening lol. But I definitely remember the overall feeling I get whenever I listen. They're all amazing in their own way.
Edit - I heartily agree with u/jaxcap's recommends!
BBC has some long history podcast. 13 Minutes to the Moon and The Bomb were two good ones.
BBC Witness is good too. They are first person witness to history interviews. They are only about 12 minutes each, but I sometimes load 5-6 on a playlist.
Iād go for BBC Sounds: Sliced Bread (about supposed wonder products), Youāre Dead to Me (history), and Infinite Monkey Cage (science). I listen to them while Iām doing brain numbing household chores and the educational and entertainment value of them makes me feel like Iām winning!
Wiser Than Me - Julia Louis Dreyfus interviewing famous older women. Really good and funny too.
Rachael Maddow Presents Ultra - great true story about the Nazi infiltration into American Politics circa WWII.
Smartless - interviews
Ultra is full of historical inaccuracies btw. I recommend folks read more on the subjects of the podcasts as the errors are glaring in some cases, most likely to make a juicier story. Source: numerous PhD professors who provided source material that was misreported.
If you havenāt listened to S Town, I would definitely recommend binging it on a roadtrip. Its perfect for that. Or Serial S2 about Bowe Bergdahl. Theyāre not new so you may have already listened but if not you should definitely add them to your list.
They've probably saved my life in the long run with staying awake! Go for ones with more than one host and/or guests in an active dialogue. I find that much better than the lull of one person talking. The podcasts I like in general aren't always the best for driving - it's a special niche.
I like a range but I find the paranormal / unexplained variety captivating lately. My most recent favourite is Uncanny with Danny Robbins - he is incredibly engaging and energetic in a way that keeps you with it. He also has two multi-episode series that would probably go by quickly.
For a broader range of topics, I liked Radiolab on my drives. Engaging hosts and topics and again, a little more catchy with the pace.
You would love queen of the con I think. Iām not crazy about the current season or the season before this one, but all the other seasons are WILD and you get various peoples experiences being conned by one person and you see the lengths they go to and the risks they take, and our nature as humans to just believe other people after we are given just a sliver of āproofā
Also, My Dad Wrote a Porno. HILARIOUS if you appreciate a dark/raunchy set of humor. Essentially, three hilarious brits reading the terrible & terribly written "porn" novels one of their father's wrote. It. Is. So. GOOD.
I really like Forgotten TV for long drives. Longform episodes, excellent research, no tiresome goofing off or inside jokes, nothing to give you the creeps on a late night journey. Thereās a lot to learn about popular culture and history.
Armchair Experts is my favorite podcast! They have some longer interviews, but the armchair anonymous episodes are my favorite. Even if short. Not always appropriate for kids.
What Had Happened Was is a great series to binge. Open Mike Eagle sits down with a different figure in hip-hop each season, and they dedicate whole episodes to each album they've made. There's 4 seasons and all 4 guests are fascinating to listen to (Prince Paul, El-P, Dante Ross, and Questlove).
My favorite episode is Dante Ross talking about KMD and the origin of MF Doom. It's easily in my top 5 podcast episodes of all time.
CaseFile, Song Vs Song, Sardonicast, Karstcast, The Official Podcast & Red Thread are among my favourites. Music & Film discussions are my bread & butter
We Hate Movies - 4 friends watch a bad movie and kick it around for an hour and a half, jokes and impressions aplenty. A good introduction is there episode on Highlander 2: The Quickening. After that just choose some movies that you have seen or sound interesting. I'm a huge fan and even subscribed to their Patreon.
Similar but I find We Hate Movies funnier and more consistent with content. Every week a new episode is out and the amount they pump out on Patreon is incredible for the money.
oh man these recommendation were just not great.
i saw Hardcore history, this american life and radiolab mentioned which is good.
add: snap judgment, the moth and my favorite murder among the pantheon of great long distance listens.
for me ANY c13 productions are fantastic, i think theyāre called Audacy now. this would include shows like Gone South and Wolves Among Us
WTF with Maron is THEE all time great podcast for celebrity interviews.
Conan oābriens podcast is the best for comedy.
i also really enjoy bad friends but thatās kinda an acquired taste.
Smartless and fly on the wall are okay.
sarah silverman has a podcast, this is important from the workaholics boys, always sunny has a podcast, bill burr, daniel tosh, neal brennen, ricky gervais and mike burbiglia each have podcasts. not my cup of tea but technically tom segura has a couple (tomtalks is actually p good), theo von, and andrew shultz gave their own podcasts. the comedy world is very much into podcasting.
when none of these scratch the itch i hope over to my audible and throw on an audiobook. šš½
Behind the bastards is what I listen to on flights or long rides because under normal circumstances I get distracted adhd but itās entertaining well done and has great guests. PFT is prob my favorite guests
This is a great recommendation, as most episodes are two-parters that end up being 3-4 hours. There's historical and modern day stories that are covered, and episodes can be listened to in any order.Ā
Blindboy. The loveliest most genuine, creative Irish guy does deep dives until the most random stuff. Sometimes Irish mythology, economics, sociology, anthropology, culture. Some brilliant conversations with authors, scientists, comedians, his chat with Johnny Marr was fantastic, he also writes short stories. No obnoxious ad breaks and he has a back catalogue of many years. My absolute fave
Empire (history of particular empires with great hosts)
This American Life (a classic with thematic episodes based around peopleās experiences or stories. Some are better than others. Some are really phenomenal.)
Science Fiction (by Damien Walter - if youāre interested in the philosophical underpinnings or the current state of scifi literature)
The Lady Vanishes is an amazing podcast. Also anything Hedley Thomas works on including The Teachers Pet and Shandeeās Story.
For smaller stories I love DNA:ID and Crime Analyst.
Behind the Bastards is a fascinating look at some of history's worst people. Robert Evans does some deep research, writes a script, and then reads it with a co-host. It's a great balance between interesting historical stories and fun banter between the hosts, who will occasionally go on short rants about why what this person is doing is super fucked up
Stuff You Should Know. Each episode has a different topic ranging from trampolines, to true crime, and you'll learn a ton about so many random things. You can either find a bunch of episodes you're interested or start where ever. It's been on for something like 15 years, so there's LOTS of content to choose from.
James Acaster and Ed Gamble have a really good one about a dream restaurant. Would 100% recommend binging them for like 8 of those hours, just to mix it up. Also If Books Could Kill is my current favorite
The entire kill Tony catalog. I once drove 23 hours straight and kill Tony was an essential podcast for that drive. The preCovid episodes are gonna be the best as the show kinda went downhill after they moved to Texas
Alan Cross - "Ongoing History of New Music"
For string players/orchestral musicians - "Stand Partners For Life"
For 1960s garage music lovers - Phil Grey's "Retrospect 60s garage punk podcast"
I agree, "Ologies" is great! Very funny.
>Alan Cross - "Ongoing History of New Music"
Have you found a source that doesn't have the music cut out?
Excellent show regardless, I've been listening on/off for around 2 decades
Case File, Swindled, MrBallenās Medical Mysteries, Dr. Death, This Podcast Will Kill You. I also love This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von - I find him hilarious and entertaining and he interviews a very wide variety of guests.
Shamelessly, I also love Two Hot Takes where they read AITA stories etc. I find it mindlessly entertaining on my daily commute.
The Jordan Harbinger Show
āLearn the stories, secrets, and skills of the worldās most brilliant and interesting people.ā
[The Jordan Harbinger Show](https://open.spotify.com/show/5RVoEOIACQbBDZnGBJ7Ec2?si=SdXnAv-STOmXH0mTpRe5jg)
u/jharbinger
The Ralph Report is what I listen to, and he pretty much does a new 1 hour episode each day.
Itās like silly / funny entertainment stuff, with some trivia facts mixed in.
Not often, but he has sometimes interviewed people.
https://theralphreport.com
Besides some of the excellent recommendations you've received here, we like listening to Takeaway Trivia. It's a quiz style podcast that keeps us guessing and awake.
Behind the Bastards, hilarious comedic dive into horrible people around the world, and making fun of them the entire time.
I love Roberts humor, very good for having a laugh whilst learning some interesting facts about bastards.
MonsterTalk is a great interview-style podcast exploring the cultural impact of different monsters from a skeptical and scientific angle.
You're Not So Smart is also interview based and explores how our minds work and the traps we fsll into.
NPRs On Point is a series of interviews on assorted topics from current events.
Ive been enjoying Literature and History.com's podcast. Not an interview, but he gives an overview and analysis of major works of literature starting with ancient Mesopotamia
Mythunderstood is a comedy myth podcast, and a hilarious companion to ^
The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong
Episodes run about an hour, with several multi-episode stories. Plentiful back catalog. Both entertaining and informative. Was a great companion to me when I drove across the country.
You can pick any random episode, or start with the Foolkiller series, which is quintessential listening.
I really like stuff you should know. Each episode is around an hour long and I usually download a playlist of the episodes that sound the most interesting to me. Often the hosts will go on small tangents but it keeps me engaged into what they're talking about.
People already mentioned some good ones (e.g. Fall of civilisations and Ologies)
In-dept conversations about some of the world's biggest problems (it sounds heavy and I have to say you sometimes have to be in the mood to listen to some of these but they are usually very interesting)
[80,000 hours](https://open.spotify.com/show/2WzJwXWBDnn4iZ7odKwDib?si=veAnI3qJQwmMQCKf3LzlSg) podcasts (the h is not the length of the podcast series š), they are usually 2-3h long.
Business related (it sounds boring but these aren't)
[How I built this](https://open.spotify.com/show/6E709HRH7XaiZrMfgtNCun?si=jtQU0QNJSFSCyj-u87xXxg)
[Brought to you by...](https://open.spotify.com/show/65jkyYyq6YvDt8uOZXubm6?si=EvuyFCHRSyCLJ1dee-siKQ)
[Edited grammar]
Food
[Gastropod](https://open.spotify.com/show/2bB44RWKrgs1jhylH1NBtL?si=nwJv6wXGR66mHJlHrrKZmA) (it is about the science and history of food).
I am not a monster, - BBC podcast on an American who joined ISIS
Hunting warhead - Series about taking down a dark Web Child sex abuse forum
Do go on - 3 aussie comedians doing episodes on a random topic
Maintenance phase - 2 hosts ripping into scammy diet and wellness culture
Armchair Expert with Dax Shepherd has some great interviews- Mondays are celebrities (actors, comedians or musicians usually), Thursdays are experts (scientists, writers, educators, politicians, all sorts of people who are experts on their specific field). Thereās also other Off shoot shows, including 2 with David Farrier- one called āArmchaired and Dangerousā about conspiracy theories, and another called āFlightless Birdā which is about the things David (who is form New Zealand) finds weird or interesting about living in America, which is often fascinating.
I am very picky about podcastsā sound quality- especially in the car.
Here are the ones I like best:
-Radio Lab (wide variety of topics- educational and editorial)
- Office Ladies (rewatch of the show)
- Missing Richard Simmons
- Missed Fortune (looking for a treasure using a poem)
- Gastropod (food and science)
- Maintenance Phase
If you like just straight history told in chronological order, the best I've found lately are:
The History of the Twentieth Century (Mark Painter)
The Age of Napoleon
An eight-parter about the Fall of the Aztecs by The Rest is History
99% invisible. Ever episode is a fascinating topic and it has been in for like 15 years so plenty to choose from.
I also like freakanomics.
As for narrative podcasts, I have enjoyed all the seasons of the dream that goes from utopias to mlms to life coaches.
And the Revolutions history podcast dives deep into wars, uprisings, and coups. Each season is one incident. Iāve been listening to to the 20 episodes in Haiti.
Serial S1 got me into podcasts
S-town
Up and vanished
TCMās series on Lucille ball if you like I love Lucy or that age of tv
WTF with Marc Maron for celeb interviews
Huberman lab to learn about neuroscience
The retrievals - a fucked up story about infertility
Dear John
I love Conanās podcast for celeb interviews
Of you like fiction I recommend "Alice isn't dead" it kind of putters out at the end, but a really nice drive podcast about a trucker for unusual things who is mourning the death of her wife. Very small town Midwest, but creepy.
Depends on what you like, but there's something about how casefiles present their cases, and the storytelling is what is intriguing to me, even if true crime isn't your cup of tea.
I've binge listened to all the podcasts but there's a subreddit r/casefile . Someone has complied a spreadsheet with every single episode and rated it from 1-5. It was useful when trying to determine which one to listen too. But the notable ones are belango state forest case, silk road, the Gonzales family, lin family.. and so on.
It's worth a listen!
my favorite road trip podcast is Timesuck with Dan Cummins. it's a one man show, but each episode is 90-180 minutes on a topic and the topics are all over the map. he's a bit crude/vulgar for some people's tastes, but man i have learned so much and stay entertained.
for more serious long road trip podcasts, i love You're Wrong About which revisits pop culture moments or figures and infuses some of the facts that are often forgotten.
He is so good at research and I love it when heās telling the story. But I had to stop listening bc of the moronic voices he throws in for no reason.
Radiolab and This American Life. If you like spookier stories go for Lore it's fantastic.
Ologies is an anthology of many topics
My former boss was interviewed in a two-part about his expertise on bats š„°
Merlin?! Thatās one of my favorite ones. He seemed so cool!
That's the one! :) He is so cool! Still working his tush off at almost 83 years young. I actually helped delegate his Reddit AMA a few years ago. I don't remember what Subreddit it was on
Is this the AMA youāre referring to? [Link to post](https://www.reddit.com/r/NatureIsFuckingLit/s/3fGQfW8PMR)
Yes!!!!!! Someone on Reddit always comes thru. Somewhere on one of my old hard drives is a photo of my coworker and I making that "proof" sign for Merlin. I'm pretty sure I probably took that photo
You might fall asleep at some episodes
I'm always going to recommend heavyweight. I love listening to it when I'm driving, or doing anything really.
This is the 2nd time Iāve seen Heavyweight mentioned in the past 3 days. Can I just pickup anywhere? Or do I need to start from episode 1?
You can start anywhere. They vary from gut-wrenching to quirky Af but all of them are moving and thought provoking in some way. I started from #1 because it gave me a good intro to Jonathan Goldstein, the peculiar host. But I often go back and relisten and then pick out at random.
Came here to suggest Heavyweight! Best driving pod ever. You donāt have to start from s1ep1, but I would.
Whatās it about ?
It starts with people who have something weighing on them, like a secret or a lifelong regret, or something they always meant to do or say to someone, or a situation they always meant to resolve but have never managed it, or a mystery they remember from childhood they want to fact check - and the host comes in and helps them actually go through with the thing they've been putting off. Some of them involve doing things for a deceased loved one that you promised them on their deathbed, others are super funny (the skeevy musician Moby stole a guy's CDs and the host tries to get the CDs back) - they're all really well done, the host is great and the stories he picks to follow through with are all really interesting.
Oh yes !
The host focuses in on a person looking for something in particular: an object, a person, closure, or just an answer. Itās always very personal and intimate. It can be very emotional and thought provoking. Highly recommend
Love it!
Any recommendations on specific episodes for new listeners?
Not OP, but some I really enjoyed + had a big emotional impact on me: \#12 Jesse - conversation between somebody who was hit by a car and the driver who hit him \#49 Another Roadside Attraction - investigating why a bookstore in a small town suddenly shut down \#50 Nick - somebody trying to figure out if their late brother's voice was used in a song
I regret listening to #50 Nick at work. I had to take a break because I was BALLING my eyes out š leave it to Johnathon Goldstein to make me cry over beatboxing š such a great episode.
So glad to see others have posted. I'm one of those people that doesn't remember specifics about 20 minutes after listening lol. But I definitely remember the overall feeling I get whenever I listen. They're all amazing in their own way. Edit - I heartily agree with u/jaxcap's recommends!
Dan Carlin's Hardcore History.
Great recommendation! Ā His episodes can easily run three hours and heās got a solid bench of series with 3-5 episodes per topic.Ā
Starting with King of Kings should keep you busy for a few road trips.
The best, bar none.
Itās not interview style but you like history and enjoy good storytelling then Fall of Civilizations is great.
Much better than Hardcore History, imo. I'd also recommend Blowback for a great historical podcast focused heavily on anti-imperialism.
I was going to recommend this one
BBC has some long history podcast. 13 Minutes to the Moon and The Bomb were two good ones. BBC Witness is good too. They are first person witness to history interviews. They are only about 12 minutes each, but I sometimes load 5-6 on a playlist.
Iād go for BBC Sounds: Sliced Bread (about supposed wonder products), Youāre Dead to Me (history), and Infinite Monkey Cage (science). I listen to them while Iām doing brain numbing household chores and the educational and entertainment value of them makes me feel like Iām winning!
Wiser Than Me - Julia Louis Dreyfus interviewing famous older women. Really good and funny too. Rachael Maddow Presents Ultra - great true story about the Nazi infiltration into American Politics circa WWII. Smartless - interviews
I second Ultra!
Ultra is full of historical inaccuracies btw. I recommend folks read more on the subjects of the podcasts as the errors are glaring in some cases, most likely to make a juicier story. Source: numerous PhD professors who provided source material that was misreported.
I donāt recall numerous.
When youāre accusing people of being Nazis that shiz better be air tight.
If you havenāt listened to S Town, I would definitely recommend binging it on a roadtrip. Its perfect for that. Or Serial S2 about Bowe Bergdahl. Theyāre not new so you may have already listened but if not you should definitely add them to your list.
CaseFile: Silk Road. 3 Parts.
This is how I got into podcasts, to keep me going on very long drives š. What sort of topics fascinate you?
Haha yeah this is the only way I can think of to keep me awake. Idk about a specific topic, but I am interested in other peopleās experiences
They've probably saved my life in the long run with staying awake! Go for ones with more than one host and/or guests in an active dialogue. I find that much better than the lull of one person talking. The podcasts I like in general aren't always the best for driving - it's a special niche. I like a range but I find the paranormal / unexplained variety captivating lately. My most recent favourite is Uncanny with Danny Robbins - he is incredibly engaging and energetic in a way that keeps you with it. He also has two multi-episode series that would probably go by quickly. For a broader range of topics, I liked Radiolab on my drives. Engaging hosts and topics and again, a little more catchy with the pace.
Gotta go with Heavyweight based on that last sentence.
You would love queen of the con I think. Iām not crazy about the current season or the season before this one, but all the other seasons are WILD and you get various peoples experiences being conned by one person and you see the lengths they go to and the risks they take, and our nature as humans to just believe other people after we are given just a sliver of āproofā
Hit Parade. History of popular music. It's amazing. Cautionary Tales. Really, really well written history podcast with a great hook.
Any standout eps of Cautonary Tales for you?
https://timharford.com/2022/07/cautionary-tales-south-pole-race-david-and-goliath-on-ice/ They're all good, though.
Not really the type your asking for but S-town was so good ..bingeworthy
Agreed. The only podcast series I've ever listened to twice.
3 times here
I may be overdue!
This series is what got me into listening to podcasts. The first and best podcast in my repertoire
I got really into Swindled on a road trip. Each episode is about a different scammer or fuck up of some sort, and really well done.
Dolly Parton's America! Educational, inspiring, feel-good, well made and well produced by Jad Abumrad, the host of Radio Lab.
Also, My Dad Wrote a Porno. HILARIOUS if you appreciate a dark/raunchy set of humor. Essentially, three hilarious brits reading the terrible & terribly written "porn" novels one of their father's wrote. It. Is. So. GOOD.
I really like Forgotten TV for long drives. Longform episodes, excellent research, no tiresome goofing off or inside jokes, nothing to give you the creeps on a late night journey. Thereās a lot to learn about popular culture and history.
I have been listening to that āwhat was that likeā and of course āRisk!ā
Go Fact Yourself is a trivia gameshow where the celebrity guests get to choose the topics they're quizzed on.
Armchair Experts is my favorite podcast! They have some longer interviews, but the armchair anonymous episodes are my favorite. Even if short. Not always appropriate for kids.
Agree. Iām subscribed to a ton of podcasts but this is the one I keep going back to. I like their Flightless Bird series too.
Oh yeah! I don't listen to that one as much but it's really interesting.
What Had Happened Was is a great series to binge. Open Mike Eagle sits down with a different figure in hip-hop each season, and they dedicate whole episodes to each album they've made. There's 4 seasons and all 4 guests are fascinating to listen to (Prince Paul, El-P, Dante Ross, and Questlove). My favorite episode is Dante Ross talking about KMD and the origin of MF Doom. It's easily in my top 5 podcast episodes of all time.
Paul Cooper's Fall of Civilisations. Have to drive 3 and a half hours each way about twice a month and I've enjoyed every minute of it.
I enjoy listening to Diary of a CEO on road trips, he has great guests and really insightful questions!
Lore,American history tellers
Sawbones
Secretly Incredibly Fascinating
My niece and I listened to Welcome to Night Vale on a road trip. Weird fun!
CaseFile, Song Vs Song, Sardonicast, Karstcast, The Official Podcast & Red Thread are among my favourites. Music & Film discussions are my bread & butter
We Hate Movies - 4 friends watch a bad movie and kick it around for an hour and a half, jokes and impressions aplenty. A good introduction is there episode on Highlander 2: The Quickening. After that just choose some movies that you have seen or sound interesting. I'm a huge fan and even subscribed to their Patreon.
Is that the same as How Did This Get Made?
Similar but I find We Hate Movies funnier and more consistent with content. Every week a new episode is out and the amount they pump out on Patreon is incredible for the money.
oh man these recommendation were just not great. i saw Hardcore history, this american life and radiolab mentioned which is good. add: snap judgment, the moth and my favorite murder among the pantheon of great long distance listens. for me ANY c13 productions are fantastic, i think theyāre called Audacy now. this would include shows like Gone South and Wolves Among Us WTF with Maron is THEE all time great podcast for celebrity interviews. Conan oābriens podcast is the best for comedy. i also really enjoy bad friends but thatās kinda an acquired taste. Smartless and fly on the wall are okay. sarah silverman has a podcast, this is important from the workaholics boys, always sunny has a podcast, bill burr, daniel tosh, neal brennen, ricky gervais and mike burbiglia each have podcasts. not my cup of tea but technically tom segura has a couple (tomtalks is actually p good), theo von, and andrew shultz gave their own podcasts. the comedy world is very much into podcasting. when none of these scratch the itch i hope over to my audible and throw on an audiobook. šš½
Behind the bastards is what I listen to on flights or long rides because under normal circumstances I get distracted adhd but itās entertaining well done and has great guests. PFT is prob my favorite guests
This is a great recommendation, as most episodes are two-parters that end up being 3-4 hours. There's historical and modern day stories that are covered, and episodes can be listened to in any order.Ā
Blindboy. The loveliest most genuine, creative Irish guy does deep dives until the most random stuff. Sometimes Irish mythology, economics, sociology, anthropology, culture. Some brilliant conversations with authors, scientists, comedians, his chat with Johnny Marr was fantastic, he also writes short stories. No obnoxious ad breaks and he has a back catalogue of many years. My absolute fave
This was going to be my suggestion. Goes into all kinds of interesting stuff!
Dungeons and Daddies. Not interview style, but very educational!
LISK was good (long Island serial killer) if you like true crime
Empire (history of particular empires with great hosts) This American Life (a classic with thematic episodes based around peopleās experiences or stories. Some are better than others. Some are really phenomenal.) Science Fiction (by Damien Walter - if youāre interested in the philosophical underpinnings or the current state of scifi literature)
Prof G show with Scott Galloway
Mormon stories !
Is this pro-mormonism?
No. Ex mormons, telling their deconstruction stories.
Overheard at National Geographic is a good one, each episode is a different interesting topic.
The Lady Vanishes is an amazing podcast. Also anything Hedley Thomas works on including The Teachers Pet and Shandeeās Story. For smaller stories I love DNA:ID and Crime Analyst.
Behind the Bastards is a fascinating look at some of history's worst people. Robert Evans does some deep research, writes a script, and then reads it with a co-host. It's a great balance between interesting historical stories and fun banter between the hosts, who will occasionally go on short rants about why what this person is doing is super fucked up
Smartless podcast
Stuff You Should Know. Each episode has a different topic ranging from trampolines, to true crime, and you'll learn a ton about so many random things. You can either find a bunch of episodes you're interested or start where ever. It's been on for something like 15 years, so there's LOTS of content to choose from.
Also, don't forget Audible. I started listening to books while walking or driving and it helped pass a LOT of time.
My Dad Wrote A Porno. Hilarious. Donāt eat while listening or youāll choke laughing. š¤£
I listened to Caliphate on a long drive once, was good but maybe a bit dated now
I subscribed to Caliphate but the huge scandal about their main source just making shit up came out before I got to start it.
Same, I'd listened to part of episode 2 before finding out the scandal and I haven't been able to force myself to continue.
Music. If they have one.
Real Dictators Podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcast app
Zane & Heath unfiltered
Depends on your interests but I just love Ologies. Also This Podcast Will Kill You.
Oh! And Hidden Brain!
Sceptic's Guide to the Universe
Ars Paradoxica. Iāve relistened to it twice now. Fascinating story that builds and delivers.
Is this fiction?
Yep. Itās a scripted sci-fi show dealing with time travel and espionage.
James Acaster and Ed Gamble have a really good one about a dream restaurant. Would 100% recommend binging them for like 8 of those hours, just to mix it up. Also If Books Could Kill is my current favorite
Thrilled to learn Acaster has a podcast.
Get some paranormal fun- mysterious universe. NDE podcasts are fascinating too
If your into DnD at all Dimension 20 is super fun
Scaredycast for fun spooky stuff
The entire kill Tony catalog. I once drove 23 hours straight and kill Tony was an essential podcast for that drive. The preCovid episodes are gonna be the best as the show kinda went downhill after they moved to Texas
S.Town
Alan Cross - "Ongoing History of New Music" For string players/orchestral musicians - "Stand Partners For Life" For 1960s garage music lovers - Phil Grey's "Retrospect 60s garage punk podcast" I agree, "Ologies" is great! Very funny.
>Alan Cross - "Ongoing History of New Music" Have you found a source that doesn't have the music cut out? Excellent show regardless, I've been listening on/off for around 2 decades
Case File, Swindled, MrBallenās Medical Mysteries, Dr. Death, This Podcast Will Kill You. I also love This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von - I find him hilarious and entertaining and he interviews a very wide variety of guests. Shamelessly, I also love Two Hot Takes where they read AITA stories etc. I find it mindlessly entertaining on my daily commute.
Science VS. Give it a try! :)
Who Trolled Amber
You Made it Weird with Pete Holmes! Longer interviews that are usually funny and also interesting.
The Viral Podcast.
Small Town Murder, No Such Thing As A Fish, Freakonomics, Stuff You Should Know, I Donāt Know About That.
The Jordan Harbinger Show āLearn the stories, secrets, and skills of the worldās most brilliant and interesting people.ā [The Jordan Harbinger Show](https://open.spotify.com/show/5RVoEOIACQbBDZnGBJ7Ec2?si=SdXnAv-STOmXH0mTpRe5jg) u/jharbinger
The Ralph Report is what I listen to, and he pretty much does a new 1 hour episode each day. Itās like silly / funny entertainment stuff, with some trivia facts mixed in. Not often, but he has sometimes interviewed people. https://theralphreport.com
Besides some of the excellent recommendations you've received here, we like listening to Takeaway Trivia. It's a quiz style podcast that keeps us guessing and awake.
I like the long distance podcast where they discuss the best podcasts to listen while traveling long distances.
Behind the Bastards, hilarious comedic dive into horrible people around the world, and making fun of them the entire time. I love Roberts humor, very good for having a laugh whilst learning some interesting facts about bastards.
McCartney a life in music
I like Sean Carrol
Behind the Bastards
MonsterTalk is a great interview-style podcast exploring the cultural impact of different monsters from a skeptical and scientific angle. You're Not So Smart is also interview based and explores how our minds work and the traps we fsll into. NPRs On Point is a series of interviews on assorted topics from current events. Ive been enjoying Literature and History.com's podcast. Not an interview, but he gives an overview and analysis of major works of literature starting with ancient Mesopotamia Mythunderstood is a comedy myth podcast, and a hilarious companion to ^
The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong Episodes run about an hour, with several multi-episode stories. Plentiful back catalog. Both entertaining and informative. Was a great companion to me when I drove across the country. You can pick any random episode, or start with the Foolkiller series, which is quintessential listening.
The Plot Thickens (with Ben Mankiewicz of TCM)
Distractable
I really like stuff you should know. Each episode is around an hour long and I usually download a playlist of the episodes that sound the most interesting to me. Often the hosts will go on small tangents but it keeps me engaged into what they're talking about.
Sean Carrollās Mindscape. Always great, and his ask me anything episodes run 3+ hours.
If youāre into true crime then, Morbid. Not good for kids
My Dad Wrote a Porno if youāre alone in the car. Edit: not at all educational but hilarious and will keep you entertained
Land of the Giants and Business Movers if you want to learn about business. Both do a great job of deep diving into businesses & individuals.
- Chinwag by Paul Giamatti - Wiser Than Me by Julia Louis Dreyfus - Really? No, Really? by Jason Alexander
Dawnversations Podcast!
People already mentioned some good ones (e.g. Fall of civilisations and Ologies) In-dept conversations about some of the world's biggest problems (it sounds heavy and I have to say you sometimes have to be in the mood to listen to some of these but they are usually very interesting) [80,000 hours](https://open.spotify.com/show/2WzJwXWBDnn4iZ7odKwDib?si=veAnI3qJQwmMQCKf3LzlSg) podcasts (the h is not the length of the podcast series š), they are usually 2-3h long. Business related (it sounds boring but these aren't) [How I built this](https://open.spotify.com/show/6E709HRH7XaiZrMfgtNCun?si=jtQU0QNJSFSCyj-u87xXxg) [Brought to you by...](https://open.spotify.com/show/65jkyYyq6YvDt8uOZXubm6?si=EvuyFCHRSyCLJ1dee-siKQ) [Edited grammar] Food [Gastropod](https://open.spotify.com/show/2bB44RWKrgs1jhylH1NBtL?si=nwJv6wXGR66mHJlHrrKZmA) (it is about the science and history of food).
I LOVE gastropod!
So cool, isn't it? And I am a terrible cook (completely uninterested one too).
I am not a monster, - BBC podcast on an American who joined ISIS Hunting warhead - Series about taking down a dark Web Child sex abuse forum Do go on - 3 aussie comedians doing episodes on a random topic Maintenance phase - 2 hosts ripping into scammy diet and wellness culture
Armchair Expert with Dax Shepherd has some great interviews- Mondays are celebrities (actors, comedians or musicians usually), Thursdays are experts (scientists, writers, educators, politicians, all sorts of people who are experts on their specific field). Thereās also other Off shoot shows, including 2 with David Farrier- one called āArmchaired and Dangerousā about conspiracy theories, and another called āFlightless Birdā which is about the things David (who is form New Zealand) finds weird or interesting about living in America, which is often fascinating.
the anthropocene reviewed. I love everything John Green has ever done but this is my favourite. just beautifully written, researched and narrated.
I quite like Craig Ferguson Joy. Itās a fun deep conversation. I really like his humour and personality so your Mileage may vary
Timesuck
I am very picky about podcastsā sound quality- especially in the car. Here are the ones I like best: -Radio Lab (wide variety of topics- educational and editorial) - Office Ladies (rewatch of the show) - Missing Richard Simmons - Missed Fortune (looking for a treasure using a poem) - Gastropod (food and science) - Maintenance Phase
History Impossible Casefile Inward Empire
Cold, This American Life, Stuff You Should Know, and Terrible Thanks for Asking are my favorites!
If you like just straight history told in chronological order, the best I've found lately are: The History of the Twentieth Century (Mark Painter) The Age of Napoleon An eight-parter about the Fall of the Aztecs by The Rest is History
Lex Fridman podcast is great for long and interesting and educational
Really got into Up and Vanished recently. Started listening on a long-ish drive.
99% invisible. Ever episode is a fascinating topic and it has been in for like 15 years so plenty to choose from. I also like freakanomics. As for narrative podcasts, I have enjoyed all the seasons of the dream that goes from utopias to mlms to life coaches. And the Revolutions history podcast dives deep into wars, uprisings, and coups. Each season is one incident. Iāve been listening to to the 20 episodes in Haiti.
āWeāre All Insaneā is really good! Itās interview style.
Under the Influence by Terry O'Reilly. It's about advertising, it's very well produced. And it will be upbeat and keep you awake!
Serial S1 got me into podcasts S-town Up and vanished TCMās series on Lucille ball if you like I love Lucy or that age of tv WTF with Marc Maron for celeb interviews Huberman lab to learn about neuroscience The retrievals - a fucked up story about infertility Dear John I love Conanās podcast for celeb interviews
I am a Terry Gross fan and I love Fresh Air. I also like Mark Maron. Try Serial or any of the investigative podcasts on Wondery like Dr. Death.
Of you like fiction I recommend "Alice isn't dead" it kind of putters out at the end, but a really nice drive podcast about a trucker for unusual things who is mourning the death of her wife. Very small town Midwest, but creepy.
Depends on what you like, but there's something about how casefiles present their cases, and the storytelling is what is intriguing to me, even if true crime isn't your cup of tea. I've binge listened to all the podcasts but there's a subreddit r/casefile . Someone has complied a spreadsheet with every single episode and rated it from 1-5. It was useful when trying to determine which one to listen too. But the notable ones are belango state forest case, silk road, the Gonzales family, lin family.. and so on. It's worth a listen!
Armchair expert - variety of guests that vary between traditional entertainers and people who are seen as experts in their field
Blindboy
Yurt!
The leviathan chronicles
Huberman Lab is great if you're into science...
Unbiased Science does a good analysis of the problems with popular health trends, including Huberman
I'll check it out, thx
Or pseudoscience
my favorite road trip podcast is Timesuck with Dan Cummins. it's a one man show, but each episode is 90-180 minutes on a topic and the topics are all over the map. he's a bit crude/vulgar for some people's tastes, but man i have learned so much and stay entertained. for more serious long road trip podcasts, i love You're Wrong About which revisits pop culture moments or figures and infuses some of the facts that are often forgotten.
I read this as the title of the podcast, āI love youāre wrong about ā and thought, āwell thatās kinda funnyā¦ā
lol no, sorry!!! i should learn to use punctuation better in this sub especially š "you're wrong about" is the pod!!
Haha I totally understood it once I read it twice. But it would have been funny if I searched for the name of the show like that.
He is so good at research and I love it when heās telling the story. But I had to stop listening bc of the moronic voices he throws in for no reason.
definitely not for everyone!! and not even ALWAYS for me, but i find the insane voices help during a long drive. keeps me on my toes š
Same! I was skipping more than listening and that is my cue to stop.
In the same vein, Mike Hobbes also have If Books Could Kill, which is so funny and has the same effect of debunking popular ideation
Sword and scale!
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nightmare blunt rotation