With over 4 million active podcasts in existence, finding the worthwhile ones requires some guidance. Here are the categories and flagship shows that have earned their reputation.
News and current affairs
The Daily (New York Times) — The most downloaded news podcast in the world. 20-30 minutes of deep reporting on the biggest story of the day. Consistently excellent production values.
Planet Money (NPR) — Economics made human and often surprising. Each episode tells a story about how money and markets intersect with everyday life.
True crime and investigation
Serial (Serial Productions) — The podcast that mainstreamed the genre. Season one, released in 2014, remains a masterclass in narrative journalism.
In the Dark (APM Reports) — Investigative journalism at its finest. Season two's 10-episode investigation into a man wrongly convicted of murder is one of the best pieces of journalism produced this decade.
Science and knowledge
Radiolab — Each episode explores a single scientific or philosophical question from multiple angles. Brilliantly produced and genuinely mind-expanding.
Ologies (Alie Ward) — An interview show that finds the world expert in a specific "-ology" (vulcanology, deltiology, snakology) and goes deep. Warm, funny and educational.
Storytelling
This American Life — The gold standard of narrative non-fiction audio. Every episode tells four or five stories around a theme. Changed what audio storytelling could be.
Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend — Genuinely funny celebrity interviews from one of the sharpest comedic minds in American entertainment. One of the few comedy podcasts that earns real laughs consistently.
