Just like with TV, books, and movies, the world of podcasts has its own list of “greatest hits”. These are the popular podcasts that practically everyone has heard about, even if they haven’t listened to them.
This list of popular podcasts is perfect for podcast newbies. The shows listed below are the ones that get a lot of people hooked on podcasts, and the ones that people talk about at parties.
If you haven’t listened to at least one of these popular podcasts, pick one and get ready for a binge-fest!
Must-Listen Popular Podcasts for Podcast Newbies
Serial
Without a doubt, Season 1 of Serial is the most popular podcast to date, and with good reason. Serial is technically categorized in the true crime genre, but it is much more than that.
Hosted by Sarah Koenig (who is now considered to be podcast royalty), the show takes an in-depth look at a teenage murder case from 1999, and the convicted man at the center of it. Each episode focuses on a different aspect of the case. This story is told in a casual yet intense way that keeps listeners hanging on Koenig's every word.
This American Life
This popular show comes straight from its National Public Radio (NPR) weekly broadcast. Hosted by one of the biggest names in radio, Ira Glass, each episode features human interest stories that are connected by a common theme. There are hundreds of episodes of This American Life to choose from (or binge through).
Stuff You Missed in History Class
This podcast has been around for years – long before most people ever heard the word “podcast”. Each episode focuses on a different person or event in history, often one that you have only ever head about in passing. The show is fast-paced and packed full of facts. I recommend scrolling through the list of episodes and picking one that sounds interesting to you!
Listen to Stuff You Missed In History Class
(Stuff You Missed in History Class is one of the podcasts I recommend for road trips!)
99% Invisible
99% Invisible was created by host Roman Mars, one of the most popular names in podcasting (he's a founding member of the podcast network Radiotopia). His show explores the objects, sounds, technology, and architecture that we encounter every day but don't really think about. Around since 2010, 99% Invisible has over 200 episodes from which you can choose.
StartUp
This is a documentary-style podcast about what it's really like to start a business. StartUp hit it big with Season 1, which featured recordings of Gimlet Media founder Alex Blumberg's missteps (and eventual successes) on his journey to launch a new podcast company. The show's subsequent seasons follow real-life entrepreneurs from a variety of industries, and provide a behind-the-scenes look at launching a start-up.
The Memory Palace
Each short episode of The Memory Palace tells a true story from the past. It might be about a person in history, or an event. This is a history podcast like no other, simply because host Nate DiMeo is such a fantastic storyteller. Instead of reading a list of facts, DiMeo explores each topic with his signature style, which will often leave you speechless.
(Love history? This post has even more history podcast recommendations.)
The Allusionist
The Allusionist podcast is a fun exploration of language - English and otherwise - by award winning podcaster Helen Zaltzman. Each episode will make you think about how we speak, what we say, and how certain words or phrases came to be used in popular culture. At the end of each episode, Zaltzman flips to a random word in the dictionary and shares its definition with you.
(The Allusionist is just one of the shows I recommend in my popular post The Best Short Podcasts for Busy Days (& Busy People))
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A show about human interest stories with an internet-based twist. The two male hosts (who are similar yet SO different from one another) investigate interesting stories, news, or events that have some sort of connection to technology. I always learn something new from this show, but it's the engaging way in which the stories are told (often with a good amount of jokes and laughter) that is so entertaining.
Ear Hustle
The indisputable breakout star of 2017, the Ear Hustle podcast is a show that is recorded and produced inside San Quintin prison in California. The show is co-hosted by a prison volunteer, Nigel Poor, and an incarcerated man at the prison, Earlonne Woods.
The podcast looks at the different aspects of every day life in prison and features interviews with other incarcerated men. Sometimes funny, sometimes intense, Ear Hustle provides a glimpse at a life many of us have only ever imagined.
If you've already listened to these shows, or you're just looking for something else, check out the Podcasts by Topic page for the latest podcast releases.