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The Best Podcasts Everyone Should Be Listening to Right Now

Introducing, the best of the best in true crime, comedy, self-improvement and more.

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Whether you’re a news junky, a comedy lover, a true crime fiend, or a pop culture maven, there’s definitely a podcast perfect for your interests. In fact, it seems like there are so many podcasts out there these days that the hardest part is narrowing down which to listen to! Regardless if you crush podcasts during your commute or if you’re just learning how to listen to podcasts for the first time, these are the best podcasts for every kind of listener.

They cover diverse genres, from mental health podcasts to true crime podcasts and more. Some of these podcasts are educational, some are just entertaining and plenty of options on this list are both at the same time. So whether you want to hear the latest celebrity gossip, laugh at relatable stories, uncover ancient history or keep abreast of the latest in business and tech, hit play and enjoy.

Our Favorite Podcasts of 2024

Happy Sad Confused

happy sad podcast
Apple//Apple

Josh Horowitz gets the biggest movie stars and directors to sit down with him on this movie-loving podcast, from Samuel L. Jackson to Christopher Nolan. Interviews range from their latest projects to complicated topics like grief, and its informal tone feels like listening to old friends chat.

APPLE SPOTIFY

A Bit Fruity

a bit fruity podcast
Apple//Apple

Matt Bernstein does smart deep dives into different queer stories and topics, like Chappell Roan’s struggle with her rise to fame and what it says about parasocial relationships with musicians.

APPLE SPOTIFY

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Networth and Chill With Your Rich BFF

networth podcast
Apple//Apple

Your Rich BFF CEO Vivian Tu gets real about finances in this honest look at money and its role in our lives. She gives practical advice like your financial BFF, interviewing experts for the best money tips and breaking down complicated business and economic terms into easy-to-understand examples.

APPLE SPOTIFY

Wiser Than Me

wiser than me podcast
Apple//Apple

In this podcast, Julia Louise-Dreyfuss interviews iconic older women like Vera Wang, Julie Andrews and Gloria Steinem. They share their bold attitudes and hard-earned wisdom for all women in these upbeat and heartfelt episodes.

APPLE SPOTIFY

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Serial

serial podcast
Apple//Apple

Now in its fourth season, Serial is known for its deep investigative journalism and compelling storylines. Its first season examined the murder of 18-year-old Hae Min Lee, and its latest season is about Guantanamo Bay from those who have been inside it.

APPLE SPOTIFY

Up First From NPR

up first podcast
Apple//Apple

In only 10 minutes, NPR gives you the three biggest news stories of the day. New episodes drop at 6:30 am and will keep you informed as you start your day.

APPLE SPOTIFY

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Podcrushed

podcrushed podcast
Apple//Apple

Co-hosted by Penn Badgley, this podcast interviews celebs about their awkward teen years. First loves, embarrassing stories, nothing is off the table in this relatable podcast.

APPLE SPOTIFY

S-Town

stown podcast
Apple//Apple

This serial podcast is about a man who hates his Alabama town, so he launches an investigation into a wealthy town member who brags that they have gotten away with murder. What follows includes a suicide, a feud and a treasure hunt.

APPLE SPOTIFY

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The Rest Is History

history podcast
Apple//Apple

Two funny British academics bring you a different historical happening with each episode. They explain the context and how it relates to current life, gently ribbing each other as they teach you fascinating things about lesser-known history.

APPLE SPOTIFY

Baking a Murder

baking a murder podcast
Apple//Apple

Stephanie Soo, the true crime podcaster behind Rotten Mango, uses this spinoff podcast to review the best horror and psychological thriller novels out there with thorough research and engaging storytelling.

APPLE SPOTIFY

RELATED: Best Psychological Thriller Movies

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Grapevine

grapevine podcast by nbc
NBC Universal

This is a podcast about a town and a family, a religion, LGBTQ+ rights and an English teacher caught in the middle. If you can't look away from the fight for trans' kids rights unfolding across the country this year, this podcast is an excellent addition.

APPLE SPOTIFY

Weight For It

a person wearing glasses in the weight for it podcast logo
Apple

People of size already know that weight is a complex, often painful topic. This six-part series by Ronald Young, Jr. delves into it in a narrative way that feels both personal and approachable.

APPLE SPOTIFY

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Normal Gossip

normal gossip podcast logo
Apple

This podcast, hosted by journalist and gossip enthusiast Kelsey McKinney, is exactly what the title promises: low-stakes goss, collected from reader stories, that runs the gamut from banal to downright outrageous. If you're the type of person who has occasionally missed their train stop because they're eavesdropping on their fellow passengers (guilty), this delightfully lukewarm tea is for you.

APPLE SPOTIFY

Love, Janessa

love janessa podcast logo
BBC

If you like true crime stories with a bit of a twist, you'll steam right through this BBC limited series that looks at catfishing scams in a different light. Janessa Brazil's likeness has been used to fool thousands of people — but who is she, and what is her role in all this? This engaging story is also only seven episodes, so it's nice and bite-sized.

APPLE SPOTIFY

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Sold a Story

sold a story podcast logo
Apple

If you or your kids have struggled with reading, you're not alone. Scientists have spent decades digging into the ways the human brain learns to turn letters into words and words into meaning, but those aren't necessarily the ones being used in schools. Why not? In this engrossing series, investigative journalist Emily Hanford seeks to find out.

APPLE SPOTIFY

Scamanda

a person smiling with text overlay below as a scamanda podcast logo
Lionsgate

If you remember the shocking story of California mom and blogger Amanda Riley whose terminal cancer turned out to be a hoax, get even more of the tale from this podcast hosted by Charlie Webster. And if you did somehow miss that bombshell, get the scoop here.

APPLE SPOTIFY

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The School of Greatness

school of greatness podcast logo
Apple

Host Lewis Howes' inspiring interviews with successful people will energize you to make the most of your day, even if your work is less moon-landing and more email. This one tackles big topics with the people who know what they're talking about, so you're guaranteed to learn something along the way.

APPLE SPOTIFY

Maintenance Phase

maintenance phase podcast logo
Apple

If you've ever heard about a new fad diet and thought, "That can't be good for you," add this podcast to your virtual plate. Hosts Aubrey Gordon and Michael Hobbes debunk trends, scams and other nonsense in a funny and informative way.

APPLE SPOTIFY

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The Retrievals

the retrievals podcast logo
Apple

This harrowing five-part series investigates what happened at a Yale fertility clinic, where many patients underwent excruciatingly painful procedures thanks to an unscrupulous nurse. It's eye-opening and absolutely engrossing.

APPLE SPOTIFY

American Radical

best podcasts  logo for american radical by msnbc
MSNBC

A year plus after the insurrection at the Capitol on January 6, MSNBC digs into what brought one woman to the riot in the first place. Host and family friend Ayman Mohyeldin talks through how the late Rosanne Boyland got sucked into the conspiracy theories that led to that fateful day.

APPLE SPOTIFY

Headshot of Lizz Schumer
Lizz Schumer
Senior Editor
Lizz (she/her) is a senior editor at Good Housekeeping, where she runs the GH Book Club, edits essays and long-form features and writes about pets, books and lifestyle topics. A journalist for almost two decades, she is the author of Biography of a Body and Buffalo Steel. She also teaches journalism as an adjunct professor at New York University's School of Professional Studies and creative nonfiction at the Muse Writing Center, and coaches with the New York Writing Room.
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