Podcasts have become more famous in the past few years due to their ability to educate the audience on culture, art, crime, and other genres. Statistics on popularity trends suggest that this industry will likely receive tens of millions more listeners in the future.
However, with hundreds of new releases, podcast listeners might need guidance on which podcasts to choose. Here are the 19 best recently-produced audio shows that are worth your time.
1. Ghost Church
This limited series revolves around various themes, such as religion, grief, and science. This podcast’s excellent production and journalistic approach entice listeners and allow them to create their own conclusions.
2. Dead Eyes: “Tom” (Headgum)
This podcast centers on comedian and actor Connor Ratliff. It shows his journey as he tries to determine why Tom Hanks fired him from the HBO miniseries “Band of Brothers” about 20 years.
Earlier this year, Tom joined Ratliff on the show and confessed that he fired him because he felt that he had “dead eyes.” You do not want to miss hearing the exciting conversation between the two. This podcast is very informational because it reflects life quirks in the entertainment industry.
3. This is Dating
This podcast centers on socially-distanced blind dating. The hosts, Hiwote Getaneh and Jesse Baker, guide the participants in their romance-seeking journey. For example, they allow Logan Ury, a relationship coach, to counsel them before they attend several recorded first dates.
These co-hosts also steer conversations among the couples, where necessary. The podcast is entertaining and genuinely reflects today’s dating scene and its issues.
4. The Trojan Horse Affair
The Trojan Horse Affair is a recent investigative podcast by Serial Productions’ It is among the most downloaded podcasts globally. This eight-episode series focuses on a national British scandal.
It carefully investigates how an anonymous letter that talks about Islamic extremists’ plan to invade the town’s schools caused significant changes in the country. The podcasts also attempt to investigate who anonymously sent the letter to an official in Birmingham, England. Hamza Syed, Reed’s passionate co-host, makes the storytelling in this podcast more compelling.
5. Royally Obsessed
In this audio production, Roberta Fiorito and Rachel Bowie give their listeners an idea of what is happening in the British royal family. They also discuss the latest news coming from Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace.
This includes information about high-profile guests. Royally Obsessed is perfect for podcast listeners searching for a weekly update on the British royals. New episodes air every Thursday.
6. Sweet Bobby
This podcast revolves around Kirat Assi’s bizarre’s catfishing story that lasted for ten years. She thought Bobby was her true destiny, but the story turned out to be an online web of pretense and deception.
You will find yourself binge-watching the entire series for answers. This podcast gives listeners an idea of catfishing in the internet world. It also enables them to understand why people who commit this online psychological warfare face few consequences.
7. Dark House
In this recent podcast, Hadley Mendelsohn and Alyssa Fiorentino explore four beautiful, infamous American homes and their dark histories. They discover strange stories that suggest that members of the Mansion family cult murdered some of the homes’ inhabitants.
This podcast focuses on various themes, such as interior design and true crime. In each episode, the two hosts narrate and take their listeners on a journey through the houses’ mysterious history and try to investigate whether it is haunted or not.
8. Harsh Reality
This podcast explores the impact of the 2004 dating reality show called “There’s Something About Miriam.” Miriam, the show’s star, received a lot of abuse from the public, media, and contestants after the producers revealed that she was trans. Host Trace Lysette helps listeners to understand how a mainstream heteronormative society treats the transgender community.
9. Wild Things
In this audio production, journalist and award-winning filmmaker Steven Leckart details the private lives and shocking moments of Siegfried and Roy. The German-born illusionists performed approximately 30,000 shows and generated a lot of money in ticket sales.
Despite being famous, their private lives were mysterious. This made the public and media to scrutinize and ridicule them. The “Wild Things” podcast starts the conversation by giving details about the horrific tiger attack that took place in the final show. It explains why it happened and whether one of the attendants was responsible. You will enjoy listening to details supposed to remain in Las Vegas.
10. Hooked
“Hooked” revolves around Tony Hathaway, his life, and his addiction journey. This former Boeing engineer seemed to have everything he ever wanted: a good job and a great family. However, he developed an injury while playing hockey in his organization’s league. The OxyContin prescription led him to opioid addiction.
In this podcast, Hathaway explains that he had to turn to crime to support this destructive habit. He even states that he become a successful serial bank robber.
Host Josh Dean interviews Hathaway, his family, and police officers to discuss how everything happened. This podcast will help you understand how addiction affects people’s lives and causes them to do crazy things.
11. Hidden Brain
This stimulating podcast evaluates the unconscious patterns that motivate human behavior. It also explores the questions that influence today’s complex world. Listening to Shankar Vedantam will help you understand various psychological issues related to self-doubt and help you create a fresh perspective on life.
12. American Radical
This podcast is about a January 6 story that everyone can easily relate to. It narrates how journalist Ayman Mohyeldin’s high-school friend requested him to cover Rosanne Boyland, his sister-in-law-s death.
“American Radical” takes you through this capital riot victim’s journey and the events that led to this day. You will be glued to the podcast as you listen to the family seeking the truth about what happened to Boyland.
13. Travel That Matters
In this thought-provoking podcast, host Bruce Wallin engages in insightful conversations with different people in the travel industry. As the title suggests, this podcast focuses on meaningful travel and its magic.
14. Things Fell Apart
In this podcast, Jon Ronson discusses the origin of cancel culture and the reason today’s society has become so divisive. He dwells on controversial topics like sex education, gay liberation, and abortion.
The people who led different monumental moments that shape today’s culture narrate their stories and experiences. “Things Fell Apart” is an excellent learning experience.
15. Planet Money
The cast of NPR hosts in this podcast explains America’s economy in simple times. It focuses on interesting topics like when the United States cleared its debts, businesses and inflation, and nurses’ never-ending shifts.
16. Start With This
This podcast aims to help listeners boost their creativity and implement their ideas. Each episode involves homework, usually something to create or write about. This could be a book or a television show. To make the podcast more entertaining, host Jeffrey Cranor centers each episode around a different topic, such as world-building.
17. Borderline Salty
Rick Martinez and Carla Lalli Music started this cooking podcast on April 12. Years of assisting each other improve recipes, invent delicious ideas, and solve cooking problems enabled them to become experts in the kitchen. In this weekly podcast, the two hosts answer the audience’s cooking questions in various areas, such as how to flip pancakes.
18. Sympathy Pains
In this six-episode podcast, science journalist Laura Beil tackles a tale revolving around crime and medicine. Sarah Delashmit abuses the medical system and takes advantage of her vulnerable parents, who believe in her lies. This story of Munchausen’s syndrome is comprehensive and elaborate.
19. Normal Gossip
The world today revolves around drama and gossip. In this podcast, host Kelsey McKinney and some hilarious guests like Laci Mosley serve listeners with the latest “tea” about the lives of strangers.
In summary, podcasts are a smart, introspective, educative, and entertaining form of entertainment. You can listen to the above conversations to learn what is happening around the world or to keep your mind busy.
