These 9 Best All Time Interview Podcasts Should be on Your Playlist

When it comes to podcasts, there are a handful of formats. Generally, there is a host or hosts and oftentimes they invite a guest. The podcast format that seems to have risen to the top and overcome the test of time is the interview podcast. These are podcasts that consistently feature interesting and exciting guests to speak on any number of topics.

You’ll often hear entertainers, creatives and musicians, politicians, scientists and psychologists, and any number of other interviewees that come from a variety of backgrounds. Many times, these interviewees are experts in a particular field, and with the right amount of guidance from seasoned podcast hosts, these interview podcast conversations are always insightful, intriguing, and entertaining.

So we have put together a list of a variety of some of the best interview podcasts for the interview podcast lover. There is a little bit of something for everyone on this list, and all of these are binge-able. And if there are one or two of your favorite interview podcasts that didn’t make the list, let us know!

Joe Rogan Interviews on the Joe Rogan Experience

While sometimes controversial, The Joe Rogan Experience is arguably one of the more compelling interview podcasts available. Joe Rogan is a comedian, UFC commentator, and businessman who has a knack for interviewing people from all walks of life. His interviews tend to be very relaxed, which allows his guests to open up and really share some great stories and insights. Rogan is also quite opinionated, which makes for interesting listening because you are never certain what is going to come out of his mouth.

Joe Rogan interviews everyone from scientists to musicians to actors to politicians, and it’s always an interesting listen. Some notable recent episodes are:

• #1859 Louis C.K., Joe List
• #1850 Whitney Cummings
• #1848 Francis Foster, Konstantin Kisin
• #1837 Gina Carano
• #1835 Mike Judge
• #1815 The Black Keys: Dan Auerbach, Patrick Carney

From controversial topics of discussion to controversial guests, there is never a lack of intrigue. The only downside to this podcast is that The Joe Rogan Experience is only available on Spotify.

Terry Gross Fresh Air Podcast

The Terry Gross Fresh Air podcast is a bit more highbrow, and if you’re looking for in-depth interviews with some of the world’s most fascinating people, then this is the podcast for you. Terry Gross is a legend in the radio interview industry, and her long-running show features intimate conversations with artists, writers, politicians, and more.

Her interviews are always respectful and she has a way of getting her guests to open up about things they may not be comfortable discussing with other interviewers. This results in some truly fascinating insights into the lives and careers of some of the world’s most interesting people.

Each episode is fascinating on its own merits, but some notable recent episodes worth checking out are:

• Former GOP Operative On Enabling Trump’s Rise
• Arizona’s Anti-Democracy Experiment
• Rep. Adam Schiff On Jan. 6, Mar-A-Lago Raid & Impeachment Hearings
• The Secret History Of Family Separation At The Border
• How This Political Era Of Partisan Warfare & Conspiracies Came To Be

If you’re a fan of National Public Radio and the types of programming offered, definitely check out Terry Gross’s Fresh Air podcast.

Everything Is Alive Podcast

Everything Is Alive is a truly unique interview podcast in which the interviewer interviews inanimate objects. That’s right, things like lamps, fire hydrants, and cans of soda come to life and share their stories with us.

This may sound strange, but it’s actually quite charming and enlightening. The interviews are all done in character, and the stories that the objects tell are often quite moving. It’s a really fun and different way to approach the interview format, and it’s definitely worth checking out.

Some of our favorite episodes are:

• Christmas Tree
• Toothbrush
• Mattress
• Potted Plant
• ATM Machine

If you’re looking for something a little bit different, give Everything Is Alive a try. It’s a fun and unique podcast that will leave you feeling strangely connected to inanimate objects.

How I Built This with Guy Raz Podcast

If you’re interested in interviews with entrepreneurs and businesspeople, then How I Built This with Guy Raz is the podcast for you. In each episode, Raz interviews the founder of a successful company and discusses how they built their business from the ground up.

The stories are always inspiring, and it’s fascinating to hear about the trials and tribulations that these entrepreneurs went through on their way to success.

Some of our favorite episodes are:

• Roblox: David Baszucki
• Dogfish Head Craft Brewery: Sam and Mariah Calagion
• Twitch: Emmett Shear
• Airbnb: Joe Gebbia
• Virgin Group: Sir Richard Branson
• Instagram: Kevin Systrom & Mike Krieger
• Spanx: Sarah Blakely

If you’re interested in entrepreneurship and business, How I Built This is a must-listen. Guy Raz is a great interviewer, and the stories are always fascinating.

WTF Marc Maron Podcast

Marc Maron is a stand-up comedian, and his WTF Marc Maron podcast is one of the most popular interview podcasts out there. In each episode, Maron interviews a different celebrity, and the conversations are always candid and intimate.

Maron is known for getting his guests to open up about their lives and careers, and the result is always a fascinating conversation.

Some of our favorite episodes are:

• Tom Hanks
• Barack Obama
• Lena Dunham
• Eddie Vedder
• Amy Schumer

If you’re a fan of Marc Maron or if you’re just looking for something new to listen to on a long car ride, then check out WTF Marc Maron podcast. As with many modern podcasts, the only downside is the number of ads that interrupt. But it’s definitely worth stomaching the ads or just skipping over them if your device allows it.

Eddie Trunk Podcast

This recommendation is a little off the beaten path, but so is Eddie Trunk. Eddie Trunk is a music journalist, and his podcast is all about hard rock and heavy metal — and they are awfully compelling. In each episode, Trunk interviews a different musician or band, and the conversations are always candid and insightful.

Trunk is a great interviewer, and he always gets his guests to open up about their lives and careers. If you’re a fan of hard rock or heavy metal, then you’ll definitely enjoy the Eddie Trunk podcast.

Some of our favorite episodes are:

• Joe Perry
• AC/DC Throwdown: Back in Black vs. Highway to Hell
• Ozzy Osbourne
• Kiss
• Metallica
• Guns N’ Roses

If you’re a fan of hard rock or heavy metal, then you should definitely check out the Eddie Trunk podcast. The interviews are always great, and you’re sure to learn something new about your favorite bands.

The Moment with Brian Koppelman Podcast

For fans of movies, television, music, art, politics, and everything in between, then The Moment with Brian Koppelman is one of the best interview podcasts. Brian Koppelman is a screenwriter, director, and producer, and The Moment with Brian Koppelman podcast is all about the creative process. In each episode, Koppelman interviews a different creative person — writers, directors, musicians, actors, etc. — and discusses their creative process.

The conversations are always fascinating, and it’s always interesting to hear about the different ways that people create.

Some of our favorite episodes are:

• Gillian Jacobs
• Quentin Tarantino
• Anna Sale
• Paul Schrader
• Aaron Sorkin
• Lin-Manuel Miranda
• Stephen Colbert
• David Simon

If you’re interested in the creative process, then The Moment with Brian Koppelman podcast is a must-listen. The conversations are always fascinating, and you’re sure to learn something new about your favorite creative people.

Minnie Questions with Minnie Driver Podcast

Minnie Questions with Minnie Driver is a podcast that’s all about, well, questions. In each episode, Minnie Driver interviews a different person, and the conversations are always wide-ranging and fascinating.

Driver is a great interviewer, and she always gets her guests to open up about their lives and careers. If you’re looking for a podcast that’s a little different, then check out Minnie Questions with Minnie Driver. A few notable recent episodes worth checking out from the most recent season are:

• Dr. Edith Eger
• Anne Wojcicki
• Ruth Reichl
• Christiane Amanpour
• Debbie Harry

Check out Minnie Questions with Minnie Driver if you’re looking for a podcast that’s a little different. The conversations are always wide-ranging and fascinating, and you’re sure to learn something new about your favorite people.

Armchair Expert Podcast with Dax Shepard

As interview podcasts go, the Armchair Expert podcast with Dax Shepard ranks up there as one of the best in the modern era. Dax Shepard is an actor, comedian, producer, and the husband of Kristin Bell and isn’t shy about opening up about life, relationships, mental health, and the pursuit of happiness. Dax Shepard and co-host Monica interview different people with various backgrounds, and Dax provides some great questions and hot takes that truly earn him the title of “armchair expert.” The conversations are always wide-ranging and fascinating, and there’s a large archive of past episodes worth discovering. Some of our favorites from the recent releases are:

• Woo-Kyoung Ahn
• Ben Stiller
• Jesse Tyler Ferguson
• R.L. Stein
• David Sedaris
• Connie Britton

Final Thoughts About the Best Interview Podcasts

There are so many great interview podcasts out there, and these are just a few of our favorites. Whether you’re a fan of hard rock or metal, movies and television, business and the economy, or just want to hear interesting conversations, there’s an interview podcast out there for you. So go ahead and give these awesome interview podcasts a listen.