40+ Top Podcasts to Listen to in 2024

Podcasts have rapidly become one of the most consumed forms of content today. They offer a perfect blend of information and entertainment to people to expand their knowledge, indulge in meaningful conversations, or relax as they listen to meaningful stories.

But with so many choices out there, where do you start?

Finding the right podcast might feel overwhelming because there’s always a fresh episode waiting for you. To discover podcasts that can keep you engaged, we have curated a list of 40+ best podcasts by category, covering different genres and topics for you to choose from.

Explore our top recommendations below and make your choice!

Top-rated Podcasts You Should Listen to in 2024

We’ve carefully selected the top-rated podcasts of 2024 from millions available worldwide. This list consists of a variety of niches and categories for you to choose from.

1. The Joe Rogan Experience

The Joe Rogan Experience logo

Genre: Entertainment, comedy, politics, current events.

The Joe Rogan Experience is one of the most popular and influential podcasts in the world. Hosted by comedian and former TV host Joe Rogan, the long-hour show features long in-depth conversations with different guests, including comedians, scientists, businessmen, and billionaires like Elon Musk. Depending on the guest invited, Rogan talks about topics in various categories including politics, science, current affairs and events, philosophy, fitness, and even AI. Rogan’s open-minded approach to matters and in-depth yet informal style of discussion has attracted millions of listeners and a loyal fanbase.

2. So Supernatural

Genre: True crime.

So Supernatural is a captivating true crime and paranormal podcast known for offering listeners thought-provoking content. The host Alex Schmidt, shares a thrilling mix of paranormal stories, ghostly encounters, and chilling real-life stories. The podcast is perfect for anyone fascinated by the mysterious and unknown as each episode presents well-researched tales that keep listeners on the edge while also discussing scientific and historical explanations for each occurrence.

3. Synced

Genre: Society & Culture.

If you’re interested in discussions on relationships, culture, and the intricacies of human connection, then Synced might just be for you. Hosted by the Armchair Expert podcast host Monica Padman and award-winning journalist Liz Plank, the duo discuss their unique perspectives on emotional well-being, relationships, societal expectations, and personal growth. The podcast also features a mix of personal stories on real-life incidents and other relevant things you can learn from.

4. The Daily

Genre: News

The Daily is a news podcast produced by The New York Times to discuss current events on a wide range of topics including politics and global affairs. It is hosted by American journalist, Michael Barbaro who interviews New York Times journalists and experts to give listeners insights on the topic and analysis on pressing stories. Each podcast episode lasts for about 20 to 30 minutes.

5. The Martyr Made Podcast

Genre: History

The Martyr Made Podcast is a history and storytelling podcast hosted by Darryl Cooper. Cooper is known to be a great researcher and storyteller who talks about intense, controversial, and often underexplored topics in history and culture. He also offers detailed narratives about complex events and their historical context. So if you love history and things related to it, this is a great podcast to start with.

6. Call Her Daddy

Genre: Comedy

Call Her Daddy is a podcast that discusses issues relating to relationships, dating, and pop culture in a humorous style. The hosts, Alexandra Cooper and Sofia Franklyn, primarily target a younger, mostly female audience as they share unfiltered discussions on personal experiences, dating advice, and other related issues.

7. Huberman Lab

Genre: Health and Fitness

If you love topics related to neuroscience, biology, psychology, and health, then this is for you. Huberman Lab is a podcast hosted by neuroscientist and tenured professor in the Department of Neurobiology at Stanford School of Medicine, Dr. Andrew Huberman. In his podcast, he focuses on making complex scientific concepts accessible to a broad audience in the simplest words. The show covers subjects such as brain function, mental health, sleep, nutrition, exercise, and human behavior and discusses actionable tips to optimize your mental and physical performance.

8. Pod Save America

Genre: Politics

After working as Obama’s speechwriters, Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett, Dan Pfeiffer, and Tommy Vietor began the Pod Save America podcast to discuss recent political developments. They also provide analysis, and interview politicians, journalists, and other public figures to make their audience understand the topic better. It is well-known for its engaging approach to politics for listeners looking to gain more understanding of political issues.

9. Lex Fridman Podcast

Genre: Technology

Led Fridmand is a research scientist at MIT with a background in artificial intelligence and machine learning. His podcast Lex Fridman Podcast, features in-depth conversations on technology, artificial intelligence, science, and philosophy. Fridman is well known for his thoughtful and intellectual discussions and has invited prominent people as guests for his audience to learn from. Some of them include Elon Musk, Joe Rogan, and Sam Harris.

Top Podcasts in Different Genres

Check out our top podcast recommendations in different genres to begin.

Top Crime Podcasts to Listen to

1. Crime Junkie

Crime Junkie is a fascinating podcast that discusses various criminal cases including mysteries and well-known offenders. Hosts Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat engage their audience with great storytelling techniques as they discuss intriguing stories of unsolved crimes, missing persons, and other crime-related topics in a conversational and narrative style. Over the years, it has gained a large loyal following due to its detailed storytelling and investigative depth.

2. Rotten Mango

Rotten Mango is one podcast that does not shy away from sharing gruesome and raw details of a crime. Hosted by Stephanie Soo, the podcast leaves no stone unturned as Stephanie explores every aspect of the crime including the psychological motivations behind the crimes which provides insights into the penetrator’s mind. The mix of serious crime investigation and lighter moments of humor, personal reflections, and relatable reactions makes the podcast approachable for more people to listen and enjoy.

3. Morbid

As an autopsy technician, Alaina Urquhart brings a first-hand understanding of death and its aftermath to her podcast Morbid. Along with her co-host and niece Ashleigh Kelley, they both cover a wide range of crime stories including famous historical cases, recent crimes and unpopular mysteries. A unique feature of Morbid is the blend of dark humor and compassion added to the storytelling skills of the host to make the podcast engaging and relatable.

4. Mr Ballen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories

John Ballen is a former Navy SEAL and an amazing storyteller who displays his skills on his podcast: Mr Ballen Podcast. Ballen discovered his passion for storytelling after a near-death experience. His podcast focuses on lesser-known cases and stories and keeps his listeners on the edge of their seats as he creates a dark and suspenseful atmosphere perfect for fans of true crime and horror.

5. Dateline NBC

Dateline NBC is the audio companion to the long-running television show of the same name. The podcast focuses on true crime stories, including investigations into murder cases, missing persons, and other criminal mysteries and it features the voices of NBC journalists. Dateline NBC maintains the same high-quality storytelling as the television show all provided for the audience in classic and new episodes of the show.

Top News Podcasts

1. Autocracy in America

On Autocracy in America, experts in authoritarianism and hosts of the show Anne Applebaum and Peter Pomerantsev, discuss the threats to democracy in the United States. They also discuss how authoritarian tactics are being used to weaken democratic institutions. The podcast show is produced by The Atlantic and emphasizes the importance of civic engagement in defending democracy.

2. Up First from NPR

Up First from NPR gives a quick and clear summary of the top news story of the day. The show covers topics like politics, global events, business, and more and offers balanced and reliable information.

Top Society and Culture Podcasts

1. Flightless Bird

In his podcast Flightless Bird, New Zealand journalist David Farrier shares his outsider perspective on American culture and traditions. Farrier’s podcast focuses on unusual and often strange topics in the American society. His humorous and lighthearted narrative style hooks his listeners as he gives them insightful information on the U.S. from his perspective.

2. The Viall Files

The Viall Files is hosted by Nick Viall, a former contestant on the reality dating shows The Bachelor and The Bachelorette. On the show, Nick shares his experience on the dating show and his opinions and perspective on love, dating, pop culture, and relationships. The podcast features interviews with celebrities to discuss these topics and answer the listeners’ questions.

3. Stuff You Should Know

Hosted by Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant, Stuff You Should Know is a podcast that focuses on topics relating to science, technology, pop culture, history, and even weird things you may not have thought about. The goal of the hosts is to give interesting and informative content on different subjects to the listeners in a friendly, conversational, and humorous style.

4. What Now? With Trevor Noah

In his podcast What Now? With Trevor Noah, Trevor often interviews prominent figures from various fields to discuss thought-provoking topics and provide insights for his listeners. As a comedian, Noah’s distinctive voice and comedic style add a fresh and entertaining perspective to the discussions on the show to make even the most serious topics enjoyable to listen to.

5. The American Life

The American Life is a weekly radio program and podcast that explores strange themes and several stories relating to the theme. The show began airing in 1995 and has won numerous awards for its journalism. Currently hosted by Ira Glass, the episodes cover everything from personal struggles to interesting events or social issues.

Top Comedy Podcasts

1. Smartless

Smartless is hosted by actors Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett. These three have incorporated their comedic chemistry and premium banter to entertain their listeners even as they invite and interview a surprise guest on each episode. The podcast features a mix of celebrities, experts, and public figures from different fields.

2. This Weekend w/Theo Von

In his podcast, popular comedian Theo Von shares funny stories about his life and his daily experiences on different issues. Von also explores taboo topics in a dark humorous manner and frequently invites other comedians and guests.

3. Giggly Squad

In Giggly Squad, two friends Hannah Berner and Paige DeSorbo, talk about a variety of topics in a fun and lighthearted way to entertain their listeners. They cover everything from pop culture, reality TV, and relationships to their personal lives and experiences.

4. Bad Friends

On the Bad Friends podcast, Bobby Lee and Andrew Santino display their comedic chemistry as they roast each other and discuss different topics, raw and unfiltered. The hosts are usually not afraid to push boundaries as they discuss taboo topics, personal stories, current events, or some random topic with celebrity guests, comedians, and actors.

Top Health and Fitness Podcasts

1. On Purpose With Jay Shetty

On Purpose with Jay Shetty is a popular podcast hosted by Jay Shetty, a former monk-turned-motivational speaker and life coach. Shetty interviews celebrities, authors, experts, and thought leaders as they discuss life experiences, self-improvement, mindfulness, and other topics. The podcast is well-loved for the practical insights and motivational content it offers its listeners to live a better life and find purpose and happiness.

2. The Dr. John Delony Show

As a licensed counselor, clinical psychologist, and mental health expert, Dr. John Delony hosts a podcast and YouTube channel to share his expertise on these topics. The Dr. John Delony Show focuses on issues regarding relationships, mental health, stress, and life challenges. Delony takes his time to answer all questions and uses his experience in counseling and education to help people navigate difficult situations and get practical and relatable advice.

3. The School of Greatness

The School of Greatness podcast is hosted by New York Times bestselling author, entrepreneur, and former professional athlete, Lewis Howes. Howes discusses topics regarding mindset, motivation, health, relationships, and business to inspire listeners to improve themselves and reach their full potential. In each episode, he hosts a successful athlete, entrepreneur, author, or celebrity to share their life experiences and give advice to the audience.

4. Maintenance Phase

The Maintenance Phase podcast is hosted by Aubrey Gordon and Michael Hobbes. Both hosts take a humorous yet informative approach to explore and debunk popular health and wellness trends, diet culture, and common myths surrounding weight and health. The podcast also promotes a positive body image and challenges harmful stereotypes about weight and appearance.

5. The Pursuit of Wellness

In The Pursuit of Wellness, Mari Llewellyn shares her journey towards better physical and mental health. Llewellyn also invites experts in the health sector to discuss optimal living, nutrition, exercise, mental health, and other topics for her listeners to gain more insights on living a healthier and happier life.

Top Education Podcasts

1. The Mel Robbins Podcast

Mel Robbins is a well-motivational speaker, author, and life coach and on her podcast, she shares her personal stories and vulnerabilities on personal growth, mindset, mental health, relationships, and achieving goals. The Mel Robbins Podcast is designed to offer research-based strategies and practical tools for listeners to overcome challenges and achieve their goals easily.

2. TED Talks Daily

TED Talks Daily podcast is a popular podcast that features a TED Talk in each episode to share thought-provoking opinions from experts across various fields. The podcast is hosted by journalist Elise Hu and covers all topics from different industries.

3. The Daily Stoic

The Daily Stoic is a podcast that focuses on the teachings of Stoicism. Hosted by renowned author and speaker Ryan Holiday, the podcast offers daily short meditations inspired by ancient Stoic philosophy to help listeners develop resilience, self-control, and a more positive outlook on life.

Top Business Podcasts

1. The Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett

Steven Bartlett is a British entrepreneur and investor and on his podcast, he shares experiences and insights on the ups and downs of being a CEO. Each episode features in-depth conversations with successful individuals from various sectors. They discuss the challenges of running a business and the mindset needed to overcome those challenges.

2. Real AF with Andy Frisella

In Real AF with Andy Frisella, Andy shares his no-nonsense opinions and tips on personal development, business, success, and the challenges of life. As an entrepreneur and motivational speaker, he often talks about the importance of hard work, discipline, mental toughness, and leadership. The podcast is designed to motivate listeners to take control of their lives, reach their goals, and succeed.

3. I am Charles Schwartz Show

As an entrepreneur and coach, Charles Schwartz spends time on his show providing his listeners with practical advice and strategies to achieve their business goals. The show I Am Charles Schwartz Show often includes interviews with entrepreneurs, thought leaders, and experts who share their insights and experiences. The podcast covers success strategies, financial advice, personal development, and financial freedom.

4. Habits and Hustle

Habits and Hustle is a podcast hosted by renowned entrepreneur and motivational speaker Jennifer Cohen. In the show, Jennifer explores the "hustle" mindset—hard work, consistency, and the right habits—of successful people from various industries and also features industry leaders to share their thoughts and advice with the listeners.

Top Sport Podcasts

1. New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce

New Heights is a popular podcast hosted by NFL brothers Jason Kelce (Philadelphia Eagles) and Travis Kelce (Kansas City Chiefs). The show offers a unique blend of football insights, humor, and personal experiences to entertain and inform the listeners.

2. Pardon My Take

Pardon My Take is hosted by Dan "Big Cat" Katz and PFT Commenter, both of which are well known for their outrageous takes and blend of humor and sports commentary. The show is produced thrice a week by Barstool Sports as the duo hosts engage in comedic interviews with prominent athletes, sports figures, and celebrities. Pardon My Take has a loyal fanbase due to its unique blend of humor and sports analysis.

3. The Bill Simmons Podcast

The Bill Simmons Podcast features a mix of solo episodes, interviews with athletes, coaches, other sports figures, and discussions with friends and colleagues. The podcast is hosted by renowned sportswriter and commentator Bill Simmons known for insightful sport analysis and humorous style and controversial opinions.The podcast covers a wide range of sports topics, including the major leagues and niche sports.

Top Science Podcasts

1. Hidden Brain

If you're interested in knowing more or learning about forces that shape our behavior, choices, and relationships, then the Hidden Brain podcast is for you. Hosted by Shankar Vedantam, the podcast explores the unseen patterns that drive human behavior. Vedantam combines scientific research with compelling storytelling to explain these unconscious patterns and the biases that influence our decisions.

2. RadioLab

RadioLab is another popular science podcast that discusses scientific, philosophical, and cultural topics in an engaging and innovative way. The podcast was launched in 2002 by WYNC Studio and currently hosted by Lulu Miller and Latif Nasser. Each episode shares knowledge on complex topics like neuroscience, cosmology, ethics, and history and presents stories that challenge conventional thinking or highlight strange and rare aspects of the world.

3. Unexplainable

The Unexplainable podcast is produced by Vox Media Podcast and hosted by Noam Hassenfeld. Launched in 2021, the podcast discusses scientific mysteries in space, biology, physics, psychology, and other science-related topics. It aims to show listeners how much they still don't know about the universe to spark excitement and curiosity with each scientific discovery.

4. Ologies with Alie Ward

Ologies with Alien Ward is a podcast that studies a specific field in science per episode to make complex scientific concepts engaging and explainable to the audience. The podcast is hosted by science correspondent Alie Ward. Ward's ability to make the most obscure scientific topics interesting makes his audience stick to the podcast more as they learn about a wide range of scientific subjects in a fun and informative way.

Top 10 Podcasts on Spotify and Apple Podcast

Looking for the best podcasts on Spotify and Apple Podcast? Here is your ultimate list:

Best Podcasts on Spotify

1. The Joe Rogan Experience
2. The Tucker Carlson Show
3. Candace
4. Rotten Mango
5. The Megyn Kelly Show
6. Clooless Podcast
7. Shawn Ryan Show
8. Huberman Lab
9. The Past Weekend w/Theo Von
10. Crime Junkie

Best Podcasts on Apple Podcast

1. The Joe Rogan Experience
2. Witnessed: Night Shift
3. The Daily
4. Scamanda
5. Crime Junkie
6. The Tucker Carlson Show
7. So Supernatural
8. 60 Minutes: A Second Look
9. Pod Save America
10. Dateline NBC