As we dive into 2025, the podcast landscape continues to evolve, offering an incredible array of content across various genres. From true crime to comedy, news to self-improvement, there’s something for every listener. This comprehensive list showcases the top 100 podcasts that are captivating audiences worldwide. Let’s explore the shows that are dominating earbuds and making waves in the audio entertainment industry.
News and Politics
- The Daily (The New York Times)
- Host: Michael Barbaro
- A deep dive into the day’s most pressing news stories, offering insightful analysis and expert interviews.
- Up First (NPR)
- Hosts: Rachel Martin, Leila Fadel, Steve Inskeep
- A concise morning news briefing covering the three biggest stories of the day in just 10 minutes.
- Global News Podcast (BBC)
- Host: Various BBC correspondents
- Twice-daily updates on global affairs, providing a comprehensive look at world events.
- The Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC)
- Host: Rachel Maddow
- In-depth analysis of current political events and investigative reporting on pressing issues.
- Pod Save America (Crooked Media)
- Hosts: Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett, Tommy Vietor, Dan Pfeiffer
- Former Obama staffers offer a no-holds-barred conversation about politics, the press, and the challenges of the Trump era.
True Crime
- Crime Junkie
- Hosts: Ashley Flowers, Brit Prawat
- Weekly true crime stories told in a conversational style, focusing on unsolved cases and mysteries.
- Serial
- Host: Sarah Koenig
- The podcast that popularized the true crime genre, known for its in-depth investigative journalism.
- My Favorite Murder
- Hosts: Karen Kilgariff, Georgia Hardstark
- A blend of true crime and comedy, discussing famous and lesser-known murder cases with humor and empathy.
- Up and Vanished
- Host: Payne Lindsey
- Investigative journalism focusing on unsolved disappearances and cold cases.
- Sword and Scale
- Host: Mike Boudet
- A deep dive into the underworld of criminal activity, exploring the darkest cases in true crime.
Comedy
- Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend
- Host: Conan O’Brien
- The legendary late-night host interviews celebrities in a more intimate and humorous setting.
- 2 Dope Queens
- Hosts: Phoebe Robinson, Jessica Williams
- Live comedy show featuring stand-up sets and candid conversations with diverse guests.
- WTF with Marc Maron
- Host: Marc Maron
- In-depth, often emotional interviews with comedians, actors, and musicians in Maron’s garage.
- The Joe Rogan Experience
- Host: Joe Rogan
- Long-form conversations covering a wide range of topics, from comedy to politics to fringe theories.
- SmartLess
- Hosts: Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, Sean Hayes
- Celebrity interviews with a twist – one host brings on a mystery guest unknown to the others.
Science and Technology
- Radiolab
- Hosts: Jad Abumrad, Lulu Miller, Latif Nasser
- Exploring scientific and philosophical questions through immersive storytelling and sound design.
- Science Friday
- Host: Ira Flatow
- A weekly discussion of the latest news in science, technology, health, and the environment.
- Ologies
- Host: Alie Ward
- Humorously exploring various scientific fields through interviews with experts in each “ology.”
- TED Radio Hour
- Host: Manoush Zomorodi
- Exploring the biggest questions of our time with the help of the world’s greatest thinkers.
- Stuff You Should Know
- Hosts: Josh Clark, Charles W. “Chuck” Bryant
- Explaining a wide variety of topics in an accessible and entertaining manner.
Business and Entrepreneurship
- How I Built This (NPR)
- Host: Guy Raz
- Innovators, entrepreneurs, and idealists share the stories behind their successful companies.
- Masters of Scale
- Host: Reid Hoffman
- LinkedIn co-founder explores how companies grow from zero to a gazillion, testing his theories with legendary leaders.
- Planet Money
- Host: Various NPR reporters
- Making sense of the economy through creative storytelling and relatable examples.
- Freakonomics Radio
- Host: Stephen J. Dubner
- Exploring “the hidden side of everything” through the lens of economics.
- The Tim Ferriss Show
- Host: Tim Ferriss
- Long-form interviews with world-class performers from various fields, dissecting their tools, tactics, and routines.
Health and Wellness
- Sleep With Me
- Host: Drew Ackerman
- Bedtime stories designed to help insomniacs fall asleep.
- The Happiness Lab
- Host: Dr. Laurie Santos
- Exploring the science of happiness and how to lead a more fulfilling life.
- On Purpose with Jay Shetty
- Host: Jay Shetty
- Conversations on purpose, mindfulness, and relationships with thought leaders and experts.
- The Mindset Mentor
- Host: Rob Dial
- Short, actionable episodes designed to help listeners improve their mindset and life.
- The goop Podcast
- Hosts: Gwyneth Paltrow, Elise Loehnen
- Conversations with leading thinkers, culture changers, and industry disruptors on health, beauty, and wellness.
History
- Hardcore History
- Host: Dan Carlin
- In-depth explorations of historical events and figures, often spanning multiple hours per episode.
- Revisionist History
- Host: Malcolm Gladwell
- Reexamining overlooked and misunderstood moments in the past.
- Stuff You Missed in History Class
- Hosts: Holly Frey, Tracy V. Wilson
- Exploring lesser-known historical events, figures, and places.
- The History of Rome
- Host: Mike Duncan
- A chronological look at the history of the Roman Empire from its founding to its fall.
- You’re Dead to Me
- Host: Greg Jenner
- A comedic take on history, pairing comedians with academic experts.
Sports
- The Bill Simmons Podcast
- Host: Bill Simmons
- Discussions on sports, pop culture, and technology with various guests.
- 30 for 30
- Host: Various
- In-depth storytelling around significant moments in sports history.
- Pardon My Take
- Hosts: Big Cat, PFT Commenter
- Satirical take on sports news and culture.
- The Ringer NBA Show
- Hosts: Various Ringer staff
- Daily coverage of the NBA, including game breakdowns, news, and analysis.
- The Tennis Podcast
- Hosts: Catherine Whitaker, David Law, Matt Roberts
- Weekly discussions and interviews covering the world of professional tennis.
Technology
- Reply All
- Hosts: Alex Goldman, Emmanuel Dzotsi
- Stories about how people shape the internet, and how the internet shapes people.
- Accidental Tech Podcast
- Hosts: Marco Arment, Casey Liss, John Siracusa
- Three developers discuss Apple, programming, and tech industry news.
- Techmeme Ride Home
- Host: Brian McCullough
- Daily tech news recap, covering the most important stories in 15-20 minutes.
- Darknet Diaries
- Host: Jack Rhysider
- True stories from the dark side of the Internet, exploring hacks, data breaches, and cybercrime.
- This Week in Tech
- Host: Leo Laporte
- Roundtable discussions on the latest trends and news in consumer technology.
Society and Culture
- This American Life
- Host: Ira Glass
- Weekly exploration of a theme through various stories, often personal narratives.
- Invisibilia
- Hosts: Alix Spiegel, Hanna Rosin, Lulu Miller
- Exploring the invisible forces that shape human behavior.
- The Moth
- Host: Various storytellers
- True stories told live on stage without notes.
- Armchair Expert
- Host: Dax Shepard
- Candid conversations with celebrities, journalists, and academics about the messiness of being human.
- Death, Sex & Money
- Host: Anna Sale
- Conversations about the big questions and hard choices that are often left out of polite conversation.
Music
- Song Exploder
- Host: Hrishikesh Hirway
- Musicians take apart their songs and piece by piece, tell the story of how they were made.
- Dissect
- Host: Cole Cuchna
- Long-form musical analysis breaking down influential albums track by track.
- All Songs Considered
- Hosts: Bob Boilen, Robin Hilton
- Discovering new music and discussing the latest releases across genres.
- Switched on Pop
- Hosts: Nate Sloan, Charlie Harding
- Musicologist and songwriter break down pop songs to figure out what makes a hit.
- Broken Record
- Hosts: Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam, Justin Richmond
- Conversations with musicians about their life and work.
Food and Cooking
- The Sporkful
- Host: Dan Pashman
- Exploring food through humor, curiosity, and empathy.
- Gastropod
- Hosts: Cynthia Graber, Nicola Twilley
- Looking at food through the lens of science and history.
- Home Cooking
- Hosts: Samin Nosrat, Hrishikesh Hirway
- Answering cooking questions and sharing recipes and tips.
- Bon Appétit Foodcast
- Host: Various Bon Appétit editors
- Interviews with chefs, writers, and food lovers about cooking, culture, and more.
- The Splendid Table
- Host: Francis Lam
- Exploring the entire spectrum of food: from cheese making to finding the perfect cocktail.
Relationships and Sex
- Modern Love
- Host: Various
- Essays and stories about love, loss, and redemption.
- Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel
- Host: Esther Perel
- Real couples anonymously bare intimate and raw details of their relationship in one-time therapy sessions.
- Savage Lovecast
- Host: Dan Savage
- Relationship and sex advice, with a focus on LGBTQ+ issues.
- Dear Sugars
- Hosts: Cheryl Strayed, Steve Almond
- Offering “radical empathy” to listeners struggling with relationships, family, work, and more.
- Sex With Emily
- Host: Dr. Emily Morse
- Sex education and relationship advice for the modern world.
Storytelling and Fiction
- Welcome to Night Vale
- Narrator: Cecil Baldwin
- Surreal community radio broadcasts from a fictional desert town.
- Lore
- Host: Aaron Mahnke
- Exploring the darker side of history, folklore, and the human experience.
- The Adventure Zone
- Hosts: The McElroy family
- A comedy podcast that follows a family playing Dungeons & Dragons.
- LeVar Burton Reads
- Host: LeVar Burton
- The beloved Reading Rainbow host reads short fiction for adults.
- The Magnus Archives
- Host: Jonathan Sims
- Horror fiction anthology series framed as the archives of a paranormal research institute.
Self-Improvement
- TED Talks Daily
- Host: Various speakers
- The world’s leading thinkers and innovators addressing global issues and sharing ideas.
- The Mindset Mentor
- Host: Rob Dial
- Short, actionable episodes designed to help listeners improve their mindset and life.
- Sleep With Me
- Host: Drew Ackerman
- Bedtime stories designed to help insomniacs fall asleep.
- Optimal Living Daily
- Host: Justin Malik
- Narrations of the best personal development and minimalism blogs.
- The School of Greatness
- Host: Lewis Howes
- Inspiring stories from the most brilliant business minds, world-class athletes, and influential celebrities.
Investigative Journalism
- In the Dark
- Host: Madeleine Baran
- Investigative reporting on flawed criminal justice investigations.
- Reveal
- Host: Al Letson
- Investigative reporting and groundbreaking storytelling from The Center for Investigative Reporting.
- Caliphate
- Host: Rukmini Callimachi
- New York Times reporter’s audio series about the Islamic State and the fall of Mosul.
- The Dropout
- Host: Rebecca Jarvis
- Investigating the rise and fall of Elizabeth Holmes and her company, Theranos.
- Slow Burn
- Host: Various (changes by season)
- Deep dives into historical events that continue to shape our world today.
Education
- Stuff You Should Know
- Hosts: Josh Clark, Charles W. “Chuck” Bryant
- Explaining a wide variety of topics in an accessible and entertaining manner.
- Duolingo Spanish Podcast
- Host: Various
- True stories in easy-to-understand Spanish, with English narration.
- No Stupid Questions
- Hosts: Stephen Dubner, Angela Duckworth
- Exploring human behavior and social science research through thought-provoking questions.
- Science Friday
- Host: Ira Flatow
- A weekly discussion of the latest news in science, technology, health, and the environment.
- Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing
- Host: Mignon Fogarty
- Tips to improve your writing, no matter your skill level.
Finance and Economics
- Planet Money
- Host: Various NPR reporters
- Making sense of the economy through creative storytelling and relatable examples.
- Freakonomics Radio
- Host: Stephen J. Dubner
- Exploring “the hidden side of everything” through the lens of economics.
- Motley Fool Money
- Host: Chris Hill
- Stock market analysis, business insights, and financial advice.
- The Dave Ramsey Show
- Host: Dave Ramsey
- Straight talk on life and money, with a focus on getting out of debt.
- Marketplace
- Host: Kai Ryssdal
- Daily coverage of business and economic news, making complex topics accessible.
Parenting
- The Longest Shortest Time
- Host: Hillary Frank
- Candid conversations about parenting in all its forms.
- Mom and Dad Are Fighting
- Hosts: Various Slate editors
- Slate’s parenting podcast discussing family life and offering advice.
- The Parenting Junkie Show
- Host: Anna Seewald
- Strategies for mindful parenting and creating a peaceful home.
- The Mom Hour
- Hosts: Meagan Francis, Sarah Powers
- Weekly conversations about motherhood, offering support and practical tips.
- Respectful Parenting: Janet Lansbury Unruffled
- Host: Janet Lansbury
- Practical parenting advice based on respect and trust in children.
Travel
- Travel with Rick Steves
- Host: Rick Steves
- America’s leading authority on European travel shares tips and insights.
- Amateur Traveler Podcast
- Host: Chris Christensen
- Weekly interviews focusing on specific destinations, offering travel tips and inspiration.
- Women Who Travel
- Hosts: Lale Arikoglu, Meredith Carey
- Conversations with women who have amazing stories to tell about travel.
- The Thoughtful Travel Podcast
- Host: Amanda Kendle
- Travelers share their fascinating travel stories and experiences.
- Extra Pack of Peanuts Travel Podcast
- Host: Travis Sherry
- Travel tips, destination reviews, and interviews with travel experts.
As we wrap up this extensive list of the top 100 podcasts of 2025, it’s clear that the medium continues to thrive, offering diverse content for every interest and taste. From hard-hitting journalism to lighthearted comedy, educational content to gripping narratives, podcasts have solidified their place in our daily media consumption.
The landscape is ever-evolving, with new shows emerging and established ones reinventing themselves to stay relevant. What remains constant is the intimate connection between hosts and listeners, the convenience of on-demand audio content, and the power of storytelling in its purest form.
Whether you’re a longtime podcast enthusiast or new to the medium, this list offers a starting point to explore the vast world of audio entertainment and information. Happy listening!
