I’ve been in a music rut lately. Seriously, how do you find new music to listen to that you love right away? On the other hand, when I listen to audiobooks while working, I tend to miss half the story unless it’s a book I’ve already read. A good podcast is my go-to to help me get through the workday.
Finding a podcast you enjoy when you’re first starting in the podcast world can be tough. For example, I absolutely love history, but I’ve yet to find a historical podcast to add to my rotation that holds my focus. Not to mention, there are sooo many podcasts out there that it can be hard to know where to begin as a newbie.
Once you build a rotation, you’re lucky if you discover podcasts that have a full library of episodes to keep you busy for a while. It’s painful when you’re caught up and have to wait for weekly episodes. Luckily, I’ve got a nice rotation of my favorite podcasts to keep me busy.
It’s a wide variety, so I’m sure you’ll find something in this list that tickles your fancy!
1. I Will Teach You to Be Rich with Ramit Sethi
If you know me, you’d be shocked to discover that a financial, money-based podcast is one of my favorites these days. I’m not particularly math or money savvy and I don’t really value money outside of necessity. Yet, Ramit and his advice have been a hyper-fixation of mine since I watched his Netflix Show “How to Get Rich” on a whim.
Podcast Summary
In the podcast, Ramit talks to couples about their finances. He gets full visibility into their bank statements and spending to help them get closer to his concept of a “rich life”. Your rich life is how you envision earning and using your money in the future that aligns with your values and goals.
Your rich life could be taking every Friday off early to spend time with your kids, buying appetizers or dessert whenever you want at dinner, making your schedule, or traveling for a month every year.
Why I Love It
Not only does Ramit give a lot of great advice and encourage you to dream big but you also learn a little bit about money management along the way. Listening to a mix of couples from different backgrounds discuss their issues with money is also endlessly fascinating and feels like a therapy session at times. Money is a big source of conflict for many couples, and how you feel about it doesn’t always change as your income increases. I love hearing the different couples hash out their issues and dreams for the future together.
Where to Start
Early in the podcast, Ramit only interviews very wealthy couples, which some people may not relate to. I certainly don’t relate to them but I was still hooked regardless. If you don’t mind, start at the beginning with episode one.
If you want to start where he introduces more relatable incomes, start with the following two-part episodes:
Episode 29, part 1 – “I Never Know When Spending Money on Something Will Be an Issue With Him”
Episode 30, part 2 – “I Want to Change—But Can I Keep the Truck?”
I’d also recommend checking out the show on Netflix!
Where to Listen
You can listen to this podcast on any of the podcast platforms such as Spotify, Apple, Amazon, and Luminary. If you prefer video format, you can also watch on YouTube. This format is interesting because you can pick up on the couples’ body language while they discuss an often taboo subject.
2. Guys We Fucked with Corinne Fisher and Krystyna Hutchinson
Sorry to any Call Her Daddy Fans but this podcast is the OG. I’ve been listening since this podcast started over ten years ago and it’s been a staple in my weekly podcast rotation ever since.
Podcast Summary
I’ve been listening to Guys We Fucked since the beginning when the premise was centered around interviews with, you guessed it, guys the cohosts had slept with at some point. I’ve loved getting to know the hosts over the years. Corinne and her dry sarcasm, self-assuredness, and strong point of view is the perfect balance to Krystyna’s childlike excitement, hopefulness, and self-awareness.
Eventually, the podcast evolved as the well ran dry of willing interviewees Corinne and Krystyna’s pool of past partners. The show didn’t lose its shine since diverging from the original premise, which now centers around interviewing fellow comedians. Occasionally, they’ll have other guests such as sex workers, therapists, etc. They also respond to emails and give advice and I love the bonus episodes that highlight this. Topics still include sex and relationships but vary depending on where the conversation naturally flows with their guests.
Why I Love It
I’ve loved experiencing the growth of the co-hosts over the years as they don’t shy away from delving into their personal relationships, struggles, and happenings in their lives on the podcast. The show started because of a breakup and along the way, we experience more break-ups, self-discovery, and loss. The premise got me initially hooked, but the two of them together are why I’ve stuck around. They both offer different perspectives on the world and have a dynamic that is fun to listen to.
Where to Start
You can start anywhere, but if you have the time, I think there’s something special about starting from the very beginning and experiencing the evolution of the show and hosts yourself.
Where to Listen
For Bonus Episodes, you need to be a Luminary Subscriber. Otherwise, you can listen to regular episodes of Guys We Fucked on all podcast platforms. Since they made the switch to Luminary, however, I feel like some episodes have been pulled online. Spotify and Podchaser still go all the way back to older episodes back when they had their their original premise. New episodes are released every Friday.
If you love the hosts, you can also find more of them on their solo podcasts. Corinne hosts the podcast Without a Country discussing current events by sharing articles from both the right and left. Krystyna hosts the Voices in our Head where she goes on a *journey* to better understand herself and the world.
3. The Bright Sessions
If you are more into fictional stories and production value, the Bright Sessions might be your next podcast.
Podcast Summary
The Bright Sessions is a science fiction podcast that follows Dr. Bright, a therapist who works with individuals with supernatural abilities (also known as atypicals). The story begins with recordings of these therapy sessions Dr. Bright records for research on her patients’ abilities.
It evolves as she develops stronger bonds with her patients and they start crossing paths outside their individual therapy sessions. At the center of everything is AM—a corrupt organization that studies and experiments on atypicals. Dr. Bright also shares a rocky complicated past with the organization and may have ulterior motives herself, including the rescue of a long-lost brother.
Why I Love It
The podcast keeps you hooked with an interesting cast of characters and plenty of drama with a Sci-Fi twist. You become invested with each character’s struggle with their unique powers the everyday struggles of life, friendships, and relationships. I love how everything is intertwined in the end. It was easier to keep up with the story due to the episodic format and the different voice actors for each character. I don’t want to share too much about how the story unfolds, so you’ll have to check it out yourself!
Where to Start
Because this podcast tells a story, you’ll want to start at the beginning:
Episode One – 101 – Patient #12-D-10 (Sam), Session 1
Where to Listen
If this is one of the podcasts that caught your interest, you can listen on Apple, Spotify, Luminary or anywhere you listen to podcasts. This podcast is complete, so you won’t be left hanging in the story.
4. Crime Junkie
I’m a sucker for true crime podcasts and before Crime Junkie, I almost exclusively listened to long-form crime podcasts where a whole series focused on a single crime. While I still love long-form podcasts, they don’t always have a resolution at the end and are often unsolved cases. I found Crime Junkie when I was looking for something different.
Podcast Summary
Crime Junkie is hosted by Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat. Each episode features different crimes, with the occasional two-parters for more in-depth cases. Sometimes, a crime is revisited later if there is an update in the case. Many of the episodes are an hour or less and cover murders, missing persons, fraud, mysterious deaths, serial killers, and more.
Why I Love It
I love that the episodes are quick to listen to without skimping on the details. You get to hear about the whole timeline of events from the crime, to the police investigations, to reporting, arrests, and trial. I’m fascinated by the entire process and love hearing how we end up from point A to point B. Even unsolved crimes often resurface after being considered cold and I think it’s great that the show brings awareness to these cases and lights a new fire in solving them.
Where to Start
Since all episodes feature a new crime, you can start anywhere! I caught up to the real-time episode posts quicker than I’d like to admit after starting with a hefty backlog. New episodes are released every Monday.
5. Terrible, Thanks for Asking
If you’re a moody soul like me and like deep, sometimes sad subject matter, Terrible, Thanks for Asking might be a podcast to add to your rotation.
Podcast Summary
Terrible, Thanks for Asking is hosted by Nora McInerny and seeks the honest answer to a question many of us encounter each and every day: “How are you?”. Nora lost her first husband and the father of her young child to brain cancer and encourages people to talk more about the hard stuff, because everyone goes through their own difficult times. Each episode she starts with the same question and the guest tells the stories of the most difficult times in their lives.
Why I Love It
This podcast is not always happy or upbeat to listen to and can be a tear jerker depending on how the listener relates to each guest’s situation. Still, at the end of each episode, you do find yourself feeling a bit hopeful. Nora is still able to find humor in positivity in her daily life while recognizing all that she’s lost. She brings empathy and understanding, while having a great way of reminding us all that we’re all just human trying our best.
One of my favorite quotes of hers in an episode was something along the lines of :
“There is no measuring stick for suffering. If it hurts you, it hurts. If it’s heavy for you, it’s heavy.”
Nora McInerny
It’s a great reminder that while other people certainly may seem like they have it “worse” than you do, your feelings are still your feelings.
Where to Start
You can start anywhere on this one. I typically read the descriptions and pick episodes at random that pique my interest, though at the beginning I listened to many of them in order!
Where to Listen
You can listened to Terrible, Thanks for Asking on any of the podcast platforms!
Honorable Podcast Mentions
There are so many podcasts out there that it’s hard to narrow it down to such a small list. Here are some more to check out if you’re looking to fill up your queue.
UNspoiled: Harry Potter
A complete Harry Potter newbie (hasn’t read the books, seen the movies, and overall doesn’t know anything about it) reads the books for the first time and shares her thoughts.
Up and Vanished
Each season, Payne Lindsey investigates a mysterious cold case or disappearance in this long-form true crime podcast.
Cold
Another long-form true crime podcast. The first season covers the case of Susan Powell, which has so many twists and turns that other podcasts can’t deep dive into with a single episode.
Armchair Expert
Hosts Dax Sheperd and Monica Padman interview big name celebrities with a focus on the “messiness of being human”.
The Outlander Podcast
A podcast discussing “all things Outlander”. With book read-alongs, Starz series recaps, and interviews. (It’s also the reason I can identify certain character’s musical themes on the show, thanks to Ginger’s musical background!)
What Are Your Favorite Podcasts?
I’m always looking for the podcast I can’t stop listening to, so I’d love to hear your favorites! Let me know in the comments.
