I’ve been an avid podcast listener since about 2016, over the years I’ve listened to many thousands of hours of podcasts across a variety of topics and styles, and today I would like to share some of my favorites with you. The reason I love podcasts so much is because of the long-form content, in general, I also prefer the more conversational style over scripted or highly produced content. Podcasts are my go-to when working out, hiking, commuting, or traveling. I love audiobooks as well, but podcasts are generally 30-minutes to 2 hours long, so you can consume them more easily and the content is more current. There are a lot of options for how you can listen to podcast like Apple, Google, and Stitcher, but I generally just stick with Spotify as it is what I’m used to. Podcasts have been all the rage, especially since the pandemic, but I’ve found myself consistently listening to these shows, and they put out regular content, so there’s always something new to listen to! This is a top 10 list, but I am not ranking them for 1-10 because it really depends on what mood I’m in, what type of podcast I feel like listening to, what topic I want to hear about etc. So the order is more from how long I’ve been listening to these podcasts and the total number of hours I’ve listened to each and I’ve also included “when you should listen” for each show!
- The Tim Ferriss Show
Tim Ferriss is one of the OG productivity and life-hack influencers. He first became famous for his New York Times best-seller “The 4-hour Work Week”. But I think he really came into his own once he started doing podcasts. He really excels at interviews, and because of this network, reputation, and interests gets a lot of really amazing guests on the show like Mark Zuckerberg, Neil Gaiman, David Blaine, Jamie Foxx, Kelly Slater, Chuck Palahniuk, and many many more. Tim is excellent at asking deep questions and trying to understand his interviewees, what makes them tick, how they’ve become successful, and their philosophies on life. He really goes into details that he is interested in that most interviewess wouldn’t ask, like their morning routine. I think this makes his shows really unique and insightful.
When you should listen: When you want deep but interesting conversations with successful people. - The Joe Rogan Experience
Yes, Rogan has gotten into trouble for some of his views and the things he says, especially about vaccines and Trump. But overall I think he still has one of the best shows around and the quality and quantity of his guests is unparalleled. If you choose which shows to listen to based on your interests, and keep a skeptical mindset while you listen, you can still get a lot of value. My favorite episodes are when he has on his comedian friends or really unusual people with specialized expertise. If you like combat sports and MMA, he also has had a ton of fighters on. I definitely prefer his pre-pandemic/Spotify deal content, as recently he has kind of been stuck in a rut and a bit full of himself, but there are still gems to be found if you choose your episodes wisely.
When you should listen: When you’re in the mood for an easy listen, with the conversation flowing like hanging out with a bunch of bros.
- Jocko Podcast
Jocko Willink is an ex-Navy SEAL team commander with experience in the Iraq war, long-time BJJ practitioner, and now executive and business coach. You’ll see his quotes and speeches about leadership, discipline, and hard work all over the internet, but there’s a lot more to him than that. The podcast focuses on combat, leadership, and self-improvement, but it is all backed up with real-world experiences and examples. Most of his episodes are either going through books or interviews with combat veterans and other related people, but he also does Q&As and other topics. Some of the content is very dark and heavy, especially when he talks about losing a member of his team or war atrocities. But these are all topics that need to be discussed and Jocko is someone who brings the level of gravitas and experience needed. His sidekick Echo who is hilarious and the opposite of Jocko in many ways is a bonus.
When you should listen: When you want to listen to in-depth discussions about military history and leadership and don’t mind hearing some somber topics. - Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History
Dan Carlin is an amateur historian who puts out some of the most in-depth and insightful historical content out there. His series on topics like Rome, WW2, and the Vikings are often 4-5 hours an episode and span over 3-7 episodes per topic. His story-telling skills make the hours fly by, and his honesty about his biases and curiosity about other perspectives is very refreshing. He always claims how little he knows, but he does months of research for each topic, and his ability to explain the history in context makes him fascinating to listen to. His radio-worthy voice doesn’t hurt either. The only negative to this podcast is that it takes him months to put out new episodes, so you’ll have plenty of time to catch up if you haven’t listened before.
When you should listen: When you want a university course-level look at historical topics and have 25 hours to spare.
- The Dave Chang Show
Korean-American restauranteur David Chang rose to fame after opening Momofuku Noodle Bar in New York City. He now has restaurants across the world, has published books, and lucky for us, hosts this podcast. Being a chef, this show centers around food, but there are plenty of other topics sprinkled in like politics, being a dad, race, and mental health. Dave’s takes are usually irreverent and often not what you’d expect from someone of his stature, he mixes the goofy and absurd with the serious and important, often within the same episode. I especially like when he shares how he would order at a specific restaurant, his eating adventures, what it’s like working being the line, and his perspectives on being an Asian-American.
When you should listen: When you are in the mood to hear about societal topics without having them being shouted at you from a pedestal. - Recipe Club
Another treasure from the Dave Chang crew, this podcast started during the pandemic when everyone was stuck at home and they had the crazy idea to try 3 versions of a dish and compare which is the best. Now that they are back working on other projects, the show’s format has changed to be more manageable, but it is still a super fun listen if you are a foodie. Their rotating cast of guests are all a riot, and the whole show is a ton of fun. There’s lots of poking fun at each other, cooking disasters, commentary on crazy family recipes, and fantastic recipe advice as well. I was so glad when they brought this show back and I hope they keep it going!
When you should listen: While you are cooking your own meal or when you want some food content that isn’t overly pretentious. - BJJ Mental Models
This is by far the best jiujitsu podcast out there. Canadian brothers Steve and Matt Kwan bring in the leading minds in the jiujitsu world to help you improve your game through systems and concepts. These guys are really fun to listen to, in addition to having extremely educational shows. There are a lot of BJJ podcasts that talk more about gym culture, training habits, competition news, etc. But this one will actually help you get better just from listening. I can definitely say that you can listen to every episode more than once and continue to get new insights from it.
When you should listen: When you want to improve your jiujitsu without watching videos. - The Memory Palace
This beautifully written and performed podcast is of short (10-20 minute) historical anecdotes and stories. They are often on topics you will never have heard of, or from surprising perspectives, and I feel really capture the moment in time like no other podcast does. I think of it kind of like a “Humans of New York” for history. Each episode is self-contained and is very easy to listen to when you are short on time, or you may end up being sucked in and binging many of these wonderful stories in a row. You’ll meet lots of interesting characters and hear about touching and important moments of every day life in this podcast.
When you should listen: When you want to be brought back to a moment in time through hearing beautiful historical short stories.
- Jungle Prince
This is a 3-part story produced by The New York Times in 2019 about a journalist’s encounter with a lost royal family in India. It is beautifully written and an utterly fascinating tale. From an ruined castle in the jungle in Delhi, to a cottage in England, this writer takes us on a journey of time, place, lost identity, and family stories. The series is only about an hour and a half long, but it is riveting throughout.
When you should listen: When you want to hear an amazing story you’ve never heard before. I recommend listening to all 3 episodes in one go. - Today, Explained
This is the only news podcast on my list, and I don’t listen to every episode, but when there is something in the news I want to understand better, this is my go-to. I think Vox does a great job of getting episodes out quickly talking about big events, explaining the background, and getting expert opinions. I like that episodes are around 30 minutes long, so there is time to get much more in-depth rather than a series of sound bites. Their coverage of the pandemic and Ukraine war were especially good. I don’t watch traditional news anymore, partly because this podcast is so good at covering things in a comprehensive way.
When should you listen: When there is a big news event happening and you want to understand the background and not just the headlines.
I hope you enjoyed this list! I believe there’s something for everyone in the world of podcasts. There are plenty of other shows I listen to often, but these I would recommend unequivocally to everyone. I’d love to know what your favorite podcasts are!