Looking To Get Into Podcasts? Here Are The Best Ones For Starting Out!

In the world of podcasts, there's something for everyone. Literally everyone. Have an interest? There are probably at least three shows about it.

Heather Thompson
Created by Heather Thompson
On Jan 8, 2018
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Okay, if you're looking to start somewhere, this may be the obvious choice. It's a shorter podcast (the first season was only 12 episodes, all under one hour each) with a story that will draw you in. Serial has been a proven 'gateway' podcast that will help you see if this kind of media will work for you.

Each week, the team behind Nerdist (including host Chris Hardwick) share an interview with scientists, actors, writers, musicians and just all around famous nerds. Previous guests include Mark Hamill, Anna Kendrick, Rick Astley and Neil deGrasse Tyson.

There's so many things happening in the world of politics and NPR is trying to help it make a tad bit more digestible. In 30-45 minute digests each week, they give a roundup of what's been going on in the world of politics so you can feel like you know what's going on in that corner of the universe.

So you know those movies that are so bad they're good? How about the ones that are so bad they're just...bad? Paul Scheer, June Diane Raphael and Jason Mantzoukas comb through winning films such as Grease 2 and The Boy Next Door with commentary, additional comedians and a lot of laughs.

This podcast may not necessarily be for the faint of heart. These episodes comb through aspects of history in new ways and with a bit of a twist in the majority of these stories. They come in 4+ hour chunks, but the updates only come every few months so they aren't overwhelming.

If you've ever laughed at anything Anna Faris has done, then this podcast will cause tears of mirth. Faris joins up with some of the funniest people in comedy to give "unqualified" (but often very helpful) advice to callers, do improv role play and discuss everything from romantic deal-breakers to tales of Hollywood endeavors.

If reading the news is becoming a bit too much for you, Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me! is the perfect podcast for you. Each weekend, this NPR game show relays the week's news and absurdities in quote-filled games, limericks and rapid-fire questions.

There are so many aspects of economics that just don't make sense to the majority of the populationand Planet Money crafts small episodes that encompass random parts of the financial world that you may not have thought about - with mild humor and real life anecdotes.

All those random questions you've wondered about but never really looked up are covered in this podcast. What's the deal with horoscopes, how do porta-potties work and what hibernation is exactly are just a few topics hosts Josh and Chuck delve into.

Sure, NPR has quite a few podcasts on this list, but they've managed to have quite a presence on the charts. This round table-style show goes in-depth with one or two hot topics (whether it's pilot season for television shows, a new movie coming out or a random resurgence in trends) as well as what is making them happy this week in the pop culture world.

Hosts Phoebe Robinson and Jessica Williams tackle life, love and real talk in this podcast that is actually a live comedy show they put on in Brooklyn. Prepare for a lot of laughs and an impressive journey through the various topics they decide to cover.

This tale might be a bit of an undertaking, as it may best be appreciated by starting way back with the first episode. Twice a month, this show provides local news, weather and announcements from the police of Night Vale about some of the more bizarre things that seem to be going on in the town.

No ancient culture is off limits when it comes to this show. Through an extremely conversational method of storytelling, host Jason Weiser goes through the common (Aladdin or Greek mythology) and the obscure (Slavic and lesser known African folklore) with some impressive sarcasm and killer background music.

If you're looking for a shorter podcast to start out with and are fascinated by the behind-the-scenes aspect of music, look no further. Host Hrishikesh Hirway speaks with musicians of every kind to help delve into the songs they create and tell the stories you may not otherwise hear.

What are your favorite podcasts? Let us know in the comments below!

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