20 Favorite Podcasts

What did we do before podcasts?

(yeah, I know, I probably listened to more music and books on tape!)

But now that I have discovered some of my favorite podcasts, they keep me occupied on long car trips, while working on projects, and while working out.

It is just another ‘listening’ opportunity.

I often see folks on Facebook asking for Podcast recommendations, so I’m sharing some of my recent favorites here. Please, share some of your favorites as well.  Several of these podcasts have a finite number of episodes and so I am always looking to fill my listening queue.

Self-Help and Motivational Podcasts:

SuperSoul Conversations

Of course, Oprah always has a wide range of motivational interviews that find a way to feed my soul.

The Next Right Thing

Emily P. Freeman’s podcast distills down the essentials of good decision-making.

Informational/Non-Fiction Podcasts:

What Should I Read Next

If you are like me, you are always looking for that ‘next book’…an empty nightstand is a scary thought! On a weekly basis, Anne Bogel, of Modern Mrs. Darcy blog, shares reviews from readers and makes book suggestions.

 The Splendid Table

I started listening to The Splendid Table years ago on NPR when Lynne Rosetto-Kasper was the host. The podcast has a new host but remains an enjoyable listen for those of us intrigued by food and cooking.

Proof: by America’s Test Kitchen

Along the same lines, Proof dives in to find the ‘backstory’ of our favorite foods.

Freakonomics Radio

Each week, this podcast, presented by the author of the Freakonomics book, tells you things you always thought you knew (but didn’t) and things you never thought you wanted to know (but do)!

How I Built This

Each week, this podcast dives into the stories behind some of the world’s best-known companies, like Toms, Whole Foods, and AirBnB.

Hardcore History 

Where to begin…Dan Carlin just has a way of bringing history to life. I plowed through his free podcasts and then paid the small fee to access some of his others and was never disappointed, in fact, always enthralled. The Hardcore History podcasts are the kind that I would look for reasons to drive and listen to them.

True Crime/Truth is Stranger Than Fiction Podcasts:

Root of Evil

Oh my heavens, this one will leave you speechless. This is the true story of the Black Dahlia and one family’s awful history.

The Dropout

This podcast details the story of Elizabeth Holmes who started the company, Theranos, and raised a whole bunch of money even though she really didn’t have a product. A crazy story of how a whole bunch of smart people lost a whole lot of money.

Baron of Botox

The life and death of Frederic Brandt, world-famous plastic surgeon. The podcast pushes hard questions about the beauty industry and the quest for perfection.

S-Town

Fair warning…a whole lot of F*Bombs in this one. I was so sad to see this one come to an end, its a captivating, though sad, story.

Crimetown

I listened to Season 1 and didn’t realize that there was a season 2 until I started writing this. The story of the organized crime-invested government of Providence, RI was compelling, so I’m excited to dive into Season 2.

Our Thing

This podcast is narrated by Sammy ‘the Bull’ Gravano and is his story, the story of the Mafia in general and the Gambino crime family specifically. It is gripping, especially for any other true crime buffs out there.

Deep Cover

This is the story of an FBI undercover agent and how he was involved in bringing to justice those involved in the drug trade. His work ultimately led to the arrest of Manuel Noriega. This really captured my attention.

Tom Brown’s Body

When a popular young man in a small town is murdered, the people in the town are all irreversibly changed.

Broken Harts

This one might truly break your heart… the story of 2 moms and their 6 adopted children…how appearances might not be the truth.

Bear Brook

There are two seasons with two completely different crime stories to this podcast. The first season is especially shocking and heartbreaking. I think it was really well done, and I’m looking forward to season three.

Murdaugh Murders

Holy Cow! Where to start? First of all, settle in…this is a LONG one! And be patient. The journalist who started this is a journalist first, not a podcaster. But she really unravels all the lives that Alex Murdaugh has impacted. It is often heartbreaking and always infuriating.

Fiction Podcasts:

Homecoming

This podcast was a drama starring David Schwimmer and detailed a government program gone awry. It made stripping, sanding and staining our deck last year as enjoyable as it ever could be. It has been made into an Amazon Prime series, which I haven’t watched.

Phew…did you make it to the end! That’s a whole lot of podcasts to listen to! Have you listened to any of them?

I hope you find one or two that interest you…and once again, please share some of your favorite podcasts. You know how much I love crowdsourcing!

Bookmark this page or pin the following image to refer back to this list of favorite podcasts for your future reference.

Thanks for making my day by SHARING!!