In a world increasingly dominated by hyper-polished, perfectly curated content, there’s a growing craving for authenticity – for raw, unfiltered human voices and genuine connection. And this is what has caused a rise in “Podcast Culture” and the quest for the Best Podcast of All Time.
Podcasts are portable universities, comedy clubs, and therapy sessions all rolled into one, accessible whenever and wherever you are. It has become a powerful force, offering a unique blend of learning, entertainment, and genuine connection.
So, to finally answer the question of “What is the Best Podcast ever?” we have curated a selection of 20 binge-worthy and engaging podcasts. Join in and explore what makes each one a standout experience in the vast audio landscape.
List Of The 20 Best Podcast Of All Time:
A quick note on “best”: This list highlights widely recognized and impactful podcasts. What’s “best” is always subjective and up to your unique taste!
| Podcast Name | Genre | USP (Unique Selling Proposition) |
| 1. The Joe Rogan Experience | Interview, Comedy, Commentary | Long-form, unfiltered conversations with a diverse range of notable guests, diving deep into topics. |
| 2. Serial | True Crime, Investigative Journalism | Revolutionized podcasting with meticulous, season-long investigative true crime storytelling. |
| 3. Huberman Lab | Health & Fitness, Science, Education | Translates complex neuroscience into actionable tools for improving everyday life. |
| 4. Crime Junkie | True Crime | Delivers weekly true crime stories in a straightforward, addictive, and empathetic manner. |
| 5. This American Life | Storytelling, Journalism, Society & Culture | A public radio institution presenting themed episodes of compelling, deeply human true stories. |
| 6. Stuff You Should Know | Society & Culture, Education, Comedy | Explores an incredibly wide range of topics with thorough research and humorous rapport. |
| 7. The Daily | Daily News | Offers a concise, in-depth look at one major news story each weekday from The New York Times. |
| 8. WTF with Marc Maron | Comedy, Interview | Features raw, deeply personal, and often hilarious interviews from his garage. |
| 9. Armchair Expert | Comedy, Interview | Celebrates “the messiness of being human” through candid and vulnerable conversations. |
| 10. Morbid | True Crime, Creepy History, Spooky | A blend of true crime, creepy history, and spooky topics with a “lighthearted nightmare” approach. |
| 11. On Purpose With Jay Shetty | Health & Wellness, Mental Health, Self-Improvement, Interview | Aims to make wisdom go viral, offering insights and inspiring conversations for self-improvement. |
| 12. Reply All | Technology, Human Interest, Investigative | Told captivating and often bizarre stories about the internet’s impact on people and vice versa. |
| 13. The Mel Robbins Podcast | Self-Improvement, Mental Health | Provides science-backed advice, practical tools, and personal stories for creating a better life. |
| 14. Radiolab | Long-form Journalism, Science, Philosophy | Known for innovative sound design and deep, curious explorations of complex subjects. |
| 15. Dirty John | True Crime, Drama | A gripping, narrative true crime story that unfolds like a thriller. |
| 16. This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von | Comedy, Interview | Features comedian Theo Von’s unique, hilarious, and poignant take on life and interviews. |
| 17. The School of Greatness | Mental Health, Self-Improvement, Interview, Business | Features interviews with world-class individuals to help listeners unlock their potential. |
| 18. Shawn Ryan Show | Interview, Society & Culture, Philosophy | Raw, candid, and in-depth conversations often with guests from high-stakes professions. |
| 19. The Jefferson Fisher Podcast | Communication, Self-Improvement, Personal Development | Provides practical tools and actionable advice for communicating with confidence. |
| 20. Mick Unplugged Podcast | Self-Improvement, Leadership, Business, Education, Personal Development | Focuses on modern leadership principles and discovering your core driving force (“Because”). |
1. The Joe Rogan Experience
- Host: Joe Rogan
- Genre: Interview, Comedy, Commentary
- Stream On: Spotify, YouTube
Hosted by comedian and UFC commentator Joe Rogan, this podcast is famed for its incredibly long-form, unfiltered conversations with a diverse array of guests, including scientists, comedians, artists, and thinkers. Its strength lies in its open-dialogue format, often diving deep into complex and sometimes controversial topics, making it a frequent mention when discussing the best podcast of all time.
2. Serial
- Host: Sarah Koenig (primary host, others vary by season)
- Genre: True Crime, Investigative Journalism
- Stream On: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Official Website
Serial revolutionized podcasting and brought true crime to the mainstream with its meticulous, season-long investigative storytelling. Its first season, exploring a 1999 murder case, captivated millions and set a new standard for narrative audio journalism.
3. Huberman Lab
- Host: Dr. Andrew Huberman
- Genre: Health & Fitness, Science, Education
- Stream On: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube
The Huberman Lab is a masterclass in understanding and optimizing your brain and body. Neuroscientist Dr. Andrew Huberman translates complex neuroscience into actionable, science-backed tools for improving everyday life – from sleep and focus to mental and physical health.
4. Crime Junkie
- Host(s): Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat
- Genre: True Crime
- Stream On: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SiriusXM, Amazon Music
Crime Junkie drops new true crime stories every week, and they tell them in such a straightforward, compelling way that you feel like you’re right there trying to figure things out with them. They’re really good at just getting to the heart of the story and treating the victims with respect, which is why so many true crime fans are hooked.
5. This American Life
- Host: Ira Glass
- Genre: Storytelling, Journalism, Society & Culture
- Stream On: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Official Website
This American Life is a classic for a reason. It’s a public radio staple that puts together themed episodes full of these amazing, often surprising, and deeply human true stories. They blend serious journalism with personal narratives in a way that really makes you think and feel. It’s absolutely one of those shows people mention when talking about the best podcasts ever.
6. Stuff You Should Know
- Host(s): Josh Clark and Charles “Chuck” Bryant
- Genre: Society & Culture, Education, Comedy
- Stream On: iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube
Each episode of Stuff You Should Know is an entertaining journey of discovery. Hosts Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant dive into an incredible range of topics, from the mundane to the truly bizarre, with thorough research and a delightful, humorous rapport.
7. The Daily
- Host(s): Michael Barbaro and Sabrina Tavernise (principal hosts, with other New York Times journalists contributing)
- Genre: Daily News
- Stream On: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NYT Audio App
From The New York Times, The Daily offers a deep dive into one major news story each weekday. In about 20-30 minutes, it provides context and understanding through the voices of NYT journalists, making complex news accessible.
8. WTF with Marc Maron
- Host: Marc Maron
- Genre: Comedy, Interview
- Stream On: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Acast
Comedian Marc Maron conducts raw, deeply personal, and often hilarious interviews from his garage in his WTF Podcast. Guests, ranging from comedy legends to musicians and actors, open up in ways rarely heard elsewhere.
9. Armchair Expert
- Host(s): Dax Shepard and Monica Padman
- Genre: Comedy, Interview
- Stream On: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Wondery
Armchair Expert celebrates “the messiness of being human”. Through candid, humorous, and vulnerable conversations with celebrities, experts, and friends, it explores life’s challenges and triumphs.
10. Morbid
- Host(s): Alaina Urquhart and Ashleigh “Ash” Kelley
- Genre: True Crime, Creepy History, Spooky
- Stream On: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Wondery
Put together an autopsy technician and a hairstylist, and you get Morbid, a podcast that’s like a “lighthearted nightmare.” They get into true crime, spooky historical stuff, and anything else creepy, all while keeping it well-researched but also pretty funny.
11. On Purpose With Jay Shetty
- Host: Jay Shetty
- Genre: Health & Wellness, Mental Health, Self-Improvement, Interview
- Stream On: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio
Former monk Jay Shetty shares his wisdom and hosts insightful conversations with some of the world’s most inspiring individuals. On Purpose is undoubtedly the best podcast of all time, aiming to make wisdom go viral and helping listeners find their purpose.
12. Reply All
- Host(s): Alex Goldman and Emmanuel Dzotsi (previously also PJ Vogt)
- Genre: Technology, Human Interest, Investigative
- Stream On: Apple Podcasts, Spotify (Note: Concluded in 2022, but widely regarded)
Reply All tells captivating and often bizarre stories about how people shape the internet and how the internet shapes people. Its investigative pieces and unique segments made it a beloved show.
13. The Mel Robbins Podcast
- Host: Mel Robbins
- Genre: Self-Improvement, Mental Health
- Stream On: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SiriusXM
The Mel Robbins Podcast offers science-backed advice, practical tools, and deeply personal stories to empower listeners to create better lives. Her direct, no-nonsense approach motivates action and change.
14. Radiolab
- Host(s): Lulu Miller and Latif Nasser (previously co-hosted by Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich)
- Genre: Long-form Journalism, Science, Philosophy
- Stream On: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, WNYC
Radiolab is known for its amazing sound and the way it dives deep into big questions about science and philosophy with a ton of curiosity. They somehow make really complex stuff not just easy to grasp, but absolutely captivating.
15. Dirty John
- Host: Christopher Goffard
- Genre: True Crime, Drama
- Stream On: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Wondery
Based on a true story of love, deception, coercion, and ultimately, survival, Dirty John is a gripping narrative podcast that unfolds like a thriller, reported and hosted by Christopher Goffard of the L.A. Times. The list of the best podcast of all time is incomplete without the mention of Dirty John!
16. This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von
- Host: Theo Von
- Genre: Comedy, Interview
- Stream On: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube
Comedian Theo Von brings his totally unique, often hilarious, and sometimes surprisingly touching perspective to life, listener calls, and interviews. His voice and the way he tells stories on This Past Weekend make every episode pretty unforgettable.
17. The School of Greatness
- Host: Lewis Howes
- Genre: Mental Health, Self-Improvement, Interview, Business
- Stream On: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube
Hosted by Lewis Howes, The School of Greatness podcast features inspiring interviews with world-class individuals in various fields—business, sports, entertainment, and health—to help listeners unlock their potential and live their best lives.
18. Shawn Ryan Show
- Host: Shawn Ryan
- Genre: Interview, Society & Culture, Philosophy
- Stream On: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube
Former U.S. Navy SEAL and CIA contractor Shawn Ryan hosts raw, candid, and in-depth conversations with a wide range of guests, often from military, intelligence, and other high-stakes professions, exploring their experiences and perspectives.
19. The Jefferson Fisher Podcast
- Host: Jefferson Fisher
- Genre: Communication, Self-Improvement, Personal Development
- Stream On: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Audible, Amazon
The Jefferson Fisher Podcast is packed with solid, practical tips and actionable advice designed to help you feel more confident when you communicate, whether it’s at work, with your family, or just in everyday life.
20. Mick Unplugged Podcast
- Host: Mick Hunt
- Genre: Self-Improvement, Leadership, Business, Education, Personal Development
- Stream On: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Urban1 Podcasts, Deezer (likely others too)
The Mick Unplugged podcast is for those ready to move beyond asking ‘Why?’ and start living by their ‘Because’. It offers a transformative dive into modern leadership principles, designed to help listeners discover their core driving force and turn aspirations into actionable, impactful realities. It’s about fueling your journey with purpose.
End Note
While the idea of “The Best Podcast of All Time” is a subjective one, the shows we’ve explored have certainly earned their place on the list through their exceptional content, authentic voices, and lasting impact.
What makes a podcast great isn’t just how high it is on the charts. It’s about the conversations they start, the communities they build around them, and the new ways they make you see things.
We really hope this guide makes you want to hit play and check some of these out! Just dive in, really listen, and who knows – you might just stumble onto your next favorite show, your personal best podcast, just waiting for you.
The world of audio is huge and full of cool stuff, and your next amazing listen is always just a quick tap away!
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