Buzz
Choosing from the vast array of podcasts can be overwhelming, but focusing on those that educate you as you listen is a great place to begin. If you're eager to dive into topics like philosophy, science, linguistics, or history, here are some podcasts that should be on your radar.
1. THE HABITAT
The Habitat offers the closest experience to a podcast recorded on Mars. The series starts with five strangers entering a dome in a remote area of Hawaii, designed to simulate a future Mars habitat. Everything from their food to the spacesuits they wear when venturing outside is structured to mirror the conditions astronauts would face if they ever reached the red planet. This experiment, initiated by NASA, was a test of plans for a manned mission to Mars, all while remaining on Earth. Produced by Gimlet media and hosted by science writer Lynn Levy, the podcast plays out like a season of Real World with a science fiction twist.
2. STUFF YOU SHOULD KNOW
Stuck on what to learn next? Stuff You Should Know from How Stuff Works has got you covered. Hosts Chuck Bryant and Josh Clark, both writers for How Stuff Works, explore topics ranging from narwhals and Frida Kahlo to LSD, Pompeii, hoarding, and Ponzi schemes. With new episodes three times a week, you'll never run out of fascinating subjects to discover.
3. THE ALLUSIONIST
For language enthusiasts, Helen Zaltzman is a guide through the rich world of linguistics in her Radiotopia podcast, The Allusionist. A former student of Latin, French, and Old English, Zaltzman takes listeners on a journey covering everything from swearing and small talk to the subtleties between British and American English.
4. PHILOSOPHIZE THIS!
Listening to the entire series of Philosophize This! costs less than a philosophy class—and is probably more enjoyable. Each episode, hosted by Stephen West, delves into the minds of historical philosophers and their concepts in a friendly yet insightful manner. The episodes follow a chronological progression, beginning with the pre-Socratics and continuing up to the most recent philosophers like Jacques Derrida.
5. MORE PERFECT
In 2016, Radiolab, one of the most respected and long-running educational podcasts, launched a show called More Perfect. Hosted by Jad Abumrad of Radiolab, each episode explores a pivotal Supreme Court case or event that has played a role in shaping the highest court in the United States. The podcast delves into more than just the Supreme Court, tackling broader issues such as police brutality, gender equality, and free speech online.
6. SLOW BURN
The Watergate scandal was so monumental in American history that it has its own suffix. Yet when asked to summarize it, many people might struggle. Slow Burn, a podcast from Slate, offers a refresher. In eight episodes, host Leon Neyfakh recounts the events surrounding Nixon’s downfall, while questioning whether today's citizens would recognize a scandal on the scale of Watergate if it happened again.
7. LETTERS FROM WAR
Rather than casting a wide net over World War II, the Washington Post podcast Letters From War zooms in on the deeply personal letters exchanged between four brothers fighting in the Pacific. Veterans from the war share the siblings' stories while reflecting on their own personal wartime experiences.
8. LEVAR BURTON READS
Being an adult doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy the soothing tones of LeVar Burton reading to you. The former host of Reading Rainbow, LeVar Burton now hosts LeVar Burton Reads, a podcast tailored for adults. In each episode, Burton selects a piece of short fiction to read aloud, featuring works by authors like Haruki Murakami, Octavia Butler, and Ursula K. Le Guin.
9. BRAINS ON!
Brains On! is an educational podcast aimed at younger listeners, though adults can learn a thing or two as well. Every week, host Molly Bloom invites a new child co-host to dive into a different subject. Tune in to discover answers to intriguing questions like "What makes paint stick?" and "How do animals breathe underwater?"
10. SCIENCE VS
In a world filled with misinformation, it can be tough to separate fact from fiction. The Science Vs podcast from Gimlet is here to help with its team of “friendly fact checkers.” Whether it’s GMOs, meditation, birth control, or even Bigfoot, the weekly show tackles a variety of topics. The aim of each episode is to replace myths and misconceptions with solid science.
11. FLASH FORWARD
The future is unknown, but Flash Forward explores some of the most fascinating possibilities. Host and producer Rose Eveleth takes listeners on a journey through potential futures—some more plausible than others (a future where we can't trust the news is within reason, but one with space pirates dragging a second moon into orbit is less so). But all are rooted in real science.
12. HIDDEN BRAIN
What drives the everyday choices we make? This is the question Shankar Vedantam seeks to answer on the NPR podcast Hidden Brain. The show explores the unconscious patterns that influence our lives, such as our clothing choices and the people we surround ourselves with.
13. PART-TIME GENIUS
Hosted by the founders of Mytour, Will Pearson and Mangesh Hattikudur, Part-Time Genius is a podcast from How Stuff Works that dives into topics you never knew you were curious about. From the origins of Nickelodeon to the hidden mysteries of the Vatican, each episode is both educational and entertaining.
14. ASTRONOMY CAST
The universe is vast, and if you want to explore it in depth, begin with Astronomy Cast. Hosted by Fraser Cain, publisher of the well-known Universe Today, and Dr. Pamela L. Gay, director of the virtual research initiative CosmoQuest, this podcast covers everything from the animals we've sent into orbit to the very color of the universe itself.
15. SCIENCE OF HAPPINESS
The Science of Happiness podcast, presented by PRI, offers quick, insightful episodes designed to boost your well-being. Research shows that adopting habits like mindfulness and gratitude, while releasing unhelpful patterns like grudges and stress, can significantly increase happiness. Hosted by the renowned professor Dacher Keltner, this podcast teaches you how to apply these evidence-based strategies for a happier life.
