The podcast industry has been growing over the past few years, but in 2023, listeners increased by over 40 million (The Podcast Industry). With this increase in consumers comes an increase in creators. There is a good chance that at least one of your favorite influencers or celebrities has started a podcast in the last year, and an even better chance that more creators will start one in 2024. With over 5 million podcasts to choose from (Shewale), it can feel overwhelming to choose one to listen to. Listed below are my current favorites, covering many topics.
A popular genre of podcasts is Pop Culture Podcasts. These podcasts provide an inside scoop of what is going on in Hollywood, LA, and on the internet as a whole. Chicks in the Office was my most listened-to podcast in 2023. This Barstool Sports podcast covers everything from reality TV to TikTok trends. It contains segments of trivia, as well as television shows and movie recommendations. Also from Barstool Sports comes the BFF’s Podcast. Hosted by Dave Portnoy, Josh Richards, and Briana LaPaglia, these influencers aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty and ask their celebrity guests the hard questions everyone else is afraid to ask. These three tend to ruffle some feathers and keep listeners entertained with their occasionally controversial opinions. Two final favorite Pop Culture podcasts are Popculture Universitea, hosted by Patty Eminger, and TyRANTS, by Ty French. Both of these hosts keep listeners laughing throughout entire episodes and include unique and entertaining segments within their podcasts.
True Crime podcasts have played a massive role in the growth of podcasts over the years. Sometimes, the true crime world can seem oversaturated, with the same stories being retold over and over. The Rotten Mango Podcast changes the True Crime game by telling stories from outside the US and occasionally including myths from other cultures. The host, Stephanie Soo, has a calming voice that makes graphic stories easier to digest. She also consults help from researchers in other countries to make sure she understands the stories and doesn’t spread misinformation. Another favorite true crime show is the Murder, Mystery, & Makeup podcast by Bailey Sarian. Her episodes are often on the shorter side. She adds her sense of humor to the episodes while keeping the victims in mind and being respectful. Finally, The Scamfluencers podcast is all about heists and scams people have tried to pull off and how they were eventually caught. This show is great for anyone who loves true crime but doesn’t want to hear lots of graphic details.
Story-time podcasts are perfect for a lighthearted listen. What We Said is a podcast that has been running for around five years now. The hosts, Jaci and Chelsey, tell stories from their own lives along with submissions from their listeners. These girls are down to earth and will have their listeners laughing along with them in every episode. Another podcast from this genre was that TMI with Sadie Crowell. Sadie is a YouTuber who creates comedy content and spends her time traveling and going out with friends. She tells stories from her travels and talks about what it’s like to grow up as a girl in the 21st century. For more behind-the-scenes YouTube videos, Cut The Cameras with the Stunilo Triplets is a comedy podcast where the boys share stories and behind-the-scenes of their lives. They talk about their lives before YouTube and what it’s like to be influencers.
Podcasts can also be a great way to learn about any topic. Aware and Agrivated is hosted by Leo Skepi, who gives motivation and advice. He shares what it has been like to level up and create his dream life. He encourages people to follow their dreams and step out of their comfort zones. Similarly, The Skinny Confidential is hosted by a couple of entrepreneurs who give listeners advice on how to level up in their career fields. They also often include interviews with very successful professionals. The Huberman Lab and Hidden Brain are educational podcasts that focus on psychology and teach people how they can “hack” their brains. These podcasts also often include interviews with professionals and scientists.
Another popular genre is health and wellness, which is similar to education. Girls With Goals is hosted by two sisters who talk about the importance of setting goals and how to achieve them. They also talk about their lives as young adults and advise their listeners. The Wellness Cafe is a lifestyle podcast that focuses on girl talk, journaling, and everything in between. More on the fitness side of the genre, Fun and Gains is a podcast that gives fitness advice. The host, Brittany Lupton, gives motivation to get in the gym and get stronger, but it also focuses on mental health and being gentle with ourselves.
These are my favorite podcasts that I listened to in 2023. From wellness to entertainment, these podcasts kept me interested. As the podcast industry grows, there will be plenty more podcasts to listen to in 2024.