The Best Podcasts of 2022 (So Far)
Last updated on July 3rd, 2022
Podcasts are still cropping up like flowers in the snow that is the now times, and it’s never too soon to start listing the best podcasts of 2022 for audience members like you to dive into. It can be hard keeping track of the best of the best with great new listens sprouting every day, but here’s our running lists of the best podcasts of 2022. Our list is genre agnostic, focusing on the overall quality of the podcast versus any specific categories or approaches.
As always, if we’re talking about a serialized story–think audio fiction or investigative reporting, for instance–be sure to start from the first episode. For other entries, we recommend starting with an episode that sounds especially interesting to you. All of these podcasts are available on the podcatcher of your choice, so be sure to have your app at the ready. And be sure to check back for more additions as the best podcasts of 2022 keep debuting!
Looking for lists with a genre in mind, or deeper dives into what makes a podcast great? Be sure to check out our other podcast reviews!
Small Victories
Small Victories is a gem of a show by WGC Productions. In this dramatic comedy, a recently recovered drug addict tries to start her new lease on life, but (dun dun DUN) life has it out for her. This show is full to the brim of personality from the content warnings through the credits. As soon as I hit play I knew I was in for a roller coaster of a good time. Small Victories will have you laughing just as much as it will have you yelling at the protagonist, Marisol. Her occasionally unwise decisions (putting it generously) and self-sabotage (putting it less generously) are sometimes too relatable, but that only serves to make her feel more real and make you more invested. As I write this the show is still releasing, and I hold out hope that Marisol might yet get some victories despite all her stumbles. It’s not just in the title – an undercurrent of optimism runs through the whole show. Fans of snappy writing, quick wits, Black Bisexual leads, hilarious moments, and/or just generally a good time will love Small Victories. I sure do! –Tal Minear
The Trojan Horse Affair
While The Trojan Horse Affair, the new release from Serial Productions, is not as innovative or groundbreaking as the original season of Serial or 2017’s S-Town, it still remains a masterclass in deep, investigative radio journalism and captivating storytelling. Host Brian Reed is joined by budding journalist Hamza Syed, a former doctor whose Muslim faith adds a fascinating conflict of interest in the story’s reporting.
In the eight-part series, the two reporters look into the organized attempts to introduce “Islamist” tensions into several schools in Birmingham, England in the early 2010s. The series’ focus, to investigate the origins of a mysterious leaked letter that in many ways sparked the entire conflict is hardly the purpose of the show. In fact, one of the least engaging dimensions of the podcast is the first few episodes where the hosts look to solve who leaked the letter in the first place. Instead, much like the twists of S-Town, The Trojan Horse Affair takes listeners on a journey into the intricacies of central England’s local government and education system. Listening to Syed, a journalism student at the time whose first major job happened to be a blockbuster podcast, grabble with his own personal beliefs while Reed pushes impartiality is captivating and intensely telling.
In many ways, The Trojan Horse is a good podcast, not a great one. But when so many big podcast releases are celebrities hosting unscripted discussions, something with a bit of time put into it can be a real treat. —Brian Benton
Sitcom D&D
Sitcom D&D is Headgum’s most recent actual play Dungeons and Dragons podcast. Set in a fantasy world that could be described as a bunch of sitcom references wearing a trench coat, the show follows Chalice Glass (Erin Keif), Sebastian Von Hughgrant (Ben Briggs), Chip A. Hoy (Waleed Mansour), and Beef (Elizabeth Andrews) as they try to keep the Bottom’s Up tavern running. Game Master Sean Coyle throws a variety of different obstacles at them, such as royal guards, a health inspector, and a pirate-themed escape room. The show is hilarious and only uses the D&D mechanics as a loose tool to instruct improv. I really love how each episode is structured to be its own stand-alone adventure, making it one of the rare actual play shows that can be jumped into at any episode. There are only a few episodes out at the time of writing this, but I can already tell this is something special. —Eddie Feeley
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