What Makes Up The Best Educational Podcasts List?

I’ve included a few well-loved classics but in some cases have also (gently) pushed the boundaries of what we might consider a traditional educational podcast. I’ve tried to include enough variety to suit different tastes: design, climate change, LGBTQ+ history. And while the content of these shows varies drastically, I like to think that all are united in their ability to teach listeners something new in an engaging and accessible way. 

The best educational podcasts need to push the listener’s mental envelope a bit while remaining engaging. There’s no need to ram an idea into the listener’s ear. The idea is they adopt new ways of thinking.

I’ve done the heavy lifting on this list of the best educational podcasts, now all you have to do is sit back, press play and bask in that glorious glow of smugness.

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1. Revisionist History 

I would be remiss if I didn’t include Malcom Gladwell’s Revisionist History on my list. It’s one of the best educational podcasts available. Listen to the man himself.

In his own words, Gladwell describes it as a podcast about “things overlooked and misunderstood.” I continually find myself surprised by each episode’s topic. One week he might be turning the story of the Boston Tea Party on its head, and the next, deep-diving into the infamous hug between Richard Nixon and Sammy Davis Jr.

In each episode Gladwell skillfully weaves seemingly disparate threads together to produce a unique, compelling thesis. He has the uncanny ability to take a specific historical moment and use it as an opportunity to teach listeners so much more about the human experience.

Prepare for the niche and the obscure, but prepare to be captivated.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

2. Stuff You Should Know

Stuff You Should Know (SYSK) has been running for over a decade and it continues to dominate the charts. One of the most popular educational podcasts in the world, SYSK covers, well, everything. It doesn’t matter what your areas of interests are: science, pop culture, history, they’ve probably got an episode on it.

The show is co-hosted by Chuck Bryant and Josh Clark, two men who are by no means experts in these fields, and never claim to be. The episodes are undoubtedly informative, but there are some stumbles along the way: ham-fisted remarks in moments that perhaps required delicacy, factually inaccurate (albeit hilarious) statements expressed with utter conviction.

Blunders aside, the sheer breadth of topics they address makes the show undeniably interesting and their accessible approach to explaining topics makes for easy listening. Bryant and Clark have a comfortable, endearing rapport, no doubt established after creating over one thousand episodes together. It’s like listening in on the conversation of your close friends – not always accurate, but entertaining just the same.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

3. Encyclopedia Womannica

Encyclopedia Wommanica is a series of vignettes about remarkable women throughout history. Cutting across different cultures, countries and centuries, the show shines a spotlight on women whose stories have often been eclipsed by dominant historical narratives.

It covers the trials, triumphs and contributions of incredible women from all different walks of life, including mathematicians, poets and civil rights activists, to name a few. While each episode features a different woman, each month is attributed a new theme ranging from dreamers and pioneers to villainesses and STEMinists.

New episodes are published every weekday and are only 5 minutes long, but trust me when I say that these bite-size episodes pack a punch and will no doubt leave you feeling inspired.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

4. Climate Cast

Minnesota Public Radio’s (MPR) Climate Cast is a great way to learn more about climate change and its widespread impacts. The show is hosted by MPR’s Chief Meteorologist Paul Huttner, who is often accompanied by knowledgeable and impressive guests, including political figures such as Al Gore as well as experienced researchers and academics.

While episodes can cover anything from the nuts and bolts of Hurricane Dorian to the lessons Indigenous communities can teach about tackling climate change, Huttner sticks to the science of it all and approaches each topic in a clear, factual manner.

With episodes varying from brief 4 minute breakdowns to lengthier 40-minute discussions, Climate Cast suits any schedule (and attention span). The show is precise, timely and a great way to keep abreast of climate change research and developments.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

5. Ear Hustle

This is not your typical educational podcast, but let me explain. Ear Hustle is a show that addresses the daily realities of the people inside California’s San Quentin State Prison. For many, prisons are a mystery, with any knowledge of them limited to sensationalized movies and TV shows.

The best educational podcasts are myth dispelling machines. And Ear Hustle delivers in this regard.

By teaching listeners about what life is like for the people incarcerated in San Quentin, you begin to feel some empathy that you may not have known was there. It’s not about the particulars of any one crime, it’s about life. About the complexities of parenting while incarcerated, of the frustrations and tensions of sharing a cell, of finding a job once on the outside.

The show is heartbreaking and hilarious in equal measure, and the mix of incarcerated and non-incarcerated hosts offers a rare, unfiltered glimpse into their world – authored by the people who are living in it. It’s not only an education in the day-to-day realities of the people in this prison, but an education in America’s criminal justice system at large. Pure genius.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

6. 99% Invisible

99% Invisible is a hugely popular show that explores “the unnoticed architecture and design that shape our world.” It’s hosted by Roman Mars, whose rich, mellow voice has the inexplicable power to soothe even the most irritable of listeners. Informative, engaging and expertly produced, 99% Invisible has the kind of compelling narratives and high production value that can capture the attention of nearly anyone – design-minded or otherwise. As the best educational podcasts should.

The show sparks curiosity and reflection through the innovative topics it explores: the McMansion phenomenon, unpleasant design and the origin story of curb cuts are but a few of the niche yet nuanced subjects tackled.

Regardless of the topic, there’s always something interesting to be learned, and the quality of the show –  along with Mars’ dulcet tones – will be sure to keep you listening.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

7. Overheard at National Geographic

This is the perfect show for any restless souls out there eagerly awaiting their next adventure. Wonderfully random and playfully delivered, this is a show about the outlandish stories overheard from staff at National Geographic’s head office.

No one theme ties the episodes together; the randomness stretches across a variety of topics, like the truth behind Thailand’s elephant tourism industry or an underwater archaeologist’s journey scuba diving beneath a pyramid. After each episode you’ll discover new, unusual insights into topics you might never have considered.

Episodes generally hover under half an hour, making the perfect companion for those early morning commutes or Sunday afternoon chores. These stories will teach you a little bit more about this wild and complex world we live in, and will supply you with an abundance of peculiar facts to whip out at your next dinner party.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

8. Monocle 24: The Urbanist

Any city lovers out there? This is my go-to recommendation for 99% Invisible lovers looking for a new fix. With Monocle editor Andrew Tuck at the helm, The Urbanist explores the subject of creating better cities. Episodes are dynamic and ever-changing, some zeroing in on topics such as Moscow’s trolleybuses, others looking at larger themes like the impacts of private development on public spaces.

As a listener, you will be transported across the globe – often multiple times in a single episode – but will always remain in the capable hands of one of Monocle’s internationally-based correspondents or local experts. Stories alternate between longer, detail-heavy episodes and brief, poetic city portraits.

It’s an informative and thoughtful show that will have you looking at cities a little bit differently.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

9. Making Gay History 

The best educational podcasts push you to think harder. They’re an epistemic challenge.

Making Gay History is a moving collection of stories documenting the LGBTQ+ civil rights movement through archival interviews. It’s hosted by Eric Marcus, a journalist who set out to write a book about the movement in the 1980s.

As part of his research, Marcus recorded 100 interviews with different queer activists and advocates from across the country. Three decades later, he decided to breathe new life into the cassette tapes and turn the recordings into a podcast.

Episodes feature the voices of prominent figures such as Marsha P. Johnson, as well as the lesser-known though equally powerful stories of activists like that of Wendell Sayers. These aren’t polished, scripted narratives.

The interviews take place in the intimate spaces of people’s homes, at their kitchen tables and in their living rooms. They are unfiltered, raw and imperfect, yet undeniably compelling. Hearing this history – directly from those who lived it – is both poignant and powerful.

These are not the stories you came across in your high school history textbook, but they’re ones that deserve to be heard and need to be learned.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

10. Radiolab

Well-seasoned podcast listeners might be rolling their eyes at this perhaps (painfully) obvious choice. Much like Freakonomics Radio or NPR’s Ted Radio Hour, Radiolab is one of the quintessential educational podcasts, but I thought it was important to flag for anyone new to the podcasting world (also it would be downright disrespectful not to mention it because the show is just that good).

Radiolab is a nationally syndicated radio program and podcast hosted by Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich. The show investigates a range of scientific and philosophical topics in a wonderfully accessible way. The show is masterfully produced and its rhythm and style – in large part due to the strong narrative focus and creative sound design – make it entirely unique.

You’ll never be able to predict what the next episode might cover; standouts have explored how we see colour and an unpacking of the concept of blame. The quirkiness of the topics, combined with Abumrad and Krulwich’s magic touch, make for an immersive, educational and unforgettable experience.

Related reading: best Radiolab episodes

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

Well there you have it! Some of the best educational podcast around. Hopefully at least one of the shows from this list has piqued your curiosity and has your finger hovering above the download button as we speak. I think I’ve supplied enough recommendations to last you a few months, meaning you’ll be able to ride that wave of smugness all the way into the New Year.

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The post 10 Educational Podcasts (You Need To Listen To) appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

11. How Grassoline Works 

April 17, 2008

It only feels right to include SYSK episode 1 in our list. It is after all, the one that began it all. You have heard of electric cars and corn based ethanol as an alternative to gasoline, but have you ever heard of a using grass as an alternative to gasoline? Me neither. In this episode, Josh (still a solo host at this point) discusses the possibility of certain species of grass, along with wood materials, as a way to power our world. In this one very succinct episode, SYSK touches on peak oil, sustainability, and even wars. Sure, this episode is over 10 years old and grassoline has yet to take off, but it is a lot of fun to hear about!

Link to episode: https://www.stuffyoushouldknow.com/podcasts/how-grassoline-works.htm

10. What is the gig economy?

June 11, 2019

One of the best things about SYSK is the hosts don’t only cover history topics or topics that are no longer relevant, but they actively attack topics that are becoming more important as time goes on. This is one of those episodes. The gig economy is considered all of those side jobs you can work from an app on, things like Uber, grubhub, Upwork, and Amazon delivery. Originally considered a great way to make some extra money during time off, people have begun to question the gig economy partly, as SYSK suggests, because the gigs were so successful. Many people work these side gigs as full time jobs without any benefits and overall low pay. In this episode SYSK discusses whether the gig economy is good for society and what the future of the gig economy will be.

Link to episode: https://www.stuffyoushouldknow.com/podcasts/whats-the-gig-economy.htm

9. Are Nazi War Criminals Still at Large?

April 30, 2008

For good measure, SYSK occasionally covers conspiratorial topics. Other conspiracy theories include: “Did the CIA test LSD on unsuspecting Americans”, “Was there a real King Arthur”, “What’s the deal with crop circles”, and “What happened to the lost colony at Roanoke”. There is perhaps no better conspiratorial episode of SYSK than this one though. Josh, still a lone host, discusses the final outcome for many major Nazi figures and whether anyone ever got away. He discusses the curiously high amount of twins born in a specific region of Argentina beginning shortly after World War II. The highlight of the episode is the discussion of Mossad’s hunt for Nazi war criminals following the founding of the state of Israel. Overall a great episode.

8. Use of the Insanity Defense

April 18, 2013

Often talked about, but not well understood, Josh and Chuck tackle the topic of the insanity defense and its common misconceptions in this episode. Many people do not realize that the insanity defense is extremely hard to prove. As Josh and Chuck explain, despite the fact that everyone is aware of the insanity defense, it is actually only used in 1% of criminal cases, and furthermore, the insanity defense is only successful in 1% of the criminal cases in which it is used. This is the perfect episode for anyone interested in how the legal system works. The nuances of the insanity defense can be tricky but SYSK sums it up quite well.

Link to episode: https://www.stuffyoushouldknow.com/podcasts/insanity-defense.htm

7. What is fascism?

March 11, 2010

No Racists, No KKK, No Fascist USA! It’s a common phrase you heard lately at many protests. In this episode, Josh and Chuck discuss what fascism really is. After listening to SYSK you’ll quickly realize what the core tenants of fascism are, and how there are a great number of misconceptions about fascism. In particular, Josh and Chuck’s focus on the importance that war plays in a fascist society is very interesting.

Link to episode: https://www.stuffyoushouldknow.com/podcasts/what-exactly-is-fascism.htm

6. What’s the Deal with Rasputin’s death?

June 3, 2017

Fans of history will love this episode. Gregory Rasputin, known as the “Mad Monk” is one of the most interesting figures in Russian history. A mystic, Rasputin was the personal healer to Prince Alexei, the last Prince of Russia. I don’t want to spoil the story of Rasputin, but he quickly becomes very salacious in Russian history. It is said that Rasputin was shot in the head several times and still survived until he was thrown into a freezing river. SYSK’s discussion of Rasputin’s death is worth a listen all on its own.

Link to episode: https://www.stuffyoushouldknow.com/podcasts/deal-rasputins-death.htm

5. How Mexican Wrestling Works

January 19, 2012

The matches, jumping off the top rope, soap opera level drama – Mexican wrestling, or lucha libre, is a spectacle, and a great one at that. Josh and Chuck take a deep dive into the history and legend behind Mexican wrestling. Many may not know how important the role of the mask is in Mexican wrestling. This SYSK episode has a wonderful segment on the mask’s importance. SYSK also discusses the difference between Mexican wrestling and the WWE style pro wrestling that is so popular in the United States. Some episodes you find so fascinating you can’t help but listen even though you may have no interest in the topic. The Mexican Wrestling episode of SYSK is one such episode.

Link to episode: https://www.stuffyoushouldknow.com/podcasts/how-mexican-wrestling-works.htm

4. How Diamonds Work

April 3, 2012

Are diamonds really a girl’s best friend? I find this episode of SYSK particularly interesting because Josh and Chuck cover both the geological history of diamonds – how they’re made, and the advertising history of diamonds – how they became the wedding standard they are today. You may (or may not) be surprised that diamonds actually aren’t all that rare or precious after all. Instead, after a hard advertising push by major jewelry and diamond mining companies, the diamond ring became the marriage institution that it is today. 

Link to episode: https://www.stuffyoushouldknow.com/podcasts/how-diamonds-work.htm

3. How the Electoral College Works

August 28, 2012

The United States is one of the few democratic presidential systems where the President is not actually elected directly by the citizens of the country. As Chuck and Josh, explain this is supposed to be one of the primary differences between the American presidential system and the British parliamentary system, the two major western governmental systems. In this episode SYSK does a deep dive into the history of the electoral college in the United States and why it was set up the way it was. It may surprise many that despite the words of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution calling for freedom of all men, the Founding Fathers were actually quite afraid of full blown democracy. This episode feels particularly timely considering the 2016 election in which President Trump won the election through the electoral college despite his presidential candidate winning more votes than any other presidential candidate in American history. If you’re interested in electoral politics, or civic engagement this is absolutely a must listen. 

Link to episode: https://www.stuffyoushouldknow.com/podcasts/how-the-electoral-college-works.htm

2. Were U.S. citizens in Japanese Internment Camps

March 1, 2011

SYSK is not afraid to deal with some of the more shameful incidents in American history. Josh and Chuck’s willingness to discuss this difficult topic openly and honestly is one of the reasons people love SYSK. They will truly take on any topic. Today the Japanese internment camps during World War II are widely disparaged by almost all Americans. SYSK, however, discusses how Japanese internment camps were viewed contemporaneously at the time. You may be surprised to see how Americans in the 1940s had no problem with the internment camps. Any history buff should listen to this episode because it’s important not only to celebrate the great moments of history but to reflect on the shameful moments as well. 

Link to episode: https://www.stuffyoushouldknow.com/podcasts/were-u-s-citizens-in-japanese-internment-camps.htm

1. Vocal Fry and Other Speech Trends

October 22, 2015

Without a doubt, “Vocal Fry and Other Speech Trends” has got to be the greatest SYSK episode of all time. It’s how the Kardashians speak, it’s how Britney Spears sings. Since the 2000s the vocal fry speech trend seems to be everywhere. This episode is great because Josh and Chuck are particularly opinionated about it. Usually the loudest to complain about vocal fry are men, the two hosts take these men to task for such complaints. As Josh and Chuck explain, it’s actually men who may have started and popularized vocal fry. For a topic about speech, Josh and Chuck manages to make this episode not only a listenable episode but one of the great, if not the greatest SYSK episode ever.

Link to episode: https://www.stuffyoushouldknow.com/podcasts/vocal-fry-and-other-speech-trends-2.htm

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