Note: This is a rotating list, which will be refreshed every few months with a slate of brand new history podcasts. Entries from previous lists are still kept down below–they’re still great listens for you to check out!

The best history podcasts

A History of the World in 100 objects

As historians continue to question what sources are best for understanding the past, A History of the World in 100 objects explores the potential that objects have in retracing these histories. Including a credit card, and a Russian Revolutionary Plate, host Neil MacGregor unpacks the endless possibilities of studying historical objects.

New Books in African American Studies 

Taking a highly academic approach, New Books in African American Studies is a finger on the pulse of Black academia, tracking changes and innovations in the field of African American studies. From Book reviews to interviews with respected academics, the podcast is a one-stop shop for the latest transformations in the field. 

Telling Our Twisted Histories

Exploring Native Canadian History through a new word each week, this 11-part series creates an empathetic, inclusive space for native Canadians to discuss and protect their histories. With collaboration from tribes throughout Canada, host Kaniehti:io Horn creates an important resource to decolonise our understandings of native histories. 

Our Fake History 

With so many books, articles, and history podcasts dedicated to debunking and reassessing specific histories, it has grown ever more difficult to understand what is truly real. Enter Our Fake History, a podcast that carefully and playfully tows this line between real and fake, asking important questions about truth, morality, and how we remember history today. 

School Colors

A documentary podcast based in Brooklyn, School Colors charts the discriminatory practices of America’s education system, and the continuing fight for students of colour to gain a good education against the odds. Investigating the tension between gentrification and the expansion of charter schools, School Colors focuses on the long history of education reform, and the burdens placed on Black communities historically.  

A History of Delusion 

Exploring a more niche type of history, host Daniel Freeman considers mental health through a historic lens, attempting to understand how mental illness has impacted our understanding of past figures. Similarly, Freeman also interacts with important questions around post-humous diagnosis, raising issues around the ethics of assigning mental illness to historic individuals. 

Black History for White People 

By using History as a tool to provoke and consider modern-day racial injustice, Black History for White People is a vital resource in challenging bias and encouraging compassionate conversation. The multi-ethnic collective promotes love for Black and Brown people, with these histories centring on Black joy and relishing in the exploration of Black culture. 

Gone Medieval 

While the Medieval era is constantly slandered as backward and oppressive, Gone Medieval attempts to set the record straight, diving into the nuanced and complex world of the Middle Ages. Discussing landmark events such as the Norman Conquest, as well as era-defining individuals such as Charlemagne, Dr Cat Jarman offers an important revision of our view of the Medieval World. 

Real Dictators

The role of a dictator is so often shrouded with interest and morbid curiosity. From Stalin to Mao Zedong, history buffs remain entranced and alluded by these figures. Considering this, host Paul McGann considers ideas of power and control, exploring the inner lives of some of the world’s most powerful individuals. 

Everyday Black History

So often, the histories of people of colour are defined by trauma, and struggle, with little time given to hope and the achievements of people of colour. Revising this historical attitude, Everyday Black History centres on the accomplishments of Black Americans, and the institutions fighting successfully for the advancement of people in the African Diaspora.

Most Notorious 

Featuring true-life tales of crime, criminals, tragedies and disasters, Most Notorious is dedicated to exploring the criminal underworld of time’s past. Interviewing researchers and academics dedicated to historic outlaws, the show spotlights new work from some of the most impressive scholars in the field. 

Unpacking Latin America 

Centring the research of Latin American scholars, Unpacking Latin America provides a detailed account of the nuances and discoveries of historians today. From revising ideas on Latin America’s colonial past, to discussing ideas of gender and feminism in Argentina, host Professor Vicky Murillo gives an all-encompassing view of Latin America History to date. 

You Must Remember This

A sultry, smoky look into Hollywood’s first century, You Must Remember This pushes the boundaries of podcast making, relying on a unique blend of highly researched creative non-fiction to tell tales of Hollywood’s past. Listeners should prepare for a listening experience like no other, and stay for a truly tantalizing look into the stars Hollywood forgot. 

Crossing Fences

In History today, many academics are beginning to explore new and innovative ways of understanding and interpreting historical events. A podcast that captures this best is Crossing Fences, an ambitious project collating oral histories of African-American men from across Pittsburgh. Ranging from middle-schoolers to men in their late-80s, Crossing Fences is sure to remain a key archive in understanding the Black experience, both in the present and the past. 

The Rest is History 

In attempts to debunk the Great Man of History theories, which cite men as the driving force of History, hosts Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook attempt to detangle mystified views of historic men such as Charles I and Genghis Khan. In a historical field still struggling to come to terms with these narratives, The Rest is History provides important discussions and critiques of set ideas in history today. 

The History of Gay Sex

With podcast episodes entitled ‘The Sambia: The Semen Ingesting Tribe of Papau New Guinea’, the History of Gay Sex is certainly not for the faint-hearted. Charting a diverse history of gender and sexuality, this podcast demonstrates the boundless ways in which different cultures and communities have explored sex desire. 

All My Relations

Exploring elements of Native American history and culture through the lens of relationships, hosts Matika Wilbur and Desi Small Rodriguez explore expansive indigenous narratives. From decolonising sex, to understanding the truth behind Thanksgiving, All My Relations takes a compelling look at past and present cultural practices. 

Ridiculous History

While this podcast delights in finding some of the craziest stories in history, it also raises important questions about how ridicule functions to undermine some of the cruellest characters of history. In this way, hosts Ben Bowlin and Noel Brown take care to balance humour with thoughtful consideration for the role of ridicule in History. 

The Pan-African Alliance Podcast

An all-Black organisation from across the African content and diaspora, the Pan-African Alliance Podcast focuses on education as a source of liberation. Focused on ideas of Black consciousness and reclaiming African histories, the podcast acts as a catalyst for Black empowerment, encouraging the creation of academic communities across the world. 

Radio Ambulante

Showcasing the diversity and complexity of Latin American life, Radio Ambulante is a triumph in documenting the vast cultures and communities present in Latin America, both historically and in the present. Spanning more than 20 countries, Radio Ambulante provides a unique cultural history bursting with humour and empathy, telling stories of love, migration, environment, and politics. 

As history, continues to expand out into new eras, debates and theories, history podcasts remain a vital resource to revise and reassess our history, indulging in the absurdist and extraordinary elements of an ever-expanding discipline.

1619 

A production of the New York Times’ 1619 Project, which marked 400 years since the arrival of the first enslaved Africans in America, 1619 is a meticulous dissection of the legacy of slavery in America. Host Nikole Hannah-Jones reframes America’s national narrative, placing slavery’s consequences, and the contributions of Black Americans at the center of this country’s development. Rather than placing emphasis on white settlers and colonialists, Hannah-Jones give autonomy to individual enslaved persons, and those actively fighting systems of racial oppression, addressing issues of perspective in traditional histories of slavery. 

Revolutions 

For all revolutionary History fans, there’s a special place in our hearts for host Mike Duncan, and the Revolutions podcast. Undertaking the mammoth task of covering every major revolution across each season, Duncan gives a no-holds bar account of any and all revolutionary events, unpicking the minuscule details even academics would struggle to seek out. Revolutions isn’t afraid to shy away from the difficult questions of History, either, with Duncan often debating ideas of inevitability and social progress, adding an important critical dimension to his episodes.

Telling Our Twisted Histories 

In a highly unique and meditative form, Telling our Twisted Histories reclaims Indigenous History by exploring 11 words which have been misconstrued and ‘twisted’ due to colonialization. Throughout each episode, Host Kaniehtiio Horn converses with over 70 Indigenous people from 11 Indigenous communities across Canada, sharing in both highly emotive and healing conversations.

Bad Gays 

Priding itself as being “a podcast about evil and complicated queers of History,” Bad Gays celebrates how sexuality and gender has influenced History’s most crucial characters across the moral spectrum. From problematic intellectuals, to self-proclaimed thugs and criminals, queerness can be found across all spheres of History, it’s just a matter of knowing where to look.

Read more: How Podcasts Fight Falsified History

Floodlines 

When focusing in on historic events, history podcasts often have the difficult task of presenting and dissecting events of the past, which still feel uniquely tied to the present. In Floodlines, a podcast investigating the events of Hurricane Katerina in 2005, this difficulty is demonstrated clearly, with much of the events of the past still fresh in the minds of many living in New Orleans today. With Vann R. Newkirk II hosting, Floodlines gives an unflinching account of events which uprooted the very foundations of American society, all in the course of one natural disaster. 

Not Just the Tudors

Often, the Early Modern period (referred to most often by historians as the period between 1400 – 1789) is full to bursting with Tudors. Whether its Henry VIII and his many wives, or the oft-cited tragic tale of Lady Jane Grey, Tudors have dominated the realm of popular history. Rather than straying into these typical tropes of the Early Modern World, Professor Suzannah Lipscomb provides so much needed nuance, along with an assortment of incredible academic guests.

This Land

Tracing the History of Cherokee Nation through two respective assassination attempts in 1839 and 1999, This Land documents a crucial tipping point in indigenous History to date. Hosted by Oklamhoma journalist and citizen of the Cherokee Nation, Rebecca Nagle discusses the fate of indigenous ownership of ancestral lands against a vast historical context, providing a measured, highly empathetic understanding of this vital History. 

In Our Time 

A much beloved staple of BBC programming, and now available worldwide, In Our Time has hosted a multitude of academics across its 23 year span, covering narratives and historical phenomenon from across the world. National treasure, and host of In Our Time, Melvyn Bragg is a consistent tour-de-force of knowledge, actively keeping pace with experts in the field.

The Humanity Archive 

Brimming with passion and unflinching honesty, host Jermaine Fowler is uncompromising in his retelling of history, focusing in on the histories which often fall outside the usual curriculum. Focusing on subjects such as the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and the Mali Empire, Fowler spans a wide range of historical subjects and individuals, making for an impressively diverse catalogue of episodes.

Tides of History 

In charting history’s vast and distinctive impact today, there are a myriad of questions still to be asked, and a multitude of threads tying us back to inventions and innovations of the past. In tides of History, host Patrick Wyman follows these instances of invention and innovation in an attempt to understand the true origins of our modern society. Using imaginative forms of analysis and introspection, Patrick Wyman allows us to truly consider the way History has shaped our lives. 

Historically Black 

Using objects to uncover hidden narratives of Black History, Historically Black brings stories to life through audio files and interview discussions of lived experiences, and inter-generational understandings of History. Featuring guests such as Issa Rae and Roxane Gay, Historically Black provides a unique take in uncovering unseen histories.

You’re Wrong About

Full of witticisms and quick comebacks, You’re Wrong About is the podcast for those with a love of high and low culture History. Unpacking both historic and contemporary cultural phenomenon, host Sarah Marshall and guests (including long-time co-host Michael Hobbes) attempt to redress some of the most common misconceptions about cultural history today.

School Colors 

A podcast that utilizes the form’s ability to hyper-focus on specific history is School Colors. Immersing itself in the interplay between race, politics and power, School Colors depicts the history of the American education system across generations of parents, educators and students fighting for education reform in Black neighborhoods across Brooklyn, New York.

Ancient History Fangirl

For those who had a borderline unhealthy obsession with Ancient civilizations in their childhood, Ancient History Fangirl is for you. Geeking (Editor’s note: Greeking?) out together over topics such as ancient sexuality and Greek Gods, hosts Jenny Williamson and Genn McMenemy are living out their own historical obsessions, with smart quips and hilarious chemistry between the two.

Noire Histoir 

Describing itself as a podcast dedicated to “Black History and Literature from a noir perspective,” Noir Histoir prides itself on celebrating Black culture in all its many forms. Spanning various histories and locations, Noir Histoir dismisses the assumption that Black History can only be celebrated during Black History Month, encouraging year-long appreciation of these rich histories.

You’re Dead to Me

Providing his signature child-like joy and enthusiasm for History, Greg Jenner hosts You’re Dead to Me, a podcast for ‘people that don’t like History…or just forgot to learn any at school’. Reinvigorating History takes from comedic talents such as Phil Wang, and intellectual know-how from the likes of Peter Frankopan, You’re Dead to Me never fails to deliver on quality history knowledge. 

This Place 

Honoring the sacrifice and resistance of Indigenous communities in Canada, This Place recounters over 150 years of Indigenous History. Focusing on heroes, triumphs and traditions of native peoples, This Place works to shape national narratives of identity in a bid to learn, share and heal from the wounds of the past. 

Noble Blood

For a podcast overflowing with drama, intrigue and scandal, look no further than Noble Blood. A deep-dive across the world’s most controversial and complex monarchies, host Dana Schwarz recounts in vivid detail the weird and wacky eccentricities of past royalty. 

Code Switch 

Charting the effects of racial inequality and discrimination through a variety of communities, histories and political spheres, Code Switch never shies away from the most difficult conversations about our shared histories. Hosted by Shereen Marisol Meraji and Gene Demby, Code Switch combines rigorous research and lived experiences to provide full scope in understanding the lives of marginalized communities.

One from the Vaults 

Bringing you “all the dirt, gossip and glamour from trans history,” One from the Vaults is an essential exploration of a field of history just waiting to be explored. Discussing trans icons such as Marsha P. Johnson, and the concept of “passing,” One from the Vaults represents a key change in representation across popular historical narratives. 

With history podcasts acting as a key access to new understandings of the past, this genre promises to continually expand and explore on the plethora of podcasts already available.

The Lonely Palette

The Lonely Palette’s goal is to bring art down out of the ivory tower and empower listeners to ask questions and feel confident in commenting on artwork, especially the ones found in museums. Tamar Avishai has done beautiful work here, with every episode opening with recordings of her asking museum-goers their thoughts on the artwork in question. That kind of opening is a cue to listeners that this art history for them and about them, and not just accessible to academics, as further shown by Avishai’s excellent historical rundowns on artists and their work.

ICONography

Host Charles Gustine creates beautiful audio about historical icons and their presence in our modern-day world. Each season focuses on one particular place and the icons that are strongly associated with the area, with season one discussing England and season two focusing on New England. And that means, for instance, an episode on Paddington and an episode on witches and witch hunts. Gustine digs deep into those icons that we all know and around which much of modern understanding revolves.

The Marble Garden

Sawyer Westbrook’s podcast centers itself on people, specifically, the people found in cemeteries and the stories that can be discovered through cemetery tombstones. The atmosphere in this podcast is found in the hushed, reverent tones of Westbrook’s telling of someone’s history. These episodes are intimate, personal, and tender even when covering the history of cemeteries themselves, and are written as though watching salient moments of their lives as they unfold.

Undiscovered

Undiscovered covers the history of science and scientific discoveries, and the ways that scientific progress moved forward (or didn’t). The two hosts, Annie Minoff and Elah Feder, are stellar storytellers and interviewers, keeping the story moving and within a doable time frame. Minoff and Feder make sure listeners are all on the same page, and some of these stories are really wild; it includes great snippets of interviews, recorded audio, and most importantly, all the nuance necessary when tackling science and when they don’t have an answer.

Burst Your Bubble

I love in-depth, critical analyses of our pop culture history, especially media that’s considered foundational in its particular genre or medium. Morgan Jaffe, creator and host of Burst Your Bubble, comes from a deeply-researched perspective to media literacy and criticism to dissect specific topics within entertainment media. The episodes dedicate a chunk of their time to playing clips as examples, and Jaffe sharply points out how many things that we consider to be “in the past” are current issues we are actively working to change.

The Dirt

Anna and Amber of The Dirt talk about archaeology and anthropology with adorable rapport and hilarious commentary, as well as complete and detailed information. In about 45 minutes, they track a particular subject through ancient history, like the position of cats in ancient cultures or different kinds of curses. Anna and Amber break down myths, misconceptions, and misunderstandings with nuance and care and usually, a lot of puns.

Toasted Sister

When considering the history of food, Toasted Sister is a must-listen, as it weaves together the history of Indigenous food cultures and the stories of current Native chefs, historians, journalists, and more people. These interviews are about how they work with traditional dishes and Native ingredients to show that this is more than a pop culture fad, but also deal with the long histories of food sovereignty, cultural appropriation, and heritage. Creator and host Andi Murphy is a superb interviewer who has focused in on Native and Indigenous food histories and memories, how they work with them and incorporate them into their lives in the present day, and why we need to keep talking about it.

Echoes of India: A History Podcast

Echoes of India discusses ancient India in incredibly scored and soundscaped immersiveness. Anirudh Kanisetti does amazing work as the host, having scripted a clear plotline for each episode, going above and beyond when he describes a battle to the sounds of a raging war in the background or bringing on voice actors to read lines from various translated records, like a Sanskrit drama and Buddhist debates. Kanisetti expertly sets the mood and scene and, as a specialist in geopolitics, has the necessary understanding of how these threads of history have remained influential.

Spirits

One of the best mythology and urban legends history podcasts out there, Spirits is a conversational podcast that covers all kinds of myths, legends, and ancient lore. Julia Schifini and Amanda McLoughlin have an endearing relationship, full of goofs, boozy drinks, and intricate education on the place mythology has in our daily lives, institutions, and structural oppression. Their long-running show has included a popular ongoing miniseries called Your Urban Legends, where listeners submit local urban legends from their areas, and episodes featuring various popular guests, such as Paul Bae and Adal Rifai.

Clear and Present Danger

Hosted by Jacob Mchangama, founder of human rights think tank Justitia, this podcast discusses the history of free speech as an evolving world concept. These episodes are hour-long deep dives, starting in ancient Athens and Rome. Mchangama is an excellent historical guide, clear and precise, and with the right sense of drama when needed even though the episode has a practical focus rather than a theological or philosophical one. Interspersed throughout are expert opinion episodes, where Mchangama’s talent at guiding questions leads to a vibrant, insightful talk on a particular aspect of free speech.

Hollywood in Color

People of color are left out of history lessons and books everywhere, and Hollywood in Color aims to rectify that gap. With three seasons under her belt, creator and host Diana Martínez does amazing work at the intersection of race, gender, and feminism in Hollywood. Martínez is a wonderful storyteller, which makes for an engaging, often jaw-dropping listen, touching on cultural icons that were shaped and later erased by Hollywood and cultural memory. And she always keeps it fresh every season, from the intertwined paths of Las Reinas de Los Angeles in season one to the life of Hattie McDaniel to the the history of musicians and their Hollywood movies.

The post 20 History Podcasts to Kick the Dust off the Past appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

Every podcast can be funny in there own way, with inside jokes and just upbeat conversation. Any enjoyable conversation or story includes some light notes of humor. However, these are shows that go out of their way to define themselves as comedy podcasts.

From comedians giving their takes on the news to scripted hijinks to improv comedy to just two pals talking about stuff, there are plenty of different comedy podcasts out there for you to try out. Here are just a selection of a few ones that I recommend!

As a note, this list has several audio dramas (or fiction podcasts). Make sure you start these all from the beginning! Each podcast that isn’t an audio drama has a recommended first episode or two linked in its blurb.

Note: This is a rotating list, which will be refreshed every few months with a slate of brand new comedy podcasts. Entries from previous lists are still kept down below–they’re still great listens for you to check out!

The 10 Best Comedy Podcasts

The Bugle

The Bugle is an international satire weekly news show covering current events both big and small. The show has been hosted by Andy Zaltzman for over a decade, and was originally co-hosted by little known comedian John Oliver before he got too busy being in The Smurfs or something. Ever since 2016, Zaltzman has brought on a number of rotating co-hosts from all around the world, such as Hari Kondabolu, Alice Fraser, Nish Kumar, Helen Zaltzman and more.

All of the hosts have a great energy together, regardless of the combination. From the elaborately clever “pun runs” to the scalding hot takes, The Bugle is one of the best ways to keep up with current events in spite of how bad they might be. 

Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Website | RSS

Life With Leo(h)

Life With Leo(h) is a romantic comedy about a career-driven lawyer being gifted an illegally intelligent android who is programmed to love her.  The show is hilarious and about love the same way all these sort of rom coms are, but also explores issues of free will and consent when it comes to someone literally made to love you.

One of my favorite things about this show is how it goes out of its way not just to show how the main couple’s relationship develops, but also how the two develop fun relationships with the other supporting characters. For example, one of Jeanine’s coworkers serves as a point to a potential love triangle with LEO(h), but he and LEO(h) actually have a pretty fun dynamic.

Treat yourself to the first season of this rom-com-sit-com audio drama and keep an eye on your feed for when more comes out!

Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Website | RSS | Transcripts

Read more: Life with LEO(h): Atypical’s New Fiction Podcast About Living With a Sexy Robot

Hey Riddle Riddle

Hey Riddle Riddle is one of those comedy podcasts with a premise everyone can get behind. It’s about riddles and puzzles hosted by people who, after three years of doing this show, still hate riddles. Fire.

Every week, Chicago improvisers Adal Rifai, Erin Keif and John Patrick Coan suffer through as many riddles and word puzzles they can do per episode without getting distracted.

As they tackle these riddles, at the drop of a hat they’ll call from improv scenes sometimes based on the riddle or whatever they’re talking about, or sometimes out of nowhere. The Clue Crew is great at keeping things fun and snappy even when a riddle feels like it’s dragging them along. Hey Riddle Riddle is one of the best improv comedy podcasts out there and also, I have to assume, one of the best riddle podcasts as well. 

Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Website | RSS

The Vanishing Act

The Vanishing Act is a genre-blending globe-trotting adventure following Augie Eckhart, a 1930’s German theater artist looking to recreate a stage act that caused the disappearance of an entire audience. As Augie puts off actually solving this mystery, his egotistic and prickly personality clashes with a colorful cast of characters, including a conman with a fluid backstory, an unfortunately-named mechanical engineer, a man so perfect he wraps back around to being the worst and a narrator who is just so done with Augie’s bullshit.

There’s also a duck.

A nice thing about this show is that it’s done, making it a nice enjoyable package of hilarity and hijinks. If you’re looking for a period piece bleak absurdist comedy mystery drama set during the rise of fascism in the 1930’s that touches on so many different genres that some of them could be considered spoilers, then this is the show for your very specific tastes. As comedy podcasts go, it may be an acquired taste, but it’s one worth sampling.

Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Website | RSS | Transcripts

Fake The Nation

Fake The Nation is the comedy news show for people who get worn down keeping up with current events. Every week, Negin Farsad brings on a rotating roster of comedians and public figures to talk about news, culture, and other big current events.

The show doesn’t shy away from the harshness of the modern world, but takes strides to keep things light with charming and breezy conversation. It’s the kind of show where you find yourself smiling while listening to it, and then later realize you learned something from it. 

Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Website | RSS

Dungeons And Daddies

Dungeons and Daddies is an actual play Dungeons and Dragons podcast following the adventures of four dads from our world flung into The Forgotten Realms on a quest to rescue their sons. The show features Matt Arnold as stay at home sports dad Darryl Wilson, Will Campos as crunchy opinionated hippy dad Henry Oak, Beth May as the platonic ideal of a weirdo step-dad Ron Stampler, and Freddie Wong as rock and roll cover band dad Glenn Close, with Anthony Burch as the dungeon master.

Come for the dad jokes and raunchy comedy, stay for the comedic ways the shows bends and breaks the mechanics of D&D and, eventually, actual play shows as a whole. That’s incredibly lofty praise for a show that has a long running gag about a dad being stinky. It makes for one of the best comedy podcasts, and maybe parenting podcasts as well… in its own way.

Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Website | RSS

I’m Sorry

The thing about public apologies is that, most of the time, they aren’t so much an apology as they are covering for their public relations. They are also often the least they can do. In I’m Sorry, comedians Hoja Lopez, Mohanad Elshieky, and Kiki Monique tackle the most recent public apology and the series of events that lead to it.

We’ve all seen random apologetic posts or videos in the wild, out of context. The I’m Sorry crew will take your hand and guide you down the rabbit hole that brought us to these apologies. If you enjoy deep dives into the latest drama dominating the headlines, check out their back catalog. All you need to know about any of these stories is that somebody somewhere is sorry. 

Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Website | RSS  

Why Won’t You Date Me

Nicole Byer has, as of when I’m writing this article, at least three different comedy podcasts and for good reason. Byer is incredibly upbeat and peppy while also being refreshingly blunt and self aware without being mean. Why Won’t You Date Me explores Byer’s ongoing dating struggles, as well as any issues her guests have been running into when it comes to romance.

I started listening to the show after enjoying Byer’s most recent standup special Big Beautiful Weirdo, which is a good showing of her overall vibe. Byer and her guests get into the relatable weirdness of the modern dating world, while sometimes touching upon the additional weirdness of doing so while famous. Check out this show if you’re looking for comedy podcasts that feels like having drinks with your friends after they went on a weird date.

Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Website | RSS 

The Read

Sometimes you just really need someone to cut into the wired and wild drama of pop culture, and that’s where The Read steps in. Every week on The Read, hosts Kid Fury and Crissle discuss the latest news following pop culture’s most trying personalities.

From Hollywood to hip hop to the occasional sports drama updates, the hosts bounce off of each other sorting out what’s happening and why it matters. I’m not really one for keeping up with celebrity drama, but The Read’s humorous approach to catty stories keeps things fun and engaging.

Add them to your collection of celebrity podcasts and comedy podcasts, or pick them out as a fun glance into a side of stardom you might not otherwise keep track of. 

Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Website 

Anime Sickos

Despite the title, Anime Sickos isn’t really about anime. Each episode, hosts Tom Harrison and Joe Anderson break down “the four pillars of modern misery: anime, gaming, posting and jobs.” The show is whatever The Sickos feel passionate about talking about each episode.

This can range from Joe interrogating Tom about why he watches Food Wars, the horrors of different work stories (including an episode where guest Tom McHenry talks about a coworker who only spoke in babytalk), reflecting on great moments in posting history or talk about their Crime Gameboys.

They even once did a fully produced audio drama play The Tragedy of Modesty City, an incredibly made parody of the classic fiction podcast Pleasuretown. When I started listening to the show, after hearing a few recent episodes, I jumped to the first episode of the podcast and listened to the entire back catalog, which I believe is a huge compliment to one of the many comedy podcasts that’s ultimately just two dudes chatting. If you’re looking for somewhere to start, check out this recommendation page.

Apple Podcasts | Pocket Casts | Stitcher | Website | RSS

Bonus Comedy Podcasts

These comedy podcasts are from lists past. They’re still some of the greats of comedy podcasts, and we still recommend giving them a listen!

Scam Goddess

Everyone loves a good crime story, either because the criminal gets away with it in a cool, swift, smart way or they parade through a cavalcade of screw ups. In Scam Goddess, host and self-declared “scam goddess” Laci Mosley takes her guest and the listeners on a tour of some of history’s greatest hoodwinks and the charlatans who performed them. Mosley will have you rolling on the floor in laughter as she cheers on hucksters who really stick it to the man and laughs at the demise of folks who were just real monsters. Hop into the most recent episode, or find one with a guest you know or a story you’ve heard about!

Rude Tales of Magic

Polaris University has vanished without a trace. The only survivors will stop at nothing to find their school. And by “stop at nothing,” I mean, “get distracted by the wonderful and weird obstacles thrown in front of them.” Rude Tales of Magic is an actual play podcast starring a group of artists, writers and comedians using the game Dungeons and Dragons as a framework to spin a hilarious and magical yarn.

If actual play podcasts scare you due to the rules of D&D, you’ll still enjoy Rude Tales. The show is more improv and comedy focused than mechanics focused, pushing through the number crunching to get to the fun stuff. Fans of actual play shows such as The Adventure Zone or Dimension 20, or fans of fantasy improv shows like Hello From The Magic Tavern will get a kick out of this nasty time!

Read more: The 69 Nicest Actual Play Podcast Highlights of 2020

Bad Romance Podcast

It might be a bit weird to have comedy podcasts about comedy movies on this now meta list of comedy podcasts, but Bad Romance Podcast earns it’s spot. Every week, hosts Jourdain Searles and Bronwyn Ariel Isaac select a romantic movie, often a romcom, and talk through it. They joke about the weird jumps that these movies take in fictional romance compared to how real actual humans deal with romance.

There is a lot of genuine, well thought out film critique in this show, and you’ll find yourself laughing along with the hosts. If you like shows like How Did This Get Made or other comedy rewatch podcasts,  check this show out! Search their feed for some of your favorite (or least favorite) movies to get started!

Dead Eyes

Comedian and actor Connor Radcliff was cast in a minor role in the 2001 HBO series Band of Brothers, only to be fired by director Tom Hanks for having “dead eyes.” Years later, Radcliff embarks on a journey to find out why. Dead Eyes is mostly about Ratliff trying to solve the mystery of this experience through intense investigation (re: finding as many people as he can who are tangentially connected to this minor event and scratching their memories to see if they have anything).

It’s also a show about rejection and show business, and how the littlest interactions, even the ones you weren’t really hurt by, can have some lasting meaningful impact.  The show has a true crime documentary-like format investigating something that isn’t a crime but is a solvable mystery, a nice change in how comedy podcasts typically follow a conversational format.

If you liked shows like The McElroy Brothers Will Be In Trolls World Tour, jump right into the first episode!

Review Revue

“Reading things people wrote on the internet and making fun of them” is probably one of the most used premises for comedy podcasts out there. These podcasts live and die by the chemistry of the hosts, and that is where Review Revue shines. Each week, hosts Reilly Anspaugh and Geoffrey James choose a topic of interest and cherry pick a few reviews.

They riff on the review and launch into improv scenes based on them. Internet reviews are a great jumping off point for improv scenes, especially for the strange topics chosen for this show, because the reasons they write reviews are often wild.

If you want a good place to jump into the show, check out their two “Best of 2020” episodes, where they clip together some fan-favorite reviews and scenes from 2020. 

Urgent Care

The important difference between an actual advice show and an advice comedy podcast is that the advice comedy podcasts give isn’t always trying to help you, but rather riff about your question and may deal out some wisdom if they know how to help. On Urgent Care, hosts Joel Kim Booster and Mitra Jouhari take in listener submitted issues, often about dating but sometimes a sprinkling of other life issues, and do what they can to help out.

The chemistry between the hosts is chaotically electric with jokes that just pull you out of whatever funk you might be in. You should be able to jump into the most recent episode of this weekly podcast!

Let’s Make A Music

Ever want to have a fun time listening to people make good music? Well, now you can! Join Brian David Gilbert, known for Polygon’s Unraveled series and some steller Youtube content, Karen Han, a Slate writer who’s had work appear all over the place, and Laura Kathryn Gilbert, star of this video explaining her relationship to Brian, as they create songs based off of audience suggestions. 

They present the audience with a word, like “gravity” or “spiritual” and collect suggested song title ideas, exploring the vibe and feeling of the titles, to come together to make a song that feels like that word. The show hits a weird yet specifically relatable kind of comedy that other song creation podcasts might not have. You should be able to jump into any episode!

Read more: 10 Offbeat Podcasts for Music Lovers

The Amelia Project

Have circumstances lead you to a place where the most viable option for you would be to fake your own death and disappear, but you have no idea how to do it? Well, worry not! The Amelia Project will orchestrate your death and get you settled into a new life of your choosing!

The Amelia Project follows the titular secret organization as they meet unique and quirky clients who are all looking to fake their deaths. The show is grounded in it’s own logic, but is also able to get phenomenally off the rails. Even as the plot and world of the show expand to a globe-trotting adventure, the formula of “interview, faking death, payment” remains consistent.

This award winning comedy will keep you engrossed for hours, and just thinking about it will make you want to drive a knife into your closest friend for a nice cup of hot cocoa.

(Editor’s note: Please be advised that the first episode of The Amelia Project includes transphobia.)

Margaritas and Donuts

Romantic comedies are a somewhat underrepresented category of audio dramas, let alone good ones. It’s also rare for there to be black-lead romcoms about people dating in their 40’s. Margarita and Donuts is a limited run series that covers this underfed subcategory of a popular genre.

You’ll be rooting for Josephine and Malik as they overcome personal obstacles to make their relationship work. This is one of the more grounded options on this list, since it’s a healthy balance of romance and comedy, but that just means that you can find yourself relating to the situations the characters find themselves in.

If you like romcoms and also want to listen to something that isn’t a huge commitment, check out one of the best romcoms to come out in the last few years!

Latinos Out Loud

Latinos Out Loud feels like a good old fashioned radio variety show. Every week, hosts Rachel La Loca, Juan Bago, JFernz and Frank Nibbs chat about the latest news, perform improv, do pranks, interviews, and character segments. The established chemistry and history between the hosts helps each part of the show shine. It’s fun, high energy, and proudly Latino.

They’ve been doing the show for years, so there is a healthy backlog if you want to get really into it. You can also jump into the most recent episode of this show, although, as a musical theater nerd, I’d recommend their recent dive into the In The Heights movie. 

The McElroys Will Be In “Trolls World Tour”

The McElroy brothers have become increasingly famous over the years between their terrible advice podcast, My Brother, My Brother and Me. which was made into a show for Seeso/VRV; their massively popular actual play podcast, The Adventure Zone, which is being adapted as graphic novels; or their successes over on YouTube.

But did you know that they will be in Trolls World Tour, or, as they originally called it, Trolls 2? Neither did the creators of Trolls 2.

This documentary follows the process of the brothers deciding that they want to be in the cinematic sequel to children’s movie Trolls, and then trying everything under the son to actually be cast. It’s a practice in absolute absurdity, especially for their poor, poor manager. This is one of those comedy podcasts that requires listening in order for full dramatic effect.

Alba Salix, Royal Physician

Alba Salix, Royal Physician is a comedy audio drama about the eponymous royal physician and her plight to look after her patients: the rulers of a magical realm. Alba Salix is the perfect mix of comedy and plotting: it feels more comedy-forward than most current sitcoms without losing plot or character.

It’s filled with rapidfire jokes and hijinks, mixing up Alba’s frustration and resignation (think Amy Sedaris as Bojack Horseman‘s Princess Carolyn) with the absolute ineptitude of her apprentice, Magnus, or most of her patients. Mix in high-fantasy political intrigue, inter-personal drama, and a good dose of fantasy, and you’ve got a serialized podcast that you’ll only stop binging because you’re laughing so hard you have to pause.

For those who are interesting in Dungeons and Dragons podcasts like the aforementioned The Adventure Zone, be sure to check out this team’s The End of Time and Other Bothers, an actual play set in the same universe, too. Both of these projects are hilariously written and supported by incredible performances and sound design.

Spirits

Spirits is “a boozy podcast about mythology, legends, and lore.” In each episode, hosts Julia and Amanda discuss a legend or story, whether it be about the Japanese story of the Yuki-onna, Hollywood urban legends, or the listeners’ stories about their local folklore and spooky encounters.

While Spirits is fundamentally about the stories that matter to cultures, it’s also fundamentally about two hilarious lifelong friends getting tipsy and talking about things they love. Julia Schifini (also of What’s the Frequency, Tides, and others) plays the part of the expert with her encyclopedic knowledge of mythology and copious amounts of pre-recording research, her fortes both her knowledge and her dry, sardonic comedic timing.

Meanwhile, Amanda (also of Join the Party) plays the part of often-uninformed enthusiast, her fortes the giddily-delivered puns as well as her quick-witted connections between the discussion topic and modern life.

Punch Up the Jam

Hosted by two champions of Vine (rest in peace), Demi Adejuyigbe and Miel Breduow, Punch Up the Jam takes an iconic song, goes into its history, analyzes it moment by moment, and then aims to make something . . . “better.” Adejuyingbe and Breduow are shockingly impressive musicians, which makes their “punch ups,” the parodies and covers at the end of each episode, both more impressive and more ridiculous.

Punch Up the Jam is best started by listening to an episode on a song you already know (but maybe not one you unironically love), but once you’re hooked, you’ll find yourself listening to the back catalog whether or not you’ve ever heard the original songs before.

(Update 1/27/22: This podcast is now hosted by The Gregory Brothers of “Autotune the News” fame past. I fully have not listened to any of those episodes–two white dudes? in MY Punch Up the Jam?–but the backlog with Breduow, Adejuyigbe, and other rotating hosts past Adejuyigbe’s tenure are still solid as hell. Highly recommend the ultra chaotic energy of the episodes featuring Chris Fleming. –Editor Wil)

Wooden Overcoats

If your preferred brand of humor is a little less The Office and a little more Blackadder, you may find your comedy podcast soulmate in Wooden Overcoats. This acclaimed comedy audio drama centers on the story of Rudyard and Antigone Funn, the owners of Funn Funerals, once the only funeral home in their small island town.

When a competitor, Eric Chapman, opens a funeral home across the street, the Funn siblings hatch plan after plan to take him down–while Antigone tries to deny her attraction to him. Wooden Overcoats is the epitome of a podcast sitcom: it’s episodic, so each new chapter has its own story arc that’s started and completed within about half an hour, but it also has an overarching narrative that dives deeper into each character season by season.

Song Salad

In Song Salad, hosts Shannon and Scott pick one randomized musical genre and one random Wikipedia article. First, they go into the music genre, explaining its history, its key features, its most prominent musicians, and its place in the overall music landscape. Next, they read the Wikipedia article out loud, commenting along on the way.

Then, they do the next natural step: they combine the two, making a short song in the randomized musical genre about that Wikipedia article. This results in some hilarious combinations like a jingle about a tree or an Austropop song about Jesus cleansing a leper.

If the premise alone somehow isn’t enough to win you over, Song Salad isn’t just its setup: it’s also a funny podcast hosted by two of the most loveable, goofy hosts in the medium.

Gay Future

Gay Future is a fiction podcast mini-series inspired by the unrelased young adult fiction manuscript by Mike Pence–yes, Mike Pence–about a future in which everyone is gay, and the hero is straight. Gay Future parodies everything about this concept, turning it into a hyperbolic satire that’s hilarious and genuinely riveting.

If the title and concept worries you, rest assured that the podcast parodies the concept and Mike Pence, not the actual LGBT+ community, and the jokes land so solidly that it’s not just funny, it’s also cathartic.

HORSE

HORSE is the best basketball podcast about everything but the sport. I don’t know anything at basketball–I grew up in a family that was more stoked about operas than any sporting events–but HORSE is still one of the funniest podcasts I’ve ever heard, without ever making me feel lost in jargon or who’s who.

HORSE focuses on the behind-the-scenes of the NBA and basketball culture, both of which are genuinely buckwild. Hosts Eric Silver (disclosure: Silver has written for Discover Pods) and Mike Schubert have an energetic, goofy dynamic that makes every episode as much about basketball as it is these two nerds riffing.

StarTripper!!

When I sat down to talk with writer and creator Julian Mundy about his upcoming project StarTripper!!, I was already excited–but the early episodes have already more than exceeded my expectations. This sci-fi comedy audio drama follows Feston Pyxis, an excitable and impulsive once-was desk job worker, now intergalactic explorer. 

StarTripper!!feels like a combination of Futurama, Galaxy Quest, and Cowboy Bebop; it’s high-energy, hilarious, and feels like a fully-imagined world even with how ridiculous it is. If you like your sci-fi silly and your comedy whimsical, StarTripper!! is a great escape.

Because it’s a newer release with just a few episodes out while writing this, it’s also easy to catch up on–but Mundy has also been sure to let prospective listeners know that they’ll be able to jump in at any point without having to worry about getting through the backlog to enjoy the most recent episodes.

Fall of the House of Sunshine

Fall of the House of Sunshine is a musical comedy horror audio drama about the ages-old war between a cult of dentists and their natural enemies, puppets, following the murder of a children’s TV show host via bullet shot through a rift in spacetime.

All of those words were chosen on purpose and are accurate. It is the strangest thing I have ever listened to, and few things have made me laugh as hard or as often. If you’re looking for something off-the-wall and totally innovative, Fall of the House of Sunshine will deliver all of that and more–while also bringing character arcs, a shocking amount of cohesive world building, and killer songs along the way.

You’ll want to listen to this many times over, both because you’ll want to hear all the jokes you missed the first time around and because it’s just that good.

Comedy Podcasts Are a Subjective Beast

So that’s our list for now. We know that comedy podcasts aren’t going to be a hit every time for every listener, which is why we listen to so many funny podcasts. Call it a perk of the job. I mean, can you say that your job lets you listen to comedy podcasts all day long?

If not, you should probably talk to HR about that. Seriously.

The post The 10 Funniest Comedy Podcasts (You Might Not Be Listening To Yet) appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

The Comedy Bang Bang podcast is much more conversational than the show, but the thing that attracted people to the podcast was the bits and surrealness that often came up through weird characters and situations. The show leans into this with a more structured and surreal experience, parodying the talk show format while focusing on general thematic weirdness that was present in the podcast. They were able to create a format that could be repeated well beyond its podcast origins, to the point where I think it might be the most successful adaptation of a podcast.

MBMBaM, as a podcast, is just three brother doing random bits based on Yahoo questions. MBMBaM, as a TV show, was three brothers wreaking havoc upon their hometown under the guise of answering one question, like a reverse Queer Eye. This perfectly captured the essence of the podcast but I don’t think could be sustained to a second season, at least for the sake of the people of Huntington.

The podcasts on this list would not only each bring something new to the medium of television, but expand upon the ideas presented in the podcasts through the expanded adaptation. They have to potential to expand upon the idea of their shows or present these ideas in new or interesting ways. They also have the potential to be sustained beyond a few episodes. At the very least, some of them just demand visualization. The creators of some of these shows have not only created visuals through audio but impressive visuals that would remain impressive even after being adopted.

In no particular order, here are some podcasts that have the potential to be great TV shows, as well as suggestions on what those adaptations would look like!

1. Spirits

Spirits could work as an educational talk show where Amanda and Julia sit down with various mythology experts and chat about spooky stuff over drinks. Nobody would have any issues with that direct of a transition. However, something that would make a Spirits TV show really something special would be to lean into the Urban Legends episodes. The hosts could travel to towns with compelling local legends, talk to people and maybe even see some of the locations surrounding the legend in-person. Knowing the general tone of Spirits, there’s no way they would do the Ghost Hunter thing and go to these locations at night with night vision cameras to try and “awaken the spirit” or whatever. They would also check out local breweries and bars, and chat about the legends in these locations. If it weren’t a running series, the show would work amazingly as a short run mini-series, where the hosts specifically travel to supposedly-haunted bars, breweries, wineries, etc. In general, Spirits could be a feel-good travel show about spooky stuff, shining a positive light on small towns and local legends, maybe even encouraging viewers to celebrate their own local legends.

Listen: Apple | Spotify

2. Arden

True crime has become a growingly popular genre in the last few years, which means that several different comedic takes have popped up. What makes Arden special is that it does this and also adds commentary to the discussion of the morality of the genre itself. While there have been television shows that focus on the true crime, the only show I can think of that has actually deconstructed the format as Arden has is American Vandel. With the unfortunate cancelation of that show, there is a cultural vacancy for an adaptation of Arden. While a straight-up adaptation of the story presented in season one could be satisfying, a more risky and experimental project could be a continuation of the story. An Arden TV show could be about the hosts continuing to do true crime investigations on a larger platform while dealing with the aftermath of the podcast. This also opens the door to commentary about podcast creators who make the jump between mediums as well as podcasts that have to follow up sudden jumps to cultural relevance.

Listen: Apple | Stitcher

3. Fall of the House of Sunshine

This is a very risky one because it’s almost impossible to pitch. It’s a challenge to briefly describe this show, so just read Wil William’s recommendation of the show.

Great! So it’s a weird one, but it’s that weirdness that could make the show great. There have been darker takes on shows like The Muppets, but the thing that makes Sunshine unique is that it approaches this darkness without losing the soul of the original shows. You won’t see these Muppets swearing up and down or having sex (one R&B song aside), but there is still a darker air to its absurdity, with the drama getting to almost Shakespearean levels. The imagery of the show would walk the line between children’s educational shows and hard science fiction, keeping thing philosophically dark but visually bright. This show is so weird that it could only originate as a podcast, but would bring so much to the world of television. At the very least, just imagine someone stumbling across this show at 2 AM and having no idea what’s going on.

Listen: Apple | Stitcher

4. Friends at the Table

Adapting actual play podcasts into any medium can be tricky. It can be challenging to remove the personalities of the players since it puts to the test how much the story they told stands on its own. Friends at the Table avoids this by making the game not feel like a game. The best way I’ve heard the show described was like the writer’s room of a nonexistent TV series. Putting the show on this list might be cheating since there are multiple seasons with multiple different stories within it, but this just means that it could become more than one show. Seasons of Hieron could be a less problematic, more existentially dreadful version of Game of Thrones. Counter/Weight and Twilight Mirage could both be adapted into amazingly beautiful Mech-Noir animes. All of these seasons inspire such striking visuals through spoken word alone, with only precisely-placed music at the most necessary moments. Twilight Mirage specifically has moments, locations, and even characters that just beg for visualization. The representation alone in these shows would be groundbreaking for television (a statement that could be applied to most of the shows on this list.)

Listen: Apple | Podbay

5. Alba Salix/EOS 10

While these two shows are each amazing in their own rights, I put them under the same section because I can’t believe there haven’t been shows like them already. The elevator pitched of both shows are ingenious and simple. It’s hard to believe nobody in a pitch room ever said “What about Scrubs but it’s also Star Trek?’ or “What if House were in Game of Thrones?” Those pitches don’t do justice to the shows themselves. An EOS 10 TV show would be similar to Scrubs and Star Trek, but that would undersell the drastically shifting stakes of the series as well as how the characters have interesting romantic arcs while avoiding medical drama romance troupes. The same could be said for Alba Salix’s relationship to House, with the titular character just being likable without being an asshole. Salix also has more of a fairy tale tone than the grim, realistic fantasy one of Game of Thrones. Both of these shows would be both a return to roots for their genres as well as an original adaptation of the existing medical show format.The world and characters of both shows are so well developed that they can be used to tell brand new stories, as opposed to just retelling the stories in the podcast. Nobody would complain about a direct adaptation, but these shows both have a strong staying power.  

Listen: (Alba Salix) Apple | Spotify (EOS 10) Apple | Stitcher

You don’t have to agree with me about any of these adaptations. Maybe you think these shows only work in an audio medium or that they should be adapted in different ways. Maybe there are different shows you think should be adapted. Share what shows you think should be adapted to different mediums. There’s a chance that, in the future,  they might be!

For more on the growing trend of podcast adaptations, check out Ma’ayan Plaut’s article “What Does Adaptation Mean for the Podcast Industry?” which goes more into the pros and cons of adaptations and the thought process behind adapting podcasts.

The post 6 Podcasts Ripe for TV Adaptations appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.