NPR goes back to 1970, when approximately 90 public radio stations came together to form NPR, Inc. Over the next ten years, shows like All Things Considered and Morning Edition debuted, broadcasting nationally over the first nationwide radio satellite distribution network. In 2000, NPR debuted All Songs Considered, their first digital program, and just five years later entered the growing podcasting space with 17 NPR original podcasts and a broader directory of about 150 additional shows from member stations. 

Read more: Over 200 Audio Professionals Sign Anti-Racist Open Letter to Public Media

The influence NPR has had on podcasting (not to mention radio as a whole) has been instrumental. Going back to the early 2000s and the beginning of podcasting, it was NPR affiliate station WGBH that became the first station to release its daily radio programming as podcasts. Today, NPR is the most popular podcast publisher with over 175 million downloads and streams every month according to Podtrac. While this guide will only focus on programs produced by NPR, we also encourage you to explore the full NPR Podcast Directory where you can find additional shows distributed by NPR.

Fresh Air

Hosted by Terry Gross, Fresh Air is one of NPR’s most popular podcasts and consistently is one of the most downloaded podcasts globally. The show began in 1975 at WHYY-FM in Philadelphia, and most episodes consist of an interview for about thirty minutes, followed by shorter segments such as film or music reviews. Guests range from presidents and Hollywood stars to authors, historians, and scientists, all of whom are greeted with the same curiosity, persistence, and analytical questioning. 

Where To Begin:

In 2004, Gross published All I Did Was Ask, where she highlighted several of her favorite interviews with guests such as Johnny Cash, James Baldwin, Chris Rock, and many more. Many interviews from before Fresh Air became a podcast have also been re-released, such as an interview with legendary musician Ray Charles (originally broadcast in 1998) and one with the prolific cooking teacher and author Julia Child (originally broadcast in 1989). With over 40 years of interviews, it is hard to pick a selection of “the best,” but Gross’ selections from the book will serve as a good initial guide. Another great resource is the Fresh Air archive, where interviews are categorized and searchable by name, topic, or year. 

In the past decade, notable interviews include a 2016 discussion with Anthony Bourdain two years before his death, and career-spanning interviews with author Toni Morrison in 2015 or actor Meryl Streep in 2012. In addition to famous guests, Fresh Air’s podcast feed is also filled with less recognizable authors, academics, and scientists discussing their work and expertise.

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Planet Money

Planet Money is NPR’s economics podcast, but don’t be scared off if you are not a fan of the subject. While some episodes do go deep into the nuts and bolts of things like the Federal Reserve or how mints work, many of the shows 1,000+ episodes are more anecdotal and less wonky. 

Several producers and hosts work on the show, with the two best known being Robert Smith and Stacey Vanek Smith, and most episodes have an entertaining, witty, and sometimes humorous flair to them. Planet Money episodes are on the shorter side, usually in the range of 15 to 30 minutes, so it is a great podcast to squeeze into a quick commute or turn on while out on an evening walk. For a complete list of our favorite episodes, read this list from 2019. 

Where To Begin: 

The Planet Money T-Shirt Project (multiple episodes from 2013) was an in-depth look at the journey of a t-shirt from start to finish, including episodes about Indonesian yarn factories, discarded clothes that get sent to Sub-Saharan Africa, and the shipping containers that bring clothing to the United States. A similar series, Planet Money Buys Oil (multiple episodes in 2016), involved buying 100 barrels of oil and following the production process from the ground to a refinery, and finally into a gas tank. Both are incredibly informative and great binge listens. 

Planet Money also does a great job analyzing and explaining pricing, such as in Why The Price of Coke Didn’t Change For 70 Years (May 19, 2019) or Why A Dead Shark Costs $12 Million (March 20, 2019). These two episodes put a fun spin on the concept of supply and demand and would be great episodes to listen to with children, or just to refuel your own curiosity in the economy. 

Another one of Planet Money’s best-known episodes is Peanuts and Cracker Jack (May 6, 2016), which is a character-filled narrative about the micro-economy of baseball stadiums. It gives a new angle to look at sports stadiums with and will make you rethink everything you know about concessions. 

Read more: Best Planet Money episodes

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Code Switch

Although it is significantly newer than some other NPR podcasts, Code Switch has developed a massive audience since its inception in 2016 and quickly became one of NPR’s most popular podcasts. The weekly episodes cover topics such as race, ethnicity, immigration, and other social issues. Produced by a team of journalists of color, including reporters Shereen Marisol Meraji and Gene Demby who host the show, Code Switch excels at answering sometimes complicated or difficult questions in an approachable and comprehensible way. 

Where To Begin: 

Many Code Switch episodes are inspired by current events, including some that continue to be especially relevant. On The Shoulders Of Giants (February 27, 2019) is presented by Rund Abdelfatah and Ramtin Arablouei of the podcast Throughline and tells a history of Black athletes using their position and power to protest injustice throughout American history. Rather than examine more commonly discussed narratives, it focuses on three equally relevant but lesser-known narratives. The Black Table In The Big Tent (September 18, 2019) focused on the fact that just 2% of the Republican Party is black, interviewing experts and Black Republicans alike.

Other Code Switch stories take on unexplored topics relating to race in pop culture, current events, or history. One especially fascinating episode was is Dora’s Lasting Magic (August 14, 2019), which looks at how children’s cartoon character Dora The Explorer helped lead to a new wave of multicultural television programming for kids in the United States. Code Switch also has interviews with a long list of diverse talents, such as Master of None creator Alan Yang and Blackish star Yara Shahidi. The Ask Code Switch episodes are another entertaining series, tackling listener questions and providing thoughtful answers in a way that is both educational and judgment-free. 

Read more: Podcasts to Prepare Your Kids and Teens for the Future

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Hidden Brain

Essentially the Planet Money of psychology, Hidden Brain is a quick, quirky, and sometimes humorous show hosted by journalist Shankar Vedantam. In Vedantam’s own words, in the show, he “reveals the unconscious patterns that drive human behavior, the biases that shape our choices, and the triggers that direct the course of our relationships.” The podcast consists of interviews, quizzes and games, and narrative story-telling on a wide range of topics that typically evolve out of a single, simple question. 

Like many other NPR podcasts, the information presented is incredibly well-researched and answers big questions, but is presented in a way that is approachable and appropriate for a wide range of audiences. 

Where To Begin: 

Many of the best Hidden Brain episodes are those where Vedantam and his guests aim to tackle common psychology questions with a new lens. For example, The Ostrich Effect (August 6, 2018) looks at a concept some listeners may already be familiar with but introduces new anecdotes and examples to keep the discussion fresh. Another episode, What’s Not On The Test (May 13, 2019), does the same thing with the concept of school testing, going in-depth to provide concrete examples proving and disproving common theories about academic testing. 

An episode that steers a bit away from the usual format is Lonely Hearts (November 3, 2015), where Vedantam takes a more narrative approach to the psychology of love. The episode originally aired on This American Life, in a show called “The Heart Wants What it Wants,” which gives a bit of insight into the style and mood. Vedantam weaves psychology and science into the flow of the episode, but it ultimately feels more like a personal essay than academic research. 

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Invisibilia

Perhaps NPR’s most out-of-the-box podcast in its subject matter and structure, Invisibilia premiered in 2015 to explore “the invisible forces that shape human behavior.” The show’s first season quickly gained attention, largely in part to excerpts occasionally being included within other NPR podcasts, such as All Things Considered and Morning Edition. Invisibilia and it’s hosts Alix Spiegel and Hanna Rosin were hugely influential on a new wave of podcasts that emerged in the late 2010s in tone and style, and the show remains one of NPR podcasts’ most engaging listens. 

Where To Begin: 

Invisibilia’s typical structure is to start with a narrative story and then let it lead into a broader discussion of the key question, which keeps the complex topics relatable and easier to grasp. For example, one newer episode from Season Six (White v. White?, April 3, 2020) addresses the concept of race as a social construct by opening the story of a man running for City Council who’s opponent alleges he is a white man pretending to be black. 

With about 30 episodes released, listening to Invisibilia from the beginning is very possible and although it is not serialized, starting with Season One may be a good idea. If you start from the beginning, Invisibilia’s debut was The Secret History of Thoughts (January 9, 2015), which examines negative thought, authenticity, and the subconscious mind. The second episode of the first season, Fearless (January 16, 2015) begins with the story of a woman who cannot feel fear before diving into the science of common fears such as snakes and roller coasters. 

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Tiny Desk Concerts – Audio 

Music fans looking for an in-depth discussion should certainly check out All Songs Considered, but if you just want the tunes without the talk, look no further than the Tiny Desk Concerts audio podcast. While you may have seen some of these live shows on the NPR website or YouTube, listening to the podcast version is a real treat and allows you to explore back through over 300 past performances. 

Where To Begin:

Everyone from Taylor Swift, Lizzo, and Coldplay to The Roots, Mac Miller, and The Blue Man Group have stopped by NPR’s studios to play a Tiny Desk Concert. We highly recommend a subscription to the audio feed to relive your favorite performances of the past or discover a new favorite act. 

Music fans will all advocate for their own personal favorites, but a few Tiny Desk Concerts have stood out over the past few years. T-Pain’s 2014 appearance at the Tiny Desk not only established him as an incredibly talented musician and vocalist, but also ushered in a new wave of hip hop, rap, and R&B acts visiting the NPR studios. The most popular Tiny Desk Concert on YouTube is with Anderson .Paak and his cool, charismatic performance without a doubt won him more than a few new fans. Of course, you miss the visuals with the audio podcast version, but with these two artists and several others, simply taking in the sounds is just as sweet.  

Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify

How I Built This with Guy Raz

Fans of NPR podcasts already knew Guy Raz as the host of the TED Radio Hour, and it was no surprise that his second podcast in the network quickly exploded in popularity as well. Unlike TED Radio Hour, which has complex sound design and is elaborately stylized, How I Built This is a classic interview show that keeps fans engaged simply by having interesting guests. 

The concept is very straightforward, with Raz interviewing CEOs, founders, and entrepreneurs about their backgrounds, keys to success, and ultimately, how they started the companies they are best known for. Since 2016, there have been over 300 episodes of the podcast. 

Where To Begin: 

How I Built This, like Fresh Air, has a massive library of episodes and the best ones for you are likely going to be those with guests you already are curious to learn more about. However, it is sometimes the lesser-known names that prove to have the most interesting stories. For example, Beyond Meat: Ethan Brown (February 16, 2017) tells a story of environmentalism, innovation, and fierce competition in an industry that most people probably know little about. Southwest Airlines: Herb Kelleher (January 4, 2019) is an engaging listen because the late Kelleher made fewer media appearances towards the end of his life and was incredibly open with Raz about his airline’s initial struggles and key innovations. 

How I Built This does a good job of finding guests from all industries, so you’ll hear interviews with tech entrepreneurs, fashion moguls, media moguls, and more. 

Read more: the best How I Built This episodes, The Traits The Best Podcast Hosts Share

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Bonus – Up First

Clocking in at just 15 minutes per episode, the daily news NPR podcast Up First may not be comparable to some other full-length podcasts, but it certainly deserves a mention. Similar to The Daily or Crooked Media’s What A Day, Up First aims to quickly recap news you need to know and provide an overview of the three biggest stories you need to know each day. The reporting comes from award-winning journalists and unlike Morning Edition, which is significantly longer, Up First gives you a bite-sized portion of news from the same reputable team. Start Up First with the newest episode. As it is a news show, you most likely would not need to go back into the archives.

Editor’s note: An edit was made to the Code Switch section of this article on 2/22/2021 to provide more context for the “On the Shoulders of Giants” episode.

The post The Best NPR Podcasts (The Complete Collection) appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

(related reading: 11 Podcasts Guaranteed to Make You Think)

6. How To Do Everything

Having embarrassing questions or matters that should be discussed under a veil of anonymity is normal. How To Do Everything is a podcast that addresses these types of questions as well as any other topic that listeners want to hear. It was created by Mike Danforth and Ian Chillag who are the speakers addressing all inquiries made by the public. For example, some listeners ask about issues like freedom and justice while others want their curiosity about french fries to be satisfied. Importantly, whenever there is a serious question, experts will be invited to state their opinions. This way, Danforth and Chillag do not have to be knowledgeable about everything they are asked.

5. The Tim Ferriss Show

Ranked at the very top of all business podcasts available on iTunes, the Tim Ferris Show has been downloaded over 100 million times. It is an interview-based podcast that hosts celebrities like Jamie Foxx, Mike Shinoda, Jon Favreau, and hundreds of others. Once there, they answer questions about the success in their areas of expertise. One of the most useful aspects of this show is that people can use the tips provided for their everyday lives. Since important issues like difficulties with time management, health habits, business models, and technology tools are always up for debate, listeners can get some high-quality life lessons!

4. Hidden Brain

Unlike the previous two, this podcast is less user-question-based. It is a show that explains underlying patterns and concepts that often drive how someone behaves. Furthermore, Hidden Brain explains some of the most complicated psychology problems through storytelling. Users who tune in to listen to this podcast are often looking for innovative ideas that may explain how the brain analyzes situations and makes decisions. The fact that the creator of this show has prompted people to ask questions like “What does the way I park say about me?” is a testament to its power.

3. Invisibilia

Much like the aforementioned podcast, Invisibilia deals with psychology and the world of dreams, unconscious behavior, and beliefs. Its primary goal is to educate people about things that come from within and are not visible to the naked eye. With thousands of followers, this show gets into some topics that can teach one how to live life in a new, more profound way.

2. Planet Money

Talking business and economy is not for everyone. The group of people who appreciates Planet Money the most, however, are usually those who swim in these waters. After being around for a decade, the show has built quite the reputation with its talks on the supply chain, profits, outsourcing, and almost anything business-related. With many prominent awards in its corner, Planet Money tries to explain some simple matters like how t-shirts are made to more complex topics like how the 2008 economy downfall happened. The team of hosts includes over half-a-dozen educated professionals with experience.

1. Jocko Podcast

As a United States Navy SEAL, Jocko Willink delivers motivational speeches that are unmatched in intensity and quality. Having spent over 20 years on one of the world’s most powerful special forces, Willink learned what it takes to be a leader. Presently, besides being a successful businessman and public speaker, he also has a podcast where he teaches others about ownership and dedication. With a few books under his belt, he mostly attempts to motivate people to go after their goals relentlessly. Also, as a highly decorated combat veteran, he uses many battlefield stories to relate to real-life examples of discipline.

Luckily, these are just some of the podcasts available in the market. With such a large offering, it is safe to say that people can find something to help them get through monotonous driving, jogging, resting, or any other not-so-fun activity.

The post  6 Podcasts That Will Make You Smarter in 2018 appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

Though these are listed one through 11, these are in no way a ranking. Each podcast has quality episodes that will appeal to different people.

1. 99 Percent Invisible

Any list in this fashion has to start with 99PI. Being an avid listener for a few years, there are certain everyday objects I’ll never look at the same way again like park benches, cul-de-sacs, and retain spaces just to name a few.

Host Roman Mars and team produce excellent, and relatively short (25-40 minutes), podcasts that often tell of flawed designs and origins with interesting stories and accompanying guests.

Listen: iTunes | Stitcher

2. Twenty Thousand Hertz

A couple weeks ago I wrote if you enjoy 99PI, then you’ll like Twenty Thousand Hertz, and thus it’s only fitting I follow with it. Where 99PI focuses a lot on the design and function of everyday objects, Twenty Thousand Hertz focuses on the sound and sound design behind them.

Recent episodes have focused on Foley artists — the people who create sound effects for movies using random objects — Space, and talking dolls. Some of my favorites include the story behind the NBC Chimes, manufactured car engine sounds, and Siri.

Listen: iTunes | Stitcher

3. Revisionist History

Revisionist History, currently on hiatus, is a project of Malcom Gladwell’s that analyzes some errors of the past. Though that’s an incredibly vague tagline of my own invention, it’s really more than that. It looks at why we perceive some things in certain ways.

One of my favorite episodes talks about NBA legends, Wilt Chamberlain and Rick Barry, and wonders why — despite being a proven advantage — underhand free throws never took off. Another episode explores the imbalances between university donations and the value they create.

Listen: iTunes | Stitcher

4. Criminal

Criminal defines itself as “a podcast about crime. Stories of people who’ve done wrong, been wronged, or gotten caught somewhere in the middle.” However, this isn’t your typical true crime podcast. Each episodes tells a new story (as opposed to the more recent narrative storylines), and examines the motives and psychological reasons behind some people’s actions.

Listen: iTunes | Stitcher

5. The Memory Palace

The Memory Palace is hosted by Nate DiMeo and each episode looks into an event that happened in the past to teach you something new and/or revisit something through a different analysis. The episodic nature of the podcast lends itself easily to listeners looking to pick up something new or only listen to topics of particular interest. Nate has also done the great job of hand selecting some of his favorite episodes if you’re unsure where to start.

Listen: iTunes | Stitcher

6. Reply All

Reply All is a podcast that typically looks into a specific topic in technology and/or pop culture. If you have even the slightest interest in tech and odd ball internet topics like memes, conversations, and standards and want to understand why the internet is the way it is now, this is a podcast for you. Like others on this list, each episode is standalone and can be listened in any order.

Listen: iTunes | Stitcher

7. Invisibilia

Invisibilia features the invisible forces around us that influence in certain ways. Whether these are ideas, emotions, thoughts, assumptions, etc., Invisibilia looks at each of these with a unique blend of scientific research and storytelling that is extremely unique and well done. Another podcast under the NPR machine, Invisibilia should be on everyone’s subscribed list.

Listen: iTunes | Stitcher

8. Ungeniused

If you’re in the mood to simply learn something extremely random or up your trivia game knowledge, it’s time to tune in to Ungeniused. The podcast has a simple premise: deep dives on random Wikipedia articles with added insight and analysis. What’s unique about this podcast is how snack’able it is — most episodes are around 10 minutes long. So if you’re looking to kill time, and don’t want to commit to a longer podcast, this one’s for you.

Listen: iTunes

9. Hidden Brain

Hidden Brain follows a similar vein as Invisibilia. Both are excellently produced NPR podcasts focus on unconscious motives that drive human behavior. However, Hidden Brain looks at the biases and triggers inherent in humans and how they’re shaped by the world around us. Hosted by Shankar Vedantam, this podcast is constantly near the top of the Top Podcasts charts every week.

Listen: iTunes | Stitcher

10. Liftoff

Interested the expanse of the universe and all that comes with it? Perfect, Liftoff is for you. Some of the podcasts on this list have a niche theme, and Liftoff is no different. What’s excellent about liftoff is how the co-hosts are able to take these insanely complicated subjects and explain them in a layman’s way and help the audience understand the importance of each topic.

Listen: iTunes

11. Science Vs

Science Vs probably has my favorite concept of any podcast on this list. Host, Wendy Zuckerman, looks at the current fads, trends, and the latest opinions and uses science to carefully dissect them. Could ghosts be real? If not, why do so many people believe in them? What about the effects of fracking on the environment?

Science Vs tackles a variety of topics and clears out the noise to analyze the truth.

Listen: iTunes | Stitcher

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