Dark in a way that should render it obscure. Related to the far corners of the internet where their subjects would congregate. If those subjects were so inclined.

So why does the Last Podcast on the Left continue to pick up steam? How did it amass enough presence to warrant exclusivity on Spotify?

Why does this show work? Why is it so damned good despite being ostensibly about the worst of us?

The Chemistry Behind Last Podcast on the Left’s Comedic Cocktail

It’s the humor. What makes Last Podcast on the Left‘s (or LPOTL for those in the know) humor work is the host’s clear affinity for the subjects they’re talking about. The subjects aren’t funny. It’s the boys, Ben, Marcus, and Henry who we trust to see something in their subjects and sense something a little unmoored in the audience.

It makes you ask existential questions. Like would I  trust an optometrist who never wore glasses? Or why did Bill Cosby’s portrayal of Dr. Cliff Huxtable as a gynecologist never sit right? Ideas we took as sacrosanct demand exploration. You can trust LPOTL to thread the needle.

It’s uncomfortable. It takes you right up to the edge of disaster, flirts with it a bit, and doesn’t call for the second date. These subjects are exciting, reckless, one night stands for comedy. They’re an adaptive outlet for tendencies that might manifest somewhere else. Somewhere with less piercing hilarity.

How Can Comedy This Irreverent Be This Professional?

As the show matured it has added mid week, topical news story related shows that keep the audience engaged and LPOTL top of mind. Last Podcast on the Left works most of their best subjects into multi part, multi hour series. These deep dives draw the audience back again and again.

All the way round, The Last Podcast on the Left is a cipher for our darker thoughts that are bubbling under the surface. It’s funny. It’s relevant. It’s exceptionally well done and has an extensive back catalog worthy of a listen.

To get you started, here are 25 of the best Last Podcast on the Left episodes.

Last Podcast on the Left (LPOTL) #397 – Heaven’s Gate Part I – A Cabo or a Wabo

1/18/2020

“Maybe the question isn’t ‘How did one man convince 38 people to commit suicide?’ but rather, what was it about this world that made these people so God damned eager to leave it?” Followed immediately by “My question is, did any one of these people ever consider doing the Dew?

That sums it up right there. But this episode is also one of the best because it is revisiting a subject they covered before with more academic rigor because the hosts felt they didn’t do the celestial travelers justice. Nice work indeed.

LPOTL #392 – Sexual Liaisons with the Aliens

November 2019

To quote the late 20th century moral philosophers, Salt N’ Peppa, let’s talk about sex… baby. Specifically, the “out of this world” variety. Is it really just about mating aliens with the best breeding stock humanity’s males can produce? Does that say more about those who have been abducted or those doing the abducting? Does this cross into victim shaming? Is it funny? Yes. 

LPOTL #422 – The 1971 Manson Family Western Surplus Shootout

September 5, 2020

Charles Manson is a polarizing figure in Americana. And, to some extent, it’s all Brian Wilson’s fault. But once old Charlie was brought up on charges, a completely bonkers plot to rescue him unfolded, ending in a shootout with the local Hawthorne police department. There’s very little that could be considered “pro social” about Manson and his family, but this is one of the more outlandish, cartoonish, schemes they cooked up.

LPOTL Best of: Cannibalism

11/27/2020

Just in time for the best (no family gatherings) Thanksgiving in the weirdest year on record, the guys take a walk down memory lane. You might want to bring your own snacks for this one. Maybe veer away from jerky. Who knows what is in a processed meat stick anyway? Science? I doubt it.

LPOTL #419 – Jodi Arias Part I – WAP

8/8/2020

Only a fifth of the way through this century and already this murder is going to be vying for tippy top of the list. The first in the two part series looks at Jodi’s life before and upto the actual murder. Before she became something of a media darling with her made for TV true crime drama appeal. WIth more humor than should be allowed, the hosts paint a picture of a legitimately unhinged soul careening towards disaster.

LPOTL #378 – Mormonism Part I – When You’re Here You’re Family

8/17/2019

If you’re going to tackle a topic like Mormonism, on  a comedy podcast, especially one this dark, you’d better do your G-d damned homework. In the first of a five part series the guys take a hard look at the facts surrounding the birth of the church and some of the more colorful exploits of its founder, Joseph Smith. Hilarity, and learning, ensue.

LPOTL #359 – Illuminati Update

4/6/2019

Few conspiracies (or new world orders depending on your pill color of choice) are shrouded in as much mystery or are as well known as the illuminati. That’s why it’s good to check in on them every once in a while. If you’ve got things to do, and you should, you can rest easy knowing the guys from LPOTL are on the case. 

LPOTL #345 – Hangmen and Headsmen

12/22/2018

A comedic look at the people drawn to being the final, physical, arbiter of state justice. Who are these people? What sort of microwave dinners do they eat with their kids? What makes them tick? Is this the adaptive outlet of some pent up darkness? Is it the result of a good union gig? The questions abound. 

LPOTL #334 – Flat Earth

9/29/2018

Statistically speaking, you know someone who subscribes to the idea that the Earth is flat. It should be plain crazy, but, as the guys point out, it’s actually growing in popularity. By a lot. For something that should be an open and shut case, Ben, Henry, and Marcus give it more air than it deserves. Which, as it should, is entertaining as all get out. 

LPOTL #315 – The Assassination of John Lennon

5/4/2018

In an era before Instagram, Tik Tok, and Twitter, private security around mega celebrities wasn’t as tight as it might otherwise be today. Pair that with John’s revelation that he might face just such a gruesome end and you’ve got the fodder for a well researched look at the death of New York’s favorite (probably) Beatle. Assassin Mark David Chapman was coming up for parole again, so this story is perennially relevant. 

LPOTL Best of Roswell

7/21/2018

It would be patently difficult to have a show that covers crazy without talking about Roswell. Aliens tend to factor in, often, in these stories. And the boys indulge the Roswell story, many times, on Last Podcast on the Left for good reason. A best of compilation is a great place to dip your toe into the conspiratorial waters. 

LPOTL Side Stories – RIP Art Bell

4/19/2018 

Kicking off the mini midweek episodes, Ben and Henry eulogize the late night AM legend Art Bell. If you’re of a certain age, your grandma would recount wild tales of Chupacabra, the occult, and other inappropriate musings ripped straight from the man himself. Art pulled back the covers on a subset of culture that had, heretofore, been largely marginalized. Now they’re congressmen. Thanks Art.

LPOTL #300 – Jonestown Part I – Everyone in the World is My Friend

1/12/2018

Jonestown. You don’t even have to know exactly what transpired to know the word. It’s in the zeitgeist. The same way little kids know how to make car noises before they know what a car is. That’s the level to which Jonestown is seared into our societal DNA. It took the guys 300 episodes to get to Jonestown, but by the time they did, this five piece series was devastating. Take a whole Saturday to binge this one.

LPOTL #261 – L. Ron Hubbard

3/9/2017

This is a big one. L. Ron Hubbard. It would be nigh impossible to find a larger organization founded on more outlandish lies than what L. Ron Hubbard built. In the first of a four part series Last Podcast on the Left looks at the early life of Scientology’s founder and finds that there are some deep seeded sympathies for what made him tick. His methods, effective. His motivations, questionable. Another example of the uncomfortable nature of the show making us look in the mirror and laughing at what we see. Make sure you have your Talk Space account paid up. There are going to be some questions.

LPOTL #335 – The West Memphis Three

10/5/2018

One of the strangest murder cases of the 20th century would have to find a home on The Last Podcast on the Left. It has all the trappings of bizzare death that is the bread and butter of this show. How the guys were able to tread new ground, make it funny, and stretch it out over a three part series is some masterful broadcasting. It makes for some compelling listening. Eddie Spaghetti would be proud. 

LPOTL #293 – Bill Cooper – The Granddaddy of Conspiracy

11/3/2017

You don’t have to be a conspiracy theory enthusiast to enjoy LOPTL. It’s not remotely necessary. But if you want to pull extra layers and threads of empathy out of these episodes… to feel better about laughing about these subjects, it helps to understand something about what makes these mental aberrations take hold. The story of Bill Cooper is just such an illuminating story.

LPOTL #265 – Chris Benoit

4/7/2017

As the guys are avid professional wrestling fans and this story surrounded some real life horrendous murders from an otherwise pretty fake industry, it makes for compelling listening. Conspiracies were rampant following Chris murdering his family. An audience is meant to suspend, perhaps, unhealthy levels of disbelief to make the business of wrestling function. LPOTL follows that to its logical conclusion in episode 265.

LPOTL #248 – Children of God Part I – Mother’s Peanut Butter

11/21/2016

Cultist David Berg was a magnificent manipulator of the hippies. It’s unclear if that had to do with their taking too many drugs and being susceptible already, or if he was really just that good. Well, since it begged an investigation, LPOTL took up the mantle and examined the profits of the prophet of the Children of God. This episode is gross. And raucous. And creepy. So creepy.

LPOTL #413 – Lobotomies

6/13/2020

I trust “the science.” I really do. It’s a good policy to “trust the science.” But you have to remember science is a process of testing hypotheses, and for a time, science thought physically separating the hemispheres of one’s brain was an adaptive treatment for certain antisocial proclivities. How did such a procedure gain popularity and acceptance? It’s worth exploring. And if you’re going to look at something so depressing, maybe mix in a bit of levity? Well, the guys brought their patent pending spin to this monstrous procedure.

LPOTL #358 – The Electric Chair

3/30/2019

Getting the chair. It’s an iconic piece of American jurisprudence. And a ghastly one. An inventive and progressive method of capital punishment that is as quintisentially American as the guillotine is French. That’s really American. Just ask Marie Antoinette… oh wait… you can’t. The electric chair was steampunk dystopia come to life and really says a lot about a society that thought this was progress. Quintessential fodder for a LPOTL episode.

LPOTL #285 – Norwegian Black Metal Part I – Chainsaw Gutsfuck

9/11/2017

From the outsider’s perspective, when you look at Black Metal, as a genre, the natural first reaction is to ask what the actual F is going on. That’s okay. That’s a natural reaction. It’s the reaction a lot of artists are going for. But for some… it goes much deeper. Last Podcast on the Left takes a gander at the origins of Black Metal, the roots in Norse myths, and how closely linked it is to a spate of murders.

LPOTL #323 – The Men in Black

6/29/2018

Did you know the Men in Black is kind of a real thing outside of Tommy Lee Jones and the comedic relief of Will Smith? I had no idea until I heard Ben, Marcus, and Henry get into the origins of this largely imagined organization. But… it’s those nuggets of truth that will evoke an uncomfortable chuckle. Are we really alone? We are. Right? I mean… right?

LPOTL #341 – The Order of the Solar Temple

11/17/2018

For my money, the best guardian of the Holy Grail was one Dr. Henry Jones Jr. One of the strangest might have been the Order of the Solar Temple who were a sect of mysterious followers of the Knights Templar. The Knights feature heavily in fringe Christian sects, which is why they make for a satisfying conclusion to one of the most beloved trilogies in cinematic history.

There’s no need for a fourth installment. A fourth installment would be an abomination. And so the guys kick off this three part look at the Order of the Solar Temple. 

LPOTL #344 – The Book of Revelation

12/15/2018

It’s hard to see how you get the cults and conspiracies we’ve been inundated with if you don’t have the Book of Revelation. You don’t get Jonestown. You don’t have Waco and the Branch Dividians. The entirety of end times prophecy that gives rise to temporal nihilism is because of the Book of Revelation. Where would we be without this fever dream? One hilarious podcast short. That’s for damned sure.

LPOTL #320 – Biggie and Tupac Part I – Sugar Bear

6/9/2018

Two of the biggest hip hop innovators and mega stars murdered back to back. There’s a connection. But how big a connection? It’s never been solved. Well, LPOTL dives deep into the evidence, and, more importantly, the non-evidence to kick off another of their stellar comedic series. 

Conclusion

Comedy only works when the observations made are relatable. That’s why the fact that the comedy works as well as it does is downright troubling. As the listener, you want the LPOTL material to be so farcical, so absurd, that any attempt to find reason fails. But that isn’t the case.

The guys have demonstrated, over the course of well over 400 episodes, how close we all might be to the edge. That’s scary. It’s dangerous. It’s relatable on a level deep enough to elicit chuckles we know full well shouldn’t have escaped our lips. 

Yet here we are. There’s a reason Spotify picked up Last Podcast on the Left’s exclusivity. There’s a reason the show has spawned a network of shows under the LPOTL banner.

It’s just that damned good. 

It might be free to listen to, but chances are you’re going to need to up your therapy budget after a while. 

There are too many excellent episodes of LPOTL to cover everything, but let me know what I left out on twitter (@discover_pods/@jamesjgriffin).

The post The 25 Best Last Podcast on the Left Episodes appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

And it’s not just for Halloween either. Good scary stories are always relevant. October isn’t the only spooky season.

When the United States Navy is confirming the existence of UFOs, when the United States Airforce is shooting down not only spy balloons, but who knows what, it’s time to take the paranormal seriously.

Well before paranormal podcasts, we grew up on shows like Unsolved Mysteries (that is even getting a reboot!) that would ask a lot of questions and wouldn’t provide too many answers. Remember the X Files? Yeah, we’ve been into this kind of thing for a very long time.

Why Paranormal Podcasts are the Perfect Medium

And yes, the “medium” pun was completely intentional.

Podcasts encourage the spirit of debate, and paranormal reports couldn’t be more suited. Skeptics and believers will argue about the existence of Bigfoot, UFOs, ghosts, and demonic presences until the end of time. Personal testimony and scientific research make the case for the validity of paranormal accounts. If you can’t believe it with your eyes, maybe you will with your ears.

Yeah, we tend to think of this type of thing during the spooky month of October, but the last time I checked demons and imps don’t use a calendar. This is an evergreen phenomenon.

Here’s a list of our favorite paranormal podcasts that will inform, frighten, tantalize, and entertain. 

This Paranormal Life

Award-winning podcast This Paranormal Life dives right into each episode with a rapid-fire intro, posing provocative questions that float atop the show’s eerie theme. “Is someone torturing a voodoo doll of me or do I just have back pain? Is ectoplasm good for you?” Hosts Rory Powers and Kit Grier open episode #142, disclosing their comedic slant while maintaining their investigative approach to alleged paranormal cases.  

Some of the best paranormal studies work being done in the podcast space.  

Most episodes clock in between 45min and an hour. This Paranormal Life gushes with passion in its engaging narration and light-hearted nature. Sound effects, pin-point comedic timing, and a lush soundtrack reward all fans of the paranormal.   

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify  

Weird Darkness: Stories of the Paranormal, Supernatural, Legends, Lore, Mysterious, Macabre, Unsolved

“Weird Darkness,” hosted by the engaging storyteller Darren Marlar, is a captivating podcast that delves into the mysterious, eerie, and unexplained corners of our world. With a focus on true stories of paranormal experiences, unsolved mysteries, and bizarre events, this podcast offers listeners a thrilling and spine-chilling auditory adventure.

Each episode of “Weird Darkness” masterfully combines suspense, intrigue, and storytelling to bring to life tales of haunted places, supernatural encounters, true crime, and urban legends. Darren Marlar’s compelling narration and meticulous research ensure that listeners are not only entertained but also informed about the lesser-known aspects of our world’s enigmatic history. Disappearances and conspiracy theories go hand in glove.

Perfect for fans of the paranormal, true crime aficionados, and those who enjoy exploring the shadowy side of human existence, “Weird Darkness” provides an immersive experience that will leave you questioning the boundaries of reality. So, gather your courage, dim the lights, and tune in to this enthralling podcast for a hauntingly unforgettable journey into the unknown.

Real Ghost Stories Online

Tony Brueski hosts this podcast and honestly, it’s terrifying. The premise is that Tony sources real-world ghost stories, supposed demonic possessions, and simply overall weird experiences.

And he’s talking about things I’ve actually experienced which made the hair on my neck stand up. Have you ever experienced sleep paralysis? Where you were awake, but you just couldn’t move? Well… talk to your doctor, but perhaps we were really dealing with something more… extraordinary going on?

Nobody wants to sound crazy, but what if this is real? It’s not bunch of horror stories, it’s life.

That’s what makes this podcast so good. It’s not fiction. It’s sourced from real-life events and those events are explained through a paranormal prism.

The NoSleep Podcast

The NoSleep Podcast embellishes the dark atmosphere of horror fiction with spooky music and theater to set the mood. The show aims to frighten and keep you up and night. Episodes can go up to three hours long and harken back to hearing tales around a campfire at midnight.

Professional voice-acting and narration present stories that range from hauntings and possessions to space dramas. Episode S8E23, “The Smiling Ones on Space Station Mir”, explores the mystery of a space station disappearing from orbit.

Stories are curated from volunteer writers on Reddit, and the voice actors do a great job bringing the chills of the written word to life, and death. Each episode contains stories focused on a specific topic. The NoSleep Podcast is a must-listen for fans of horror audio fiction.    

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

Ghost Town

Jason Horton and Rebecca Leib’s playful banter induces laughter without mean-spirited insults. Ghost Town explores the occult and paranormal conspiracies. Rebecca’s experience as a haunted places tour guide allows the listener to live vicariously through her into the world of ghosts, demons, and possessions.

In Episode 72: The Haunted Roosevelt Hotel, Ghost Town recruits the help of psychic medium Linda Spellman to learn about the rich and chilling history of the hotel and its ghosts. It captures the podcast’s pursuit of the truth and willingness to confront fear.

Shows run between 30min and an hour along with mini-episodes to deliver releases twice a week. Listen to this show for an honest Ghost Adventures-like vibe without sensationalism.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

Blurry Photos

Blurry Photos investigates the fringes of the fringe with topics like the hollow moon theory, phantom time, and the Mirrored Men. Host David Flora explores oddities and phenomena that are lesser-known even amongst paranormal enthusiasts.

David Flora weighs the perspectives of believer and skeptic in his respect for guests and topics. He encourages the listener to have an open mind “before you lose faith” in Ep 209: Stigmata, showcasing his love for puns and the ability to remain neutral on controversial beliefs.

Blurry Photos is earnest in its research while maintaining a sense of humor in the presentation. Flora’s story-telling informs without being dry. His humility marries curiosity and authenticity. Episodes are typically between 30 minutes to an hour and a half, releasing one to three times a month. 

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

Astonishing Legends

Hosts Scott Philbrook and Forrest Burgess connect with and interview people affected by paranormal experiences. The episodes bring a round-table approach to the conversations. Stories unfold with Scott and Forrest’s personal takeaways that ground supernatural phenomena.

Astonishing Legends embraces the long-form format with many episodes going for two to three or more hours. The sharp dialogue and discussion ensure shows don’t feel like they drag on. Episodes like The Grim Reaper and The Near-Death Experience Parts 1 and 2 satisfy an obsession with horror stories and the macabre, presented in a way that hits a little too close to home. Check in to Astonishing Legends to both soothe and exacerbate coming to terms with your own mortality.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

Mysterious Universe

Mysterious Universe draws inspiration from paranormal and conspiracy theory AM radio show Coast to Coast. Hosts Aaron Wright and Benjamin Grundy cover news of the strange and weird, UFOs and alternative history. They approach topics with heavy skepticism and don’t push their beliefs on the audience. Wright and Grundy concede to the absurdity of their fascinations and laugh as much as they inform.

Mysterious Universe’s well-researched episodes are typically between 1hr-1hr45min and offer a paid model with more content for dedicated fans. Episode 23.01 – Retrocausal Destiny highlights the show’s ability to uncover the niche-est of the niche, concluding that “Eventually someone’s going to make a robot Abraham Lincoln.”

Check out Mysterious Universe for a podcast that plays like a high-quality radio show.   

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

Frightday

The dynamic between Byron, Sam, and Captain Kelly makes the show feel like a hang. They cover stories of the weird, supernatural, and morbid while maintaining an air of amusement and hilarity. They break the fourth wall of paranormal podcasts when they review films and drop references for true fans of the horror genre.

Frightday interacts with its audience with the occasional Q&A episode, like in Episode 200 when they discuss “The Shining.” Their fandom is authentic and their love for the paranormal is evident in their reviews. Frightday is shoulder-deep in the culture surrounding strange phenomena and horror.

Most shows are 1hr-1hr30min. Listen to Fright Day for a crew that matches your obsession with the genre.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

Last Podcast On The Left

The infectious enthusiasm of Last Podcast On The Left’s crew carries the show. Hosts Ben Kissel, Marcus Parks, and Henry Zebrowski jockey for takes on topics that range from true crime small-town murder mysteries to haunted houses. Episodes come out weekly, ranging from one to two hours, in addition to side stories, providing a constant stream of content.

The hosts are heavy on the dark humor and wax inappropriate with their back and forth dialogue. If you dialed to this show on a radio, you might think you were listening to an uncensored sports commentary. While the hosts don’t hold back from offensive jokes, subjects are well-researched, like their study of Heaven’s Gate founder Marshall Applewhite in Episode 397, or their departure from humor with a serious take on the Columbine story.

Last Podcast On The Left will inform and entertain fans of both true crime and the paranormal. If you’re really interested in LPOTL, read our post on the best episodes of Last Podcast on the Left.        

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

The Cryptonauts Podcast

“It would be easier to measure what I didn’t drink last night,” Rob Morphy remarks at the beginning of Episode #113: The Ningen. He is joined by hosts Marc Storrs and Chris Carnicelli in a profanity-laced exploration of cryptids– creatures and animals that have been claimed to exist but never proven to exist.  

The Cryptonauts don’t take themselves too seriously, but the breadth and scope of mythical beasts and strange humanoids they cover intrigue and amuse. They don’t limit themselves to Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster. The Snallygaster, the Space Demons of Devil’s Swamp, and the Green Clawed Beast all lend themselves the show’s loose and curious outlook of paranormal wonders.

Most episodes are 45min to 1hr30min. Consider The Cryptonaut Podcast for expanding your knowledge of mysterious creatures.     

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

Not Alone

Good cop Sam Frederickson, and bad cop Jason Moitoso pit believer versus skeptic with a dynamic that encourages civil discourse. The self-professed Magic: the Gathering nerds cover cryptids like The Wildman of China and contemporary paranormal events like The Miracle of the Sun. The phenomenon of The Miracle of the Sun, reported apparitions of the Virgin Mary in 1917 Portugal, is covered over four episodes and showcases the duo’s deep research.

Episodes are released on a weekly basis and are usually between 1hr to 1hr30min. The host’s camaraderie makes them accessible, relatable and easy to partake in their love of the mysterious and unexplained.

Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

Honorable Mentions:

These are podcasts that just missed the cut, and we’ll likely be coming back to explore them in more depth later. So, check them out, because you can never get enough of the weird and unexplained.

• The Magnus Archives
• Caustic Soda
• Unexplained
• All Day Paranormal
• And That’s Why We Drink
• Lore
• The Ectoplasm Show
• Those Conspiracy Guys
• Hysteria 51
• Cryptids

Why Paranormal Podcasts Are Amazing

There are a lot of unexplained phenomena going on. I’m going to say it again, the United States Government is admitting to UFOs. That means Tom DeLonge was right. That’s a hard thing for me to say. The guy from Blink-182 was correct about the government and UFOs.

If that’s not enough to pique your interest and make you completely uncomfortable, I don’t know what is. Let’s keep it light here in the close, but I’m hooked. Take a listen to these pods. Just be careful when you’re putting those earbuds in.

See you on the other side.

The post The 11 Best Paranormal Podcasts appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.