Last updated on February 8th, 2021
We’re living in a golden age of television. Thanks to an array of high-quality shows on network television, cable, and streaming services, there are an overwhelming number of options when deciding what to watch and what to binge.
Streaming services have made it so the choices aren’t just limited to what’s currently running. You can catch up with shows that are still on, as well as popular ones might have missed during their original runs like Seinfeld, Friends, or The Office. Others might be on the same journey to experience these shows, or in many cases re-experience them, which is why there are so many terrific podcasts about new and old television.
These entertaining podcasts travel alongside you like faithful companions, examining shows in-depth with recaps, delighting in their mysteries and mythologies, and analyzing them through progressive political and social lenses that shed fascinating light on the context in which they were created.
If you’ve recently embarked on a new television adventure yourself or you’re thinking about starting one soon, here are 10 of the best TV podcasts you should travel with.
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Don’t be fooled by its seemingly flamboyant title, Gayest Episode Ever has both pomp and circumstance. One of the sharpest and most thought-provoking TV podcasts running, the weekly show co-hosted by journalist Drew Mackie and screenwriter Glen Lakin, examines the one-off LGBTQ-themed episodes of classic sitcoms, before it was normal to see queer characters on television. Framing discussions in the historical context of the shows’ storylines and their place in television history, this incredibly well-researched podcast goes deep, analyzing queer characters and their representation from a laundry list of classic TV shows, with a sense of humor often complemented by entertaining guests. Mackie and Lakin even manage to make revisiting shows interesting, like when they returned to Friends and Frasier to examine different queer characters or themes that popped up throughout the series through unique and fascinating lenses. If you’re a TV history buff, a queer listener searching for a show that speaks to you, or even just a LGBTQ ally looking to better understand how queer culture has been represented and misrepresented on television, there’s plenty in Gayest Episode Ever to satisfy you emotionally and intellectually.
Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify
Whether you’re falling in love with Joss Whedon’s creative universe for the first time or you’re a diehard Whedonite looking for your tribe, you must listen to Buffering the Vampire Slayer, the definitive Buffy the Vampire Slayer podcast. This bi-weekly show hosted by Whedon experts Jenny Owen Youngs (a professional musician) and Kristin Russo (a professional writer), tackles Buffy the Vampire Slayer one episode at a time through thoughtful discussions that offer a dynamic queer perspective on the TV show. Aside from the podcast’s impressive no-spoilers policy, both Youngs and Russo will floor you with their chemistry and enthusiasm, even down to the ads they read. Their humorous show contains segments like “Spooky News” flanked by entertaining musical themes crafted by Youngs about characters like Spike, Giles, and Vampire Willow, as well as clever original songs recapping each Buffy episode. Russo and Youngs also have an extensive in-person presence where they plan Buffy-themed events like live recordings and their annual “Buffy Prom,” where they engage with their equally enthusiastic listeners. If you’ve been looking in the Whedonverse for somewhere to belong, chances are you’ll find your home with Buffering the Vampire Slayer and its like-minded fellow fans.
Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify
Aaron Sorkin is well-known for his ability to create rapid-fire dialogue and moving political speeches, however if you want to see where he really hit his stride, look no further than his long-running presidential drama The West Wing, which featured an incredible cast of characters constantly pushing themselves to provide the best government to the American people. Thankfully to help you process the nuances of this sprawling series, there’s The West Wing Weekly, a weekly podcast co-hosted by one of the show’s stars, Joshua Malina, and Hrishikesh Hirway of the music podcast Song Exploder. Their lowkey, spoiler-free show offers the kind of unique wisdom you can only acquire from someone who was there on set. If you don’t mind ample tangents, it’s worth sticking around to hear their pointed analysis, which isn’t afraid to examine the content and themes of each episode with a critical eye. Their desire to critique the show warts and all makes it fascinating to listen to, and an absolute must if you’re going back through The West Wing, or spending your first term with President Jed Bartlett (Martin Sheen) and his team of passionate advisors.
Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify
Think of the treasure trove of information available for a show if one of its stars podcasts about it, then double it, and you’ll get Office Ladies. This delightful weekly podcast is co-hosted by Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey, two stars of the brilliant NBC workplace comedy The Office. Unlike their characters Pam and Angela on the show, in real life, Fischer and Kinsey are best friends, which leads to a charming rapport on the podcast. They aren’t just two close friends goofing around however; they truly deliver a remarkable listening experience. With fun segments like “Fast Facts,” interviews with their co-stars, and a musical theme by co-star Creed Bratton, Fischer and Kinsey delve deep behind the scenes, sharing their own incredible anecdotes and exposing the creative process that led to the most memorable moments of the series. Each episode flies by because the pair are so high energy and they stuff it with such amazing content. Hearing two people who were there throughout the entire series discuss it in such vivid detail, inspires immense respect for the show’s writers and directors, who did so much to make all of us laugh. Regardless of whether it’s your first day at paper company Dunder Mifflin’s Scranton branch or your 188th, you’ll find plenty of reasons to love The Office thanks to Office Ladies.
Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify
Can’t get enough true crime in your life? Writers Kevin Flynn and Rebecca Lavoie are the same way. As co-hosts of the Crime Writers On… podcast they covered true crime extensively, but one thing they really loved was talking about true crime in the context of Law & Order. So they did what any logical people would do: they started a separate Law & Order podcast called…These Are Their Stories. On the show they discuss the unbelievable ripped-from-the-headlines episodes of Law & Order, SVU, and Criminal Intent. No matter which of those series you love (maybe even all of them), you can hear Flynn and Lavoie dissect them all as they hop around analyzing episodes, interviewing guests, and digging into the true crimes that inspired the episodes. The result is a splendid mix of well-researched Law & Order commentary, amusing guests, and silly segments like “Hey it’s that guy,” where you can try to guess where else you might have seen an actor from the episode. True crime television and podcasts are having a moment and there’s no better way to to share in it than to learn all about one of the most famous TV shows to mine true crime for entertainment: Law & Order.
Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify
You may know that Seinfeld was “the show about nothing,” but Seincast, the podcast about it, certainly isn’t. The podcast has something for you whether you’ve seen every episode of Seinfeld countless times in syndication or if you’re one of the increasingly rare people who hasn’t seen it at all. Hosted by Vinnie and Matt, two guys who claim they can barely run their own lives, the deadpan podcast breaks down each episode of Seinfeld in exquisite detail. After a freewheeling intro and a hilarious quote from the episode they’re about to dissect, Vinnie and Matt wow you with great anecdotes and behind the scenes information, which really demonstrate their incredible knowledge of the show. It’s more fun to listen to their podcast in order, but you could also easily jump around based on which Seinfeld episodes you see on cable or streaming. Either way you’ll gain fresh insight into one of TV’s most beloved sitcoms. Although Seinfeld ended its run 20 years ago, and Matt and Vinnie ended their run in 2018, their podcast is loaded with amazing evergreen content that will keep you satisfied as you join Jerry, George, Elaine, Kramer on their wacky, yet uproarious misadventures across New York City.
Listen: Apple Podcasts | Libsyn
You’re probably thinking that Talking Dead is a podcast version of the Chris Hardwick AMC talk show, but it’s not. Co-hosts Chris and Jason actually had the name first, and have released over 400 episodes since 2009 for this podcast dedicated to The Walking Dead and its spinoff shows. Although The Walking Dead may get mature in its subject matter, these two Canadians keep things very polite and wholesome as they provide detailed commentary on the fan-favorite TV shows. They also talk when the show isn’t running, addressing rumors, news, and other nerdy entertainment like the latest Star Wars movie and Star Trek show. The lighthearted experience feels a lot like hanging out at your local comic book shop shooting the breeze with like-minded geeks who share a similar sense of humor. Thankfully it eschews the toxic aspects of fan culture that particular crowd can be known to exhibit. If you can’t get enough of The Walking Dead, or if you’re trying to catch up after a decade of missing out on it, tune in to Talking Dead.
Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify
HBO’s drama Game of Thrones ended in a blaze, and whether you think it was a blaze of glory, a dumpster fire, or you’re just wondering who started the fire, the podcast Cast of Kings is there to help you make sense of it all. Hosted by Slashfilm’s Dave Chen and VanityFair.com contributor Joanna Robinson, the show takes an intellectual approach to Game of Thrones through deep conversation about the plots, themes, and high/lowlights of the show, and how it diverges from its source material. Their discussion often addresses what other critics said about Game of Thrones and offers Chen and Robinson’s response, which leads to a more thoughtful, well-rounded perspective on the show. It’s the kind of podcast that will keep you thinking about the TV show between episodes and challenging your perspective each time you hear it.
Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify
Related reading: best Game of Thrones podcasts
It may have just come to a tear-jerking conclusion, however if you quickly need to soak it in all over again or if you haven’t already seen The Good Place, you’ll greatly benefit from tuning into The Good Place Podcast as you consume the zany, heady comedy that keeps you on your toes. This official Good Place podcast is so legit it’s hosted by the series regular Marc Evan Jackson, it replaces swear words with G-rated versions like in the series, and it even has an intro/outro voiced over by Michael and Janet themselves (Ted Danson and D’Arcy Carden). The TV show is already so clever and mind blowing, but it takes on a whole new brilliance when Jackson interviews cast and crew members that work on the comedy. The artistry and attention to detail they describe in those interviews elevates the quality of The Good Place to unspeakable heights. Plus, the way Jackson asks guests, What’s good?” to wrap up each episode might get you thinking about how you’d answer. It would be easy to reply “The Good Place and The Good Place Podcast” without hesitation.
Listen: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify
Given the show’s recent 20th anniversary, Friends has been a hot topic the past year, inspiring viewers and critics to rewatch it and re-examine it through more progressive lenses. Although for the more casual fan or person who is just starting out on their Friends journey, there’s the much lighter Best of Friends podcast co-hosted by Erin Mallory Long and Jamie Woodham. The podcast, which is almost 190 episodes strong, takes a meandering approach to talking about the TV show, however there are amusing conversations in the meantime before Long and Woodham dig into each episode. They wrap up with a star-based rating system, where they rank the episode according to their particular preferences, and like their opinions, not all of them are created equal. At least the co-hosts are good friends, and hopefully you’ll be there for them too, week after week as they wrap up their coverage of Friends.
Listen: Apple Podcasts | Spreaker
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