Podcasts are super trendy right now, and we totally see why. If you have a super long bumper-to-bumper kind of commute to work, listening to an engaging 60-minute podcast will be the perfect way to distract you from all that traffic. I guarantee it will make the time go by faster. Plus, it's good to switch it up and not always listen to music in the car; you can only listen to the same song so many times.
Since you don't have any images in front of you and you only have audio, your imagination/creative side will be in full effect as you listen to your favorite podcaster recall their fun adventures from the night before. There are so many different genres of podcasts. There are a lot of podcasts that talk about politics, social justice, and the most recent topics everyone is talking about. Podcasts are a great way to keep informed on what's going on in society.
A lot of celebrities have podcasts right now, Chelsea Handler, Dax Shepard, and Brandi Cyrus, to name just a few. If you're a hardcore fan of a celeb, what better way to learn even more about them than listening to them for hours? Podcasts can be a great distraction/de-stressor Sometimes, you just need to keep your mind occupied. Whether you dread cleaning the house and need something fun to keep you motivated, or you're super bored and just need something to do, podcasts are a great way to add fun into your life.
The tricky thing about podcasts is that there are literally thousands of them out there. From so many podcast genres like pop culture, politics, history, comedy, relationship, and self-care, how can you find the perfect one for you? There's always just trial and error and figuring out which ones you like. So, we asked Redditors which podcasts they were bingeing right now.
"Girls Gotta Eat"
If your love life is a hot mess and you proudly own it, then you'll love this podcast. Rayna Greenberg and Ashley Hesseltine are two 30-year-olds living in New York City, and their podcast is all about dating and relationships with a hilarious spin on it. Rayna and Ashley keep it real; they never hold back. They will tell you every single detail of their awful Tinder date or their worst hookup. Ashley and Rayna's friendship and hilarious personalities make this a phenomenal podcast to listen to. "I really like Rayna and Ashley, and they cover a lot of topics...they are both in their 30s so it's relatable for everyone I think," said Redditor @igdenni.
CALL HER DADDY
"Call Her Daddy"
Arguably one of the most popular female-centered podcasts, Call Her Daddy centers around vlogger Alexandra Cooper and her best friend, Sofia Franklyn. Alexandra and Sofia are open-books; they are continually talking about embarrassing moments, the New York social scene, and so much more.
"And That's Why We Drink"
Can I just start by saying how obsessed I am with the title of this podcast? The premise of the podcast is two female friends drink and discuss murder and paranormal stories. Redditor @donelly says “I really like, “And That's Why We Drink.” It's lots of stories about ghosts and murders, but what I like most is that you really sense the two women being friends. Basically, it feels like listening to your friends telling stories while also sometimes sharing personal stories about their lives.”
"Empower Her"
This is an excellent podcast for women who are striving to become stronger, better versions of themselves. Kacia Fitzgerald, the host of this podcast, gives her listeners tips and tricks to help them build the life they want. I personally listen to this podcast and always feel super inspired after each episode. I also like that each episode is short, usually under 20 minutes.
"Happier with Gretchen Rubin"
Do you know the super famous self-help book "The Happiness Project"? Well, the author of that book, Gretchen Rubin, has her own podcast that tackles a lot of the same topics she talks about in that book. Gretchen's co-host is her younger sister Elizabeth, and together, they are on a mission to inspire their listeners. I love this podcast recommendation because we can always use more happiness and motivation in our lives. "Episodes are short and focus on like a little change you can make to be happier. It's super cute," says Redditor @GerudoZelda
"Up First"
“Up First” is a podcast from National Public Radio. NPR is known for producing top-notch stories and reports on all the latest news. Up First is a recap of the biggest stories that day -- all under 10 minutes. It's a great way to get caught up on the news of the day in a very short amount of time.
"Ted Talks Daily"
Ted Talk, a nonprofit devoted to spreading ideas through short talks, has a fantastic podcast that has all audio recordings of all their ted talks. If you're looking to get inspired or get more knowledge in a particular field, definitely check this podcast out.
"Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness"
Jonathan Van Ness, star of Queer Eye, is undoubtedly one of the most hilarious and lovable guys in the entertainment industry. His Instagram feed gives me life, and so does his podcast. While he's mostly known for being a goofy guy, in his podcast, Jonathan delves into a lot of hot topics and social justice issues with people in those respective fields. He helps bring awareness to issues, all while putting his sparkly spin on it.
"Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend"
Conan O'Brien, star of “The Conan show,” has a hilarious podcast where he desperately searches for friends. Each week, he brings a celebrity or famous comedian to his podcasts to chat about becoming his new bestie. Guests like Tina Fey, Michelle Obama, and Jimmy Kimmel are just a few of the star-studded guests that appear on his podcast. Redditor @queenpenelope16 says, "That has been my favorite one so far. It touched on so many things and made me feel better about my own social anxiety. Conan is such a good dude."
Nathaniel Wood for The New York Times
"Office Ladies"
If you are a huge fan of “The Office” like I am, then you have to check this podcast out. “The Office” stars, Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey just started this new podcast that breaks down each episode of the show and gives us exclusive behind the scenes stories from the show. I'm super stoked to stream this podcast and totally get why it's one of the most talked-about podcasts.
"The Clearing"
April Balascio is the daughter of Edward Wayne Edwards, who was a murderer. In 2009, April partnered with a detective to work on her father's case that eventually brought him to his arrest and conviction. It's a super intense, emotional story that touches base on crime and the psychological trauma it can have on people related to the murderer.
"Stuff They Don't Want You to Know”
One thing's for certain, people love conspiracy theories. "Stuff They Don't Want You To Know" tackles on a vast amount of conspiracy theories from the death of Jeffrey Epstein, celebrities being replaced, vaccines, serial killers, student loans, the moon landing, and so much more. I have never really gotten into conspiracy theories, but after learning about all the topics they talk about, I think I'm going to give this podcast a go.
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Whether you're in the mood for mystery, comedy, girl talk, news updates, etc., these recommendations will have you entertained for hours. Podcasts are such a fun way to discover new things about the world and even yourself.