Hi,
I’m a big fan of podcasts and I’ve been enjoying “Against the Rules” and “Darknet Diaries” lately.
Now, I want to hear your recommendations! What podcasts do you love and why? Let’s build an epic list of must-listen podcasts together.
Thanks in advance for your suggestions.
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I like listening to historical podcasts, and my favorites are “The History of Rome” (which has finished) and its followup “The History of Byzantium” and “Hardcore History” . I’ve heard good things about “Revolutions” by the creator of “The History of Rome” but I haven’t checked it out yet.
Also I’ve been enjoying “Fall of Civilizations” a lot, but so far have only listened to a few of the episodes.
I’ve listened to all of these podcasts besides Hardcore history, and I can highly recommend all of them. It’s hard to pick a favourite but it might be Revolutions, which I found the most eye-opening, especially season 3 on the french revolution. I’m currently working my way through Wittenberg to Westphalia, the Wars of the Reformation, which is meant to be on the 30 years way, but takes a very deep dive into the life, economy, history and culture of the middle ages and early modern period.
Fall of Civilizations is the best podcast I’ve listened to. Every episode is amazing.
Big fan of Darknet Diaries.
I like podcasts on Stoicism, technical writing, and self-hosting. I also listen to a podcast on folklore that’s pretty fun.
I too enjoy a lot of podcasts on stoicism, have you listened to Philosophy as a Way of Life by Massimo Pigliucci? It’s hour long discussions with Massimo and guests answering audience questions at the end, can get really interesting
I have not heard of that one. I’m going to go check it out! I’ve been enjoying Stoic Coffee Break and Practical Stoicism (minus the 3 minutes of ads).
Behind the Bastards, a deep dive into the various shit people of history. Episode one is Saddam Hussein: Erotic Novelist.
There’s nearly 700 episodes, and I’ve yet to run tio a dud. Loads of great guests. My only gripe is that it’s a touch Amerocentric, but other than that I’d recommend it to basically anyone. Not kid friendly, in case that wasn’t obvious.
I think it’s only fair to add that this podcast has a very left leaning bias. I’m not saying that that is bad, just being objective.
That’s fine I do enjoy seeing what a bias various forms of media have.
-Last Podcast on The Left - crime and comedy is a perfect mix for me.
-Bow and Blade and The Medieval Podcast - I love medieval history
-Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History -general history (waiting for another episode is like waiting for Christmas)
-Unsolved Misteries Podcast- I love the TV show and that podcast is great too :)
It’s an old one, but Stuff You Should Know. I’m listening chronologically, a couple a day (I do a lot of driving for work) and I’m still only up to about mid-2018. The hosts are so easy to listen too, and I really enjoy their humour.
I like; 99% Invisible & Radio Lab, those are my main 2, i also listen to Malicious Life & some others I can’t think of right now.
Behind the bastards, Self explanatory.
Ear hustle, A podcast about prison made by prisoners in prison.
Knowledge Fight, a couple of dudes who like to sit around and talk about Alex Jones. Essentially deconstructing his bullshit.
Hardcore History is great, as is Historical Controversies for history. Woodshop Life is the best woodworking podcast I’ve listened to. Darknet Diaries is really cool for cyber security, covers stories of cyber crimes and penetration testers, very interesting. I’d suggest episode 24 to start, one of the best stories he’s covered.
Massively depends on what you’re into.
That said, I follow these podcasts:
News related comedy:
- Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me from NPR
- Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4
- The Bugle
- Breaking The News from BBC Scotland
DnD:
- Dicefunk (I recommend seasons 3 & 4 in particular)
Puns:
- Punwatch
- (also The Bugle sometimes)
Science communication:
- The Infinite Monkey Cage
- Daniel And Jorge Explain The Universe
- The Curious Cases Of Rutherford & Fry
- Supermassive
- A Problem Squared
- Creature Feature
- My Favourite Theorem
About Media:
- Failure To Launch, about TV pilots that failed to become full series
- Get Played, originally called “How Did This Get Played?” and focused on the worst games ever made, now about games in general
- Dream Factory, about plots of non-existing movies
Security/Hacking:
- Malicious Life
- Darknet Diaries
- Human Factor Security
History:
- You’re Dead To Me
Hello Internet - I love the hosts, though the show is over (or, on hiatus if you truly believe)
Cortex- I listen to this mostly because CGP Grey is on it (who also was one of the hosts on Hello Internet). It’s also nice for tech news/ productivity information, though sometimes I get a bit frustrated at the show
Dear Hank and John (or Dear John and Hank) - John and Hank Greene answer listener questions. I’m really a sucker for this “two guys talk at the mic” format lmao
Dungeons and Daddies- a DnD podcast with Freddie Wong that I find immensely entertaining
Well There’s Your Problem - an engineering disasters podcast. I really enjoy listening to the hosts, though they do tend to ramble. I like it, but might not be for every
We probably have very similar YouTube viewing habits lol
History:
- History of Rome
- History of Byzantium (spiritual successor to HoR) - ongoing but with an end planned
- British History Podcast (in depth) - ongoing but with an end planned
- Revolutions (various revolutions from HoR
- Blowback
- Hardcore History
- Fall of Civilizations
Horror:
- Magnus Archives
- The Lovecraft Investigations - unsure if finished
True Crime:
- Bear Brook
- Dirty John
Others:
- *Shut up and Sit Down (Boardgames)"
- Beef and Dairy Network (Comedy)
- Outer Reach (Sci-Fi)
Bold = Ongoing with no end planned
I’ve been a longtime fan of CheapShow, a comedy podcast loosely based around unusual items found in cheap shops and charity shops (thrift stores). Episodes include deep dives in vintage/retro media, taste tests of weird foodstuffs, various games and challenges, plus a lot of complete chaos and toilet humour.
Maybe not for everyone, but if any of the above catches your interest it’s worth a try.
Currently listening to the „The New Gurus“ by BBC4 and enjoying it a lot. 30min-episodes on - you guessed it - modern gurus, like pick up artists, conspiracy theorists, productivity coaches…
„Darknet Diaries“ is also a favorite of mine.
No such thing as a fish, funny and educational
I’ll second NSTAAF and add Something Rhymes with Purple, Poppy Hillstead Has Entered The Chat, We Have Ways of Making You Talk and More or Less: Behind the Stats. All very different but excellent in their chosen subjects.
If you like NSTAAF, you’ll probably like Lateral by Tom Scott too. Similar concept but in a game show format.
