Podcasts everyone should listen to

So that I have someone to talk about them with.

Sep 13, 2022

I haven’t listened to a song in weeks.

Besides attending the Harry Styles MSG takeover, I truly haven’t listened to any music during work, leisure, or travel since moving to New York.

Instead, I’ve found great solace in podcasts. I always have, particularly since starting college when I would be walking to class or doing assignments for hours at a time. Listening to people talk about subjects ranging from pop culture to true crime, daily news or even sequenced stories brought on a similar feeling as some people get from white noise—comfort without silence. They also make me feel significantly less lonely, filling an empty hole of false presence, as sometimes, it can feel like a friend is just talking at you for an hour, or you’re listening into a great conversation.

Since I’m personally able to write/work while listening to podcasts, I listen to probably nearly 5 hours of them daily (Spotify wrapped to be revealed in the coming months). This has made my ego inflate to believing I am a podcast aficionado, and that I can guide others into this deep dive with me.

Here are my top 5 favorite podcasts at the moment, and at the bottom of this, I curated a playlist of over 30 hours of my favorite episodes. You’re welcome.

1. The Bitch Bible with Jackie Schimmel

If Jackie Schimmel has thousands of fans, I’m one of them. If she has hundreds of fans, I’m one of them. If she has tens of fans, I’m one of them. If she has 1 fan, I’m the 1 fan. If she has no fans, I’m dead.

The Bitch Bible is the only podcaster-turned-influencer shows I find worth listening to in 2022, and quite frankly, It’s the only one I get genuinely overwhelemed with excitement about a new episode is posted. I’ve mentioned it in previous posts, but she discusses all things going on in the world from an unhinged, authentic, and hilarious point of view. If you’re easily offended, I don’t reccomend, but she’s the type of person that we don’t come across too often these days, and I honestly think she’s right about everything.

I typically prefer when she’s by herself instead of with a guest, but her episode with Tinx (linked below) is pretty great.

2. SmartLess with Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett

This is a close #2 to TBB.

Hosted by real life besties and “Hollywood elites” Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett, the premise of SmartLess is one host suprises the other two on a rotation with a mystery, typically A-List guest. From Jennifer Anniston to Reese Witherspoon, Kamala Harris to Paul McCartney, and Jordan Peele to Bradley Cooper, every episode is a hilarious, inside look into their lives. I often find myself laughing out loud to myself from the banter between hosts and guest (as well as the hosts with each other), and this is honestly a really wholesome great time every week.

3. Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard and Monica Padman

This is probably one of the more famous podcasts, but I still feel like helping Dax and Moncica out on this extremely large and popular platform I have.

One of the shows that got me into being a podcast listener in the first place, Armchair Expert is similar to SmartLess (drama alert) in the interview format, however besides A-list guests, they also weave in experts of varying industries such as the sciences, health, politics, literature, and more. I never thought that I would enjoy listening to the guy from Baby Mama talk to Bill Gates so much, but alas, here we are, four years of listening later. You also get to know Dax and Monica on a personal level, making it really feel like you’re having a one-sided conversation with two best friends.

4. Morbid with Alaina Urquhart and Ash Kelley

Not for the easily scared or paranoid, there’s nothing like a really good true crime podcast. And this one is better than good.

I love a good story. Alaina and Ash cover riveting true crime stores, ranging from the solved to the unsolved to the solved, kidnappings to serial killers, and notorious such as Brittany Murphy, Natalie Wood, and John Wayne Gacey. They also do a great job of telling stories that didn’t get the recognition they deserved in the press, helping families and those harmed by senseless crimes get the justice they’ve been longing for.

Thanks to to five-star subscriber Haleigh for introducing me to Morbid during the pandemic. They really kept me company while locked down with my family for months, and continue to normalize listening to brutal muder mysteries at work.

5. Armchair Anonymous with Dax Shepard and Monica Padman

Dax and Monica didn’t get a multi-million dollar Spotify deal for nothing!

Under the Armchair Expert umbrella, Armchair Anonymous is one of their newer shows, featuring fans of the show who call in to share a crazy, whirwind story anonymously about each week’s topic. This is a podcast that you don’t have to focus too hard on, is perfect background noise, and is guarenteed to bring a laugh. Topics range from the craziest thing that’s ever happened to you on an airplane, workplace poops gone wrong, and a time that you were a hero.

Highly reccomend starting with workplace poops.

If you want to give any of these a whirl, here’s that curated playlist for you!

And, if you end up listening, please text, email, or smoke signal me <3

Send this to a friend who needs a podcast to listen to.

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