My Favorite Podcasts - 2026 Edition
Despite what the cynics might tell you, podcasts are f***ing amazing.
There’s someone out there in the world right now making a podcast about a very specific topic that you love but never expected to hear other people nerd out about.
There’s thousands of smart people sharing their valuable knowledge for free (or a small fee).
There’s also hundreds of thousands of active shows, and it’s not always easy to find the shows you’ll love the most. It’s gonna take work.
You can’t rely on an algorithm to do that work for you, but maybe this list will help you get started. You can also browse the podcast charts by category in Apple or Spotify, that’s a good way to find new shows to check out too.
Here’s the podcasts I’m subscribed to as of 2026, in alphabetical order. I’ll add a star next to my favorites.
Acquired
Website: acquired.fm Status: 🟢 Active
Deep-dive “conversational audiobooks” on the stories and strategies behind the world’s greatest companies. Hosts Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal spend hours unpacking a single company — its history, business model, and competitive position. Episodes are long but extraordinarily well-researched.
Recommended if: You want to understand how great businesses actually work, not just the headlines.
Adventure Film Academy Show
Website: adventurefilmshow.transistor.fm Status: 🟡 Uncertain
Interviews and craft discussions for filmmakers working in adventure, outdoor, and action sports cinematography. A niche but useful resource for anyone trying to build a career shooting in the field.
Recommended if: You’re a filmmaker or aspiring cinematographer interested in the outdoor/adventure space. Really, you should just follow Levi Allen.
Big Technology Podcast
Website: bigtechnology.com/podcast Status: 🟢 Active
Alex Kantrowitz interviews the people building and shaping the tech industry — founders, executives, journalists, and researchers. Thoughtful conversations that go beyond hype to examine the real dynamics of tech power and culture.
Recommended if: You follow tech news and want deeper context from the people involved. I like this show a lot, but it’s turned into a show about AI lately which is starting to annoy me.
⭐️ Channels with Peter Kafka
Website: vox.com Status: 🟢 Active
Peter Kafka covers media, technology, and the business of entertainment. Guests include media executives, journalists, and analysts. Smart, sometimes contrarian takes on where the media industry is heading.
Recommended if: You work in or follow the media and entertainment industries and want thoughtful insights.
Conversations with Tyler
Website: conversationswithtyler.com Status: 🟢 Active
Economist Tyler Cowen interviews intellectuals, artists, scientists, and thinkers with relentlessly curious and unpredictable questions. No small talk, no fluff — just ideas. One of the genuinely great interview podcasts.
Recommended if: You love ideas and want conversations that actually challenge you.
Creator Science
Website: podcast.creatorscience.com Status: 🟢 Active
Jay Clouse interviews successful creators to reverse-engineer how they built their audiences and businesses. Practical, systems-focused, and one of the better resources for anyone serious about the creator economy.
Recommended if: You’re a creator or aspiring creator who wants to learn from others who’ve done it.
⭐️ Decoder with Nilay Patel
Website: theverge.com/decoder Status: 🟢 Active
Decoder is a show from The Verge about big ideas – and other problems. Verge Editor-in-Chief Nilay Patel talks to a diverse cast of innovators and policy makers at the frontiers of business and technology to reveal how they’re navigating an ever-changing landscape, what keeps them up at night, and what it all means for our shared future.
Recommended if: You’re interested in how tech companies are actually run and why leaders make the choices they do.
⭐️ Deep Questions with Cal Newport
Website: thedeeplife.com Status: 🟢 Active
Cal Newport (author of Deep Work and Slow Productivity) answers listener questions and discusses his philosophy of doing fewer things better. Practical and philosophical in equal measure.
Recommended if: You struggle with distraction and want a principled framework for more focused work.
⭐️ Dithering
Website: dithering.fm Status: 🟢 Active (publishes 3x/week, paid)
A short, subscriber-only podcast with Ben Thompson (Stratechery) and John Gruber (Daring Fireball) discussing tech news three times a week. Each episode is exactly 15 minutes. No ads, no fluff.
Recommended if: You follow Apple and tech closely and want two of the sharpest analysts riffing regularly.
⭐️ DRUM with Mike & Eddy
Website: drum.buzzsprout.com Status: 🟢 Active
Two drummers discussing the craft, gear, industry, and culture of drumming. Warm and conversational — feels like listening to two serious musicians talk shop.
Recommended if: You’re a drummer or a music enthusiast interested in the drumming world.
EconTalk
Website: econtalk.org Status: 🟢 Active
Russ Roberts has been interviewing economists, philosophers, historians, and thinkers weekly for nearly two decades. One of the most intellectually generous podcasts in existence — Roberts genuinely engages with ideas he disagrees with.
Recommended if: You want to understand economics, human behavior, and ideas through long-form conversation.
Exponent
Website: exponent.fm Status: 🔴 Inactive
Ben Thompson and James Allworth discussed the intersection of tech strategy, media, and society. The archive is a masterclass in applying Stratechery-style analysis to big tech questions. No new episodes since late 2022.
Recommended if: You enjoy Ben Thompson’s writing — the back catalog is worth working through even if it’s no longer active.
⭐️ Hard Fork
Website: nytimes.com/hard-fork Status: 🟢 Active
New York Times reporters Kevin Roose and Casey Newton cover the most important and weird tech stories of the week. Genuinely fun while still being substantive — a rare combination in tech journalism.
Recommended if: You want to stay current on tech news with some levity and good analysis.
The Futur with Chris Do
Website: thefutur.com Status: 🟢 Active
Chris Do interviews designers, entrepreneurs, and creatives about the business and craft of creative work. Especially strong on the business side — pricing, client relationships, positioning — that most design education ignores.
Recommended if: You’re a designer or creative professional who wants to build a sustainable business.
The Mastering Show
Website: Available on major podcast platforms Status: 🟢 Active
Interviews and deep dives on audio mastering — the often-misunderstood final stage of music production. Guests include mastering engineers, producers, and technical experts. A specialized but excellent resource.
Recommended if: You’re an audio engineer, producer, or musician serious about the final stage of your recordings.
The Modern Drummer Podcast
Website: moderndrummer.com Status: 🟢 Active
The podcast companion to the legendary drumming magazine. In-depth interviews with professional drummers across all genres.
Recommended if: You’re a drummer who wants to hear from the best players in the world.
My .4 Cents
Website: shows.acast.com/my-point-… Status: 🟢 Active
This is what musicians need to know about the music business today. Every Tuesday, music marketers Matt Bacon, Dustin Boyer, Jesse Cannon, and Andrew Southworth break down what’s changed in music marketing and the music business, as well as what’s currently changing in the industry. You’ll be surprised what they disagree about!
Recommended if: You’re interested in learning more about the music business.
No Film School Podcast
Website: nofilmschool.com Status: 🟢 Active
The podcast arm of the No Film School media brand, covering filmmaking craft, gear, industry news, and the business of making movies and video content. Essential listening for independent filmmakers.
Recommended if: You’re a filmmaker or video creator who wants to stay current on tools, techniques, and the industry.
NPR Music
Website: npr.org/music Status: 🟢 Active
NPR’s music coverage spans interviews, reviews, and the beloved Tiny Desk Concert series. A broad, eclectic, and consistently high-quality view of music across all genres.
Recommended if: You want thoughtful music coverage that goes beyond the mainstream.
Off Camera with Sam Jones
Website: offcamera.com Status: 🔴 Inactive
Long-form, intimate conversations with film and television actors about craft, career, and creative life. Sam Jones is an unusually empathetic interviewer who draws out genuine reflection.
Recommended if: You’re interested in acting and the interior life of creative careers — the back catalog is substantial and worth exploring.
On the Media
Website: wnyc.org/on-the-media Status: 🟢 Active
WNYC’s weekly examination of how news is made, how media shapes public understanding, and the forces that influence journalism. One of the most important media criticism shows in American public radio.
Recommended if: You want to be a more informed news consumer and understand how the media actually works.
On with Kara Swisher
Website: vox.com/on-with-kara-swisher Status: 🟢 Active
Kara Swisher’s interview show covering tech, power, and politics. She’s one of the few journalists that major tech figures both respect and fear, which makes for unusually candid conversations.
Recommended if: You want accountability journalism applied to the most powerful people in tech.

The Parnas Perspective
Website: aaronparnas.substack.com (you can find the podcast on all major platforms) Status: 🟢 Active
Thoughtful commentary and interviews on current events, politics, and culture.
Recommended if: You want an independent voice engaging seriously with the news.
⭐️ Pivot
Website: vox.com/pivot Status: 🟢 Active
Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway debate the week in tech, business, and politics. Their disagreements are as valuable as their agreements — two smart people who genuinely spar.
Recommended if: You want to hear two strong personalities work through the big tech and business stories of the week.
Planet Money
Website: npr.org/planetmoney Status: 🟢 Active
NPR’s economics and business show that makes complex economic ideas genuinely accessible and entertaining. One of the most consistently creative shows in all of podcasting.
Recommended if: You want to understand economics without feeling like you’re in a lecture.
Podcast Perspectives
Website: listen.podglomerate.com/show/podc… Status: 🟢 Active
Industry coverage and analysis for podcast creators and professionals. Covers trends, business models, and the evolving podcasting landscape.
Recommended if: You create or work in podcasting and want to follow the industry.
Podnews Weekly Review
Website: podnews.net Status: 🟢 Active
James Cridland’s weekly roundup of the most important news and developments in podcasting. The definitive industry newsletter also has an excellent podcast companion.
Recommended if: You’re in podcasting and want a reliable weekly briefing on the industry.
Prof G Markets
Website: profgmedia.com Status: 🟢 Active
Scott Galloway and Ed Elson break down the week’s biggest business and financial stories. Accessible financial analysis with Galloway’s characteristic bluntness.
Recommended if: You want to understand markets and business news without needing a finance background.
Rad History
Website: Available on major podcast platforms Status: 🟢 Active
Deep dives into the history of music — artists, movements, albums, and cultural moments that shaped popular music. Recent episodes have explored bands like The Smiths.
Recommended if: You love music and want to understand the history behind the artists and records you love.
Radiolab
Website: radiolab.org Status: 🟢 Active
One of public radio’s most creative and beloved shows. Radiolab uses sound design, storytelling, and science journalism to explore big questions about the world. A genuine landmark in the medium.
Recommended if: You want to be surprised and moved by stories about science, philosophy, and human experience.
Rational Security
Website: lawfaremedia.org Status: 🟢 Active
Lawfare’s national security roundtable with Scott Anderson, Quinta Jurecic, and colleagues. Sober, expert analysis of law, national security, and the intersection of the two — without the hot takes.
Recommended if: You follow national security, law, or foreign policy and want analysis from genuine experts.
Revolution.Social
Website: revolution.social Status: 🟢 Active
Covers the decentralized web, federated social networks, and the future of online community. Particularly strong on Mastodon, ActivityPub, and the alternatives-to-Big-Tech space.
Recommended if: You’re interested in decentralized social media and what a different internet could look like.
Roderick on the Line
Website: www.merlinmann.com/roderick/ Status: 🟢 Active
John Roderick and Merlin Mann have a weekly conversation that defies easy description — part confessional, part comedy, part cultural criticism. One of the original “two guys talking” podcasts, and still one of the best.
Recommended if: You appreciate meandering, honest conversation between two genuinely funny and thoughtful people.
⭐️ Sharp China with Bill Bishop
Website: stratechery.com (Stratechery Plus) Status: 🟢 Active
Bill Bishop of the Sinocism newsletter and Ben Thompson discuss China — its politics, economy, technology, and relationship with the West. Essential listening for anyone trying to understand one of the most consequential geopolitical relationships of our time.
Recommended if: You follow China, geopolitics, or tech and want rigorous analysis beyond the headlines.
⭐️ Sharp Tech with Ben Thompson
Website: stratechery.com (Stratechery Plus) Status: 🟢 Active
Ben Thompson and Andrew Sharp discuss the week’s most important tech stories through the lens of Stratechery’s analytical framework. A great companion to Thompson’s writing.
Recommended if: You’re a Stratechery reader who wants more frequent, conversational takes from Thompson.
Song Exploder
Website: songexploder.net Status: 🟢 Active
Musicians take apart their songs piece by piece and explain how and why they made every decision. One of the most elegant podcast formats ever devised. Each episode is short, focused, and illuminating.
Recommended if: You love music and want to understand the creative decisions behind songs you love.
⭐️ Stratechery
Website: stratechery.com Status: 🟢 Active
Ben Thompson’s written analysis has an audio companion — longer interviews and discussions that extend his newsletter’s ideas. The podcast is the best entry point if you prefer listening to reading.
Recommended if: You want the sharpest framework-driven analysis of tech strategy available anywhere.
Syntax — Tasty Web Development Treats
Website: syntax.fm Status: 🟢 Active
Wes Bos and Scott Tolinski cover web development — JavaScript, CSS, frameworks, tools, and developer career advice. One of the most popular and consistently useful dev podcasts. Approachable without being dumbed down.
Recommended if: You’re a web developer or learning web development and want to stay current on the ecosystem.
⭐️ Tape Notes
Website: Available on major podcast platforms Status: 🟢 Active
In-depth conversations with musicians and producers about the making of specific albums and songs. Similar in spirit to Song Exploder but longer and more conversational.
Recommended if: You’re a musician, producer, or passionate music listener who wants to go deep on the creative process.
Tape Op Podcast
Website: tapeop.com Status: 🟡 Uncertain
The podcast companion to Tape Op, the beloved free magazine for recording musicians and audio engineers. Features interviews with producers, engineers, and musicians about the art and craft of recording.
Recommended if: You’re into recording, production, and the culture around making records.
The Talk Show with John Gruber
Website: daringfireball.net Status: 🟢 Active
John Gruber of Daring Fireball talks Apple, tech, culture, and whatever else comes up, usually with a guest. One of the foundational Apple-focused podcasts — long, unhurried, and opinionated.
Recommended if: You follow Apple closely and want the perspective of one of its most thoughtful long-term observers. 
## The Trap Set with Joe Wong Website: www.thetrapset.net Status: 🟡 Uncertain
Long-form interviews with drummers — not just about drumming, but about life, creativity, addiction, struggle, and what it means to be a musician. Joe Wong is an exceptional interviewer.
Recommended if: You’re a drummer or deeply interested in the human side of a musician’s life.
Twenty Thousand Hertz
Website: 20k.org Status: 🟡 Uncertain
Beautifully produced stories about the sounds that shape our world — from the history of the Wilhelm Scream to how silence is engineered. Hosted by Dallas Taylor.
Recommended if: You’re interested in audio, sound design, or just want a beautifully made podcast about something you’ve never thought about.
⭐️ The Vergecast
Website: theverge.com/the-vergecast Status: 🟢 Active (2026)
The Verge’s flagship podcast covers the week’s biggest technology stories with the publication’s signature mix of news, opinion, and cultural commentary. A reliable weekly companion for tech news.
Recommended if: You want a fun, well-produced weekly tech news show from one of the best tech publications.
- You’ll notice that Joe Rogan did not make the list. *