The 20 Most Important Podcasts of 2025 (and Two Unmissable Episodes)
If 2024 was the year podcasts struggled to find their footing after a massive wave of acquisitions and consolidations during the pandemic, then 2025 will be the year the medium truly finds its footing (and I should know… Not only do I write a podcast newsletter and run a podcast company, I also listen to literally thousands of hours of podcasts every year).
Whatever series you’re looking for—from a plot about demonic possession to an in-depth investigation into criminal activity at sea, or a brilliantly improvised comedy series—my guide to the best podcasts of 2025 has you covered. I’ve divided the list into categories to help you find exactly what you need. And since some episodes are too good to hide in your queue, I’ve also highlighted two memorable episodes of beloved series from years past that you shouldn’t miss. Let’s listen.
The Best Fiction Podcasts of 2025
Two thousand and later
This year, Lauren Shippen, master audio writer and creator of The Bright Sessions , brought us Two Thousand and Later , a fictional show about a woman who, on her 36th birthday, becomes possessed by a demon that was supposed to visit her when she turned 16. It’s a smart, meticulously written, expertly produced, and endlessly entertaining adventure that combines corporate satire with the chaos of time travel.
Harbingers
Gabriel Urbina’s (best known as the creator and lead writer of the series“Wolf 359 “) new audio drama “Harbingers” introduces us to two very different graduate students who ultimately become the first humans with true magical abilities, making them the most powerful people in the world. This expansive, audio-rich show is witty, unpredictable, and gripping from the very first minute.
The Best Comedy Podcasts of 2025
Next we have
I love podcasts with good segments, so of course I’m drawn to a podcast made entirely of segments. Next We Have , hosted by Gareth Reynolds (ofThe Dollop and We’re Here to Help ), enlists top improvisers to create completely ridiculous segments—the point isn’t to make them viable, but to see how far a group of comedians can stretch the format. (Examples of segments: writing a negative Yelp review of a chain hotel on behalf of a listener, calling Gareth’s childhood friend to see if he remembers a bad sleepover incident from their past, etc.)
Write me a reply
If you’ve been listening to podcasts long enough to rememberCall Your Girlfriend , you’ll appreciate the tried-and-true format of best friend eavesdropping. Text Me Back co-hosts Lindy West and Megan Hatcher-Mays have been best friends since high school, and listening to them brings back the flavor of that beloved show. While Call Your Girlfriend leaned heavily toward casual chatter, Text Me Back feels like nonstop stand-up. Lindy is a writer and television screenwriter, and Megan is an expert on democratic politics, but together they’re an irrepressible comedy duo. They can turn mundane moments, like ordering a takeout salad, into listening gold. It’s the perfect show for a good laugh when you need it (and a little validation for your own awkward moments).
The Best Internet Culture Podcasts of 2025
The latest invention
If you knew aliens would take over the world in 50 years, would you be alarmed? The show “The Latest Invention” argues that this is our reality, if you replace the word “aliens” with “AI.” Host Gregory Warner says the artificial intelligence revolution is already here. “The Latest Invention” begins with the history of machine learning and offers a thoughtful analysis of how it’s used today, then looks to the future to understand what awaits us, what we might gain, what we might lose, and how best to prepare. The show is fact-based, not fear-mongering, but it might be the most alarming thing I’ve heard all year.
Suspicious Minds
Joel and Ian Gold are brothers (Joel is a psychiatrist, Ian a philosopher) and co-authors of Suspicious Minds: How Culture Shapes Madness , which they turned into this show (with Sean O’Grady). It’s a documentary series that examines the problems associated with AI-fueled delusions and seeks to understand their place in the history of human delusional thinking as a whole. Using compelling stories of real patients, it takes listeners deep into their disturbed mental states and then traces their journey to managing their illness. We read the headlines—about the man gaslighted by ChatGPT into thinking he was a digital Jesus, or the man convinced he was a piece of software—but we don’t always understand the context. Sean interviews these people with empathy to gain this important context and discovers a disturbing universality in their stories.
The Best Culture Podcasts of 2025
The Devil’s Lie
“The Devil’s Lie” is a culture and politics podcast hosted by Katie Gatti Tassin and Caro Clare Burke. Think of it as a deep dive into the ideas shaping contemporary America, from algorithmic media to late capitalism and identity politics. But it’s also genuinely funny. And skeptical. And backed by a wealth of research. Thanks to listener support and freedom from corporate pressure, the hosts are free to question conventional wisdom. (Every dollar raised is shared between Caro, Katie, and organizations that support mutual aid in Gaza, legal representation for immigrant children trapped in the legal system, and other worthy causes.)
Pablo Torre finds out
Pablo Torre is a seasoned journalist and former ESPN commentator who has become a true leader in podcasting. He currently hosts “Pablo Torre Finds Out,” a program that examines sports through the lens of the intersection of culture and power. Combining investigative reporting, commentary, and personal curiosity, he goes beyond superficial analysis to find the deeper meaning behind the headlines. His investigation into the massive scandal involving Los Angeles Clippers owner Steve Ballmer was named one of Apple Podcast’s best podcast episodes of the year, and it’s just one of dozens of compelling stories you’ll discover.
The Best Long-Form Investigative Podcasts of 2025
In the Dark: Blood Relatives
In previous seasons, In Darkness won awards, helped a man escape from prison, and uncovered a horrific military conspiracy. The latest season, Blood Relatives , explores one of Britain’s most high-profile family murders, uncovering serious problems in the prosecution of Jeremy Bamber, who is currently in prison for the murder of his parents, sister, and nephews in 1985. Presenter Heidi Blake has access to extensive case files and has spoken to arguably everyone involved. What she uncovered is shocking and infuriating.
Ocean outlaw
The first season of The Outlaw Ocean , which exposed true crimes committed at sea, was some of the most dangerous audio I’ve ever heard. However, in the first episode of Season 2, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and host Ian Urbina says this season includes the most dangerous investigative reporting of his career. There’s a three-part series about sea migrants being thrown into secret prisons (his crew was jailed for reporting on it), an exclusive profile of a man who is either a pirate or a maritime James Bond, an exposé of a massive Indian shrimp processing plant, and an unprecedented deep dive into secret Chinese fishing practices. This is true investigative journalism, beautifully packaged, but no less dangerous.
The Best True Crime Podcasts of 2025
Beth is dead
“Beth’s Dead” isn’t a murder mystery. It’s a story about what happens when parasocial relationships cross dangerous lines. It all started when Monica Padman (of Armchair Expert ) began to unravel why her favorite podcast, hosted by Elizabeth Lime and Andy Rosen, ended years ago. In “Beth’s Dead,” she sits down with Elizabeth and Andy to discuss a chilling tale of obsessive listeners, manipulation, and what happens when one devoted fan turns into something much darker.
A sharp response
It’s not often you see stand-up comedy mixed with true crime, but that’s exactly what you get in Wisecrack . The story centers on comedian Edd Hedges, who returns to his hometown for a charity comedy gig. That night, someone he went to school with murders his family, and Edd has reason to believe the man almost tried to kill him, too. Or did he? Wisecrack , hosted by television crime producer Jodi Tovey, is more about memory and trauma than a specific crime. If you enjoyed Netflix’s Fawn , this masterfully crafted, genre-bending psychological puzzler is for you.
The Best Interview Podcasts of 2025
Good hang
Amy Poehler’s “Good Hang” is the best podcast ever, and one of the best celebrity podcasts ever. Poehler invites superstar comedians to talk about what makes them laugh, share stories from their lives and careers, and just generally have fun. Conversations with the likes of Kristin Wiig, Idris Elba, and Ina Garten range from hilariously funny to candid and touching, offering an inside look at the entertainment industry. The production is as casual as the atmosphere: Amy allows for “mistakes” that might be cut on another show, like a guest arriving late to a Zoom call or moments of laughter, and the result is a comforting listen that will leave you feeling like you just got a hug.
Strangers on a bench
“Strangers on a Bench” is an atypical interview podcast. Musician and host Tom Rosenthal walks through parks, approaching random strangers on benches and inviting them to sit at a table for completely open, meditation-like conversations. The strangers are always anonymous—we don’t learn their names, professions, or any other details. This means they can be genuine, and they do. You never know what will happen when you press play. Some episodes are lighthearted, casual conversations about life, while others delve into topics of grief, trauma, loss, longing, mental health issues, or life transitions.
The Best Personal Podcasts of 2025
Stop Rewind: Lost Boy
Stop Rewind: The Lost Boy tells a true story so incredible that I literally didn’t believe it—at first, I assumed it was fiction. It’s the story of Taj, a child born in India and adopted by a family in the United States. He had a difficult childhood, growing up in abject poverty and with only vague memories of that time, including one that suggested he was brought to America through kidnapping. He spent his life trying to forget it, intentionally or not, and forge his own path, until one day he discovered an old cassette tape of himself as a child, recorded by his mother when he first arrived in the country, knowing he would eventually forget his native language. As an adult, long after he no longer understood his own voice, Taj met someone who spoke that language, and the transcription of those tapes revealed what had truly happened to him. The result is a stunning story, perfect for a podcast: it’s “told through rare original recordings, captivating sound design, and unforgettable first-person accounts.” You’re already dying to hear it, aren’t you?
Alternate realities
Zach Mac’s “Alternate Realities” series, available in the embedded feed, begins with an argument between Zach and his father, who believed they had lost each other to conspiracy theories. Zach’s father had begun to believe in chemtrails, that the government controlled the weather, that ANTIFA had staged January 6th, and that conspirators called globalists controlled the world. Zach… didn’t believe any of this. So, in early 2024, Zach’s father compiled a list of 10 prophecies (e.g., “a bunch of Democrats will be convicted of treason and/or murder, and the U.S. will be enacted under the Marshall Law”) that he believed would come true 100% of the time, and by January 1, 2025, Zach would have to pay his father $1,000 for each one that came true. For every wish that doesn’t come true, Zach will receive $1,000. What begins as a strange bet develops into a beautifully depicted family tragedy that makes you ponder the depths of your own mortality.
The Best Independent Podcasts of 2025
Closely
Kate Downie has suffered from debilitating menstrual cramps every month since she was 14. It’s a common problem, but no one seems to want to talk about it or explore it, and certainly no one tries to have fun with it. But Kate does all of the above inCramped , which is both loud and incredibly serious. It’s full of engaging interviews, educational information, and helpful tips for anyone with a uterus. She brings smart, funny people onto the mic to talk about their experiences during this time of the month, what’s really going on in their bodies and why no one cares, and why Kate can’t get answers from her doctor after 20 years of asking questions.
Heads of Debt
When I watched the first episode of Debtheads, I felt like a thirsty man who’d just found water in the desert. I don’t like talking about money, but this show has a lot I didn’t realize I was so thirsty for. Jamie Feldman and Rachel Webster approach financial matters from a perspective we’re not accustomed to. They joke that it’s “a true investigation into the murder of our bank accounts,” and the show is carefully crafted, taking into account the deeply human factors that can drive people into debt.
Best Podcast Series of 2025
Clotheshorse: I’m with the brand
Clotheshorse ‘s Amanda Lee McCarthy spent years working in retail and fashion as a buyer for major brands like Urban Outfitters before becoming a quasi-spokesperson, exposing the glamour that obscures the real truth about the clothes we buy. Amanda’s multi-part series, ” Me With Brand ,” helps us begin to untangle our relationships with brands, based on both extensive research and her personal experience. You’ll explore the history of brands, with testimonials of several that are now simply licensed zombie versions of themselves; an exposé of cause-based marketing; and a dissection of the Ten Commandments of Emotional Branding, coupled with specific stories of how they were applied. (Beware, once you see them, you can’t unsee them.) Repeat after Amanda: Brands are not your friends.
Camp Swamp Road
The Wall Street Journal article ” Camp Swamp Road ” tells a story that began with road rage and ended in either self-defense or murder, depending on who you ask. In 2023, on Camp Swamp Road in South Carolina, Weldon Boyd and Bradley Williams killed Scott Spivey, who they say was driving erratically and firing a gun through the window. Scott Spivey’s sister, who for some reason has been reviewing all audio recordings of the incident, as well as audio recordings of Weldon Boyd’s interactions with family, friends, and fellow police officers, believes otherwise. In this report, we will try to get to the bottom of the truth.
Two must-listen podcast episodes from 2025
Auralyn (with Blair Braverman), You’re Wrong
Traveler Blair Braverman creates a mini-podcast about survival on You’re Wrong About . (If you’re interested in stories about the life of Baby Jessica, Chris McCandless, or the 1972 Uruguay plane crash, look for her name in the archive.) ” The Auralyn ” is one of her best podcasts: Blair tells the story of Maurice and Marilyn Bailey, a couple who miraculously survived 118 days adrift in a tiny rubber life raft in the Pacific Ocean in 1972 after their yacht was destroyed. It’s a story about survival, sure, but more importantly, it’s about what sustains us and what gives us the strength to survive, whether on a raft adrift at sea or just on a bad day.
“Kevin,” heavyweight
In “Heavyweight ,” Jonathan Goldstein plays a detective who helps people solve problems from their pasts. In this episode, we meet ” Kevin ,” who had a terrible childhood, like something out of a movie. He had two friends who, to some extent, saved his life, or at least his sanity, during those difficult years, but one day they disappeared, and Jonathan sets out to find them. Are they okay? Do they even remember Kevin? This episode has all the ingredients for a compelling podcast: Kevin’s wonderful storytelling, heartbreaking narrative, a real chance for closure, and a twist ending that’s not easy to explain.