Podcasts have been gaining more popularity in the last few years, and streaming companies started to pay more attention to podcasts. We see Google launching its own podcasts platform, and Spotify and Apple competing to have exclusive podcasting content. Today we want to focus on Spotify. The streaming giant has been investing in podcasts for a while now, acquiring different podcasting companies, as well as the rights to some of the most popular podcasts of all time like The Joe Rogan Experience.
As a result of these efforts, there are now more than 2 million podcasts on Spotify, making the task of picking what to listen to harder than ever. To help you choose, we have created this list of the best podcasts on Spotify which includes both Spotify Originals as well as podcasts that you can find on other platforms. The topics will vary between history, true crime, music, comedy, sports, and pop culture. So let’s get into it, here are the best Podcasts on Spotify.
Wind of Change
“It’s 1990. The Berlin Wall just fell. The Soviet Union is on the verge of collapse. And the soundtrack to the revolution is one of the best-selling songs of all time, the metal ballad “Wind of Change,” by the Scorpions. Decades later, journalist Patrick Radden Keefe heard a rumor: the song wasn’t written by the Scorpions. It was written by the CIA. This is his journey to find the truth.” This is how the creators of the show introduced it in the synopsis. We promise that you will enjoy every bit of this 8-episode joint production by Pineapple Street Studios, Crooked Media, and Spotify Studios.
This multi-part limited series, produced by Spotify Studios and hosted by journalist Jason Cavanagh who is conducting a real-time investigation into the murders, crimes, and conspiracies of hitman Charles Harrelson, father to actor Woody Harrelson. The show consists of 10 episodes with an average run time of 50 minutes. If you are a true crime lover, then Son of a Hitman is a must-listen.
While investigative podcasts aim to solve mysteries, Unexplained mentioned all the mysteries that are still unsolved. It’s a bi-weekly podcast hosted by Richard Maclean Smith who in every episode talks about strange, mysterious events that are still left without an explanation. Smith’s voice accompanied by the disturbing background music will leave you in horror. We don’t recommend that you listen to this podcast before sleep.
This history podcast is created for people who don’t like to learn about history. The host Greg Jenner is joined by comedians and other historians to learn and laugh about different historical events. From the ancient Egyptians and Babylonians to the history of football, chocolate, and other interesting topics. Episodes are usually 30 minutes long, and you can pick and choose the topics that you like and listen to them.
This interesting podcast is hosted by neuroscientist, philosopher, and best-selling author Sam Harris as he explores important and controversial questions about the human mind, society, and current events. Currently, there are more than 250 episodes, and you can start listening anywhere, with so many different topics, including The Future of Intelligence, Order & Freedom, The Groves of Misinformation, and many others, you will definitely find something you like.
“GIANT is a weekly podcast bringing you football stories that matter, told by the people who were there. It’s as much about people as it is penalties, life as it is legends, and emotion as it is extra time. This is an audio documentary series that takes you deep into the stories you might know, you think you know, or you definitely should know.” reads the synopsis. GIANT is a Spotify Original podcast hosted by Owen Blackhurst that every football fan should listen to.
Soul Music is a host-less podcast by BBC that looks at the power of music. Being the language of the world, music affects each of us in different ways. In each episode, the podcast focuses on a single song or soundtrack and the way it influenced different people. With no host, the podcast consists of different speakers telling their own personal stories about the track with seamless transitions. If you are passionate about music, or you just want to get your mood up, have a listen.
Code Switch is an NPR podcast that tackles the issues of race, ethnicity, and racial identity. The show has been going on since 2016, and it’s hosted by two journalists of color. The hosts try to answer questions and explore how race affects every part of society, from politics and pop culture to history, food, and everything in between. Each episode is around 45 minutes of funny, and most informative content.
This limited series by Wondery and Bloomberg tells the real-life story of a therapist named Ike. Ike was very successful and had dozens of patients, but one day his neighbor, journalist Joe Nocera discovered that everything he knew about Ike was wrong. The Shrink Next Door is a story about power, control, and turning to the wrong person for help for three decades.
Stuff You Should Know is one of the oldest podcasts on our list with over 1400 episodes. The podcast is produced by iHeart radio and hosted by two writers from the HowStuffWorks website. Each episode dives into a different topic from economics and politics to biology and nature around us. The episodes are not in any order, so you can download and listen to the topics that interest you.
Reply All is a tech podcast for ordinary people, meaning that you don’t need to be a tech nerd to understand what is happening in each episode. The podcast is produced by Gimlet and hosted by PJ Vogt and Alex Goldman who talk in each episode about issues and incidents on the internet. The conversation topics vary from memes and the internet pop culture to privacy issues with Facebook and other social media platforms. If you are an internet user, you will definitely find what would interest you in Reply All.
