The best podcasts to listen to right now
In the era of everyone and their brother starting a podcast, it’s hard to know where to go for good quality, entertaining podcasts. Never fear, Lucy Bailey has you covered with this list of the best podcasts out right now.
All Aussie Mystery Hour
From the Kelly Gang to the Lithgow Panther, All Aussie Mystery Hour delves into the urban legends lying just outside your front door, providing deeper insight into many of Australia’s most famous unsolved mysteries. Each episode, hosted by Josie and Mel, is structured around a different mystery and the competing theories about their answers. With a uniquely Australian take on a tried and true podcast concept, episodes are undeniably entertaining, creepy, and perfect for easy listening.
2. Just Between Us
Hosted by comedy duo Allison Raskin and Gaby Dunn, this podcast provides entertaining life advice with shocking poignancy. Focusing on the topics of healthy friendships and relationships, the podcast thrives on the playful interplay between Raskin’s perspective as a mental health advocate and clinical psychology student and Dunn’s experiences within the LGBT community.
With unique, game show-inspired segments that poke at our innermost curiosities - ‘Would you stay with THIS cheater?’, Just Between Us is an exciting tonal mishmash of comedy and sincerity guaranteed to make you either laugh or cry.
3. Heavyweight
Heavyweight asks listeners to write in with their stories of regret, failure, or unfulfilled promises with the promise that this may be their last chance to make things right. Each 40-minute episode is structured around a different person’s regret, and host Jonothan Goldstein attempts to facilitate reparative action through a combination of reaching out, consoling, and leveraging his personal connections - all on tape, of course. With episodes ranging from the amusing tale of a shy kid who was yelled at by a pizza store owner to a former addict’s search to recover the family heirloom he sold years ago, the podcast keeps things fresh and heavy-hitting through its brutal honesty and empathetic storytelling.
4. Stuff the British Stole
Stuff the British Stole is a podcast produced by ABC Radio National and presented by journalist Marc Fernell. Episodes are structured around different objects currently housed in the UK, and their history is traced back to the culture and traditions to which they rightfully belong. With comparatively short, standalone episodes of around 20-30 minutes, Stuff the British Stole is the perfect podcast to put on on the train home or at the gym to feel like you learned something about the world.
5. The Disclosure Podcast
Undoubtedly one of the most relevant and entertaining philosophy podcasts out right now, The Disclosure Podcast is a powerful and informative look at ethical veganism and our responsibility to live sustainable lives. The podcast is hosted by Ed Winters, known online as Earthling Ed, whose socratic inspired activism has led him to lecture on both the TEDx stage and Harvard University. Episodes are released weekly and consist of interviews with high-profile researchers, philosophers, and personal anecdotes surrounding sustainability.