15 Podcasts to Listen to Get Smarter

By now the number of avid podcast listeners has increased substantially. If you are well aware about the podcasts available, you should go through the list below to ensure that you are not missing out any podcasts to listen to out there! If you are one of those who are still not aware about what these listeners are listening to, then you must first know the answer to this question.

What are podcasts?

Well, we’ll start by answering that question. Podcasts are much like public radios, which you can listen to! But unlike the public radios, which if you miss, you can’t play them back, podcasts can be played on demand.

Podcasts are sound files that are available on the internet, and can be downloaded on your device and played any number of times. Or you can also listen to them online. Some podcasts levy a little subscription charge. Whereas most podcasts are available for free, even on iTunes.

What is so special about podcasts other than their on-demand availability?

Podcasts target a specific audience. Each podcast is based on certain subject generally, and people interested to hear about that particular subject can subscribe to that podcast. A large number of podcasts are now available for almost every kind of listener. The speakers are great to hear, and the episodes are like stories that you can imagine clearly in your mind.

Which podcasts to listen to?

There are podcasts available on a wide variety of subjects such as those who enlighten you about celebrity life to those who are meant for geeks! We have enlisted some podcasts to listen to which can help make you smart!

You can gain a lot while listening to these great podcasts while you are on a morning run, taking an Uber to workplace or back or even when you are waiting at the airport with nothing to kill your time! Have a look at these podcasts! Click on the podcast names to visit them directly!

1. Hard Pass

This is a podcast where Josh Barro and Linette Lopez bring you great news and discuss it in depth. A weekly episode brings you some great detail of some recently trending issues, and does not eat much of your time. An episode lasts from anywhere between 5 to 10 minutes. Easy to understand and fun to listen!

2. The Allusionist

The Allusionist is one of the best podcasts to listen to if you are willing to know more about the English language. Each episode is based on some fascinating facts around the English language, and debunks some of the myths that must have struck your mind but you are still confused about an answer! You will also get to learn a word or two from each new episode.

3. Reveal

As the name goes, this podcast reveals information about various topics. They try to bring out the corrupt activities that goes on in the country, and thereby try to protect the vulnerable humans of the society.

Anything from government frauds to environment related violations, this podcast brings it all to you! So if you are looking to get more street smart, as in literally, then this is a must for you from our list of podcasts to listen to!

4. Sawbones

Dr. Sydnee McElroy and her husband Justin bring you this podcast, which is “A Marital Tour of Misguided Medicine”. This is a weekly show, and is quick to catch on with!

Source – themcelroy.family

The couple digs the past of medicine world and try to bring out anything, which can be weird, informative, stupid or something really whacky and gross. They tell you about how in the past, medicine practitioners have tried to fix their patients. It is a mix of knowledge with fun and amazement. 

5. The Memory Palace

This podcast is owned and run by Nate DiMeo. The guy has a good experience of speaking on public radio in his past life, and is great to hear! New episodes come on monthly or bi-weekly basis, so the releases are quite flexible. It is a story telling kind of podcast, that narrates events of the past. The historical descriptive narrations are interesting to hear and they teach us a lot about the past!

6. Planet Money

This podcast roles out 2 episodes each week. Each podcast lasts for about 15 minutes. It explains the economy in a classic way. The podcast revolves around what factors are going to effect the economy of US and by what margin. How the economists are planning to tackle a particular situation and what effects will it have on the people.

7. Tiny Leaps, Big Changes

Gregg Clunis presents this wonderful and inspiring podcast, with each episode lasting for a few minutes. He believes that all the big changes are a result of the tiny leaps that we take every day in our life.

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His words move around very well to inspire you and are a great listen for self improvement. This is the best among the podcasts to listen to if you are feeling stressed, anxious, or are a pro in procrastination. 

8. 99% Invisible

Founded and hosted by Roman Mars, who initially produced this from his bedroom, this podcast is about all those thoughts that we don’t pay much heed to. It is one of the best podcasts to listen to, as is clear from it’s 150 million + downloads.

Each episode brings up the knowledge behind some of the most common things which we fail to look deep into. For instance, how did the fortune cookie came into existence? Amazingly, this podcast answers it all, little at a time!

9. Hidden Brain

This podcast combines the explanations of science with story telling and helps curious people to understand the world and themselves in a better way. Hosted by Shankar Vedantam, the episodes lay focus on the unconscious and subconscious mind, and how our behavior and attitude gets reflected in the everyday things that we do.

10. The Daily

Hosted by Michael Barbaro and powered by New York Times journalism, this is a podcast that brings you the most essential news in a short span. Each episode lasts for 20 minutes, and released 5 days in a week. It is the best way to get the best news of everyday, especially while you are on your daily run, or while you are cooking, as this saves up your time while filling you in.

11. Codebreaker

Hosted by Ben Brock Johnson, the episodes will guide you through discussions about technology. The sessions are a mix of humor, little bit of dread and a pink of awe moments. The episodes are a bit long, lasting about 30 minutes each. But the entire thing is great to listen, and even better if you are a person with some good amount of logic!

12. Successful Dropout Podcast

You will get to hear Kylon Gienger behind this podcast, who is the creator. If you would read the name of the podcast again, you will know that what is going to be about. Kylon is a dropout and an entrepreneur.

He believes that you don’t necessarily need a college degree to be successful in life. So this is probably the best among the podcasts to listen to in case you are looking for inspiration, guidance, tools and resources to be a successful dropout!

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13. Terrible, Thanks for Asking

This podcast is hosted by Nora Mclnerny. The episodes depict a varying emotion of sadness, fun, awkwardness and honesty. The host talks about some everyday situations that we face and tackle them with an ok-ish feeling even though we are having a bad day.

It’s how we pretend at times when actually we are not in a very good state, and how we really want to tackle these situations otherwise!

14. The Brain Candy Podcast

Sarah Rice and Susie Meister are the two ladies behind this podcast. Don’t let their good looks fool you, because they are smart and brainy! The talks feel more like having a real time conversation, but just from one end.

With each episode, you will learn something new, either related to music, science or something or the other. But you are bound to leave more knowledgeable after each episode.

15. The Hilarious World of Depression

Hosted by the humorist and comedian, John Moe, you will get to hear many famous comedians on this podcast. The episodes include talks with great and successful people. They are mostly comedians, who have faced depression in their life and how they managed to laugh past it.

You can share some good laughter with this podcast. It is there to remind that people with depression are not alone, rather they should seek out the motive of their life and go on with it!