Podcast recommendations

Initially published: 2021.08.01 // Last updated: 2022.11.19

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Ever since I discovered podcasts, I pretty much stopped reading non-fiction books. Whether or not that is a good thing is another discussion, but it speaks to the power of podcasting as a format and the many excellent podcasts that were produced/are in production ever since the “podcast boom” in 2019-ish, which is when I started very actively listening.

As with every medium, there’s good, bad, very bad and ugly podcasting. This list contains only the podcasts I encountered that I found superior in content, delivery, focus, enjoyability and production value.

In terms of software: if you are using an Android device, I highly recommend the FOSS application AntennaPod: it provides all listening features the other players have, has a clean UI, allows for offline listening, respects your privacy and - a deal maker for me - is by far the best maintained Android client that supports gPodder synchronization with my Nextcloud instance.

If you speak Dutch, scroll down for a separate Nederlandstalig category.

1. Recurring

	Radiolab Weekly // 30-60 mins The GOAT. Unrivaled in form, hardly beaten in content. New topic every week, high degree of variation. Never disappoints.
	This Day in Esoteric Political History 3 per week // 10-20 mins What happened on this calendar day in US history? Upbeat and extremely knowledgeable cast of historic experts.
	Darknet Diaries Weekly // 45-90 mins Despite its cringy moniker, enticing stories about cyber crime. Often accompanied by interviews with white/red/black hat industry experts.
	Twenty Thousand Hertz Weekly // 30 mins Stories behind (often everyday) sounds and their design.
	99% Invisible Weekly // 30-45 mins Exploring "invisible" design, genre "why do I never notice curbwalks". Although they seemed to have scraped that barrel (+500 eps.) and explore more niche design stuff as of late.
	Lex Fridman Podcast Weekly // 120-240 mins For me, Fridman does right what Joe Rogan did wrong. Impressive guest list, content-focused conversations, less "persona". Here's to hoping I don't want to remove this entry in a few months.
	Here Be Monsters Monthly(-ish) // 20-60 mins Interesting form factor, field-recordingesque. Wide variety of topics told in a very intimate way.
	Why We Bleep Monthly // 90-180 mins In-depth interviews with electronic musicians and synth nerds.

2. Non-recurring

	Slow Burn 7 seasons, 8 eps each // 50 mins Well-made US history stories. Covered topics: Watergate, Lewinsky, Biggie v. Tupac, David Duke, Iraq war, L.A. Riots, Roe v. Wade.
	Unfinished 3 seasons, 10 eps each // 50 mins Stories about US history that the country has not fully reckoned with. High emphasis on racial relations.
	The Coming Storm 10 episodes // 40 mins BBC podcast on QAnon, January 6th and the more outlandish strain of conspiracy theories enfulfing contemporary US politics.
	Heaven's Gate 10 episodes // 45 mins The unbelievable history of the Heaven's Gate cult and its mass suicide, of which its followers thought it was a UFO cab ticket.
	The Missing Cryptoqueen 11 episodes // 45 mins Ruja Ignatova scammed millions and disappeared into thin air. Podcast not only details her story, but actively Sherlocks her current whereabouts.
	Wind of Change 8 episodes // 50 mins Did the CIA write the Scorpions' hit to stir revolution in the USSR? More interesting than the answer to the question are the accounts of to what lengths psyops in the Cold War went.
	The Chernobyl Podcast 6 episodes // 50 mins Accompanying the (excellent) TV series, providing additional historical context to the eponymous nuclear disaster.
	Caliphate 6 episodes // 50 mins Probably the best investigative journalism about the rise, heyday and fall of ISIS I've heard.
	Day X 5 episodes // 30 mins NYT podcast about right-wing extremism's orchestrated infiltration into Germany's military and police force.
	Welcome To Your Fantasy 9 episodes // 45 mins I could never predict that a podcast about The Chippendales could be this entertaining. A look at the history and the behind-the-scenes of the male stripper ensemble.

3. Nederlandstalig

	Klara podcasts Ik moet de eerste historische podcast van Klara waar ik niet met volle teugen van genoot nog horen. Steeds verteld door topical experts, steeds de perfecte lengte, steeds een mooie balans tussen entertainment en historische nuchterheid.
	Tech45 Wekelijks // 60 mins Gezellig technieuws, goede cast. Prima blend tussen enthousiasme en cynisme.
	Nerdland Maandoverzicht Maandelijks // 120 mins Populairste Vlaamse podcast, niet zonder reden. Belangrijk en quirky wetenschapsnieuws van voorbije maand op goede (doch iets te upbeat) manier gebracht.
	Vranckx & Byloo Maandelijks // 30-60 mins Verhelderende gesprekken over "de stand van de wereld". In realiteit meestal de onderbelichte kluwens van het Midden-Oosten. Plus, het is Rudi Vranckx.
	Bjorn in the USA Onregelmatig // 60 mins Björn Soenens geeft in longform achtergrond bij het nieuws in de VS, op typerende dichterlijke wijs.
	Zaad zonder naam 4 afleveringen // 30 mins Aandoenlijke getuigenissen van de vier spermadonoractoren: de dokter, de moeder, de donor, het kind.
	De schaduw van Dutroux 5 afleveringen // 45 mins Als kind van de vroege jaren '90 weet ik perfect weten wat Dutroux gedaan heeft, maar kan ik zijn stempel op onze samenleving niet inschatten - en net daarop focust deze podcast.