12 best society & culture podcasts to listen to
What makes people tick? These podcasts explore the stories, ideas, and beliefs that shape how we live and how we see the world around us.
Find podcasts worth your time by topic, where you listen and how often new episodes come out. Navid's picks come first.
This is a list of the best society & culture podcasts.
In fact, it has 12 of them, with Navid's picks first.
So if you want society & culture podcasts worth your time, you'll love this list.
What makes people tick? These podcasts explore the stories, ideas, and beliefs that shape how we live and how we see the world around us.
Here's what's inside:
- Modern Wisdom by Chris Williamson
- Wild Things: Siegfried & Roy by Apple TV+
- This American Life by Ira Glass
- The Happiness Lab by Dr. Laurie Santos
- Decoder Ring by Slate
- Stuff You Should Know by iHeart
- The Ezra Klein Show by Ezra Klein
- Radiolab by WNYC Studios
- Honesty with Bari Weiss by Bari Weiss
- Freakonomics Radio by Stephen Dubner
- Against The Odds by Wondery
- The Joe Rogan Experience by Joe Rogan
Each one comes with what it covers and who it's for.
What are the best society & culture podcasts?
Here's the list at a glance.
- Host
- Chris Williamson
- Episodes
- 1100+
- Host
- Apple TV+
- Episodes
- Weekly
- Host
- Ira Glass
- Episodes
- Weekly
- Host
- Dr. Laurie Santos
- Episodes
- Weekly
- Host
- Slate
- Episodes
- Weekly
- Host
- iHeart
- Episodes
- Weekly
- Host
- Ezra Klein
- Episodes
- Weekly
- Host
- WNYC Studios
- Episodes
- Weekly
- Host
- Bari Weiss
- Episodes
- Weekly
- Host
- Stephen Dubner
- Episodes
- Weekly
- Host
- Wondery
- Episodes
- Weekly
- Host
- Joe Rogan
- Episodes
- Weekly
Top 12 society & culture podcasts
1. Modern Wisdom by Chris Williamson
Modern Wisdom is Chris Williamson's interview show, running since 2018 with over 1,100 episodes. Guests have included David Goggins, Jordan Peterson, Naval Ravikant, Andrew Huberman and Ryan Holiday, and the conversations cover self-improvement, mindset, productivity and fitness.
Episodes: 1100+
Since: 2018
How often: 3 times a week
Listen to Modern Wisdom · More about Modern Wisdom
2. Wild Things: Siegfried & Roy by Apple TV+
Apple TV+ investigates the untold story behind Siegfried & Roy's famous tiger attack.
How often: Weekly
Listen to Wild Things: Siegfried & Roy · More about Wild Things: Siegfried & Roy
3. This American Life by Ira Glass
Ira Glass and team produce deeply reported stories on the extraordinary lives of ordinary Americans.
How often: Weekly
Listen to This American Life · More about This American Life
4. The Happiness Lab by Dr. Laurie Santos
Yale professor Dr. Laurie Santos explores the science of happiness and what actually makes us feel better.
How often: Weekly
Listen to The Happiness Lab · More about The Happiness Lab
5. Decoder Ring by Slate
Slate investigates cultural mysteries and phenomena, from viral trends to forgotten histories.
How often: Weekly
Listen to Decoder Ring · More about Decoder Ring
6. Stuff You Should Know by iHeart
Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant explain how everything works, from everyday things to mind-bending topics.
How often: Weekly
Listen to Stuff You Should Know · More about Stuff You Should Know
7. The Ezra Klein Show by Ezra Klein
Ezra Klein has in-depth conversations about politics, policy, and ideas with leading thinkers.
How often: Weekly
Listen to The Ezra Klein Show · More about The Ezra Klein Show
8. Radiolab by WNYC Studios
WNYC's iconic podcast blends science, philosophy, and storytelling to explore the wonder of the world.
How often: Weekly
Listen to Radiolab · More about Radiolab
9. Honesty with Bari Weiss by Bari Weiss
Bari Weiss hosts honest conversations about the ideas and controversies shaping our culture.
How often: Weekly
Listen to Honesty with Bari Weiss · More about Honesty with Bari Weiss
10. Freakonomics Radio by Stephen Dubner
Stephen Dubner explores the hidden side of everything through economics, psychology, and surprising data.
How often: Weekly
Listen to Freakonomics Radio · More about Freakonomics Radio
11. Against The Odds by Wondery
Wondery tells gripping true stories of people who survived impossible situations against all odds.
How often: Weekly
Listen to Against The Odds · More about Against The Odds
12. The Joe Rogan Experience by Joe Rogan
Joe Rogan has long-form conversations with comedians, athletes, scientists, and cultural icons.
Since: 2009
How often: Weekly
Listen to The Joe Rogan Experience · More about The Joe Rogan Experience
Final thoughts on society & culture podcasts
The best society & culture podcast is the one you come back to. Pick 2 or 3 from this list, give them a month, and keep the ones you look forward to.
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