We live in a society that is hilariously, and hopelessly overflowing with information. Yet with everyone vying for attention, and everything feeling like they are short on attention, educational podcasts can serve as the modern intellectual’s companion of choice.
These shows can transform mundane household chores, and workout sessions into opportunities for enriching your mind. Unlike traditional classroom learning, these podcasts deliver knowledge in accessible, engaging formats that make complex subjects easy-to-understand without sacrificing depth or nuance. From the intricate mysteries of quantum physics to the forgotten footnotes of history, from philosophical debates that have spanned millennia to cutting-edge scientific breakthroughs happening right now, the best educational podcasts combine expert insights, masterful storytelling, and a genuine passion for knowledge that proves learning never needs to be dull.
Here are some of the top educational podcasts you can find anywhere.
In Our Time
BBC Radio 4’s In Our Time, hosted by Melvyn Bragg, offers intellectual exploration across diverse fields. The show examines historical events like Napoleon’s reign, the 1527 Rome Sack, and the Russian Revolution; profiles figures from Marie Antoinette to Cleopatra; investigates religious developments from early Buddhism to the Protestant Reformation; analyzes artistic achievements including Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel and Van Gogh’s Sunflowers; explains scientific concepts like black holes and penicillin’s impact.
Unexplainable
Unexplainable ventures beyond the boundaries of established knowledge, exploring the frontier of human understanding and beyond. The show’s team, Noam Hassenfeld, Julia Longoria, Byrd Pinkerton, and Meradith Hoddinott explores scientific enigmas, unresolved puzzles, and the discoveries made while investigating the mysterious unknown.
Twenty Thousand Hertz
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Narratives exploring the origins of globally renowned and captivating audio phenomena.
CrowdScience
We present your inquiries about existence, our planet, and the cosmos to scientists seeking solutions at the leading edge of discovery.
Every Little Thing
What causes the identical vocal pattern among television presenters? Is there truth to wolves vocalizing at lunar bodies? How did Elvis impersonators come to dominate marriage venues in Las Vegas?
Rationally Speaking Podcast
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Rationally Speaking, the New York City Skeptics’ podcast hosted by Julia Galef, examines the boundary between logic and absurdity with critical thinking and humour.
You Are Not So Smart
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You Are Not So Smart presents psychological insights, embracing both scientific discoveries and human self-deception. Each installment examines our current understanding of thought processes, cognitive distortions, evaluations, and choice-making mechanisms.
A Podcast Of Unnecessary Detail
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Seeking a humorous science podcast that doesn’t sacrifice depth? Look no further. Monthly, three scientific tales are analyzed by the comedic team from Festival of the Spoken Nerd. Mathematical performer Matt Parker, experimental specialist Steve Mould, and science-focused vocalist Helen Arney excel at exploring seemingly mundane topics that transform into captivating subjects when examined thoroughly.
No Stupid Questions
Psychological researcher Angela Duckworth (who wrote “Grit”) and technology/athletics executive Mike Maughan enjoy posing questions to others and believe every inquiry has value. They’ve created a podcast where they freely exchange what might be considered “naive questions” with each other.
Omnibus
Each week, Ken Jennings and John Roderick contribute another item to the OMNIBUS, a comprehensive collection of bizarre-yet-factual tales they’re assembling as an archival record for those who come after us.
Philosophize This!
Easy to follow if you start from the beginning! Perfect for anyone curious about philosophy, even without an academic background. This educational podcast walks through the major thinkers and ideas that shaped our world, presented in the order they appeared in history and made simple to understand.
Ologies with Allie Ward
Listen to Ologies with Allie Ward
Volcanoes. Trees. Tipsy butterflies. Trips to Mars. Slug mating. Mortality. Beauty ideals. Hacks for anxiety. The science of beer. Bee soap operas. You’ll walk away with a head full of quirky science facts and delightful, odd tales about the passions that drive these expert -ologists. Humorist and science reporter Alie Ward poses ridiculous questions to brilliant minds, and their answers just might shift your perspective. Read our review of Ologies, and discover the best episodes of Ologies.
Stuff To Blow Your Mind
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Somewhere in the back of your mind, you’ve always suspected that reality isn’t quite what it seems. You were right. Join Robert Lamb and Joe McCormick as they explore brain puzzles, mind-bending cosmic phenomena, astonishing feats of evolution, and what lies ahead in our transhuman destiny.
People I (Mostly) Admire
Listen to People I (Mostly) Admire
Steve Levitt, co-author of “Freakonomics”, sits down with remarkable individuals for unexpected and eye-opening chats about their passions and life journeys. Follow Levitt as he navigates a fascinating midlife crisis like no other, discovering how a maverick sheriff is reshaping Chicago’s jail system, how a biologist is uncovering evolutionary clues in the Arctic wilderness, and how a trivia whiz committed 160,000 flashcards to memory.
Throughline
Throughline is your portal to the past. In every episode, we go deeper than the news cycle to explore the question, “How did things come to be this way?” Through immersive storytelling and rich soundscapes, we make history vivid and immediate. From ancient empires to overlooked individuals, we bring you straight to the events that shaped our world.
The Dollop
Comedians Dave Anthony and Gareth Reynolds take a historical topic and dive into it with their unique perspective. Read our review of “The Dollop”. Discover the best episodes of “The Dollop”.
Jimmy Akin’s Mysterious World
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Hidden behind the visible world lies a realm of mystery.
Tides of History
The past leaves its imprint all around us. These traces shape the borders of nations, the ways we worship and wage war. They influence the currencies we use, the jobs we do, the languages we speak, and the ways we raise our families. From Wondery, host Patrick Wyman, PhD (known for “Fall Of Rome”), unpacks the forces of history to explain how our world came to be.
Stuff You Should Know
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If you’ve ever been curious about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Niño, true crime, or Rosa Parks, you’re in the right place. Josh and Chuck break it all down for you. Read our review of Stuff You Should Know, and discover the best episodes of Stuff You Should Know.
StarTalk Radio
StarTalk Radio brings together science, pop culture, and comedy in one entertaining mix! Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, Director of New York’s Hayden Planetarium, teams up with hilarious co-hosts, special guests, and top scientists to dive into astronomy, physics, and the mysteries of life across the cosmos.
Everything Everywhere Daily
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Discover something new daily with “Everything Everywhere Daily”!” Host “Gary Arndt”, a seasoned traveler and polymath, shares fascinating stories about history, science, culture, and more. Explore ancient civilizations like “Rome, Greece, Egypt, and China”, or dive into the lives of legends like “Julius Caesar, Hannibal, Cleopatra, and Isaac Newton”. From far-flung places (“Malta, Vanuatu, Greenland”) to innovations (“nanotech, Morse code, QWERTY keyboards”), this podcast covers it all.
The Weirdest Thing Learned This Week
Listen to The Weirdest Thing Learned This Week
At “Popular Science”, we publish countless science and tech stories each week. While many fascinating discoveries make it into our articles, we also come across plenty of bizarre tidbits that never see the light of day, until now. So we thought, why not pass those along to you?
Hidden Brain
“Why am I trapped in this rut?” “Where does creativity come from?” “How do I fix my relationships?” If these questions sound familiar, join us on *Hidden Brain*, where we explore the inner workings of your mind and the people in your life. Read our review of Hidden Brain and discover the best episodes of Hidden Brain.
This Podcast Will Kill You
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Hosted by experts Erin Welsh and Erin Allmann Updyke, This Podcast Will Kill You explores the biology, history, and spread of diseases and medical mysteries. They research topics from infections to poisons, making complex science accessible since 2017. Read our review of This Podcast Will Kill You and discover the best episodes of This Podcast Will Kill You.
Short Wave
Get your dose of science, new discoveries, daily enigmas, and the facts behind the news, in less than a quarter hour. With creativity and humor, hosts Emily Kwong and Regina Barber present science designed for everyone.
Timesuck with Dan Cummins
Listen to Timesuck with Dan Cummins
Dive into history’s dark and bizarre with Timesuck, the weekly podcast hosted by comedian Dan Cummins. Blending dark humor and research, it covers conspiracies, mysteries, and wild true stories. For quicker hits, check out the Short Sucks. Discover the best episodes of Timesuck.
The Last Archive
*The Last Archive* explores the evolving story of truth, how we’ve understood facts throughout history and how we arrived at today’s era of misinformation and doubt. It’s a deep dive into why certainty feels so fragile now, examining how knowledge itself has changed over time. Created by historian Jill Lepore and hosted by Ben Naddaff-Hafrey, this podcast unpacks why the ground beneath what we “know” seems to keep shifting.
You’re Wrong About
Sarah, a journalist with a historical fixation, dedicates each week to reconsidering a person or event typically misconstrued in the public eye. Discover the best episodes of “You’re Wrong About”.
Commute | The Podcast
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Considering the typical 20-25 minutes spent commuting daily, turn that travel time into learning time! Tune in with Dave & Jay each Monday for insights into three captivating subjects that will help you become the most intriguing individual in any setting.
99% Invisible
Design permeates our world, frequently in ways we no longer observe. 99% Invisible is a weekly deep dive into the impact and practice of design and architecture. Discover the best episodes of 99% Invisible.
Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal
Listen to Theories of Everything with Curt Jaimungal
Join Curt Jaimungal, a University of Toronto mathematical physics alumnus, on TOE for technically rigorous discussions on theoretical physics, consciousness, AI, and God. The podcast prioritizes depth and explores new ideas. Support is welcomed on Patreon.
Life Kit
Being human could use some support. Marielle Segarra hosts Life Kit, where she speaks with professionals to gather optimal advice on subjects like sleep, finances, and parenting. Life Kit is designed to help you get things in order.
Planet Money
We can connect any topic back to the economy, just watch! Planet Money delves into the economic powers that shape our lives, inviting you to explore alongside us. Understand the world by understanding its economics. Discover the best episodes of Planet Money, and find other podcasts like Planet Money.
Grammar Girl
A five-time winner of the Best Education Podcast award, Grammar Girl provides concise, easy-to-understand guidance for strengthening your writing abilities and indulging your passion for English. Whether English is your first or second language, these tips on grammar, punctuation, style, and business writing will elevate your skills and success as a writer.
Freakonomics Radio
Stephen J. Dubner, known for Freakonomics, reveals the less obvious aspects behind all sorts of topics. Explore questions like the relative safety of flying versus driving, how we choose spouses, and why news is often negative. Plus, delve into surprising facts about animals, food, environmental issues, technology, and the peculiarities of human actions. Discover the best episodes of Freakonomics Radio.
Science Vs
Forget fads, blogs, and strong opinions – rely on SCIENCE. Science Vs, from Spotify Studios, determines fact from fiction using research. We tackle the effort of examining the science on diverse subjects, from 5G and ADHD to Fluoride and Fasting Diets, so you don’t have to. Discover the best episodes of Science Vs.
Do you know of another educational podcast that you think should be on this list? Let me know.
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