The interview podcast. Humanity’s greatest contribution to civilization since sliced bread. Because what the world truly needed was more opinions from people who already have microphones. Somewhere between the 47th time a host asked a guest to “take us back to the beginning” and the 12th consecutive episode about someone’s “entrepreneurial journey,” a beautiful art form was born.
But here’s the thing: a great interview podcast is rare, a magical place where the host listens instead of just waiting for their turn to talk, and where guests say something they haven’t already said on the last 12 podcasts they appeared on this week. So, because your commute isn’t going to fill itself and your earbuds didn’t buy themselves just to gather dust, I’ve done the exhausting work of sitting through what felt like all of them to bring you the ones actually worth your time. Here are some of the top interview podcasts in the world.
Beautiful Stories From Anonymous People
One phone call. One hour. Complete anonymity. That is the concept at the heart of Beautiful Stories from Anonymous People, a podcast hosted by comedian Chris Gethard (known for the Chris Gethard Show, Broad City, This American Life, and recognized as one of Time Out’s 10 best comedians of 2015). Each week, Chris opens the line to a single anonymous caller, with one unbreakable rule: he is never allowed to hang up first, regardless of what unfolds. From startling confessions and well-guarded family secrets to deep philosophical debates and shameless self-promotion, the show leaves the door open for absolutely anything.
On Being with Krista Tippett
Insight to restore and guide listeners through a delicate and turbulent moment in history. Spiritual exploration, scientific thought, social restoration, and the written word. Conversations that shape the way one moves through the world. Boasting a 20-year archive with celebrated figures such as Mary Oliver, Thich Nhat Hanh, and Desmond Tutu, each episode offers a fresh revelation about the vastness of human existence.
The Knowledge Project
A guide to absorbing the hard-won knowledge that others have spent a lifetime accumulating. Thought-provoking conversations with the most accomplished minds, going far deeper than conventional wisdom to reveal the enduring truths that underpin lasting achievement. For those who find value in the show, hitting the follow button is encouraged.
On with Kara Swisher
The wait is over. Twice a week, award-winning journalist Kara Swisher cuts straight to the heart of the matter through unflinching interviews with influential figures spanning business, technology, media, politics, and beyond. So what keeps her guests coming back? “Smart people,” Kara has said, “like difficult questions.
Strangers on a Bench
What secrets might a stranger on a park bench be carrying? Tom Rosenthal, a singer-songwriter by profession, spent the better part of a year wandering through parks across the UK and Ireland, seeking out unsuspecting bench-sitters and asking whether he might join them for a recorded conversation. Each participant remains fully anonymous throughout, with neither their name nor their place of work ever disclosed, even to Tom himself. This layer of anonymity fosters a remarkable sense of openness and closeness, drawing out candid and often unexpected revelations from those who agree to take part.
This Is Actually Happening
What would it feel like to be trafficked into a cult, mauled by a grizzly bear, or survive being stabbed 27 times by a serial killer? This is Actually Happening delivers remarkable true accounts of life-altering events, told firsthand by the very people who experienced them. From a man who regained consciousness inside a morgue to a woman left stranded in a Mexican desert and fighting for her life, these gripping stories keep listeners riveted from start to finish, desperate to find out how each harrowing ordeal unfolds.
The Jordan Harbinger Show
Named one of Apple’s Best of 2018, Jordan Harbinger sits down with top performers across every field, from leaders like Ray Dalio and Mark Cuban to athletes like Kobe Bryant and Tony Hawk, turning their hard-won wisdom into practical takeaways for work, life, and relationships.
Baby, this is Keke Palmer
Keke Palmer has questions, and she isn’t shy about asking them. On this show, she sits down with artists, actors, entrepreneurs, and culture-shapers for honest, layered conversations about identity, reinvention, and growth. Because nuance takes time, and that’s exactly what Keke makes space for.
Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso
Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso is a weekly podcast featuring candid, unhurried conversations with artists, activists, and politicians, where guests are free to simply be themselves.
The Ezra Klein Show
Ezra Klein guides listeners through thoughtful explorations of the questions that truly matter. How should society address climate change when political systems fall short? Have market-driven values crept too deeply into everyday life? Where is the Republican Party headed? What can psychedelics reveal about the nature of consciousness? What does science fiction grasp about the present moment that the rest of us overlook? And can a food system ever be built that treats both humans and animals with fairness?
The Take
Hosted by award-winning journalist Malika Bilal, The Take is a daily news podcast featuring conversations with reporters and those directly affected by the day’s biggest stories. With millions of listeners worldwide and recognition from the Online Journalism Awards, Signal Awards, and beyond, it’s a show that consistently proves its worth.
Good Hang with Amy Poehler
Each week, Amy Poehler throws open the doors of her studio to celebrities and interesting personalities for a laid-back conversation. Together, they swap stories about their careers, mutual friends, shared passions, and whatever has been making them laugh lately. There’s no self-improvement agenda here, Amy simply wants to have a good time, and she’s inviting listeners along for the ride.
Lives Less Ordinary
What might be hiding behind a stranger’s eyes? Snap Judgment invites listeners to step inside someone else’s world and brace themselves for the unexpected, extraordinary true stories gathered from every corner of the globe.
The Tim Ferriss Show
Tim Ferriss: bestselling author of The 4-Hour Workweek and self-described human guinea pig, deconstructs world-class performers across investing, chess, pro sports, and beyond, extracting the tools and tactics listeners can put to use in their own lives.
Fresh Air
Fresh Air from WHYY is a Peabody Award-winning weekday program and one of the most beloved shows in public radio. Hosted by Terry Gross and Tonya Mosley, it brings listeners up close with some of today’s most celebrated and influential figures through thoughtful, in-depth conversation.
Broken Record
Broken Record is where music and storytelling intersect, bringing together artists from across genres and generations to reflect on the joy, chaos, and raw vulnerability that comes with the creative process, and what it truly means to dedicate a life to music. From legendary icons to bold emerging voices, each episode captures an honest exchange in which artists open up about the inspirations and experiences that have shaped who they are and how they create.
Call Her Daddy
The most-listened to podcast by women, Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy has been sparking conversation since 2018. From candid, heartfelt discussions to genuinely hilarious moments, Cooper cuts straight through the noise alongside a roster of compelling guests and fearlessly tackles the topics others shy away from.
The Colin and Samir Show
Colin and Samir are YouTube creators and podcasters who break down the latest developments in the creator economy from the perspective of those actually living it. With a long history of building communities and brands through digital content, they bring an insider’s understanding to every conversation.
Life Changing
Dr. Sian Williams speaks with people whose lives were forever altered by extraordinary events, exploring how they navigated the obstacles that turned everything upside down, and the remarkable discoveries they made along the way.
Bullseye with Jesse Thorn
Bullseye is a love letter to the very best in arts and culture, delivered in classic public radio style. Host Jesse Thorn cuts through the noise to bring listeners thoughtful, in-depth conversations with some of the most respected and groundbreaking creative minds of our time. The show has been featured in Time, The New York Times, GQ, and McSweeney’s, which once described it as “the kind of show people listen to in a more perfect world.”
Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Julia Louis-Dreyfus returns for Season 4 of her award-winning podcast, Wiser Than Me. Each week, she sits down with iconic older women for conversations that are by turns funny, moving, and deeply personal, exchanges overflowing with the kind of unapologetic wisdom that only comes with age. This season, Julia learns from an extraordinary lineup of teachers, including, of course, her 91-year-old mother, Judith.
Wild Card with Rachel Martin
Life is too short for surface-level conversation. Once a week, Rachel cuts straight to the questions that truly matter, inviting well-known guests to draw from a deck of cards and open up about the things most people think but rarely say aloud. Actors, authors, and thinkers are prompted to reflect on everything from their deepest insecurities and biggest dreams to grief, faith, and the weight of being human.
Decoder with Nilay Patel
Decoder is a show from The Verge that tackles big ideas, and the thorny problems that come with them. Verge editor-in-chief Nilay Patel sits down with a wide-ranging cast of innovators and policymakers operating at the cutting edge of business and technology, uncovering how they navigate a constantly shifting landscape, what weighs on them most, and what it all means for the future everyone shares.
Therapuss with Jake Shane
Jake Shane takes the proverbial therapist’s chair in THERAPUSS, a talk show where guests ranging from industry professionals to his own roommates join him for sessions that are equal parts playful and genuinely introspective, helping fans work through their current drama, one submission at a time.
Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard
Dax Shepard is endlessly drawn to the messiness of being human. Armed with over a decade of sobriety, a degree in Anthropology, and four years of improv training, he sits down with guests to explore their stories, celebrating the struggles and setbacks that ultimately lead to growth. No lab work required. Just an armchair and a whole lot of curiosity.
The Unmistakable Creative Podcast
A showcase of inspiring stories and actionable insight from creatives, entrepreneurs, change-makers, misfits, and rebels, all aimed at helping listeners define and achieve success on their own terms.
All There Is with Anderson Cooper
Grief can be an isolating experience, but sharing it, and hearing others do the same, makes it a little more bearable. In all-new episodes of this award-winning podcast, Anderson Cooper continues his deeply personal journey through the many complexities of grief, engaging in moving and candid conversations with others who have faced profound, life-altering loss.
The School of Greatness
Lewis Howes is a New York Times bestselling author, two-time All-American athlete, keynote speaker, and entrepreneur. Through The School of Greatness, he shares inspiring conversations with some of the most accomplished people on the planet, world-renowned figures spanning business, entertainment, sports, science, health, and literature — all in service of helping listeners unlock their own potential and live their fullest lives.
People I (Mostly) Admire
Freakonomics co-author Steve Levitt tracks down high achievers for surprising conversations about their lives and obsessions, from a renegade sheriff transforming Chicago’s jail to a biologist uncovering evolution’s secrets in the Arctic tundra.
What It Was Like
A collection of conversations with people who have lived through extreme events. Some stories venture into dark and unsettling territory, while others are surprisingly light and even funny. In every case, listeners are given an intimate, firsthand glimpse into what it was truly like to be there.
Do you know of another Interview podcast that you think should be on this list? Let me know
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