It turns out I’m not the only person at Cookerly with a penchant for podcasts. Following my post about the marketing potential of podcast advertising, I’ve discovered quite a few of my Cookerly colleagues have their own podcast passions and like every good fanatic, I wanted to make sure I wasn’t missing out on anything great.
Cookerly is a diverse group with varied tastes and interests, so this list of favorites has something for just about everyone. Whether you’re ready to listen to your first podcast or about to hit “subscribe” on the 75th, I bet you’ll find a new favorite in this list.
What must-listen podcasts did we overlook? Leave us your suggestions in the comments. On a related note… is there an upper limit on the number of subscriptions allowed in Apple Podcasts?
The Cookerly Collection: A Curated List of Podcasts
Money and Business
Startup chronicles the triumphs and pitfalls of starting your own company. The first season is a must-listen that follows the story of Gimlet Media, now a powerhouse producer of over a dozen high quality podcasts.
Planet Money explains the economy in ways you wish your college professor had. Even the driest of topics gets an engaging treatment, and you walk away with a better understanding of what makes the economy tick.
How I Built This dives into the stories behind the creation of some of the world’s best-known companies – Wikipedia, Dell Computers and Instagram, just to name a few.
Fascinating People and Conversations
ID10T (pronounced I.D.-ten-T and formerly known as Nerdist) interviews everyone from Paul McCartney to Al Gore, but most guests are famous names in entertainment.
Ear Hustle is by produced inside San Quentin prison, by current inmates. It tells stories of prison life and heart-wrenching tales behind those inside and how they got there.
Change Agent takes common, real-world problems and investigates novel ways of solving them. Want more self-control? Try learning to hold your breath. Boy problems? Talk to a Home Shopping Network maverick. You get the idea.
History and Culture
More Perfect dives deep into important Supreme Court cases, tracing them back to the people and circumstances where they began. A law school degree is completely optional; everyone can enjoy this podcast.
Revisionist History is Malcom Gladwell’s podcast series that reinterprets an event, person or idea from the past. He’s covered everything and everyone from Wilt Chamberlain’s inability to shoot free throws to the reasons country music makes us cry.
Whistlestop recalls moments in presidential history as a way to understand recent news events, and is hosted by John Dickerson of CBS This Morning.
True Crime
Atlanta Monster is a documentary on the Atlanta Child Murders, a horrific tragedy in the late 70s and early 80s. Even if you lived in Atlanta at the time, you’ll be riveted and learn facts about the case that you’ve never heard before.
Up and Vanished is a crime investigation podcast that explores the disappearance of south Georgia resident Tara Grinstead nearly 15 years ago. Up and Vanished revived interest in the cold case, and it now appears to have been solved.
Criminal is an ongoing podcast series that highlights true crime stories from across the country. It was chosen as an iTunes “Best of” in 2015, and has been included on multiple “Best of” lists since then. New episodes come out twice a month.
Sports
The Solid Verbal is a college football podcast covering all teams, not just the big conferences. Why a year-round college football podcast? “The Solid Verbal continues through the regular season, post-season, and off-season, because fans don’t just love college football, they live it.”
Something to Wrestle with Bruce Prichard takes listeners behind the scenes of some of the biggest moments in WWE history. Episodes cover the career of a popular wrestler, a pay-per-view event, a Raw/Smackdown show and more. The podcast boasts a large following and has won Sports Illustrated “Best Sport Podcast of the Year” award.
Truth, Lies and Sacrifice Flies offers Atlanta Braves analysis by David O’Brien, the Atlanta Braves beat writer for the AJC.
Just for Fun
Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me is actually an NPR show, but its podcast form is a favorite listen anytime you need a laugh. The show includes a panel of comedians and writers who answer questions about the week in the news. Given current events, there’s never a shortage of laughable material.
Comedy Bang Bang is an improv podcast full of laughs. Celebrity guests pop into the studio to share the fun.
How Did This Get Made – We all know movies that are so terrible they’re good. How Did This Get Made is a podcast dedicated to those cringe-worthy movies that somehow leaving us wanting more.