What you’re listening to now: The best podcasts according to viewers

I don’t know about you, but when I get the rare opportunity to unplug from the world around me, put in my earbuds to take a walk or do a mindless chore - I can never find a good podcast to play.

Then I spend half of my free time searching for something that interests me. On one of those occasions recently, I turned to Facebook to ask viewers to recommend podcasts they enjoy. I got a great list of more than 40 podcasts that I want to sample. I compiled them all here to make it easier to bookmark. Scroll down to see the list. I hope you find something you love.

If you want to weigh in on any of the suggestions or add your own recommendation, please chime in at the bottom of this article.

Podcasts by actors & entertainers

Liz Latta from Livingston recommends “Literally with Rob Lowe.”

• What Lowe says it’s about: “This is literally a podcast where people I love, admire, and know well will be in a safe space to really let their hair down (assuming they have any). I will cover the thoughtful to the extremely random. So join me and my guests from the world of movies, TV, sports, music, and culture for fun, wide-ranging, free-wheeling conversations.”

Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend

• What it’s about: Deeper, unboundedly playful, and free from FCC regulations, Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend is a weekly opportunity for Conan to hang out with the people he enjoys most and perhaps find some real friendship along the way.

Arthur Warnock recommends “Smartless.”

• What it’s about: “SmartLess,” with Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, & Will Arnett is a podcast that connects and unites people from all walks of life to learn about shared experiences through thoughtful dialogue and organic hilarity. A nice surprise: in each episode of SmartLess, one of the hosts reveals his mystery guest to the other two. What ensues is a genuinely improvised and authentic conversation filled with laughter and newfound knowledge to feed the SmartLess mind.

Tricia Sobhani recommends “Office Ladies.”

• What it’s about: The Office co-stars and best friends, Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey, are doing the ultimate The Office re-watch podcast for you. Each week, Jenna and Angela will break down an episode of The Office and give exclusive behind-the-scene stories that only two people who were there, can tell you.

Chrissy Bernal recommends “Here’s What We Know” with Gary Scott Thomas.

• What it’s about: Listen each week as Gary Scott Thomas engages guests in unscripted conversations where he’ll be just as surprised as you will be with how the talk turns out. So, join him each week and be privy to the captivating conversations that are sure to ensue. “It would be easier to tell you who I haven’t interviewed in the world of Country Music than who I have. And when I worked in Pop radio, I had a wide variety of artists in the studio, ranging from Michael Bolton to RunDMC to Rick Springfield to Public Enemy.” He talks with mostly people from Country Music and shares some juicy stories!

Penny Cunico recommends “Life is Short with Justin Long.”

• What it’s about: The actor peeks inside the heads of real people to learn how they find meaning in life. “I’m also very curious what their favorite snack food is, and what emoji they use most often - ya know, the REALLY important stuff. Every episode I’ll get personal with all kinds of people, from actors to musicians to deep thinkers who fascinate me. My brother Christian is on hand each episode to keep me honest, and occasionally remind me about some of the embarrassing things I’ve done over the years. Join us, or if you have more important things to do, that’s okay too - life is short!”

Jennifer Myers Triplett recommends “The Way I Heard It” by Mike Rowe.

• What it’s about: Mike Rowe gives a different take on a variety of topics-from pop culture to politics, history to Hollywood, each mystery is a trueish tale about someone you know, filled with facts that you don’t. Delivered with Mike’s signature blend of charm, wit, and ingenuity, these stories are part of a larger mosaic-full of surprising revelations, sharp observations, and intimate, behind-the-scenes moments drawn from Mike’s own life and career.

“I Am All In with Scott Patterson”

• What it’s about: Twenty years ago, you met Luke Danes...backward cap, plaid flannel, pouring the coffee. For the VERY first time, Scott Patterson (aka Luke) is watching Gilmore Girls. 154 episodes and 4 movies. We’ll visit Stars Hollow, Doosey’s Market, Miss Patty’s, Mrs. Kim’s antique shop and more pop culture references than you can count. Join us whether you’re Team Dean, Team Logan or Team Jess. And, we’ll see if we can figure out “who’s the daddy”. We’ll talk fast, and if you can smell snow, if Paris isn’t just a city in France, and Friday night dinner is a requirement... you don’t want to miss this. Finally, cell phones are allowed. Listen everywhere you listen to podcasts. I AM ALL IN, an iHeartRadio podcast.

Bradly David recommends “Last Podcast on the Left.”

• What it’s about: Last Podcast on the Left barrels headlong into all things horror - as hosts Ben Kissel, Marcus Parks and Henry Zebrowski cover dark subjects spanning Jeffrey Dahmer, werewolves, Jonestown, iconic hauntings, the history of war crimes, and more. Whether it’s cults, killers, or cryptid encounters, Last Podcast on the Left laughs into the abyss that is the dark side of humanity.

Laura Michelle Isley recommends “Stiff Socks.”

• What it’s about: Stand up comedians Trevor Wallace and Michael Blaustein go do weird stuff, and then talk about how weird stuff was.

You and Me Both with Hillary Clinton

• What it’s about: Hillary Clinton sits down for candid, in-depth, and sometimes hilarious conversations with people she finds fascinating. With help from her guests, Hillary will tackle the topics that shape our lives, from faith to the pressing political issues of our time to cooking tips for the cooking-challenged.

True Crime Podcasts

Shelly Noack Fisher says “Sword and Scale” is her favorite true crime podcast.

• What it’s about: Sword and Scale is an internet radio show and website covering the dark underworld of crime and the criminal justice system’s response to it. The show and website were launched January 1st, 2014 and feature stories of murder, abduction, rape and even more bizarre forms of crime. It’s the purest form of true-crime where nothing is off the table. Everything from 911 calls to court testimony, interviews with victims and sometimes with perpetrators give listeners a 360 degree look at the entire story. Told from the narrator’s point of view, Sword and Scale goes beyond the news clips and the sensationalist headlines to give listeners the whole story and deeper insight into the cases it covers than any other medium.

Gracie Hernandez says Dr. Death is great.

• What it’s about: Dr. Death is a podcast produced by Wondery that focuses on egregious cases of medical malpractice. The podcast is hosted and reported by Laura Beil and premiered September 4, 2018. According to Wondery’s Facebook page, a second season is also getting recognized as a quality podcast.

Carrie May recommends Anatomy of Murder.

• What it’s about: A weekly true crime podcast examining homicide cases and paths to justice for the victims. Former New York City homicide prosecutor and host of Investigation Discovery’s True Conviction, Anna-Sigga Nicolazzi, teams up with Emmy award-winning investigative journalist, and former Deputy Sheriff Scott Weinberger, to take listeners behind the scenes, for an insider’s perspective of compelling homicide cases from around the country. In every episode, listeners will also hear and gain insight from a victim’s family member, the prosecutor, or a member of law enforcement directly involved in the investigation.

Stacie Strawbridge Hiscock recommends “Stay Away From Matthew Magill.”

• What it’s about: When Matthew MaGill died alone in the woods on the Florida-Georgia border, he left behind a box filled with the artifacts of an incredible life: from Broadway in the 1970s, to a 747 hijacking, to the culture of drugs and luxury cars in 1980s Florida. A series of coincidences leads reporter Eric Mennel to the box, sending him on a five-year search to understand the truth about its owner. But as Mennel learns who Matthew MaGill really was, he is confronted with questions about his own life, his own mistakes, and his own family secrets.

Bear Brook

• What it’s about: Two barrels. Four bodies. And the decades-long mystery that led to a serial killer. A podcast about a cold case that’s changing how murders will be investigated forever.

Rhonda Hayslett Wilson recommends Crime Junkie.

• What it’s about: Crime Junkie is a weekly true crime podcast dedicated to giving you a fix. Every Monday, Ashley Flowers will tell you about whatever crime she’s been obsessing over that week in a way that sounds like you’re sitting around talking crime with your best friends. The storytelling is straightforward and free of rabbit holes so the cases stay suspenseful and are easy to follow.

Andrea Cash recommends “Murder in America.”

• What it’s about: MURDER IN AMERICA is a true crime podcast that takes a state-by-state look at the most infamous homicides across the United States of America. Co-hosted by Courtney Shannon & Colin Browen (of “The Paranormal Files”), the two delve deep into the darkest tales of murder from each and every state, featuring two stories from a different state every week.

Beth Smith Gonzales recommends “True Crime Obsessed.”

• What it’s about: Described as “The True Crime/Comedy Podcast you need in your life.” Recapping True Crime Documentaries with Humor, Sass and a well timed Garbage Bell.

Kathy DeWolfe recommends “Your Own Backyard.”

• What it’s about: A documentary podcast series investigating the 1996 disappearance of Cal Poly student, Kristin Smart.

For a good laugh podcasts

Stephanie Gutierrez recommends Second Date Update.

• What it’s about: Binge listen to all the Second Date Update’s you haven’t heard from Brooke & Jeffrey In The Morning. We promise you’ll laugh! ‘With’ or ‘At’, we’ll let you be the judge. This pair of radio deejays is based in Seattle. Their show is broadcast all over the country through iHeartRadio. These podcasts are under 20 minutes and feature the “best of” their Second date Update segment on the show.

Sawbones podcast

• What it’s about: Dr. Sydnee McElroy and her husband Justin give you a “Marital Tour of Misguided Medicine. Every Friday, they dig through the annals of medical history to uncover all the odd, weird, wrong, dumb and just gross ways we’ve tried to fix people over the years. Educational? You bet! Fun? We hope!”

Self improvement & lifestyle podcasts

Courtney Harris Falke recommends “We Can Do Hard Things” by Glennon Doyle.

• What it’s about: We are all doing hard things every single day - things like loving and losing caring for children and parents; forging and ending friendships; battling addiction, illness, and loneliness; struggling in our jobs, our marriages, and our divorces; setting boundaries; and fighting for equality, purpose, freedom, joy, and peace. On We Can Do Hard Things, my sister Amanda and I will do the only thing I’ve found that has ever made life easier: We will drop the fake and talk honestly about the hard. Each week we will bring our hard to you and we will ask you to bring your hard to us and we will do what we were all meant to do down here: Help each other carry the hard so we can all live a little bit lighter and braver, more free and less alone.

Katie Tusing Beltran recommends “You’re Wrong About.”

• What it’s about: Mike and Sarah are journalists obsessed with the past. Every week they reconsider an event, person or phenomenon that’s been miscast in the public imagination.

Brittni Paez recommends “Earhustle! Told from the inside of San Quentin prison in California.”

• What it’s about: Launched in 2017, Ear Hustle was the first podcast created and produced in prison, featuring stories of the daily realities of life inside California’s San Quentin State Prison, shared by those living it. Co-founded by Bay Area artist Nigel Poor alongside Earlonne Woods and Antwan Williams - who were incarcerated at the time - the podcast now tells stories from both inside prison and from the outside, post-incarceration. In 2019, Rahsaan “New York” Thomas joined Ear Hustle as a co-host inside San Quentin.

Alison Mason Lankford recommends “School of Self Image.”

• What it’s about: Alison says this is “The best women’s pod cast. Short and always helpful!”

Dina Sziveri recommends “Off the Vine.”

• What it’s about: Ready to shake things up? Kaitlyn is creating a space where girls (and gents) can feel empowered to be themselves... because there’s more to life than Instagram, right? Kaitlyn isn’t afraid to keep it real as she talks with her amazing guests! Get ready for lots of laughs, candid convo, taboo topics, unfiltered advice, and wine... lots of wine!

JC Curtis recommends “The Tim Ferriss Show.”

• What it’s about: Tim Ferriss has been called “The Oprah of Audio.” Each episode, he deconstructs world-class performers from eclectic areas (investing, sports, business, art, etc.) to extract the tactics, tools, and routines you can use. This includes favorite books, morning routines, exercise habits, time-management tricks, and much more.

Jaclyn Reyes recommends “Moving Your Life Forward.”

• What it’s about: Moving Your Life Forward is the only podcast that teaches you how to improve every aspect of your life. Your hosts, Jimn Kyles and Steve Kyles, are passionate about initiating change in your thought process and actions to set you on a lifetime journey of Moving Your Life Forward. This is a podcast for everyone, no matter what corner you are coming from, whether it’s in business, leadership, ministry, or leisure, we can help you Move Your Life Forward. We want to welcome you to this podcast and our hope is that you find value in every episode as we commit to helping you in your journey of Moving Your Life Forward.

Naomi Madrid recommends “This Jungian Life.”

• What it’s about: Eavesdrop on three Jungian analysts as they engage in lively, sometimes irreverent conversations about a wide range of topics. Join them for a new episode every Thursday as they discuss cultural currents, family dynamics, personal issues and more, and share what it’s like to see the world through the depth psychological lens provided by Carl Jung. Half of each episode is spent discussing a dream submitted by a listener.

Roshawnda Light recommends Jennifer Allwood’s podcast.

• What it’s about: This entrepreneur, mentor and business coach hosts a weekly podcast where she dives into specific topics about how to start and manage a business.

Waldina Miller recommends “The Turning - The Sisters Who Left.”

• What it’s about: Thousands of women gave up everything to follow Mother Teresa, joining her storied Catholic order, the Missionaries of Charity. But some found that life inside this fiercely private religious order was not what they’d imagined. Former sisters who worked closely with Mother Teresa describe her bold vision and devotion to charity and prayer. But they also share stories of suffering and forbidden love, abuse and betrayal. If you make a lifelong vow, what does it mean to break it? What is the line between devotion and brainwashing? Can you truly give yourself to God?

Interesting tidbits and educational podcasts

Brent Taylor recommends “Cult Popture.”

• What it’s about: Brent says this podcast “covers an entire movie franchise every two weeks. A few months back, they did an 18-hour episode on the 37 Barbie movies. Hysterical.”

Stacee Hawkins recommends “Ben Franklin’s World.”

• What it’s about: A podcast for people who love history and want to know more about the early American past.

Chad Srader recommends “The Troubleshooter” podcast by consumer advocate Tom Martino.

• What it’s about: Consumer advocate and talk radio host Tom Martino, also known as “The Troubleshooter” answers consumers questions and gives advice on saving money.

John Ely recommends “Science Vs.”

• What it’s about: Science Vs is your team of friendly fact checkers that blow up your firmly held opinions and replace them with science. Wondering whether you should drink detox teas like an insta-celeb, or believe your drunk uncle’s rant about gun control? Science Vs has an ep for that.

Stacie Mickel Blackburn recommends “The Persuasion Pitch.”

• What it’s about: The Persuasion Pitch podcast looks into the dangers of Multi-Level Marketing as well as other scams and cults. Episodes also discuss how Multi-Level Marketing negatively effects people’s lives as well as small businesses. About The Host: Jessica has been a licensed Esthetician and Makeup Artist since 2004. She has been in the film industry since 2013. Noticing that Multi-Level Marketing has effected the beauty industry in a negative way she started this AntiMLM podcast.

Stacie Mickel Blackburn also recommends “Behind the Bastards.”

• What it’s about: There’s a reason the History Channel has produced hundreds of documentaries about Hitler but only a few about Dwight D. Eisenhower. Bad guys (and gals) are eternally fascinating. Behind the Bastards dives in past the Cliffs Notes of the worst humans in history and exposes the bizarre realities of their lives. Listeners will learn about the young adult novels that helped Hitler form his monstrous ideology, the founder of Blackwater’s insane quest to build his own Air Force, the bizarre lives of the sons and daughters of dictators and Saddam Hussein’s side career as a trashy romance novelist.

Amy Harris Tan recommends “This Podcast Will Kill You!”

• What it’s about: This podcast might not actually kill you, but it covers so many things that can. Each episode tackles a different disease, from its history, to its biology, and finally, how scared you need to be. Ecologists and epidemiologists Erin Welsh and Erin Allmann Updyke make infectious diseases acceptable fodder for dinner party conversation and provide the perfect cocktail recipe to match

Sports Podcasts

Scott Baker recommends “The Jim Brockmire Podcast.”

• What it’s about: The former baseball broadcasting legend will debut a brand-new podcast with his cohost Sheena Datt that will urinate all over every sports cathedral.

Sandra Sofia recommends ESPN’s “First Take.”

• What it’s about: First Take is always a heated discussion as Stephen A. Smith, Max Kellerman and guests debate about the day’s top stories.

A few more....

These next few come highly recommended by my bosses, so I’ve added them to the list. They are a few of the podcasts produced by KPRC’s parent company Graham Media Group and our sister stations. There’s advice, true crime, and science... so you have extra options to add to your playlist no matter what category above is up your alley.

The Best Advice Show

• What it’s about: It’s easy to feel helpless as each new day breeds more uncertainty. The Best Advice Show exists as a daily reminder that there are weird, delightful and effective ways to survive and thrive in this world. In every episode of the show, a different contributor offers their own personal take on what they do to make their life better, healthier, saner and more livable.

Shattered: Hoffa

• What it’s about: Sometimes, news stories echo in our minds for years after they’ve occurred. With each season of Shattered, we select one of those complex, true stories and take an in-depth look. Season 4 of Shattered charts the life and death of Jimmy Hoffa.

Space Curious

• What it’s about: Space Curious is a podcast that answers your intergalactic questions. Hosted by WKMG space reporter Emilee Speck, each episode is designed to inspire everyone, from the space curious to the space fanatics.