The Best New Podcasts of 2020 to Get Lost In (original) (raw)
1
Sugar Calling
New York Times
Before Cheryl Strayed'd memoir Wild was published and she became a household name, she was better known by her moniker Sugar, under which she wrote advice columns for the Rumpus. Strayed hosted the Dear Sugar podcast alongside Steve Almond, who wrote the "Dear Sugar" column before her. Strayed returns in this difficult time for another weekly podcast, now airing long-form, inspirational interviews with writers, most of them over the age of 60.
2
Home Cooking
Apple Podcasts
Samin Nosrat's cookbook, Salt Fat Acid Heat, is a fantastic primer for cooks of all stages_,_ and the inspiration for a Netflix series. Alongside co-host Hrishikesh Hirway, the beloved chef aims to help people reacquaint themselves with the kitchen—especially since most of us are stuck inside, anyway. Expect heartwarming banter as well as helpful cooking lessons.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
3
The Adaptables
Apple Podcasts
4
Phoebe Reads a Mysery
Criminal Podcast
Listening to Phoebe Judge's voice is the sonic equivalent of a day at the spa—you'll feel soothed afterwards. Judge is known for being the co-host of the Criminal podcast. But she tells a different kind of crime story in this quaint podcast. In each episode of Phoebe Reads a Mystery, Judge reads a chapter of Agatha Christie's first book, The Mysterious Affair at Styles. A new episode airs daily.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
5
The Dating Game Killer
Wondery
Calling all true crime fanatics: Here's another show to binge from Wondery, the podcast studio behind Dirty John and Over My Dead Body. The Dating Game Killer tells the story of Rodney Alcala, a man who fooled people into letting him be dating show contestants, summer camp counselors, and newspaper employees—despite also being a serial killer. The chilling show is a reminder of how little we know the people around us.
6
Staying In With Emily and Kumail
Staying In With Emily and Kumail
Emily V. Gordon and Kumail Nanjiani are one of Hollywood's most endearing couples. Their love story was the inspiration for their Oscar-nominated rom-com The Big Sick. With this podcast, created as a response to the coronavirus epidemic, the dynamic duo devises ways to stay occupied during the "new normal." All of the proceeds go to charity.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
7
Meet Cute
Meet Cute
Meet Cute is built for the rom-com lovers among us. The podcast fits entire audio rom-coms into 15-minute segments. Follow a couple's journey from meet-cute to resolution in the time it takes to clean up after dinner, with ample detours for witty banter.
8
Unlocking Us with Brené Brown
Unlocking Us
Who among us couldn't use a little guidance from Dr. Brené Brown, an expert in human connection? Brown's new podcast venture features “conversations that unlock the deeply human part of who we are, so we can live, love, parent, and lead with more courage and heart," per the official description. But we were sold the instant we were heard Brown was hosting a podcast.
9
Cautionary Tales
Pushkin Industries
The true stories in Cautionary Tales are billed as "fairy tales," but for adults. The short stories, whimsically told by actors such as Alan Cumming and Archie Panjabi, are enthralling and contain, within them, a lesson about human behavior or the world—just like fairy tales. Each episode is based on a true story.
10
Musicalsplaining
Musicalsplaining
Love 'em or hate 'em, you probably have an opinion on musicals. Everyone seems to. Musicalsplaining capitalizes on musicals' divisive nature. Hosted by one super-fan and one professed musical hater, the podcast lends itself to heated and hilarious discussion. Each episode focuses on a different musical.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
11
Oh, Hello: The P'dcast
Oh, Hello
Comedians John Mulaney and Nick Kroll revive their characters Gil Faizon and George St. Geegland for this hilarious podcast. To get acquainted with the characters, first watch their Netflix special, then follow along on this romp of a show, in which Gil and George tell the story of Princess Diana.
12
The Left RIght Game
QCODE
_The Left Right Game _began as a viral post on Reddit's r/nosleep, where people share fictional and scary stories. Now, it's a podcast starring none other than Tessa Thompson (Westworld, Thor : Ragnarok). Thompson voices Alice Sharman, a woman who documents her own disappearance after intersecting with a powerful urgent legend.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
13
Floodlines
Atlantic
You only think you know the story of Hurricane Katrina. The Atlantic's new podcast, Floodlines, contextualizes the disaster and its aftermath, revealing the 2005 hurricane to be a pivotal moment in the creation of the U.S. today. All eight episodes of this gripping podcast drop at the same time, making it an especially good companion for a day-long binge-listen.
14
Come Through with Rebecca Carroll
WYNC
Let the experts help you parse the many complicated dynamics of 2020. Here, host Rebecca Carroll has 15 thoughtful conversations with writers, influencers, and luminaries about race in America, through the prism of many issues, from coronavirus to climate change. Carroll is a cultural critic and the Editor of Special Projects at WNYC.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
15
Six Feet Apart with Alex Wagner
Crooked Media
The podcast landscape is saturated with coronavirus-centric podcasts—and understandably. But if you're looking for deeply reported dives into the virus and its implications for the world order, try Six Feet Apart with Alex Wagner. In the first episode, Wagner speaks to grocery store workers, essential workers who are on the frontlines of this pandemic. New episodes air weekly.
Elena Nicolaou is the former culture editor at Oprah Daily.