Looking for the best
educational podcasts to check out this year?
Podcasts have become one of the easiest and most enjoyable ways to learn something new. Whether you’re commuting to work, exercising, cleaning the house, or relaxing at the end of the day, you can turn everyday moments into opportunities for personal growth and learning.
The best educational podcasts do more than just entertain. They introduce fresh ideas, expand your perspective, improve your knowledge, and inspire you to think differently about the world around you. From science and history to business, self-improvement, finance, and psychology, there’s a podcast available for nearly every interest and curiosity.
The challenge is knowing which podcasts are actually worth your time. With thousands of options available, finding high-quality shows that are both informative and engaging can feel overwhelming.
That’s why we’ve rounded up some of the best educational podcasts that can help you stay inspired, informed, and motivated throughout the year. Whether you want to develop new skills, strengthen your mindset, or simply feed your curiosity, these podcasts offer valuable insights you can learn from anytime, anywhere.
In this article, you’ll discover educational podcasts across a variety of topics to help you continue learning and growing every day. Plus, be sure to download the free Study Planners Printables at the end of the post to help you organize your learning goals, study sessions, and personal development plans.
Best Educational Podcasts
1. 99% Invisible
99% Invisible focuses on the overlooked areas of architecture and design. It is hosted by radio producer Roman Mars, one of the founders of Radiotopia—which broadcasts several podcasts, including this one.
In each episode, Mars
talks about a specific design and asks his guest to explain the history and
influences behind it. Currently, 99% Invisible is one of the most popular
podcasts on iTunes, on the Internet, and on most radio stations.
Apple Podcasts | YouTube Music
2. You Are Not So Smart
The You Are Not So Smart podcast is hosted by David McRaney, a journalist and psychology enthusiast. It started as a blog about the exploration of self-delusional thoughts and irrational thinking. McRaney wanted to share how human perception can work to explain things people are unaware of.
Later, the blog expanded
and became a podcast. The show is simply a reflection of the blog, relating
psychology and science to self-delusion. It revolves around the human mind’s
ability to reason, judge, and decide.
Apple Podcasts
3. Stuff
You Should Know
Hosted by Josh Clark and
Chuck Bryant and published by Stuff Media, Stuff You Should Know (or SYSK) is
an award-winning video series and podcast with millions of followers all over
the world. Clark and Bryant are former senior editors at HowStuffWorks.com
What makes this one of
the best educational podcasts? That’s simple. This podcast literally talks
about anything and everything under the sun.
Apple Podcasts | YouTube Music
4. Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History
As the title suggests, this podcast is literally about Dan Carlin delving deep into history. But we aren’t talking about your typical academic history. Instead, it consists of a unique blend of masterful narration and high drama. Some of its most notable episodes are The Celtic Holocaust and Blueprint for Armageddon.
Dan Carlin is a
political commentator. He was once a professional radio host, but has decided
to shift his focus to podcasting. He is currently also hosting another podcast titled
“Hardcore History: Addendum.”
Apple Podcasts | YouTube Music
5. Ear Hustle
The Ear Hustle podcast is produced by former inmate Earlonne Woods and current inmate Antwan Williams at the San Quentin State Prison located in California. They collaborate with Nigel Poor, an artist who volunteers at the prison to help with reformation.
Ear Hustle is a rather
unique show that explores the lives of men and women behind bars. It tackles
the stories of inmates and how they cope up with everyday living. Some episodes
also cover the lives of former inmates after incarceration.
Apple Podcasts | YouTube Music
6. Reply All
The Reply All podcast is produced and broadcasted by Gimlet Media, a podcast network that focuses on producing various narrative podcasts. It premiered in 2014, and is hosted by PJ Vogt and Alex Goldman.
Reply All features stories
about how people and the Internet shape each other. As The Guardian has put it,
it is an “unfailingly original exploration of modern life and how to survive
it.”
Apple Podcasts
7. Radiolab
Radiolab features topics that are mostly scientific and philosophical in nature. As its tagline puts it, it is devoted to “investigating a strange world.” It aims to use radio as a means to make science accessible to all types of audiences.
In each episode, hosts
Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich try to approach difficult and sensitive topics
like time and morality, but in a very friendly and light-hearted manner.
Apple Podcasts | YouTube Music
8. Overheard at National Geographic
Overheard at National Geographic is not about a bunch of people sharing what they have watched and learned on the NatGeo channel. Instead, it is “the” podcast of the National Geographic Channel—and you probably are aware of how much knowledge you can gain there.
From underwater pyramids
and the ancient Maya Cave of the Jaguar God to the graffiti of Pompeii and
alien invasion possibilities, no matter what you want to learn about life and the
natural sciences, this podcast has you covered.
Apple Podcasts | YouTube Music
9.
History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps
If you are looking for a
philosophy podcast, then this may be the perfect one for you.
History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps gives you lessons about the major
philosophers and a timeline of how philosophy evolved through time.
The show is hosted by
Peter Adamson, a professor of late ancient and Arabic philosophy at the Ludwig
Maximilian University located in Munich, Germany.
Apple Podcasts | YouTube Music
10. Grammar Girl: Quick and Dirty Tips
If you want to learn more about the tricks and tips of writing, Mignon Fogarty (also known as the “Grammar Girl”) is the person to turn to. Her website has been called by Writer’s Digest one of the best websites for writers and her Grammar Girl: Quick and Dirty Tips podcast has been awarded the Best Education Podcast five times by the Podcast Awards.
Apple Podcasts | YouTube Music
11. TED Radio Hour
Hosted by award-winning journalist Guy Raz, TED Radio Hour is where you will find information and inspiration related to thought-provoking and innovative ideas, excellent discoveries and inventions, and success stories of influential people.
Radio Hour delves deeper
into the motivational speeches that are brought to the TED Talk stage. Raz
invites professionals from different fields like psychology, sports, and
entrepreneurship to discuss and explain their areas of expertise.
Apple Podcasts | YouTube Music
12. Encyclopedia Womannica
Each episode of this
podcast is around four or five minutes long, but they tackle the lives and
adventures of exceptional women from throughout history. Some of these women
include Rosa Parks, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Cleopatra.
Encyclopedia Wommanica is hosted by Jenny Kaplan, and is a favorite among podcast listeners. Not only does it support gender equality and female empowerment, it also introduces new topics that are rarely covered in history books.
Apple Podcasts
13. The Accidental Creative
The Accidental Creative provides effective tips and strategies related to the work/life balance. It offers ideas on how one can stay healthy and family-oriented while remaining dedicated to his or her professional life.
Hosted by motivational
author and speaker Todd Henry, this podcast is great to listen to if you want
to learn how to perform well and excel in all the things you do.
Apple Podcasts
14. Stuff
to Blow Your Mind
Ever wondered about the
world and how it really works? Or perhaps you looking for someone who can
answer your questions regarding cosmic mysteries?
If so, then this podcast
is worth a visit. Stuff to Blow Your Mind is hosted by Robert Lamb and Joe
McCormick, with each episode lasting for approximately an hour every Tuesday,
Thursday, and Saturday.
Apple Podcasts | YouTube Music
15. The Tony Robbins Podcast
You surely know Tony
Robbins—everyone knows him as one of the most prominent motivational
speakers in the field
of life and business success. He shares proven tips and strategies on how to
ace your goals without sacrificing your health and happiness.
Educational and at the same time motivating, the Tony Robbins Podcast can surely help you become successful, one dream at a time.
Apple Podcasts | YouTube Music
16. How
to Do Everything
How to Do Everything is
a podcast that can help you survive life, teaching you everything from the
simplest activities to the most difficult ones.
Hosts Mike Danforth and
Ian Chillag help you learn things by answering how-to questions from their
subscribers. They also have guest experts that help explain everything you need
to know about particular questions.
Apple Podcasts | YouTube Music
17. Smart People Podcast
Smart People Podcast is very straightforward in communicating its goals: to help people improve their lives while expanding their views of the world. Brought to you by Chris Stemp and Jon Rojas, this podcast will satisfy your insatiable curiosity about things that matter.
Some of the topics that
this podcast cover include psychology, education, leadership, entrepreneurship,
and relationships.
Apple Podcasts | YouTube
18. The Secret History of the Future
This is another
educational podcast that lets you revisit old times with hosts Tom Standage and
Seth Stevenson. They relate historical events to today’s current news so can understand
them better. Then, they predict how these events would play out in the near
future, and provide suggestions on how pitfalls can possibly be avoided.
The Secret History of the Future is a product of the Slate Group, a magazine and podcast network that focuses on culture, business, politics, and modern technology.
Apple Podcasts
19. Entrepreneurial Thought Leaders
This podcast has one
main goal, and that is to produce well-developed content that can help
entrepreneurs be bold and brave when it comes to turning their ideas into
realities.
Entrepreneurial Thought Leaders is broadcasted every week at Stanford University, where entrepreneurs and innovators share their experiences and discuss how they developed and launched their inventions.
Apple Podcasts
20. Revisionist History
Revisionist History is the brainchild of Malcolm Gladwell, in collaboration with Pushkin Industries. In each episode, he revisits the past by talking about an event, person, or idea from history. Then he interprets it and gives it new meaning, exploring things that might have been overlooked or misunderstood.
As Gladwell likes to put
it, the past deserves a second chance. If you love both history and analysis,
this podcast is for you.
Apple Podcasts | YouTube Music
21. The Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe
The Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe‘s main goal is to promote critical thinking and science literacy among its listeners. It is hosted by Dr. Steven Novella, a neurologist from Yale University School of Medicine, and is broadcasted weekly with a run time of around an hour.
Generally, Dr. Novella
discusses the most recent scientific developments using layman’s terms. He also
interviews authors and experts in different fields of science. Most notably, he
debunks myths and pseudoscience in health and medicine.
Apple Podcasts | YouTube
22. Intelligence Squared
If you want to hear people debate and talk about the most remarkable issues affecting society, Intelligence Squared has you covered. Intelligence Squared is a platform where influential thought leaders share their insights about different ideas and topics.
These debates and live
forums are held 40 to 50 times a year in around 12 countries. The podcast
version is a compilation of all these discussions that the community has held
over the past few years.
Apple Podcasts | YouTube Music
23. Good Job, Brain!
This podcast is a collaboration
of a group of friends, including Karen Chu, Colin Felton, Dana Nelson, and
Chris Kohler. It started as a Kickstarter initiative in December of 2011, but
ended up receiving positive reviews and high ratings on Stitcher, SoundCloud,
and iTunes.
Good Job, Brain! is part quiz show and part offbeat news show at the same time. Together as a team, the hosts play pub trivia, which they call “Baby Dog Time.” They also have an “All Quiz Bonanza” episode where each of the hosts has to prepare a non-themed trivia quiz for the listeners.
Apple Podcasts
24. Techlandia Educational Radio
Techlandia was initially a collaborative effort between Curt Rees, Alison Anderson, and Jon Samuelson. After five years, Rees and Anderson were replaced by four bright minds in Brian Briggs, David Theriault, Greg Garner, and Scott Bedley.
The podcast claims that
it is an “authentic talk about education.” It tackles everything tech-related,
from coding to micro bits to trash bots. However, the show also features
interviews with teachers and professors who share tips about how to be a
hardworking student.
Apple Podcasts
25. Freakonomics
As the name suggests, Freakonomics is the combination of the word “freak” and “economics”—making it a podcast for those who are enthusiastic about socioeconomic issues and concerns.
The show is hosted by
Stephen Dubner, a journalist for the New York Times Magazine, and Steven
Levitt, a prominent economist. It is released every Wednesday, and you can find
it on most podcast apps, including iTunes and Google Play.
Apple Podcasts | YouTube Music
26. Science Friday
Science Friday (or SciFri) covers everything science-related—physics, chemistry, biology, health, and space. However, it also features other subjects like ethics and policy, arts and culture, history, and mathematics.
The podcast is hosted by
Ira Flatow and has around 1.8 million listeners every week. It is sponsored by
various science health and research foundations, such as the Research
Corporation for Science Advancement and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.
Apple Podcasts | YouTube Music
27. 50 Things That Made the Modern Economy
This podcast is presented by BBC News World Service, with Tim Harford as host. Harford is also the host of several other educational and motivational podcasts, such a Cautionary Tales.
This particular show
talks about the relationship between science and economics, explaining how
technology has evolved, changed, and adjusted the economy. Some of its most
recent episodes include the Gutenberg Press, Chess Algorithms, and Slot
Machines.
Apple Podcasts
28. How I Built This
How I Built This is another podcast from Guy Raz. Here, he asks successful people “how they built” whatever they have right now.
If you are interested in
learning how the big names made it to the top of their respective industries,
you might want to subscribe to this podcast.
Apple Podcasts
29. Beyond the To-Do List
Hosted by Erik Fisher, this podcast offers tips and tactics for choosing the right projects, tasks, and goals for your success. You can learn how to be productive and efficient in all aspects of life, and, most importantly, how to live a meaningful life.
Fisher interviews people
who know how to implement productivity in their lives. He aims to inspire and
motivate people to succeed and progress by finding a balance between work and
life.
Apple Podcasts | YouTube Music
30. The Infinite Monkey Cage
The Infinite Monkey Cage is presented by BBC Radio 4 and hosted by Brian Cox and Robin Ince. It is mostly about science, technology, and inventions. As its tagline states, it is a show that takes a “witty, irreverent look at the world through scientists’ eyes.”
This podcast has been
around for over a decade now. It started broadcasting in 2009, and currently
has 19 seasons and 125 episodes. If you are a science enthusiast, you will
surely enjoy this show.
Apple Podcasts | YouTube Music
31. The Week Unwrapped
The Week Unwrapped is the podcast project of The Week Magazine, which covers the various stories of the week. It is hosted by British writer and gadget correspondent Olly Mann, who is also the man behind the Answer Me This! podcast. Most of the stories that the podcast covers involve political and local news.
Apple Podcasts | YouTube Music
Free Download: Study Planners Printables
These Study Planners Printables are designed to help you stay organized, manage your learning schedule, and track your educational goals more effectively. They’re perfect for students, lifelong learners, and anyone looking to build better study and productivity habits.
Download the printables and start creating a more organized and focused learning routine today.
(The link opens up a Google Drive folder where you can get the PDF download in a variety of sizes: A4, A5, and US Letter.)
Final
Thoughts on Educational Podcasts
Educational podcasts are
becoming more and more popular—and for good reason. Since technology is now an integral
part of life, why not
make good use of it through the podcasts and streaming shows? These tools can
be helpful for both kids and adults who are looking for new ways to learn new
things.
Each of the educational
podcasts we shared above has its own style, format, and structure. Nonetheless,
they are all good sources of information to satisfy your thirst for knowledge.
You can pick one or two and subscribe to them, or you might want to give them
all a try.
Have you found this article helpful? If so, please share this post on your favorite social media account and invite your friends to learn new things with these educational podcasts.
