There have been a ton of great new podcasts out in 2018 and other not-so-new-ones that had strong seasons. But like with anything entertainment-related, diving into the podcasting universe can take you on an information overload trip if you don't know where to start. Luckily we’re here to tell you what to plug into your ear holes and what to leave out of your binge-listening sessions as you hide from your extended family this holiday season.
From true crime to career advice, here are the best new podcasts of 2018.
The Teacher’s Pet
We narrowed it down to ONE true crime podcast in this list, and believe us when we say it was not an easy task. The Teacher’s Pet has been talked about at length this year and for good reason: it is bloody good.
And once you’re done binging on this one, you can peruse our list of other amazing true crime podcasts we think are worth a listen.
Happy Place
If you're feeling a bit bleak from all the true crime podcasts, take a break with Happy Place. Fearne Cotton talks to incredible people about life, love, loss, struggles, and everything in-between as she reveals what happiness means to them. It's a wholesome and refreshing one—perfect for ringing in the New Year.
The Dropcast
Highsnobiety’s The Dropcast covers all the latest trends in sneakers, street culture, and men’s fashion as they drop. So if you want to be on top of your trend game, this one's definitely one to add to the list.
Dissect
Music fans, pop on your giant headphones and turn on Dissect.
Every new season, Cole Cuchna spends all his time dissecting one single album in a surprisingly entertaining way. Season 3 was Frank Ocean's Blonde and also included an 8-episode mini-series on The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. Enough said.
Binge Mode: Harry Potter
Last year was Game of Thrones, and this year was the year of Harry Potter.
Hosts Mallory Rubin and Jason Concepcion meticulously recap every single Harry Potter book, chapter by chapter. But whether or not you’re a Harry Potter fan is irrelevant—this podcast is sure to send you into a fit of giggles on your morning commute.
Getting Curious With Jonathan Van Ness
Jonathan Van Ness' podcast Getting Curious has been going on for a while now, but recently blew up because of his Queer Eye fame. And we're definitely not mad about it.
Getting Curious is a weekly exploration of all the things Jonathan Van Ness is curious about. Spoiler alert: he's curious about a lot of things.
Wolverine: The Long Night
That’s right, there’s a Wolverine podcast, and you don’t need to be a comic book fanatic to get into it, we promise.
Following a string of mysterious deaths in Burns, Alaska, Special Agents Sally Pierce and Tad Marshall arrive to investigate and they soon find there’s more going on than meets the eye.
How I Built This
NPR’s been putting out How I Built This since 2016, but this year’s season has seen a lot of interesting entrepreneurial figures that will inspire you to get your side hustle on. From Airbnb, Glossier, to Dollar Shave Club, there are all sorts of interesting lessons to learn from these high-powered entrepreneurs who made the big time.
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