Let’s be honest: Even if you love podcasts, there’s only so much time in the day and only so many shows you can hope to follow. Podcasts have become the next big thing for a wide range of famous folks with shows focused on lots of themes — from hot takes on politics, discussions of books by female celebrities, the inside dope on popular TV shows, and just good old fashioned chats with other celebs. Grab a set of headphones and dive into a few of these.
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SmartLess
Great if you like: Witty discussions about shared experiences
Actors Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett started “Smartless” — as in “less smart” — in July 2020. For each show, one of the hosts picks a guest and makes the others guess who it is. It’s been an eclectic mix so far including interviews with Neil deGrasse Tyson, Kamala Harris, Jennifer Aniston, Ron Howard, LeBron James, and Paul McCartney. It’s one of Apple Podcasts top 10 shows on a consistent basis and Amazon recently acquired exclusive rights to the show for something north of $60 million.
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Armchair Expert
Great if you like: “A layman’s journey through the Land of Specialists”
Actor Dax Shepard says he’s “endlessly fascinated by the messiness of being human” and that’s evident in episodes that explore all manner of topics through conversations with Hillary Clinton, Common, Bob Woodward, former CIA director John O. Brennan, and Barack Obama, among others. Bonus: The main show has branched out with project threads that include Shepard’s actress wife Kristen Bell and others.
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Celebrity Book Club with Chelsea Devantez
Great if you like: Discussions of memoirs of “badass” celebrity women
Writer, comedian, and filmmaker Chelsea Devantez’s show began in October 2020 and quickly gained notice as Apple Podcast’s first Spotlight selection. She and her friends have covered books by Jessica Simpson, Mariah Carey, Drew Barrymore, and Julie Andrews, to name a few.
Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness
Great if you like:Jonathan talking to experts in various fields
The “Queer Eye” star explores a wide range of topics — from early Mesoamerican studies to justice for farmworkers to dogs — through discussion with experts in each field.
Learning Lots with Brie Larson and Jessie Ennis
Great if you like: Conversations on deep questions
Best friends Larson (“Captain Marvel”) and Ennis (“Better Call Saul”) talk about things like climate justice, sleep, and confidence with experts, friends, and celebrity guests including Amy Poehler, Jane Fonda, and Bill Hader. The show launched in March.Trending on Cheapism
The Al Franken Podcast
Great if you like: Political discussions with humor
The former senator from Minnesota — and “Saturday Night Live” writer and performer — continues to keep his toe in the political waters with conversations with writers, commentators, politicians, and others. All with his trademark dry sense of humor.Sibling Revelry with Kate Hudson & Oliver Hudson
Great if you like: Discussions concerning the sibling bond and family dynamics
Actors Kate and Oliver Hudson talk about their relationship and what it’s like to be siblings with guests like Dakota and Elle Fanning, Matthew and Rooster McConaughey, and the Property Brothers, Drew and Jonathan Scott.Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend
Great if you like: Conan with more time and no FCC regulations
Despite 25 years on “Late Night,” Conan has never made a real and lasting friendship with any of his celebrity guests. Well, that’s what the blurb for the show says. As unlikely as that seems, the podcast does give him the chance to spend more time with people he really enjoys than he could ever do on the TV show. There also are episodes with some less celebrated guests like a tattoo artist and a woman who reviews haunted houses.Sign up for our newsletter
Renegades: Born in the USA
Great if you like: Conversations between friends about their lives
Two famous regular guys — rock and roll superstar Bruce Springsteen and President Barack Obama — talk “about their lives, music, and their enduring love for America — despite all its challenges” in a series of conversations in this eight-episode series that dropped earlier this year.
Questlove Supreme
Great if you like: In-depth conversations about music and musicians
The podcast from Roots drummer Questlove and Los Angeles-based beat-making collective Team Supreme digs into stories of musical legends and cultural icons. Guests have ranged from Branford Marsalis to “Weird” Al Yankovic to George Clinton.
Clear+Vivid with Alan Alda
Great if you like: Conversations about connecting and communicating
You know (and no doubt love) him as Hawkeye Pierce on “M*A*S*H,” but he’s also one of the founders of the Alan Alda Center for Communication Science at Stony Brook University, where he’s also a visiting professor. The show features conversations with celebrities like Helen Mirren, Paul Rudd, and Michio Kaku as well as other experts and researchers.
Fake Doctors, Real Friends with Zach and Donald
Great if you like: Inside conversations about “Scrubs”
“Scrubs” co-stars and real-life best friends Zach Braff and Donald Faison revisit the hit TV program one episode at a time with weekly episodes that are filled with behind-the-scenes stories, personal memories, and inside jokes. Watch for fellow “Scrubs” co-stars to drop by. The show debuted in the top 10 of the Apple podcast charts in April 2020 and took off quickly during the pandemic, the Washington Post writes.
Bill Burr’s Monday Morning Podcast
Great if you like: Rants on whatever pops into Bill’s head
If you’re a fan of Bill Burr’s brand of stand-up comedy, this is one’s for you. Each episode has Bill rambling about one thing or another — sports, cake, “treasonous” news outlets, feral cats, you name it. Fun fact: There are a lot of Thursday and even some Friday episodes in the mix as well.
Life Is Short with Justin Long
Great if you like: Conversations about the meaning of life
Actor Justin Long explores how people — mostly celebrities — find meaning in life. He and his brother Christian have logged more than 100 episodes already including conversations with Deepak Chopra, Sara Bareilles, Dr. Jane Goodall, Matthew McConaughey, and Nathan Lane.
Anna Faris Is Unqualified
Great if you like: “Relationship advice from completely unqualified Hollywood types”
Anna Faris has been doing the celebrity podcast thing since 2015 and it might land her a TV talk show (but that’s another story). She’s chatted with a long list of people and seems to have a soft spot for comedians.
Office Ladies
Great if you like: Inside stories from “The Office”
Each week, “The Office” co-stars Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey break down an episode of the hit comedy series. The podcast kicked off in October 2019 and won iHeartRadio’s 2021 podcast of the year award.
Super Soul
Great if you like: A guide to life’s big questions
Oprah Winfrey’s podcast tackles concepts connected to “the deeper meaning of the world around you,” featuring conversations (some drawn from episodes of her old interview show) with thought leaders, authors, “spiritual luminaries,” and health and wellness experts.The Ron Burgundy Podcast
Great if you like: Lots of Will Ferrell antics
Will Ferrell dives into character as America’s favorite anchorman — as only he can — to talk to notable people on specific topics. No surprise, most of the discussions go off the rails at some point and hilarity ensues.
The Left Ear with Dakota Johnson
Great if you like: Stories of survivors
In 2019, the “50 Shades of Gray” actress released this powerful, limited-run podcast based on the shared stories of real women who had been assaulted, abused, and harassed. “The show functions as an introduction to non-judgmental listening and a space of refuge and healing for the survivors” who shared their stories, says Spoke Media, which produced it.
The Goop Podcast
Great if you like: Conversations about wellness
Gweneth Paltrow builds on the success of her wellness and lifestyle brand with a podcast that focuses on those topics. The podcast has been produced since March 2018, bowing with a conversation with Oprah Winfrey that touches on various topics including “the culture of enough.”
