Are you looking for podcasts or YouTube channels like This American Life? Look no further! Here is a curated list of 20 must-listen podcasts and must-watch YouTube channels that offer a similar blend of storytelling, investigative journalism, and human interest stories. Whether you’re a fan of in-depth narratives or compelling interviews, these recommendations have got you covered.
1. Radiolab
Radiolab is a show about curiosity where sound illuminates ideas, and the boundaries blur between science, philosophy, and human experience. The podcast tackles big questions and uncovers surprising connections.
2. The Moth
The Moth features true stories told live on stage without scripts, notes, props, or accompaniment. Each episode is a unique journey into the storyteller’s world, offering a window into different lives and experiences.
3. Serial
Serial unfolds one story—a true story—over the course of a whole season. The podcast has revolutionized storytelling, with each season exploring a different real-life case or event in meticulous detail.
4. TED Radio Hour
TED Radio Hour is a journey through fascinating ideas, astonishing inventions, and new ways to think and create. The podcast is based on TED Talks and is a great way to dive into innovative ideas and thought-provoking topics.
5. Freakonomics Radio
Freakonomics Radio explores the hidden side of everything. From the economics of sleep to the secrets of the food industry, the show applies economic theory to a wide array of subjects to uncover surprising insights.
6. Stuff You Should Know
Stuff You Should Know educates listeners on a wide range of topics, from the everyday to the bizarre. The hosts dive deep into how things work and why they matter, making complex subjects accessible and entertaining.
7. Reply All
Reply All is a podcast about the internet that is actually about so much more. The show covers everything from online mysteries to bizarre digital culture phenomena, blending humor and investigative journalism.
8. 99% Invisible
- Invisible is all about the unnoticed architecture and design that shape our world. From the history of the revolving door to the design of urban spaces, the podcast uncovers the hidden stories behind everyday things.
9. Hidden Brain
Hidden Brain uses science and storytelling to reveal the unconscious patterns that drive human behavior. The podcast explores a wide range of topics, from psychology and sociology to economics and anthropology.
10. Criminal
Criminal is a podcast about crime stories, but not in the way you might expect. The show covers unusual, interesting, and often lesser-known cases, focusing on the human stories behind the crimes.
11. Planet Money
Planet Money makes sense of the complex forces that shape our economy. The podcast breaks down economic concepts and current events into engaging and digestible stories.
12. The Daily
The Daily is a podcast from The New York Times that provides a twenty-minute news briefing every weekday. Each episode focuses on a single news story, offering in-depth reporting and analysis.
13. Science Vs
Science Vs takes on fads, trends, and the opinionated mob to find out what’s fact, what’s not, and what’s somewhere in between. The podcast pits facts against popular myths and misconceptions.
14. You Are Not So Smart
You Are Not So Smart delves into self-delusion and cognitive biases. The podcast explores why we believe what we believe and how our brains trick us into thinking we’re more rational than we actually are.
15. Lore
Lore is a podcast about dark historical tales. The show explores the frightening, mysterious, and often bizarre stories that lurk in the shadows of history.
16. The Joe Rogan Experience
The Joe Rogan Experience features long-form conversations with a wide range of guests. Topics range from comedy and politics to science and health, offering a diverse array of perspectives.
17. How I Built This
How I Built This explores the stories behind the people who created some of the world’s best-known companies. The podcast offers insights into entrepreneurship, innovation, and the journey to success.
18. Revisionist History
Revisionist History, hosted by Malcolm Gladwell, reinterprets something from the past: an event, a person, an idea, even a song. The show challenges the way we think about history and its impact on the present.
19. The Tim Ferriss Show
The Tim Ferriss Show features interviews with world-class performers from various fields. Tim Ferriss deconstructs their routines and habits to uncover the tools and tactics that listeners can apply to their own lives.
20. On Being
On Being explores what it means to be human and how we want to live. The podcast features deep conversations with thinkers, artists, and theologians about life’s big questions and the mysteries of human existence.
These podcasts and YouTube channels offer a wealth of knowledge, entertainment, and inspiration. Happy listening and watching!
