# Favorite podcasts-No audiobooks or concerts, please **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** radio-podcast\ **Created:** [December 18, 2025, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-podcasts-no-audiobooks-or-concerts-please/1025841 "2025-12-18T22:21:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2025, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-podcasts-no-audiobooks-or-concerts-please/1025841/21 "2025-12-19T15:33:46Z")
Do Wait Wait Don’t Tell and Fresh Air? They call themselves podcasts, even though they also air on NPR. I like that kind of podcast because it tends to be tighter, better edited. ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2025, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-podcasts-no-audiobooks-or-concerts-please/1025841/22 "2025-12-19T15:52:06Z")
I enjoy Jamie Jeffers’s _The British History Podcast_, which is about (you guessed it) British history. He starts with pre-historic Britain and the arrival of the earliest Celtic peoples, and from there takes a deep dive into the history and culture of Britain. _Very_ deep: the most recent episode is number 488, and he’s only gotten to the year 1100. Jamie is a witty and likeable narrator, and he goes into great detail about many of the various Anglo-Saxon kings and rulers that most histories tend to skip over in their eagerness to get to Alfred the Great. Have you ever heard of kings named Penda, Ida, Caedwalla, or Oswy? Neither had I, before this podcast. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2025, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-podcasts-no-audiobooks-or-concerts-please/1025841/23 "2025-12-19T17:23:02Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > Do Wait Wait Don’t Tell and Fresh Air? They call themselves podcasts, even though they also air on NPR. Just to note, for the OP: _Fresh Air_ is an interview show; _Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!_ is a comedy game show. Both of them originated, decades ago, as NPR radio programs, but are now also offered to listeners in podcast format. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2025, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-podcasts-no-audiobooks-or-concerts-please/1025841/24 "2025-12-19T17:44:37Z")
Jeez, I can’t believe you assume that not everyone knows what I happen to know. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2025, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-podcasts-no-audiobooks-or-concerts-please/1025841/25 "2025-12-19T17:55:28Z")
They’re both great shows, just not necessarily traditional podcasts (esp. _Wait Wait_). 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2025, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-podcasts-no-audiobooks-or-concerts-please/1025841/26 "2025-12-19T19:41:37Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > The best podcast I have ever heard is _Reply All._ It The two hosts have split, and now do _Search Engine_ and _Hyperfixed_. Neither quite has the magic of _Reply All_ (which I really liked, except for a few episodes which I really hated). Already mentioned is _99% Invisible_ which has been tremendously influential in the entire podcast field. It’s about design and architecture; a description which does a huge disservice to all that it covers. Another already mentioned is _Ologies_ which is deservedly one of the most popular science shows. Each episode is a deep dive on a single topic with (usually) one expert. It does things like have a two part series, over 2 hours, on owls, that leaves you wanting to learn more about owls. Others: - _Better Offline_: smiling, angry man makes you scared about the AI bubble - Current events, so skip old episodes - _endless thread_: public radio show talks about stories on Reddit - old, new, it doesn’t matter - _Factually with Adam Conover_: comedian interviews experts about things - scan old episodes for interesting guests/topics, but occasionally timely - _Our Fake History_: Canadian school teacher examines the myth and truth around historical events - it’s all historical, so old or new episodes, doesn’t matter - _Reveal_: investigative journalism, often on racial issues - current events, but still relevant even several years later - _This Podcast Will Kill You_: deep dive on medical topics - scan old episodes for interesting guests/topics, but occasionally timely - _World’s Greatest Con_: magician does season long stories about historical cons - generally historical, and recommend going back to old seasons ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2025, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-podcasts-no-audiobooks-or-concerts-please/1025841/27 "2025-12-19T20:10:47Z")
The podcast I’m really into right now is a relatively new one; _Once We Were Spacemen_. It’s hosted by Nathan Fillion and Alan Tudyk who were on the show _Firefly_ together (and have both been in a ton of other things since then). They talk about their time on the show, their lives in Hollywood outside of the show, and their friendship together. (I like the story about how Nathan got Alan to quit smoking, which partially involved pranks with a hand-zapper.) They also have other actor friends come on the show, including other costars of _Firefly_, but also other folks they know. (Like Mark Addy who was in the film _A Knight’s Tale_ with Alan, but also played King Robert Baratheon in _Game of Thrones_.) What really works for me, though, is that Alan and Nathan are just so entertaining to listen to. If you’ve ever seen anything they’ve been in, you pretty much know what to expect. Nathan is charming and clever, and sometimes a massive cheeseball. Alan is a self-deprecating comic and launches into different voices and bits at times. (I mean, it seems like he plays a different character in half of every Disney animated film that has come out in the past decade.) Anyway, I highly recommend that podcast. Very entertaining and very funny. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2025, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-podcasts-no-audiobooks-or-concerts-please/1025841/28 "2025-12-19T20:12:25Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > The podcast I’m really into right now is a relatively new one; _Once We Were Spacemen_. I love this one! ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2025, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-podcasts-no-audiobooks-or-concerts-please/1025841/29 "2025-12-19T20:16:21Z")
Me too, listen every Wednesday… Don’t know why it didn’t leap to my mind. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2025, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-podcasts-no-audiobooks-or-concerts-please/1025841/30 "2025-12-19T20:52:18Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > (I mean, it seems like he plays a different character in half of every Disney animated film that has come out in the past decade.) He’s been in every Disney CG animated film since _Frozen_, though sometimes he just makes animal noises. He is like John Ratzenberger in Pixar films. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2025, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-podcasts-no-audiobooks-or-concerts-please/1025841/31 "2025-12-19T21:13:54Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > It’s hosted by Nathan Fillion and Alan Tudyk who were on the show _Firefly_ together (and have both been in a ton of other things since then). I saw their promo for this on YouTube and wondered if it was as good as I wanted it to be. Glad to hear that it is. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2025, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-podcasts-no-audiobooks-or-concerts-please/1025841/32 "2025-12-19T21:32:12Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > I saw their promo for this on YouTube and wondered if it was as good as I wanted it to be. It’s my new favorite thing to listen to on long trips. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2025, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-podcasts-no-audiobooks-or-concerts-please/1025841/33 "2025-12-19T21:46:19Z")
I listened to “Factually” on the way to work just now. Pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![echoreply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/echoreply/32/3641_2.png) [@echoreply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/echoreply)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2025, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-podcasts-no-audiobooks-or-concerts-please/1025841/34 "2025-12-19T23:29:47Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I listened to “Factually” on the way to work just now It really depends on the guest, but it helps me that Conover generally has a factually informed progressive take on most things. It’s been interesting to watch some of his views change over time. For example he went from “ban cars” (way simplified take for brevity) to “cars are bad, but wow are they ever tied up in so many other things like housing, and it’s impossible to get rid of them without alternatives already in place.” Also, as you get more used to listening to podcasts, start pushing up the speed. You can probably go to 1.1× or 1.2× and not even notice. It’s not nearly the commitment to put on an 1.5 hour podcast when you know you’ll be done in 50 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2025, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-podcasts-no-audiobooks-or-concerts-please/1025841/35 "2025-12-20T00:00:19Z")
I’m not as crazy about Behind the Bastards, because it has a very common podcast format that I loathe, which is to say there are two hosts who chit-chat back and forth, filling a lot of air time with meaningless joking around/pointless comments. The BtB hosts aren’t nearly as awful as some, but since I’m predisposed to disliking the two-host format, I only listen to their episodes if I have a pre-existing interest in the bastard they are featuring, like Stockton Rush. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2025, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-podcasts-no-audiobooks-or-concerts-please/1025841/36 "2025-12-20T00:03:06Z")
My husband hates that too, whereas I enjoy it. Maybe it’s my ADHD but yes let’s talk about this completely unrelated thing for five minutes. Especially if it’s funny. Stockton Rush was good. My favorite was G. Gordon Liddy. What a headcase. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2025, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-podcasts-no-audiobooks-or-concerts-please/1025841/37 "2025-12-20T00:03:54Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > My favorite was G. Gordon Liddy. What a headcase. I’ll give that one a try! ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2025, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-podcasts-no-audiobooks-or-concerts-please/1025841/38 "2025-12-20T00:07:35Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > Stockton Rush was good. > > My favorite was G. Gordon Liddy. What a headcase. My favorite was Clarence Thomas. Took two episodes to cover him. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2025, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-podcasts-no-audiobooks-or-concerts-please/1025841/39 "2025-12-20T00:22:26Z")
I haven’t listened to that one yet! Some of them I can’t. The Nazi ones, for example. Although the one on Hitler’s love life was interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2025, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-podcasts-no-audiobooks-or-concerts-please/1025841/40 "2025-12-20T00:35:03Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > I’m not as crazy about Behind the Bastards, because it has a very common podcast format that I loathe, which is to say there are two hosts who chit-chat back and forth, filling a lot of air time with meaningless joking around/pointless comments. Good god, I hate that. I’ve dumped probably half a dozen podcasts that I tried because it was a couple of guys sitting around giggling at their own stupid jokes. There’s a difference between improvising and just making s\*\*t up with no structure. There has to be some kind of framework. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-podcasts-no-audiobooks-or-concerts-please/1025841.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-podcasts-no-audiobooks-or-concerts-please/1025841.md?page=3)