Looking for the best podcasts of 2024? Look no further! Whether you’re here for mind-bending mysteries, tear-inducing tales, or binge-worthy deep dives, we’ve rounded up the best podcast recommendations of 2024 that will get you hooked on great audio. These shows captured our attention, challenged our perspectives, and, in some cases, kept us up way past our bedtimes. Add them to your holiday podcast playlist this Holiday Season and get ready to discover your next podcast obsession.
We Edit Podcasts’ Best Podcasts of 2024
First up in our list of our best podcasts of 2024 is…
1. We Have Concerns
Think of We Have Concerns as the ultimate “what if” podcast. Hosted by Anthony Carboni and Jeff Cannata, this show explores strange scientific phenomena, bizarre news, and deep philosophical questions with a heavy dose of humor. Why do we get goosebumps? Is there a hidden life for plastic? If you’re curious about the quirky side of life, this witty, well-researched podcast is bound to keep you laughing and learning.
Why It’s On Our List: It’s refreshingly unique, wildly entertaining, and packed with brain-boosting info you won’t hear anywhere else.
2. Someone Is Killing the Wolfhounds
Next up in the list of top podcast recommendations for the year is based on a gripping true story. Someone Is Killing the Wolfhounds follows a group of soldiers in Vietnam who face an unthinkable decision: they must kill their rogue lieutenant if they want to survive and make it home. With shades of TRAINING DAY meets PLATOON, this intense narrative pulls listeners into the moral complexities and harrowing realities of war.
It’s an intense listen, but it showcases the power of audio storytelling!
Why It’s On Our List: The storytelling is raw and captivating, offering a suspenseful journey into loyalty, survival, and the dark choices faced in extreme circumstances.
3. Proof: Murder at the Warehouse
The second season of PROOF: Murder at the Warehouse, is a powerful true-crime investigation that takes listeners to Manteca, California, where hosts Susan Simpson and Jacinda Davis reinvestigate the 2000 murder of 18-year-old Renee Ramos. Renee’s body was found buried under debris inside a half-built Home Depot, and her boyfriend, Jake Silva, along with Ty Lopes, the uncle of Jake’s friend, were convicted based on questionable testimony. Over two decades later, Jake remains in prison, maintaining his innocence, while Ty tragically lost his life in prison in 2011. Susan and Jacinda dive deep into the case, uncovering overlooked evidence and alternative leads that shed new light on what may have happened.
Why It’s On Our List: This season’s meticulous reinvestigation, combined with Simpson and Davis’s compelling storytelling, makes Proof: Murder at the Warehouse an unmissable listen for true-crime fans. It’s a gripping journey that questions justice, exposes overlooked truths, and keeps you hooked until the final revelation.
4. Bioscope Brasse
Another of our best podcasts of 2024 hails from South Africa. Bioscope Brasse is a proudly South African film podcast where two friends break down everything cinema. Whether they’re debating the greatest movies of all time or tackling the latest Hollywood blockbusters, hosts Ross and Jody bring their fun, in-depth insights and wit that make every episode feel like a hilarious chat with your best friends.
Why It’s On Our List: It’s a hilarious, yet super insightful look at film from the perspective of two movie lovers.
Fun fact! Carli and Jennay got to interview “the Brasse” on Carli’s podcast, Business Beyond the Mic! Watch all the hilarity here:
5. Something Shifted with Sean Loots
Another of our picks for best podcasts of 2024 is Something Shifted. On Something Shifted with Sean Loots, host Sean explores life-altering moments that change everything. From career pivots to personal transformations, each episode dives into stories of people who experienced a powerful shift that led them down a new path. With intimate conversations and a focus on the human experience, Sean brings out the raw emotions and insights that come from taking bold steps into the unknown.
Why It’s On Our List: Sean Loots’ thoughtful approach and captivating storytelling make this podcast a standout. It’s inspiring, deeply personal, and perfect for anyone craving stories of resilience, change, and new beginnings.
6. Swindled
Hosted by an anonymous storyteller, Swindled explores true crime cases focused on fraud, white-collar crime, and corporate greed. Each episode dives deep into stories of con men, corruption, and scandalous schemes, revealing the darker side of society that’s often left unspoken. The chilling music, the eerie voice, and the shocking revelations make Swindled an absolute must-listen for true crime fans.
Why It’s On Our List: It’s addictive, dark, and absolutely binge-worthy. Plus, it’s an eye-opening look at the greed and deceit hidden in plain sight.
7. Valley Heat
The entry in our list of our best podcast recommendations for this year is for the comedy lovers! Valley Heat is a unique, offbeat show set in the real-life world of a Burbank resident’s garage. Host Doug Duguay shares his comical, sometimes surreal experiences with neighbors, parking issues, and local drama that’s a hilarious slice of suburban life. The absurdity ramps up with each episode, making it the perfect light-hearted escape.
Why It’s On Our List: It’s quirky, funny, and like nothing else out there —perfect for when you need a laugh and a bit of escapism.
8. Rumble Strip
Next, in at Number 8 of our best podcasts of 2024 is Rumble Strip. In Rumble Strip, host Erica Heilman explores the hidden stories and unique voices from small-town Vermont, revealing a side of America rarely heard in mainstream media. Each episode presents a slice of rural life, often with surprising perspectives and emotional depth, covering everything from local legends to personal tales of triumph and heartache.
Why It’s On Our List: It’s beautifully produced and offers a touching, intimate look at lives we don’t usually get to hear about. This show is a gem.
9. America’s Girls
Did you love America’s Sweethearts, the Netflix doc-series about the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders? Then you’ll love the next pick on our list of our top podcast recommendations for the year. America’s Girls takes an in-depth look at the iconic Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, shining a light on the women behind the sparkly uniforms and high-energy performances.
Hosted by Sarah Hepola, this podcast dives into the global phenomenon this cheerleading squad became, while also exploring how the women navigated their careers amidst pressures of fame, beauty standards, and personal challenges. If you binge-watched the Netflix documentary, (and thought you, too, could totally do that high-kick split!) America’s Girls is the perfect follow-up, offering even deeper insights into their lives and the legacy of one of the most recognized cheerleading teams in history.
Why It’s On Our List: America’s Girls captures the heart and complexity of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, blending pop culture nostalgia with powerful personal stories. It’s a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of sports, fame, and gender.
And the final entry in our list of our best podcasts of 2024 is…
10. Hysterical
Hysterical investigates the mysterious and unsettling outbreak of symptoms among a group of high school girls in LeRoy, New York. What starts as a few unexplained tics and jerks quickly spirals into a mass illness that affects multiple students, leading to questions that no one can easily answer. Is the cause environmental — something in the water, or in the school itself?
Or is it a form of mass hysteria? Hosted by Dan Taberski, this top podcast recommendation from 2024 dives deep into the LeRoy incident, which some consider the most extreme case of mass hysteria since the Salem Witch Trials. As Taberski uncovers the causes of this outbreak, he connects it to other seemingly inexplicable events, from CIA officers mysteriously incapacitated by nausea to police officers overdosing on fentanyl, suggesting a larger, more complex web of societal health crises.
Why It’s On Our List: Hysterical is a gripping exploration of psychological, medical, and social mysteries that pushes us to rethink how we understand illness, hysteria, and the mind-body connection. With Taberski’s expert storytelling and a fascinating investigation into some of the most bizarre cases of the last few years, this podcast will leave you questioning what’s really going on in our world.
Wrapping It Up: The Best Podcast Recommendations of 2024
These were hands-down the best podcasts we listened to this year, each offering something unique. Whether you’re craving crime, comedy, personal stories, or pure escapism, this list has it all. Our best podcasts of 2024 stand out for their storytelling, production quality, and the unforgettable moments they create. So grab your earbuds, download a few episodes, and let us know which ones stole your heart.
Here’s to another great year of podcasting!
