For those of you out there who already enjoy listening podcasts - and also those who may not have considered it yet - here are a few quick reviews of some of my favorite podcast channels to date (in no particular order). There is something for everyone in this list, and I hope that you can find your favorite ones to-be here!
P.S - If you are an Android user, I highly recommend Podcast Addict as it is the most versatile yet resource-friendly podcast app I have used to date.
- Comedy
❄ The Duncan Trussell Family Hour (Feral Audio)
Duncan is a brilliant comedian with a very spiritual/esoteric side. In his podcast he mainly interviews other stand-up comedians like Ari Shaffir, Marc Maron, and also people from spiritual and alternative walks of life such as Alex and Allyson Grey, Lama Surya Das, Zach Leary, etc. He often touches on existential and esoteric topics, especially the advancement of new technologies such as virtual reality and artifical intelligence. Duncan is also a proponent of psychedelics and other methods of consciousness alteration. The show is sprinkled with dark humor and anti-political rants. Even the advertisement are hilarious to listen to! On average, each episode is around 90 minutes long.
❄ The Joe Rogan Experience
A good friend of Duncan's, Joe Rogan's show is tremendously popular among people with many different kinds of interests. He provides an alternative take on sports, hunting and wildlife, entertainment and comedy, American politics and journalism, philosophy, drugs, science and health. These podcast episode average around 3 hours in length, and can often be highly informative, tangential and also motivational. His podcast has been running for many years and there is a wide range of different guests on past shows, including Russell Brand, James Hetfield, Everlast, Lance Armstrong, Steve-O, Russell Peters and Graham Hancock, to name a few of his more famous guests. He also has a whole collection of interviews with other stand-up comedians and professional MMA fighters.
- History
❄ The Lesser Bonapartes
This one certainly also fits into the comedy category, as the lively hosts give humorous takes on historical eras. They often do long series covering certain topics, and it is always fun to listen to. On average, each episode is around 1 hour long. There are no advertisements and it has a very indie feel to it. From a very small base of listeners, they have been tenaciously climbing the historical podcasts chart, all in the spirit of silliness and polite mockery of 'serious' history.
❄ The Eastern Border (Dark Myths)
One of the co-hosts of The Lesser Bonapartes, Kristaps, is a young Latvian journalist who has studied soviet history extensively and gives an enthralling and accurate description of the full history of the Soviet Union. Each episodes averages around 1 hour in length.
❄ Dan Carlin's Hardcore History
No historical podcasts list would be complete without Dan Carlin, the pioneer of the journalistic-style history podcast genre. He is a fantastic storyteller and these 4, or even 5-hour episodes will often race by as he recreates some of the most violent and hardcore historical events ever to take place, in a dramatic and sobering fashion. Most of his podcast episodes are currently unavailable for free download, and can be accessed via his website. However, the few episodes that are still available are all fantastic and will keep you hooked for many hours on end. Highly recommended even for those who are not necessarily interested in history, as you likely will be after listening to Hardcore History.
❄ Our Fake History (Dark Myths)
In this family-friendly and entertaining podcast, Sebastian Major, a high school history teacher, explores the way in which history often spills over into myth and even pure historical nonsense. He stylishly debunks some of the most widely-believed fictions that have been written into the every day person's impression of history, from Joan of Arc to Ninjas, Rasputin and Atlantis. His episodes are very well presented, polished, and average around 45 minutes in length.
❄ History on Fire
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Daniele Bolelli is a university-level history professor, and "the most interesting podcaster in the world." His podcast History on Fire, though fairly new on the scene, has exploded in popularity as he explores some of his own favorite historical persons such as Spartacus, Crazy Horse, Caravaggio and Theodore Roosevelt, in a style quite similar to Dan Carlin's. These episodes average around 2 hours in length.
- Spirituality & Philosophy
❄ Heart Wisdom with Jack Kornfield (Be Here Now Network)
Jack Kornfield is a modern Buddhist teacher who gives a down-to-earth perspective on spiritual practice and the way in which people are able to deal with their own personal suffering and become better for it. A lot of these episodes are very similar in that they are recordings of his lectures which tend to arrive at the same simple yet clear message. I would recommend listening to an episode every now and then as a gentle reminder, rather than to approach it as study of Buddhism. These episodes are around 1 hour in length.
❄ Ram Dass Here And Now (Be Here Now Network)
Ram Dass is the man who inspired the Be Here Now Network (which is also the title of one of his most popular books, written upon his return from his spiritual quest to the East.) Ram Dass, formerly Dr. Richard Alpert, was a colleague of Dr. Timothy Leary - a very important figurehead in the psychedelic renaissance of the 1960s. They were both publicly expelled from Harvard University for their unorthodox experimentation with the applications and implications of psychoactive drugs in the field of psychology. Afterwards, their lives led them down very different paths, and in this podcast you can listen to amazing talks given by Ram Dass from decades past. He addresses topics like Buddhism and Hinduism, reincarnation, relationships, attachment, death, yoga and meditation. Podcast episodes vary in length.
❄ Mindrolling with Raghu Markus (Be Here Now Network)
Raghu, one of the founders of the Be Here Now network and a close friend of Ram Dass, interviews spiritually-minded people in this podcast, addressing wide-ranging topics such as near death experiences, meditation, shamanism, art, religion and so forth. His guests are always highly versed in their individual subjects, which makes each episode a learning experience. Podcast episodes vary in length.
❄ Buddha at the Gas Pump
Rick Archer interviews spiritual teachers and people from all walks of life, very often diving into very esoteric concepts and non-dualism. He interviews renowned teachers like Adyashanti, as well as the average Joe, or "buddha at the gas pump." Although there are simply too many episodes to get through, I have found the ones that I have listened to be very interesting and thought-provoking.
❄ Waking Up with Sam Harris
Sam Harris is a respected neuroscientist with a keen interest in meditation. In his podcast, he expounds eloquently on topics like artificial intelligence, politics and world events, classical philosophy, morality and religion. He is highly educated and has a very clear idea on just about any subject. He often interviews guest scientists and philosophers, but also does solo episodes. The episodes vary in length.
❄ KPFA - The Visionary Activist Show (Pacifica KPFA)
As part of the only fully independent and listener-funded alternative radio station in the US, Caroline hosts a highly interesting show about astro-mythology, arts, politics and activism. I have listened to this program for many years, and I enjoy Caroline's perspective on spirituality and the practical application of astrology. She uses language in a brilliant and magical way which speaks directly to the soul and yet also greatly expands one's knowledge and critical thinking. She interviews guests of all different kinds, but always under the theme of heart-felt dedication. This one comes very highly recommended! Episodes are always 1 hour long.
❄ Psychedelic Salon
In this fantastic podcast, Lorenzo presents recordings of lectures and interviews with the greatest minds in the growing psychedelic movement. No other psychedelic-themed podcast even comes close to the wealth of information that can be found in the Salon. A significant portion of his past episodes consists Terence McKenna talks, which are always highly entertaining and informative, although he has been expanding over the years to include a wider variety of speakers and related topics. Some of the more recognizable names include: Aldous Huxley, Timothy Leary, Rupert Sheldrake, Bruce Damer and Rick Doblin. Episodes of the Psychedelic Salon vary greatly in length.
- Motivational
❄ The Tim Ferriss Show
Certainly one of the most popular podcasts to date, Tim presents powerful interviews with some of the most successful people from the worlds of sport, entertainment and business. The theme is always set on practical ways to improve efficiency and success that can be applied in almost any arena. He has interviews big names such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jamie Foxx, Tony Robbins, Kevin Costner and Amanda Palmer, as well as lesser-known people who have been highly successful in their fields such as General Stan McChrystal and Josh Waitzkin. The first episode I ever listened was an interview with Wim Hof, the legendary "Iceman," and since then I have been hooked. Episodes average between 1 - 2 hours in length.
❄ Jocko Podcast
Jocko Willinck is a retired Navy SEAL commander who is now making waves in the business world, applying combat strategy and militaristic discipline to every aspect of his life. He explores books written by people who have seen and lived through the most brutal, but also sobering and noble aspects of war. He then brings it all back to normal life, suggesting ways in which the ruthless strategy of war can be used to lead a more successful and fulfilled life. It would be extremely motivational for anyone who struggles to maintain an active lifestyle, and Jocko makes it seem easy by emphasizing "unmitigated daily discipline." One topic that arises very often is Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and Jocko partly inspired me to take up this incredible martial art. Episodes vary in length.
- Other
❄ Tangentially speaking
I found this podcast difficult to categorize, seeing as it has a very laid-back, conversational approach to each episode, which also includes musical interludes from artists that you have likely never heard of and will never forget afterwards! Dr. Chris Ryan is the author of the incredible book Sex at Dawn, and his motivation is to enjoy the simple things in life, and to travel often. He has an array of entertaining stories and interviews guests that are often his personal friends. His podcast episodes are around 90 minutes long on average.
❄ Sinica Podcast
Especially for Chinaphiles, this podcast covers current affairs and the sheer oddities of China and Chinese culture. There is always something to learn from each episode which covers a wide range of subjects, although mostly political and journalistic in nature. It is an education for anyone who either loves China, who may be interested in traveling there, or just has a strong sense of curiosity!
That's it! I hope you enjoyed reading these reviews and that it has sparked your interest. And if you are already immersed in the world of podcasts, I would love to hear about some of your favorites!
Namaste for now 🕉