The 8 Best Public Policy Podcasts
Whether you’re a policy wonk who wants to get into the nitty gritty details of education reform, or just someone looking for an update on the political news you need to know each day, podcasts are a great way to tune into the political conversation. Instead of turning on the news or scrolling through Twitter, you can pop your earphones in and listen to thought-provoking and in-depth political analysis as you’re cooking or driving to work. These public policy podcasts will help you understand the latest in health policy, education policy, foreign affairs and more. Featuring discussions with journalists, academics, and political insiders, you’ll get the details on the policy issues affecting your community and the world. So check out this list of the best public policy podcasts, curated with recommendations from Podyssey’s community of podcast listeners, and learn more about the most important political issues of the time.
Last Updated: Dec 28th, 2021
1. Stay Tuned with Preet
Join former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara as he breaks down legal topics in the news and engages thought leaders in a podcast about power, policy, and justice. From CAFE and the Vox Media Podcast Network.
Most Recommended Episode
Special Episode: Manafort, Gates, Papadopoulos
14:20 | Oct 30th, 2017
3 RECOMMENDATIONS
In a special episode, Preet responds to today’s news of the indictments of two Trump campaign officials and, more importantly, the guilty plea — and cooperation — obtained from another. He parses what...Show More
2. Here's Where It Gets Interesting
Here’s Where It Gets Interesting finds the stories of America you probably haven’t heard. Host Sharon McMahon, a longtime teacher and one of today’s most influential voices, will ignite your curiosity about the fascinating stuff that wasn’t in histor...Show More
Most Recommended Episode
80. The Power of Fun and How to Have More of It with Catherine Price
45:47 | Jan 19th, 2022
1 RECOMMENDATION
In this episode, Sharon is joined by author Catherine Price, whose new book, The Power of Fun: How to Feel Alive Again explores the concept of fun and why it’s a necessary part of the human experience...Show More
3. The Oath with Chuck Rosenberg
The Oath with Chuck Rosenberg, MSNBC’s newest original podcast, is a series of revealing, one-on-one conversations with thoughtful former American public officials from the highest levels of government service shaping this pivotal moment in American ...Show More
Latest Episode
4. Crimetown
Welcome to Crimetown, a series produced by Marc Smerling and Zac Stuart-Pontier in partnership with Gimlet Media. Each season, we investigate the culture of crime in a different city. In Season 2, Crimetown heads to the heart of the Rust Belt: Detroi...Show More
Most Recommended Episode
37:37 | Feb 26th, 2017
3 RECOMMENDATIONS
After a lucrative career as a thief, Charles Kennedy has an important realization: the real money is in drugs. He rises to become one of the East Coast’s biggest traffickers, throwing coke-fuelled par...Show More
5. The Ezra Klein Show
Each Tuesday and Friday, Ezra Klein invites you into a conversation on something that matters. How do we address climate change if the political system fails to act? Has the logic of markets infiltrated too many aspects of our lives? What is the futu...Show More
Most Recommended Episode
This Book Changed My Relationship to Pain
1:04:20 | Feb 21st, 2023
6 RECOMMENDATIONS
Physical pain is a universal human experience. And for many of us, it’s a constant one. Roughly 20 percent of American adults — some 50 million people — suffer from a form of chronic pain. For some, t...Show More
6. The Rest Is Politics
Two men who’ve been at the heart of the political world - former Downing Street Director of Communications and Strategy Alastair Campbell and cabinet minister Rory Stewart - join forces from across the political divide. The Rest Is Politics lifts the...Show More
Most Recommended Episode
William Hague on Boris Johnson, Blair, and Brexit
48:14 | Aug 3rd, 2022
1 RECOMMENDATION
In a special episode of The Rest Is Politics, Alastair and Rory are joined by former Foreign Secretary and former Leader of the Conservative Party, William Hague.They discuss the future for Boris John...Show More
7. Court Junkie
Imagine being wrongfully convicted for a crime you didn't commit, or imagine your child's killer is still on the loose even though there's enough evidence for an arrest. I want to help shine light on the injustices of our judicial system. I delve int...Show More
Most Recommended Episode
Ep 37: What Really Happened to Holly Bobo? (Zachary Adams Trial)
1:38:10 | Oct 9th, 2017
2 RECOMMENDATIONS
20-year-old Holly Bobo went missing from her home near Parsons, Tennessee, on the morning of April 13, 2011. For years, her family was in the dark as to what happened to her, until finally, progress w...Show More
AUDIO REMOVED: The podcast creator has removed the audio for this episode.8. The Lincoln Project
Trump may be gone but American politics is still in crisis. The Lincoln Project has sparked a nationwide movement to restore our democracy. This podcast is hosted by co-founder Reed Galen and he is regularly joined by our political experts and guests...Show More
Latest Episode
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