The 8 Best Storytelling Podcasts
The best storytelling podcasts tell a gripping, intriguing narrative from start to finish, taking you along on a journey that will not only entertain but enlighten you. Whether they dive into a new story each episode or explore one narrative over the course of a season or even multiple seasons, a good story podcast is expertly crafted to engage the listener. Storytelling stems from an oral tradition, and there’s a reason the podcast format works so well for this genre: it’s deeply personal and immersive. Whether you’re looking for funny storytelling podcasts, true story podcasts, nonfiction journalism, or stories that will move you to reexamine your life and the world around you, you’ll find a great story podcast to fit the bill. So dive into this list of the best podcasts that tell a story, curated with recommendations from the Podyssey community, and find something to get swept up in.
Last Updated: Dec 28th, 2021
1. Dr. Death | S1: Dr. Duntsch
We’re at our most vulnerable when we go to our doctors. We trust the person at the other end of that scalpel. We trust the hospital. We trust the system.Christopher Duntsch was a neurosurgeon who radiated confidence. He claimed he was the best in Dal...Show More
Most Recommended Episode
33:44 | Sep 4th, 2018
8 RECOMMENDATIONS
All physicians are taught, “First do no harm.” But what happens when a doctor does harm his patients? Dr. Robert Henderson was a veteran spinal surgeon in Dallas when he got an unusual phone call fro...Show More
2. This American Life
This American Life is a weekly public radio show, heard by 2.2 million people on more than 500 stations. Another 2.5 million people download the weekly podcast. It is hosted by Ira Glass, produced in collaboration with Chicago Public Media, delivered...Show More
Most Recommended Episode
1:16:11 | Jul 5th, 2020
46 RECOMMENDATIONS
We spend a month at a Jeep dealership on Long Island as they try to make their monthly sales goal: 129 cars. If they make it, they'll get a huge bonus from the manufacturer, possibly as high as $85,00...Show More
AUDIO REMOVED: The podcast creator has removed the audio for this episode.3. Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Most Recommended Episode
1:03:46 | Feb 16th, 2017
5 RECOMMENDATIONS
The Black Panther Party was a complex political movement that was unfairly painted as a militant group who hated white people. Far from it, they were actually men and women trying to effect change in ...Show More
4. Serial
Serial Productions makes narrative podcasts whose quality and innovation transformed the medium. “Serial” began in 2014 as a spinoff of the public radio show “This American Life.” In 2020, we joined the New York Times Company. Our shows have reached ...Show More
Most Recommended Episode
52:57 | Oct 3rd, 2014
30 RECOMMENDATIONS
It's Baltimore, 1999. Hae Min Lee, a popular high-school senior, disappears after school one day. Six weeks later detectives arrest her classmate and ex-boyfriend, Adnan Syed, for her murder. He says ...Show More
5. Anything Goes with Emma Chamberlain
Emma prefers to share her thoughts with a microphone rather than a physical human being, so thank god she has a podcast. Recorded from the comfort of her bed...and some other fun places, Emma talks at length about whatever is on her mind every week. ...Show More
Most Recommended Episode
44:11 | Aug 12th, 2021
1 RECOMMENDATION
You may have noticed, Emma took a break from YouTube. For a while she was feeling uninspired and lacking creativity, and in this episode gets very introspective as to why she was feeling that way, and...Show More
AUDIO REMOVED: The podcast creator has removed the audio for this episode.6. Revisionist History
Revisionist History is Malcolm Gladwell's journey through the overlooked and the misunderstood. Every episode re-examines something from the past—an event, a person, an idea, even a song—and asks whether we got it right the first time. From Pushkin I...Show More
Most Recommended Episode
34:02 | Aug 10th, 2017
12 RECOMMENDATIONS
They made the world’s greatest French Fry. Then they threw it away. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
7. Up and Vanished
Host Payne Lindsey returns with season 3 to investigate the North West Montana disappearance of Ashley Loring HeavyRunner, an indigenous woman who went missing from the Blackfeet Nation Indian Reservation in 2017. Up and Vanished is a true crime seri...Show More
Most Recommended Episode
26:21 | Aug 7th, 2016
4 RECOMMENDATIONS
Payne learns about this mysterious case and starts his investigation. Things don't go as planned but he might just have his first lucky break. To learn more about listener data and our privacy pract...Show More
8. SmartLess
"SmartLess" with Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, & Will Arnett is a podcast that connects and unites people from all walks of life to learn about shared experiences through thoughtful dialogue and organic hilarity. A nice surprise: in each episode of Smar...Show More
Most Recommended Episode
1:01:44 | Apr 29th, 2024
4 RECOMMENDATIONS
On our first triple-guest podisode, we let our pal President Biden bring along two friends, Former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton. Let’s get a little less-SmartLess together… on an all new S...Show More
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