From Cosmopolitan
Podcasts are the new black. Fact. But as with anything good, they come with their difficulties; the pain of coming to the end of a series only to find it was the final one, or the struggle of trying to find a new one that scratches the right itch. Well, luckily the Cosmopolitan team are really into podcasts and I am really into obsessive list making…
Here’s our ultimate list of the best (and free) podcasts you need to listen to, as compiled by Cosmopolitan’s very own podcast-junkies.
TRUE CRIME & REAL STORIES
Serial
The first series follows the true story of the murder of student Hae Min Lee and the subsequent conviction of her boyfriend, Adnan Syed.
Listen here.
Dirty John
The story of how successful interior designer Debra Newell was allegedly swindled and manipulated by her new boyfriend, conman John Meehan.
Listen here.
Doctor Death
Explores the terrifying career of Christopher Duntsch, a successful neurosurgeon who seriously injured 31 patients and killed two during surgery.
Listen here.
Teacher’s Pet
The Australian’s Hedley Thomas investigates the cold case of Lyn and Chris Dawson, who seem to live a fairytale life until Lyn went missing in 1982.
Listen here.
Up And Vanished
An investigative podcast that tries to solve cold cases. Two arrests were made as a result of season one.
Listen here.
The Dropout
This podcast gets inside the rise and fall of Theranos, the tech company founded by Elizabeth Holmes that was eventually outed as one of the biggest hoaxes in tech history.
Listen here.
Criminal
An independent podcast into the true crime stories of “people who’ve done wrong, been wronged, and/or gotten caught somewhere in the middle.”
Listen here.
The Shrink Next Door
From the creators of Dirty John and Dr Death, this show tells the true story of a successful therapist who wasn’t all he seemed.
Listen here.
Over My Dead Body
The story of Dan Markel and Wendi Adelson, successful attorneys and a happily married couple whose lives seemed perfect, until everything began to tear at the seams…
Listen here.
The Dream
This podcast investigates the inner workings on multi-level marketing or pyramid schemes.
Listen here.
Swindled
Each episode unpacks a different case of corporate greed or a complicated con, hosted by the mysterious “concerned citizen”.
Listen here.
COMEDY
IRL UK
Journalists Anna Lewis and Rhiannon Evans dig into the best Real Life stories, from obscene aubergines to the magic pen of sex (whatever that is).
Listen here.
Your Mum
Cosmo’s very own beauty contributor Keeks Reid, co-hosts this hilarious show with Charlotte Grant-West, all about their mums: Mauves and Les. From questioning what drugs they’ve taken, to discussing s.e.x, no subject is off limits and you’re guaranteed a belly laugh.
Listen here.
My Dad Wrote A Porno
Friends Jamie, James and Alice get together once a week for Jamie to read aloud from the erotic fiction written by his dad (pen name: Rocky Flinstone).
Listen here.
Dear Joan and Jericha
Agony aunts’ Joan and Jericha (Julia Davis and Vicki Pepperdine) dole out judgemental, offensive and very much satirical ‘advice’ to typically explicit AF questions.
Listen here.
How Did This Get Made?
Three friends, Paul, June and Jason discuss the worst films ever made with hilarious commentary.
Listen here.
Ear Biscuits
Hosts of YouTube show Good Mythical Morning, Rhett and Link, have brutally honest, comedy chats about everything from pop culture to their childhoods.
Listen here.
RHLSTP
Comedian Richard Herring heads to theatres around the country to chat with comedy and entertainment legends like Dawn French and David Mitchell.
Listen here.
No Such Thing As A Fish
The writers of QI have discussions about what they’d learned that week. Prime example: there is no such thing as a sexy ceiling fan.
Listen here.
Ja’miezing
Featuring Chris Lilley’s private school girl character Ja’mie King, Ja’maizing will follow Ja’mie on her new career as an influencer and self-proclaimed “Sydney’s own Gen Z icon.”
NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS
The Daily
New York Times Journalist Michael Barbaro dissects a different news topic for 30 minutes each day, from how Weinstein kept his assaults secret for so long, to the making of Boris Johnson.
Listen here.
Jacob Halwley: On Drugs
Comedian Jacob Hawley investigates addiction and drug culture across the UK, from comedy clubs to chemsex.
Listen here.
TBD With Tina brown
Legendary journalist and author, Tina Brown, discusses social and political issues with politicians, founders and directors.
Listen here.
Caliphate
New York Times Middle East reporter, Rukmini Callimachi, interviews ex members of Al Qaeda over 8 parts.
Listen here.
Call Your Girlfriend
This podcast is designed for best friends living out their friendship long distance. Best mates Ann Friedman and Aminatou Sow discuss everything from our attitudes to death to butt dials.
Listen here.
Reasons To Be Cheerful With Ed Miliband And Geoff Lloyd
Ed and Geoff discuss chat social issues and ideas with some of the best brains going, from academics to political experts.
Listen here.
SEX & RELATIONSHIPS
All The Way With…
Nosy AF about other people’s love and sex lives? Cosmopolitan’s own Sex & Relationships Editor Paisley, and Deputy Beauty Editor Laura, are joined each week by a unique guest who shares their intimate stories…
Listen here.
Call Her Daddy
Two friends, Alexandra and Sofia discuss relationships, sex and life’s embarrassing quirks, answering listeners queries with no limits on explicit detail.
Listen here.
Guys We F***ed
Two stand up comedians, Corinne Fisher and Krystyna Hutchinson, get together every Friday to discuss sexual taboos, kinks and to chat with sexual revolutionaries.
Listen here.
Dolly Alderton’s Love Stories
Journalist and author of Everything I know about Love, Dolly Alderton, interviews celebrities, academic and others from Sharon Horgan to Lily Allen asking them about their most defining relationships.
Listen here.
Where Should We Begin?
Couples therapist, Esther Perel lets us listen in to sessions with real couples as they open up about everything from lack of sex to the difficulty of building a relationship that was born out of an affair.
Listen here.
Savage Lovecast
Dan Savage, a famed American advice columnist answers listeners’ questions on love, sex and politics, bringing in relevant guests for discussion. Prime example: a 76 year-old woman asks, ‘is everyone is polyamorous?’
Listen here.
Unexpected Fluids
This is a podcast about all the unexpected, sloppy and messy things that can go wrong in sex. Rejoice!
Listen here.
SOCIETY & CULTURE
Even The Rich: The Kardashians
Even The Rich looks into some of the richest and most powerful dynasties society has ever seen, from the Murdochs to The House of Versace. This particular series looks into the perhaps the most infamous reality TV family of all time; The Kardashians. Episode one takes a deep dive into the work of Kris Jenner, and how she fought tooth and nail to make her family famous.
Listen here.
The Guardian Long Read Podcast
The podcast version of the Guardian’s long-read stories. From the dodgy business of crystals to why do people hate vegans?
Listen here.
Getting Curious
Queer Eye’s Jonathan Van Ness explores things he is curious about, with information and advice from very wise experts. Sure, the titles are catchy and fun (“How can we twerk on climate change”), but you’ll learn lots.
Listen here.
Song Exploder
Musicians from Bon Iver to Robyn take apart their songs to discuss how they were written.
Listen here.
Reply All
This podcast explores how to survive the modern technological world. From investigating Snapchat hackers to how a shy, queer Canadian woman accidentally invented a toxic hate group online.
Listen here.
The Anthropocene Reviewed
Author of Paper Towns, John Green, reviews things like ‘the taco bell breakfast menu’ or ‘love at first sight’.
Listen here.
99% Invisible
This podcast is all about design and architecture and it sheds light on why the things around us are the way they are, so we can come to understand their impact on us, from water fountains to disaster aversion systems.
Listen here.
Articles Of Interest
This is a spin-off project from 99% invisible, exploring a different facet of fashion in each episode. Highlights include, why faux pockets are a feminist issue and how punk gave a voice to the voiceless.
Listen here.
Every Little Thing
Host Flora Lichtman asks new questions each week to get to the bottom of life’s nichest mysteries, from who names nail polishes to whether twins can communicate in utero.
Listen here.
In the Limelight
Two Vanity Fair journalists explore the ups and downs of pop culture, celebrity and entertainment, with lots of Royals content.
Listen here.
FEMINISM & CAREERS
The Guilty Feminist
Comedian Deborah Frances White invites guests on her show to discuss their feminist insecurities, introduced with the line, “I’m a feminist but…”
Listen here.
In Good Company
A podcast of interviews, ideas and advice for working women from the founder of Women Who, Otegha Uwagba.
Listen here.
The High Low
Dolly Alderton and Pandora Sykes discuss the week’s news and pop culture, from the rise and fall of Victoria’s Secret to Instagram removing the ‘like’ button.
Listen here.
Stuff Mom Never Told You
Hosts Anney and Samantha explore everything from fangirls to time management to understand what feminism and being a woman means today.
Listen here.
Popaganda
Hosted by Carmen Rios, this podcast explores pop culture from a feminist angle, investigating everything from ‘Puffragettes’, the women on a mission to end the drug war, to the impact of The Spice Girls 20 years later.
Listen here.
Girlboss Radio
Career Queen, Sophia Amoruso interviews a different female trailblazer each week, to get their stories and advice about making it big in business.
Listen here.
The School of Greatness with Lewis Howes
Entrepreneur and former professional football player, Lewis Howes, interviews ‘the greats’ of various industries, from Sophia Bush to Kobe Bryant.
Listen here.
The Gurls Talk Podcast
Host Adwoa Aboah speaks to different fascinating guests each episode, from Team GB Paralympian Hollie Arnold to Black Lives Matter ambassador Janaya Future Khan, as they talk through issues, share their stories and discuss important topics.
Listen here.
BEAUTY & WELLNESS
Beauty From The Heart
Makeup artist, Rose Gallagher, is known as one of the most positive voices in the beauty industry (seriously, Instagram even put her on their positivity index) and her podcast is just as uplifting. Each week Rose is joined by a different guest from the beauty industry for a meaningful conversation about their personal journeys and experiences. Recent guests include Jamie Genevieve and Juno Dawson.
Listen here.
Full Coverage
Hosts professional make-up artist, Harriet Hadfield and make-up addict Lindsey Kelk discuss the latest news from the make-up industry.
Listen here.
Fat Mascara
Beauty editors Jessica Matlin and Jennifer Goldstein discuss all things beauty in this weekly podcast, with interviews from industry experts like plastic surgeons, perfumers and nail technicians.
Listen here.
Breaking Beauty
Two longtime beauty editors Jill Dunn and Carlene Higgins interview beauty founders about the origins of breakthrough beauty products.
Listen here.
Happy Place
Presenter Fearne Cotton interviews a whole host of amazing guests, from Hilary Clinton to Maisie Williams on what happiness means to them.
Listen here.
The Hilarious World of Depression
This totally uplifting podcast smashes through the stigma of depression by inviting comedians to talk through their experiences of it. It’s equal parts hysterical and therapeutic.
Listen here.
CELEBRITY & INTERVIEWS
WTF With Marc Maron
Marc Maron, aka Sam from GLOW interviews comedians, writers, actors, directors among others in candid and extremely funny conversations.
Listen here.
Off Menu With James Acaster and Ed Gamble
Celebrity guests to the show like The Street’s Mike Skinner and Jess Phillips MP order ‘off menu’ picking their dream starter, main, dessert, side and drink.
Listen here.
David Tennant Does A Podcast With…
As the name suggests, every episode features an interview with a different celebrity. It seems that being pretty famous yourself helps get some big names from the door, guests include Ian McKellen and Tina Fey.
Listen here.
George Ezra & Friends
Unfailingly likeable George interviews musicians about their work; the highs of creating and the struggles of being in the industry. The Elton John episode is truly exceptional.
Listen here.
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