Hobbies are means of passing your time with something valuable and satisfying for you. Hobbies include things like listening to music, drawing, and gaming. Earlier for entertainment and to learn about the surroundings, individuals used to listen to the radio. However, as television and streaming services have grown in popularity, radio’s acceptability has dropped. Nonetheless, in recent years, we have observed an increase in podcast listeners, which can be considered an updated version of the radio.
To learn more about podcasts, let’s take a closer look.
What is a Podcast?
A podcast is audio content that is digitally available for listening and downloading through a podcast hosting service provider. The majority of podcasts are discussions between the host, a well-known personality, or someone with expertise in a certain topic. On the other hand, in certain podcasts, specialists express their perspectives on a specific issue.
Podcast programs such as Google Podcasts, Overcast, Podcast Addict, and Spotify are available to listen to podcasts online. Aside from these apps, you can listen to podcasts using your web browser. Some well-known podcast websites include SoundCloud, Transistor, and Podbean.
Listening to podcasts has various benefits, which we will examine later in this blog.
Types of Podcasts to Listen to
There are many podcasts available on the internet. There are regular podcasts with the majority publishing weekly or monthly.
If you want to know which podcasts to listen to, you must first determine your interest. Well, for this purpose, download a podcast app that allows you to select themes of interest and then receive recommendations.
You can also search the internet for the best podcasts in your category of interest. For example, if you want to learn about technology, you may search for it online and obtain recommendations such as Hard Fork, Pivot, Accidental Tech Podcast, and so on.
Top Podcasts
Now that we know what a podcast is and what types of podcasts you may listen to, let’s look at some of the most well-known podcasts in various categories:
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Comedy- In a comedy podcast, the host attempts to make you laugh with jokes, anecdotes, or amusing interactions. Combining different genres, comedy podcasts are more engaging as it consists of a variety of formats and is one of the most popular podcast genres.
- Best comedy podcasts: Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend, Comedy. Bang, Bang! WTF with Marc Maron and SmartLess.
Technology- This genre has recently gained popularity as a result of people’s growing interest in technology and gadgets. Shows such as Best Tech, Hard Fork, Pivot, and the Accidental Tech Podcast have grown in popularity.
This genre’s podcasts are discussions on current tech subjects that address topical issues. These podcasts educate the public about technology, its applications, benefits, and drawbacks.
Storytelling- Storytelling podcasts are popular among listeners who appreciate listening to stories and immersing themselves totally. Story can be of many episodes or in a single podcast. Some of the most popular storytelling podcasts are This American Life, Selected Shorts, Serial, and others.
Sport- If you enjoy sports and want to stay up to date on the latest news, debates, and discussions about your favorite sports, consider listening to sports podcasts. However, most sports talk about a specific sport, and some podcasts cover all major sports. ESPN Daily, The Lowe Post, The Bill Simmons Podcast, and other popular podcasts fall under this category.
News podcasts- These podcasts keep you up to date on the newest global news, current events, and happenings. Furthermore, you learn about critical perspectives on a variety of pressing subjects.
- Best news podcasts include Today in Focus, The Daily, 3 Things, and BBC Headlines, among others.
Health and Fitness- This genre is ideal for a health and fitness enthusiast looking to learn more about these topics. Health and fitness podcasts cover a wide range of health-related topics as well as techniques to stay on track with your fitness objectives. Famous podcasts like Bulletproof Radio, The Doctor’s Farmacy with Mark Hyman, and Ten Percent Happier with Dan Harris cover all of these themes.
Investigative journalism- It is a type of journalism in which a journalist delves deeply into a subject and brings factual information to the forefront. This genre is mostly focused on crimes, scams, and corruption. This genre is suitable for anyone who is interested in learning more about a well-known swindle, crime, or corruption.
Famous investigative journalism podcasts include Harsh Reality, WeCrashed, and The Trojan Horse Affair.
Politics- In this genre, the speaker discusses the political situation in a certain location, state, country, or area. In such podcasts, the speaker examines the political situation with a specialist, solicits his opinion, and discusses other relevant topics.
Suggested political podcasts include The Rachel Maddow Show, Left, Right & Center, and In Focus.
Self-help- Self-improvement is beneficial since it allows us to become a better version of ourselves. This genre is ideal for those who want to develop themselves through self-help. Self-help podcasts discuss how to form habits, mental health, wellbeing, and how to overcome challenges.
Top self-help blogs include The Habit Coach with Ashdin Doctor, Love Life with Matthew Hussey, On Purpose, and more.
Also Read: 9 New Hobbies Every Youngster Should Try Today
Advantages of Listening to Podcasts
There are numerous advantages to listening to podcasts and developing a habit. Several of them include:
- Free knowledge- Most podcasts are free, although some include promotional content or advertisements. These free audios can help you learn something new, build analytical skills, and expand your knowledge.
- Improved listening skills- The nice thing about podcasts is that they are audio-based, so actively listening to them helps your listening skills improve. When you have good listening abilities, you will understand things better.
- Better mental wellness– Listening to podcasts has been shown to improve your mental health by allowing you to absorb knowledge, develop skills, and engage in useful activities. They relieve stress and anxiety, improving your mental health.
- Reduced screen time- Podcasts are audio-based, so when you listen to them, your screen time is reduced. As a result, they contribute to the development of healthy habits of using technology and gadgets mindfully.
- Improved focus and attention- When you listen to podcasts, you pay close attention to them; most people listen to podcasts while traveling or sleeping, thus they help you improve your focus and attention.
Conclusion
Listening to podcasts can be a terrific activity to pursue in 2025 because it offers numerous benefits like improved mental health, increased focus span, reduced screen time, and so on. Furthermore, they help you learn new things, be aware of your environment, and improve your analytical skills. There are numerous podcast genres available on the internet; choose the ones that interest you. Listen to them every day to make it a habit.
Anshuman Jha