Life gets busy. Many of us love improving ourselves and learning new things, but who has the time to take a class or read a textbook? As a podcast lover, I have spent hundreds of hours on Spotify listening to a wide range of podcasts about all sorts of topics. I love interview-based episodes with celebrities and even normal people, reviews of books and movies, and friends sharing funny stories. But they are also a great way to learn about the world and educate yourself about topics that interest you! So, here is a list of my top 5 podcasts that will help you become a better, smarter version of yourself!
1. No Such Thing As A Fish
This hilarious podcast will have you rolling with laughter while listening to some of the most interesting and bizarre facts you’ve ever heard! Join 4 researchers for the hit UK trivia show, QI, as they discuss each of their favourite facts they learnt over the past week. These facts range from anything, including scientific facts, history you didn’t know and random interesting news stories. The presenters are also award-winning comedians so you will never get bored with the hour-long episodes. The show has over 500 episodes, with a new one released every week so you’ll never get bored and can learn at least 4 new facts every week!
2. Stuff You Should Know
Ever wanted to know more about a really random subject? Well ‘Stuff You Should Know’ probably has an episode about it. This podcast explores various topics in one-hour in-depth episodes, giving you all the information you never knew you needed! These topics can range from the science behind breakups, a look into the life of the notorious Unabomber or even the secrets behind snails! Don’t want to sit through an hour long episode? They also have mini-episodes titled ‘Short Stuff’ which gives you a deep-dive into a topic in one quick, bite-sized chunk. There’s an episode for everyone, no matter what your interests are!
3. Oxford Sparks Big Questions
Oxford is one of the most prestigious and well-known universities in the world, but now you can pick the mind of some of the genius Oxford professors without ever leaving your bed! The ‘Oxford Sparks Big Questions’ podcast interviews some of the greatest minds at the university about all your questions related to science, history and psychology! Did you know that we can talk to bees? Ever wondered when humans started kissing? Is ‘Jurassic Park’ a realistic possibility for our future? All of these big questions and more can be answered in just 15 minute episodes by top professionals in their field. There’s an answer to every question you could possibly think of (and more)!
4. How To Be A Better Human
Of course, learning facts is one way to get smarter but part of learning is also about improving yourself! This podcast teaches a variety of skills about how to improve aspects of your life, including happiness, identity and critical thinking. Presented by TED (yes the same company that gave you TEDtalks), every week an expert is brought in to give insight about a topic related to your psychology, self-improvement or how you can get the most out of your life.! Becoming a better person has never been easier, with thirty minute episodes about everything you need to become the person you want to be!
5. The Global Story
Current affairs is one of the most common dinner table topics, and with so much happening in the world, it can be difficult to figure out where to get your news from. ‘The Global Story’ podcast is one of the best shows for listeners who want more in-depth coverage of current news events, as well as insight into some of the more obscure stories happening right now. Episodes are released daily and focus on one major news story per day, so rather than getting a brief coverage of a variety of stories, you get a detailed, insightful look at the biggest events happening around the world right now. Each episode is also less than thirty minutes long so you can easily listen on your commute to work or school
Listening to this podcast is a surefire way to improve your knowledge of world events, and have a better understanding about politics, economics and the world!
With countless podcasts on streaming services, it can be difficult to know where to start. Hopefully this list has provided you with some podcasts that will love and help you become just a little bit smarter!
