Teens generally have the attention spans of goldfish, so it’s easy to want to call it a day and let them zone out, staring indefinitely into their screens. But wait! There’s one mode of teen entertainment that involves listening rather than screen-staring: Podcasts.
Podcasts are a great way for parents and teens to connect … if you can pry the Air Pods out of their hands, that is. But hey, I’ve got four teens at the moment, and two kids working their way towards adolescence as we speak. So when my editor asked me to write about the best podcasts out there for teens, I thought, no problem!
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But then I asked my two teen daughters what podcasts they like. “Mom,” my 16-year-old said, “you know teenagers don’t listen to podcasts, right?” Oof.
My 18-year-old, however, is a podcast fan. She offered up some themes — and some advice: “Murder is good,” she said. “Paranormal stuff. Sex advice. Don’t write about podcasts teens expect their parents to recommend for them.” Point duly noted.
So, if you’re hoping for a carefully vetted list to please helicopter parents and all the Karens and Beckys of the mom world, well, this will not be that list. It will, however, be a list of podcasts approved by actual, real-life, breathing, TikTok-ing, media-ingesting teens. So share this mildly controversial list at your own peril. You might want to vet the podcasts first; you might not. It’s up to you. My daughter and I, for instance, listen to My Favorite Murder together, and we’re hooked. And my son (age 14) is my favorite person to listen to ghost story podcasts with during late-night soccer drives.
Any podcast can be a springboard for great discussion between you and your teen, if that’s what you’re after — you just have to put one on in the car (trapping your child on a 70-mph highway ride is totally fair play) and take it from there. Who knows? You may discover you both have a penchant for solving cold cases … or that your child’s been dying to talk to you about polyamory or bullying.
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Whatever the case: Be cool. Relax. Things are a lot weirder and more explicit on TikTok. The podcast world is pretty tame in comparison. Just have fun learning about new podcasts with your teen — and don’t take it too seriously. Not everything has to be a learning moment, mkay? Trust me on this: today’s teens cringe at after school-special wisdom imparted a little too earnestly from adults. Let them be snarky kids — and let them pick the podcast topics that interest them. You might be surprised how much you learn about your young adult by simply going along for the ride and embracing the irreverence they’re naturally drawn to in all things media.
1. My Favorite Murder
Lifelong fans of true crime stories Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark swap fave tales of murder and heroism, as well as talk candidly about mental health and the importance of trusting your gut as a young woman. The two are funny as hell and have grown a massive following over the past few years. If you’re allergic to a few f-bombs, steer clear, but if you and your teen don’t mind a little crass talk, these women are the epitome of true friendship and a lifelong dream come true. Trust my Sophie and me: Despite the unlikely subject matter, these two are a romp.
2. TED Talks Daily
The TED Talks podcasts have become perennials. You can count on there being a topic for everyone, like, “Four billion years of evolution in six minutes” and “How I’m bringing queer pride to my rural village.”
3. Stuff You Should Know
Stuff You Should Know is just that: stuff everybody should know, served up by Josh and Chuck in the most entertaining fashion. Recent topics? Satanism, the Iowa caucuses, LSD, chaos theory, Rosa Parks, and … yes … more true crime.
4. The Breakfast Club
Billed as the “world’s most dangerous morning show,” The Breakfast Club features DJ Envy and Charlamagne Tha God tackling pop culture and political madness, especially blowups related to race and diversity. For instance, the crew opened up a dialogue after listeners were upset with Nicki Minaj for referencing Rosa Parks in one of her songs. They explore what’s sensitive in terms of race — and what’s definitely insensitive. Good stuff for teens — and parents — who are determined to stay woke and keep learning.
5. Stuff You Missed In History Class
Little-known history comes alive in this fascinating, comprehensive podcast from the people at HowStuffWorks. You don’t need to be a history buff to get hooked, but if you’re not, you might become one after a few episodes. With a focus on weird events, overlooked stories, and underrepresented groups, this popular series is educational, too.
6. What’s Good Games
What’s Good Games is an informative, funny podcast all about video games. The two hosts (who happen to be female) have great chemistry and demonstrate clear expertise on the biggest games on the market. The (very long) episodes cover news, listener questions, and personal experiences playing games. But keep in mind: While the podcast itself is OK for teens, some of the games they discuss are very mature.
7. Who Would Win
Oh, like you’ve never wanted to know who would win in a battle to the death between, say, Loki and Darth Maul? Well, if you have a comic book lover or sci-fi fan, you can bet they’ve pondered such deep questions. These feisty debates are scientifically researched — and super fun to listen to.
8. The Mortified Podcast
This is pure cringeworthy comedy gold: Mortified is a storytelling podcast in which adults share the most humiliating things they created as kids and teens — we’re talking those old “Dear Diary” entries, love letters, song lyrics, you name it — with complete and utter strangers. Teens can obviously relate, and there’s a certain amount of schadenfreude, listening to their elders talk about mortifying themselves at bible camp and prom. Bonus: Almost guaranteed to spark conversation about your most humiliating teenage moments, so get some old tales polished up and ready to roll. BTW, they also have an Ooh You’re in Trouble podcast aimed at tweens!
9. Socially Awkward
A funny podcast for teens full of interviews that will surely remind them that they are not the only ones walking around this planet feeling like a complete freak.
10. Teen Girl Talk
Run by two hilarious sisters, Franklin and Susie Cota, this is a safe space for any teen girl. Reality show talk, teen topics, you name it — it’s all fair game here, like a sleepover minus the sleeping bag and toothbrush.
11. Spooked
Spooked revels in firsthand accounts of the paranormal, told by souls who have experienced them — and still “can’t believe” what’s happened. Addictively creepy, especially for teens.
12. Radio Rental
Another one guaranteed to give teens goosebumps, Radio Rental brings you true, real-life creepy stories — from paranormal encounters to run-ins with killers — set inside a fictional 1980s video store called Radio Rental, which is manned by eccentric shopkeeper Terry Carnation (played by Rainn Wilson).
13. Welcome to Night Vale
Travel to the fictional town of Night Vale, where every episode of this podcast will give you updates on local weather, announcements, dark hooded figures with secret powers — you know, just your typical small-town stuff. It’s creepy and addictive, and your teen will love it.
14. The TryPod
If you are looking for a laugh-out-loud, good time, you gotta listen to the TryPod with the Try Guys. They’ve swam with sharks, tried birthing stimulators, and interview guests all in the name of comedy.
15. Normal Gossip
It doesn’t matter if you’re a high-schooler or a middle-aged mom — we all love hearing some good tea! Normal Gossip is a podcast for you, letting you know all about the wild, juicy, interesting gossip from regular people that you’ll never meet. It’s like spying on your neighbors with your teens in tow, but in a much more socially appropriate way.
16. The Adventure Zone
Hosted by Justin, Travis, and Griffin McElroy (from My Brother, My Brother and Me podcast) and their dad Clint, The Adventure Zone is a weekly dose of fiction, drama, and comedy that tells the story of Dracula, babysitters from outer space, and other wild tales.
17. 13: A Taylor Swift Fan Podcast
If your teen is as big of a Swiftie as you are, then they will love this Taylor Swift fan podcast. It tackles everything from deep dives on songs, album rankings, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce moments, and more.
18. Anything Goes with Emma Chamberlain
YouTuber Emma Chamberlain has a podcast that talks about, well, everything. She might be giving you breakup advice, talking about fashion trends, interviewing mental health experts, sharing her opinion on hookup culture, or something else completely random. It’s both educational and entertaining, but in a way that doesn’t feel forced.
19. Escape This Podcast
Like an escape room, but in your head, the Escape This Podcast is a fun podcast that’ll force you to do mind games and solve puzzles to escape their dire circumstances!
20. Ridiculous Crime
Interested in true crime, without the murder? Ridiculous Crime offers tales of capers, heists, and cons that are downright outrageous, and you won’t be able to stop listening!
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