36 best podcasts that will have you hooked, from pop culture to true crime deep dives
If you've watched all that Netflix has to offer, you may have branched out into the wise world of podcasts.
Want to delve deep into the ins and outs of dating? Celebs Go Dating guru Anna Williamson has got you covered. Or maybe you're looking for some niche listening. If so, where else can you hear South Asian BFFs talk about the topic of sex so candidly than the podcast Brown Girls Do It Too?
Perhaps you're simply obsessed with pop culture, and therefore need to plug Everything Is Content into your veins/ears?
Get excited about small screen offerings for 2025.
If you want to feel like hanging out with some of your favourite celebs, then did you know that the likes of Jonathan Van Ness, Trinny Woodall and Emily Ratajkowski all have podcasts as well?!
Of course, if you need a bit of ~respite~ from the chaotic stories that have taken over our streaming platforms, you can also choose to engage in a bit of wellness… in podcast form. Try the Harvest Series or Fearne Cotton's Happy Place.
Needless to say, there is something for everyone…
Here is GLAMOUR's round-up of the 36 best podcasts to listen to in 2024:
Courtesy of ABCTrue Crime:
Scamanda
Fans of true-life scams that are almost impossible to believe, like Apple Cider Vinegar, come this way.
Hosted by British broadcaster and journalist Charlie Webster, Scamanda explores the wild story of Amanda Riley who fabricated a cancer battle on her blog and social media channels. Her lie penetrated the Christian community she was at the centre of, not to mention her family.
It really has to be listened to in order to be believed.
Rebecca Nead-MenearCulture:
Everything Is Content
Co-hosted by permanently online writers and culture vultures Beth McColl, Ruchira Sharma and Oenone, tune in twice a week for their take on the week's long reads, TikTok trends, books, films and much more.
They go DEEP on why these stories have hit the online discourse so hard, with sprinklings of insights into their lives as 30-something modern women and their enduring friendships with each other.
Highlight recent episodes have to be the interview with fellow podcaster and author Caroline O'Donoghue and the incredibly named Is The Bush Back?
Dating:
The Cost of Loving with Anna Williamson
Celebs Go Dating guru Anna explores the knotty relationship between dating and our finances, questioning how we can ensure compatibility in this tricky area. From salary gaps to the politics of who should pay on a first date, she and her guests dive deep into the affairs of love and money.
Culture:
Sentimental Garbage
One for all the gals who love to go DEEP about their FEELINGS when it comes to any cultural phenomenon – be it songs, TV shows, old romcoms or the resurgence of Robbie Williams. Author and podcaster Caroline O’Donoghue chats through all our favourite ‘guilty pleasures’ that society may have told we should be ashamed of, with amazing guests from Dolly Alderton to Maisie Peters and fellow author Lauren Bravo.
Health:
Harvest Series
The Harvest Series podcast helps you ask yourself the right questions, boost your critical thinking, and broaden your horizons about the world of alternative health. Insightful episodes include Reclaiming Sexuality with Sex and Love coach Bibi Brzozka, How to Live Longer Thanks to Food with Dr Mark Hyman and the Influence of Music on our Minds with Sound Therapist Alexandre Tannous.
Health:
It's Your Hormones!
It's Your Hormones! reveals just how much of an impact your hormones can have on your everyday life. The educational health podcast is essential for women everywhere. It is led by GP and hormone expert Dr Sohere Roked, who interviews friends and patients about the struggles faced by their imbalanced hormones, and what can be done to manage them.
BEAUTIFUL LIGHT STUDIOSCulture:
Culture:
Brown Girls Do It Too
The topic of sex and intimacy for South Asians is not taboo on Brown Girls Do It Too – and we have Poppy and Rubina to thank for that as they gather to talk about all things that were supposedly taboo to discuss in the community. With their comedic charm and best friend personas, no topic is off-limits as the Brown women are celebrated everywhere.
Culture:
Call Me Mother
Author and journalist Shon Faye chats to LGBTQIA trailblazers, including Siobhan Fahey, a queer filmmaker and founder of Riot Productions; Michael Cashman, whose character on Eastenders had the first on-screen gay kiss in British soap history; and Kate Bornstein, an author and academic whose written powerfully about gender and mental health.
Lifestyle:
Oprah’s Super Soul
Oprah is undoubtedly the Queen of interviews, and even she's spoilt for choice when choosing her favourite selection of acclaimed interviews from her show to provide our listening pleasures. Focusing on the mind, body, and spirit, the series features guests such as Lady Gaga, Michelle Obama and Cheryl Strayed, with topics such as health, wellness and life's most essential questions covered.
Lifestyle:
Fearless with Trinny Woodall
With stars like Elizabeth Day and Debra Messing having featured, makeover expert Trinny Woodall's podcast Fearless is already off to a must listen! It relays the inspirational true stories of people overcoming unimaginable challenges while Trinny also shares insight into valuable life experiences of her own.
Lifestyle:
The Story of Woman
What does it mean for women when our existing systems and hierarchies have benefitted from excluding women for a long time? Luckily, this podcast focuses on dismantling the mantra of living in a "man's world" by featuring interviews and conversations about exploring the world through the female gaze by looking into issues such as the economy, healthcare, marginalised gender roles and more.
Lifestyle:
How To Fail with Elizabeth Day
In a society that champions winning above all else, it's so refreshing to hear from people who've failed (often publicly) and how they've learned from that experience. Elizabeth Day chats to a different guest each episode about why failing is underrated. We're here for it.
Lifestyle:
10/10 Would Recommend
Hosted by Tolly T (of The Receipts Podcast, which is also 100% required listening) and Gena Barrett (who works at Netflix for that key insider info), this podcast is worth listening to for their banter alone (you can really tell they’re IRL friends), they not only discuss all the best must-watch series but also chat to their stars and share BTS filming secrets.
Lifestyle:
Go Love Yourself
The Great British Bake Off star, Laura Adlington and her best friend, Lauren Smith, are on a mission to dismantle toxic diet culture, one podcast at a time. They're joined by professionals and influencers, including Dr Joshua Wolrich and GLAMOUR contributor Alex Light, who advise on everything from the BMI to unlearning fatphobia.
Lifestyle:
Small Doses with Amanda Seales
Is your weekly routine missing some “potent truths"? Allow Amanda Seales to fill you in. Her podcast (which has a stunning 4.9 out of 5 rating on Apple Podcasts) discusses the “Side effects of…” a different topic each week, leaving you vastly more entertained and informed than you were before.
Lifestyle:
Maintenance Phase
If you're ~done~ with society's diet fads, junk science, and fatphobic rhetoric, Maintenance Phase is the antidote for you. Hosted by author Aubrey Gordon and journalist Michael Hobbes, every two weeks they tackle a new topic, from “illness influencers” to whether being fat is actually bad for you (spoiler alert: it's probably not). In short, we love these two and they're pretty much doing the Lord's work.
Beauty:
Outspoken Beauty
Outspoken Beauty is being billed as the UK’s most honest, straight talking beauty podcast. Beauty can be a contentious subject. Why do women feel pressurised to wear makeup? What is this obsession with fighting ageing? How can the beauty industry charge so much for a mere pot of face cream? Why shouldn’t women be able to have hairy legs and be perceived to be sexy? This podcast helps us answer that and celebrates how beauty can make us feel great and enhance all that is positive about us.
Celebrity Interviews:
Brandi Glanville Unfiltered
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills icon Brandi Glanville is one of the most iconic reality stars in the world, and with that badge comes exclusive access into the world of pop culture, fashion, and celebrity gossip. Join her for an entertaining ride as she chats about her latest television appearance, industry tidbits, relationship drama and more. It's truly addictive!
Celebrity Interviews:
High Low with EmRata
Emily Ratajkowski is one of the most recognisable models in the world - and now an excellent podcaster, thanks to High Low with EmRata. The mother of one and catwalk queen hosts intimate conversations about topics such as feminism, sex, social media, and politics with celebrity guests, close friends and others she admires.
Celebrity Interviews:
Reign with Josh Smith
If you need forty minutes of pure uplifting chat, Reign with Josh Smith is a total mood. In each episode, Josh Smith (former Entertainment Director at GLAMOUR) speaks to a different empowering guest, from Lily Collins to Iskra Lawrence and Katarina Johnson-Thompson. Away from the spotlight, some of our favourite stars share frank and honest experiences of personal challenges they've overcome and how they've found power in the most unlikely of places.
News:
Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness
Television personality and Queer Eye hairstylist Jonathan Van Ness covers a broad spectrum of topics such as politics, social justice and LGBTQIA+ issues. With interviews from experts in their field, as well as a whole host of celebrities, this is the podcast to be if you're erm, curious, and want a well-rounded discussion on relevant societal topics.
News:
News:
You're Wrong About
After a few years of listening to this podcast, we can safely say that we were wrong about so many things: from Princess Diana to the OJ Simpson Trial. While one of the founding co-hosts, Michael Hobbes, has now left the show, Sarah Marshall continues to debunk life's greatest mysteries with her signature wit and boundless likeability.
