PORTRAITS

There is something quietly powerful about a podcast that starts with a face. PORTRAITS is hosted by Kim Sajet, director of the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery, and each episode uses a single portrait as a springboard into biography, cultural history, and identity. Sajet brings in artists, historians, and public figures to talk about how and why we represent people -- and what those representations tell us about the era that produced them. The show has been running since 2019 and has built up a catalog of 85 episodes across several formats. Full-length conversations typically run 20 to 35 minutes, but there are also shorter "Blink" episodes that last just a couple of minutes and offer quick, focused observations about a single work. That mix keeps the pacing interesting. You can sit down with a longer episode on a commute or grab a quick one during a coffee break. What makes PORTRAITS stand apart from most art history shows is the institutional weight behind it. The National Portrait Gallery's collection spans centuries of American history, and Sajet has the kind of access and connections that let her pull in guests who genuinely know their subjects. The conversations feel considered rather than rushed. At 4.8 stars with 201 ratings, listeners clearly appreciate the blend of scholarly rigor and accessible storytelling. It is especially strong if you are interested in the intersection of art and American history, or if you have ever stood in front of a portrait and wondered about the person staring back at you.