Best Podcasts for Teenagers (2026) - 4 Hand-Picked Shows
Finding podcasts that actually speak to teenagers without being condescending is harder than it should be. Most teen content feels like it was written by a committee of worried parents. These shows are different - some are made by teens themselves, others just get the vibe right. They cover everything from mental health and school stress to culture-podcasts" class="text-indigo-600 dark:text-indigo-400 hover:text-black dark:hover:text-white transition-colors font-semibold border-b border-indigo-200 hover:border-indigo-600">pop culture and just hanging out. Whether you are 14 or 19 the conversations here feel real, not scripted. Way better than whatever algorithm TikTok is pushing today.
Call Her Daddy
Alex Cooper turned a controversial dating podcast into one of Spotify's biggest exclusive deals. The show evolved from raunchy hookup stories into surprisingly thoughtful interviews with celebrities, athletes, and cultural figures. Cooper asks questions that most interviewers would never dare and her guests seem to respond to that directness. Some episodes are pure entertainment while others go unexpectedly deep into mental health, relationships, and career struggles. Love it or dismiss it - the cultural impact is undeniable and Cooper's interview skills have genuinely improved with every season.
anything goes with emma chamberlain
YouTube star Emma Chamberlain's podcast feels like a stream of consciousness from someone your age who happens to be famous. She talks about whatever is on her mind - social anxiety, coffee obsession, fashion choices, existential thoughts at 3am - with the kind of raw honesty that built her audience in the first place. No guests, no structure, just Emma thinking out loud. Some episodes are hilarious, others are surprisingly introspective. The appeal is entirely personality-driven and if her energy clicks with you nothing else sounds quite like it.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
Former monk turned motivational speaker Jay Shetty interviews thought leaders about purpose, mindfulness, and personal growth. The conversations tend toward the inspirational end of the spectrum but with enough substance to avoid feeling empty. Shetty asks thoughtful questions and gives guests room to develop their ideas fully. Topics cover relationships, career fulfillment, mental health, and spiritual practices from various traditions. Production is polished and episodes are well-structured. Works best if you are in a reflective headspace and open to self-improvement content.
Stuff You Should Know
Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant have been explaining how things work since 2008, covering literally thousands of topics from black holes to the history of chocolate. Their chemistry carries even the driest subjects - you can tell they genuinely enjoy learning together and that energy is infectious. Episodes run long but never feel like homework. The show isn't trying to make you smarter in some performative way. It just... does. One of those podcasts where you accidentally become more interesting at dinner parties.
