Top 24 Podcasts For Walking of 2026

This American Life is the legendary public radio program and podcast hosted by Ira Glass that has been setting the standard for narrative audio storytelling since 1995. Each week, the show presents true stories and personal essays organized around a central theme, with a mix of humor, heartbreak, and insight that has earned it one of the largest podcast audiences in the world and countless awards including the Peabody Award and multiple Edward R. Murrow Awards. What makes This American Life endure is its extraordinary range — in a single episode you might hear a hilarious account of a small-town feud, a deeply moving story of immigration and identity, and a sharp piece of investigative journalism, all connected by a theme that ties them together in surprising ways. Ira Glass's warm, conversational hosting style and the show's rigorous editorial standards have inspired an entire generation of podcast creators. The show has tackled everything from the failures of the American healthcare system to the inner lives of middle schoolers, always finding the universal in the specific and the extraordinary in the everyday.

99% Invisible is a sound-rich, narrative podcast hosted by Roman Mars that explores the unnoticed architecture, design, and hidden forces that shape our world. Since its launch in 2010, the show has become one of the most beloved podcasts in the world, winning numerous awards and building a passionate community of design-curious listeners. Each episode peels back the layers of everyday objects, spaces, and systems to reveal the fascinating stories behind them — from the design of city flags and currency to the infrastructure hidden beneath our feet. Roman Mars brings a calm, thoughtful narration style that makes complex topics accessible and deeply engaging. The show covers urban planning, graphic design, industrial design, technology, and social systems, always finding the extraordinary within the ordinary.

Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend is one of the most entertaining interview podcasts available, featuring the legendary late-night host in his most unfiltered and hilarious form. After decades behind a desk on television, Conan brings his razor-sharp wit, self-deprecating humor, and genuine curiosity to long-form conversations with celebrities, comedians, actors, and musicians. What makes the show special is Conan's willingness to go off-script, leading to spontaneous comedy moments and surprisingly deep conversations that reveal sides of his guests rarely seen in traditional media. Co-hosted by Sona Movsesian and producer Matt Gourley, the podcast features beloved recurring segments and a dynamic that feels like eavesdropping on genuinely funny friends.

The Moth is a beloved storytelling podcast and live event series that features real people telling true stories from their own lives, without notes, on a stage in front of a live audience. Founded in 1997 by novelist George Dawes Green, The Moth has grown from intimate living room gatherings in New York City to a global phenomenon with events in cities around the world and a podcast that attracts millions of listeners. Each episode features multiple stories from Moth Mainstage shows and StorySLAM competitions, showcasing an incredible diversity of voices, experiences, and perspectives — from celebrated writers and performers to first-time storytellers who have never been on a stage before. The stories range from hilarious to heartbreaking, from intimate personal revelations to epic adventures, but they all share the essential quality that makes The Moth special: they are true, they are personal, and they are told with courage and authenticity. The podcast is ideal for walking, as the stories are perfectly paced for movement and the emotional range keeps listeners fully engaged.

Stuff You Should Know is one of the longest-running and most popular educational podcasts in the world, hosted by Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant since 2008. With thousands of episodes covering virtually every topic imaginable, the show has built an enormous global following by exploring how things work — from the science of black holes and the history of barbecue to the psychology of conspiracy theories and the mechanics of everyday objects. Josh and Chuck's natural chemistry, infectious curiosity, and conversational style make even the most complex subjects feel approachable and entertaining, creating the sensation of learning alongside two genuinely curious friends who happen to be excellent researchers. The show covers science, history, culture, technology, nature, and just about everything else, with each episode running approximately an hour of deeply engaging content. What makes Stuff You Should Know endure is its consistency and reliability — listeners know that every episode will deliver fascinating information presented with warmth, humor, and genuine enthusiasm for the joy of learning. The podcast is ideal for walks, commutes, or any situation where you want to make time fly while expanding your knowledge of the world.

Freakonomics Radio is the beloved podcast hosted by Stephen Dubner, co-author of the bestselling Freakonomics book series, that explores the hidden side of everything through the lens of economics. Since its launch, the show has become one of the most popular and influential podcasts in the world, using economic thinking to examine everything from the psychology of risk-taking to the unintended consequences of well-meaning policies. Each episode features rigorous research, interviews with leading economists and thinkers, and Dubner's signature ability to make complex ideas accessible and entertaining without sacrificing intellectual depth. The show regularly challenges conventional wisdom, revealing how incentives, data, and behavioral patterns can explain seemingly irrational human behavior in ways that traditional analysis often misses. From exploring why crime rates dropped dramatically in the 1990s to investigating the economics of sleep and the hidden costs of free services, Freakonomics Radio consistently finds surprising angles on both timely and timeless questions. The podcast has spawned multiple spin-off shows and cemented its place as essential listening for anyone who wants to understand the world through a different lens.

Everything Everywhere Daily is an educational podcast hosted by world traveler and writer Gary Arndt that delivers fascinating facts and deep dives into a new topic every single day. Each episode runs approximately 15-20 minutes, making it perfect for commutes, walks, or any brief moment when you want to learn something new. The show covers an incredibly diverse range of subjects including history, science, geography, culture, technology, linguistics, and more, drawing connections between seemingly unrelated topics in ways that illuminate the interconnectedness of human knowledge. Gary's background as a world traveler who has visited over 200 countries gives him a unique global perspective.

With a twinkle in his intellectual eye, Malcom Gladwell spins forgotten tales and overlooked details into pure magic in "Revisionist History". Take a tumble down a rabbit hole of fascinating "what ifs" that history forgot to ask. It's a wacky time machine for the innately curious and clever. We suspect fans of facts that no one else knows, incognito intellectuals, and trivia game night champions would revel in it. From Picasso's questionable cooking skills to pull-ups at Vassar College, each episode offers a delightful dance of detours. One chuckle-inducing highlight is 'Thank You, Myron,' where Malcom lovingly blames a Frenchman for all our depleted savings. So, buckle up and let Gladwell guide you through the madcap maze of bizarre history you didn't know you needed to know.

Armchair Expert is a wildly popular interview podcast hosted by actor and writer Dax Shepard alongside co-host Monica Padman. Launched in 2018, the show features disarmingly honest and deeply personal long-form conversations with celebrities, academics, journalists, and thought leaders. What sets Armchair Expert apart is Dax's willingness to be vulnerable about his own struggles with addiction, relationships, and personal growth, creating an atmosphere where guests feel comfortable sharing their own messy truths. The show regularly features A-list guests from Hollywood, politics, and science, but every conversation circles back to the fundamental human experiences that connect us all — shame, ambition, love, failure, and the pursuit of meaning.

No Such Thing As A Fish is a wildly entertaining and educational podcast from the researchers behind the hit BBC quiz show QI. Each week, the QI Elves — Dan Schreiber, James Harkin, Anna Ptaszynski, and Andrew Hunter Murray — share the most extraordinary, bizarre, and hilarious facts they have discovered during their research, sparking freewheeling conversations that are equal parts informative and side-splittingly funny. Named after a quote from a marine biologist who pointed out that fish is not a valid taxonomic category, the podcast embodies the QI spirit of challenging assumptions and finding wonder in the unexpected. The four hosts each bring a different fact to each episode, and the ensuing discussions veer off in wonderfully unpredictable directions, connecting seemingly unrelated topics and uncovering layers of fascinating context behind each revelation. The show has become one of the most downloaded podcasts in the world, with a live show that regularly sells out major venues across multiple countries. Its combination of genuine intellectual curiosity and irreverent humor makes it the perfect companion for walks, offering a constant stream of delightful surprises.

Heavyweight is a deeply moving and often hilarious podcast hosted by Jonathan Goldstein that helps people revisit unresolved moments from their past. Each episode follows Jonathan as he assists someone in confronting a lingering question, regret, or mystery — whether it's tracking down a long-lost friend, resolving a decades-old family dispute, or understanding why a pivotal moment went the way it did. What makes Heavyweight extraordinary is Jonathan's unique combination of empathy, humor, and persistence, along with his willingness to put himself in uncomfortable situations in pursuit of emotional truth. The stories are beautifully crafted, with Jonathan's self-deprecating narration and the show's intimate production style creating a listening experience that feels like being let into someone's most private moments. Episodes frequently build to emotional climaxes that are genuinely cathartic, revealing how the small unresolved moments in our lives can carry enormous psychological weight. Heavyweight reminds us that it is never too late to go back and try to make things right, and that the act of trying is often as transformative as the outcome itself.

Desert Island Discs is one of the longest-running and most beloved radio programmes in broadcasting history, having aired on BBC Radio 4 since 1942. Currently hosted by Lauren Laverne, the show invites guests from all walks of life to imagine themselves cast away on a desert island, choosing eight records, a book, and a luxury item to take with them. Through these musical selections, guests reveal the stories, memories, and emotions that have shaped their lives, creating intimate biographical portraits that are by turns funny, moving, and deeply revealing. With an archive spanning over 80 years, Desert Island Discs represents an unparalleled oral history of modern culture.

The Happiness Lab is an enlightening podcast hosted by Dr. Laurie Santos, a Yale University professor of psychology whose course on happiness became the most popular class in Yale's 300-year history. The show explores the science of happiness, drawing on cutting-edge research in psychology, neuroscience, and behavioral economics to reveal why our minds systematically mislead us about what will make us happy — and what the science says we can do about it. Each episode tackles a different aspect of wellbeing, from the role of social connection and gratitude to the surprising ways that money and status fail to deliver happiness.

Short Wave is NPR's daily science podcast that delivers the latest discoveries, everyday mysteries, and the science behind the headlines in episodes typically running 15-20 minutes. Hosted by Emily Kwong and Aaron Scott, the show covers an extraordinarily diverse range of scientific topics — from astrophysics and climate science to psychology and biology — with infectious enthusiasm, clarity, and a sense of wonder that makes complex research accessible to everyone. Each episode is tightly produced and carefully crafted to pack maximum insight into a compact format, making it ideal for walks, commutes, or brief breaks when you want to learn something fascinating about the world. The hosts bring genuine passion and curiosity to every topic, and their ability to interview scientists and researchers in ways that reveal both the findings and the human stories behind the research makes the show consistently engaging. Short Wave has earned praise for its commitment to diversity in the stories it tells and the scientists it features, ensuring that listeners encounter perspectives from across the full spectrum of scientific inquiry.

You're Dead to Me is a brilliantly entertaining history podcast from BBC Radio 4, hosted by Greg Jenner, the historical consultant for the beloved Horrible Histories franchise. Each episode brings together a historian and a comedian to explore a specific topic from history, creating a unique blend of rigorous academic knowledge and genuine laugh-out-loud comedy. The format works beautifully — the historian provides the expert knowledge and fascinating details, the comedian brings sharp observations and hilarious reactions, and Greg moderates with infectious enthusiasm and his own considerable historical expertise. Topics range across the full sweep of human history and span every continent, from ancient Egyptian beauty routines and Viking exploration to the history of chocolate and the forgotten women who changed the world. What makes You're Dead to Me special is its commitment to making history accessible and entertaining without dumbing it down — listeners come away genuinely educated as well as thoroughly entertained. The podcast is perfect for walks, combining the mental engagement of learning something new with the pleasure of laughing along with witty, engaging hosts.

Radiolab is a pioneering podcast and public radio show from WNYC Studios that has been pushing the boundaries of audio storytelling since 2002. Now hosted by Lulu Miller and Latif Nasser, the show explores big questions about science, philosophy, and the human experience through innovative sound design, rigorous reporting, and a unique conversational format that invites listeners into the process of discovery. Radiolab's signature production style — layering voices, music, and sound effects to create immersive audio experiences — has influenced an entire generation of podcast creators and remains unmatched in its ambition and creativity. Episodes tackle topics ranging from the nature of consciousness and the ethics of genetic engineering to the surprising science of color and the mathematical patterns hidden in nature, always finding ways to make abstract concepts feel visceral and personal. The show consistently challenges listeners to think differently about the world around them, revealing the strange, beautiful, and sometimes unsettling truths that lie beneath the surface of everyday reality. Radiolab is essential listening for curious minds and the perfect walking companion.

Hidden Brain is a fascinating podcast hosted by science journalist Shankar Vedantam that explores the unconscious patterns and cognitive biases that drive human behavior. Originally an NPR program and now independently produced, the show uses rigorous social science research to illuminate why people think, feel, and act the way they do — often without being aware of the forces shaping their decisions. Each episode draws on psychology, neuroscience, behavioral economics, and sociology to explore topics ranging from how we form first impressions to how social media affects our relationships and why we struggle to change habits we know are harmful. Shankar's calm, thoughtful interviewing style creates space for guests to explain complex research in accessible terms, and his talent for finding the human stories within academic studies makes every episode feel personally relevant. The show regularly features researchers whose work has never been covered in popular media, giving listeners access to cutting-edge findings about the hidden forces that shape their lives. Hidden Brain has built one of the largest and most engaged audiences in podcasting, proving that there is enormous appetite for content that helps people understand themselves and the world around them.

Invisibilia is a fascinating podcast from NPR that explores the invisible forces that shape human behavior — ideas, beliefs, assumptions, emotions, and the complex social dynamics that operate beneath the surface of everyday life. Originally hosted by Alix Spiegel, Hanna Rosin, and Lulu Miller, the show uses a combination of narrative storytelling, scientific research, and intimate personal stories to illuminate the hidden patterns that drive how people think, feel, and act. Each episode takes listeners on unexpected journeys that challenge their assumptions about reality, from exploring how expectations literally change what we see to examining how a single idea can transform an entire community. The show's innovative production style blends rigorous journalism with creative sound design, creating an immersive listening experience that is perfect for walks, commutes, or any time you want to engage your mind with thought-provoking content. Invisibilia consistently finds stories that are both deeply surprising and profoundly relatable, revealing the strange and wonderful ways that invisible forces connect us all. The podcast has won numerous awards and built a devoted following of listeners who appreciate its unique ability to make the intangible tangible.

Reply All was one of the most beloved and acclaimed podcasts about the internet and modern digital culture, originally hosted by PJ Vogt and Alex Goldman and produced by Gimlet Media. The show explored how technology, the internet, and digital culture intersect with everyday human life, telling stories that ranged from deeply investigative to hilariously absurd. Each episode tackled a different aspect of online life — from tracking down mysterious scammers and investigating bizarre internet rabbit holes to exploring how social media shapes our relationships and how algorithms affect our daily decisions. What made Reply All exceptional was its ability to find the deeply human stories hiding inside seemingly technical topics, making even the most niche internet phenomena feel universal and emotionally resonant. The show's popular recurring segments included Super Tech Support, where the hosts helped listeners solve their most baffling tech problems, and Yes Yes No, where they broke down incomprehensible tweets and internet in-jokes for their bewildered boss. Reply All set the standard for technology journalism in podcast form, proving that stories about the internet are really stories about people and the ways technology has transformed how we connect, communicate, and understand the world around us.

The Infinite Monkey Cage is a witty and entertaining science podcast from BBC Radio 4, hosted by physicist Brian Cox and comedian Robin Ince. The show takes a panel format where scientists and comedians come together to explore big scientific questions — from the nature of consciousness and the origins of the universe to the science of sleep and the future of artificial intelligence — with equal parts intellectual rigor and irreverent humor. What makes The Infinite Monkey Cage special is the dynamic between Brian Cox's genuine enthusiasm for science and Robin Ince's comedic skepticism, creating conversations that are both deeply informative and laugh-out-loud funny. Each episode features expert panelists from various scientific disciplines alongside comedians and other public figures, ensuring that discussions remain accessible and entertaining even when tackling complex topics. The show has won multiple awards and attracted a huge global following of listeners who appreciate its unique ability to make science feel exciting, relevant, and fun. Whether you are a science enthusiast or simply looking for an engaging podcast to accompany a walk, The Infinite Monkey Cage delivers consistently excellent content.

The Memory Palace is a beautifully crafted short-form history podcast hosted by Nate DiMeo that tells surprising, poignant, and often forgotten stories from the past in episodes that typically run between five and fifteen minutes. Each installment is a miniature masterpiece of narrative storytelling, with Nate's evocative writing and warm narration transporting listeners to specific moments in history — a Civil War battlefield, a Depression-era dance marathon, the invention of a seemingly mundane object that changed the world. What makes The Memory Palace exceptional is its focus on the intimate and personal rather than the grand and sweeping; these are stories about ordinary people caught up in extraordinary circumstances, about the small moments that reveal larger truths about the human experience. The show's compact format makes it ideal for walks, commutes, or brief moments when you want to be moved and inspired. Nate DiMeo's writing has been compared to the best literary nonfiction, combining meticulous historical research with a poet's eye for detail and emotion. The Memory Palace has earned numerous accolades and a devoted listenership that treasures its unique ability to make history feel alive, immediate, and deeply relevant to the present day.

Snap Judgment is a dynamic storytelling podcast and public radio show hosted by Glynn Washington that features gripping true stories told with a distinctive style that blends narrative journalism with musical scoring and sound design. Each episode presents multiple stories united by a common theme, covering an extraordinary range of human experiences — from harrowing survival stories and tales of unexpected heroism to accounts of personal transformation and moments of profound connection. What sets Snap Judgment apart from other storytelling shows is its energy and pace; Glynn Washington is a master of building tension and emotion, drawing listeners in with his charismatic hosting style and keeping them hooked through expert pacing and production. The show features stories from people of all backgrounds and walks of life, with a particular commitment to amplifying voices that are often underrepresented in mainstream media. Whether the story is funny, frightening, heartwarming, or heartbreaking, Snap Judgment delivers it with a cinematic quality that makes it perfect listening for walks, runs, or any activity where you want to be fully engaged and entertained.

This Is Love is a beautiful and moving podcast from Phoebe Judge and the team behind Criminal, exploring stories about love in all its many forms. Each episode tells a carefully crafted true story about the lengths people will go to for love — romantic love, love of family, love of place, love of animals, and the profound connections that give life meaning. Phoebe Judge brings the same calm, intimate narration style that made Criminal a hit, creating an atmosphere of trust and tenderness that allows these stories to land with maximum emotional impact. The show covers an extraordinary range of subjects: a woman who camps out in the woods for months trying to reunite a lost dog with its owner, a father who builds an impossible treehouse for his children, a scientist devoted to saving a species on the brink of extinction. What unites every episode is the conviction that love — in all its complicated, sometimes irrational, always powerful forms — is the most interesting and important thing about being human. This Is Love is the perfect podcast for contemplative walks, offering stories that stay with you long after the episode ends.

Song Exploder is a fascinating music podcast hosted by Hrishikesh Hirway where musicians take apart their songs piece by piece, revealing the creative decisions, personal stories, and technical processes behind some of the most iconic and beloved tracks in music history. Each episode focuses on a single song, with the artist explaining how it came together — from the initial spark of inspiration and early demos to the final mixing and mastering decisions that shaped the finished product. The show features an incredibly diverse range of artists, from indie darlings and hip-hop innovators to classical composers and global pop stars, including episodes with Billie Eilish, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Fleetwood Mac, Solange, and many others. What makes Song Exploder special is its ability to deepen your appreciation for music you already love while introducing you to artists and genres you might never have discovered on your own. The format — typically 15 to 25 minutes per episode — makes it ideal for walks, and the musical nature of the content means you are literally surrounded by beautiful sounds as you move. Song Exploder has spawned a Netflix series and won multiple awards, cementing its place as one of the most innovative and beloved podcasts in the medium.