I am a little late to the party on podcasts. I have listened to them sporadically, but I did not really think of them as art until 2024! Now, I am more than fully on board and find myself listening to podcasts everywhere I go. The choices I have gathered here are a combination of many genres, but it’s the ones that truly let investigative journalism shine that most caught my ear. I hope that you will give these a shot. I believe they will open up your minds a bit. They certainly did so for me.
12. The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart
One of the great surprises of the last year was Jon Stewart’s return to The Daily Show on Comedy Central. Alongside this, Stewart launched his podcast, bringing a new dynamic to his work. In the podcast, he uses his platform to dive deep into the issues of the week, engaging with important figures like economists and senators. His ability to challenge his guests while maintaining humor adds an insightful layer to each conversation. This podcast has quickly become essential for those seeking a thoughtful and witty perspective on current events. There is no doubt, Jon Stewart’s voice remains as relevant and impactful as ever.
11. We Live Here Now
We Live Here Now, hosted by Hanna Rosin and Lauren Ober, is a fascinating limited series podcast. The episodes, released each Wednesday over five weeks, explore the insurrectionist movement and its effects on local communities. Tied to Rosin’s The Atlantic feature, The Insurrectionists Next Door, the podcast delves into the Justice for January 6 movement. Rosin and Ober were surprised to find their new neighbors in Northeast D.C. had connections to the Capitol attack. One neighbor, Micki Witthoeft, is the mother of Ashli Babbitt, who was shot during the insurrection. The series explores their neighbors’ embrace of election denialism while highlighting the civility Rosin and Ober maintained through difficult conversations. This blend of investigation and empathy offers unique insights into life amid polarized times.
10. What Now? with Trevor Noah
What Now? with Trevor Noah is a long-form interview podcast where Noah engages with influential figures. Each episode dives deep into various topics, as Noah uses insightful conversation to gather information and perspectives. His approach is thoughtful, engaging, and sometimes hilarious. This allows listeners to connect with the issues at hand. With his unique touch, Noah offers a refreshing break from traditional media, making the show feel incredibly relevant. His ability to blend humor with serious discussion is something America needs right now. Listening to him week in and week out, I feel like I gain valuable insights and enjoy a deeper understanding of current events.
9. KERA’s Think with Krys Boyd
Krys Boyd is a national treasure and the fact that you can experience all of the episodes of her show Think on podcast platforms is amazing. KERA’s Think, hosted by Krys Boyd, is a daily, topic-driven interview and call-in program that stands out. Covering a wide range of subjects, from history to politics to current events, Boyd’s versatility is evident. While many similar shows exist, Think excels because of the vast variety of topics it tackles each day. Boyd’s thoughtful, well-researched questions elevate the discussions, keeping listeners engaged and intrigued. Her ability to ask the right questions at the right moment sets this show apart. Overall, Think offers a unique and enriching experience, making it a standout in the world of talk radio.
8. Empire City: The Untold Origin of the NYPD
Empire City: The Untold Origin of the NYPD, hosted by Peabody Award-winner Chenjerai Kumanyika, dives deep into police history. The podcast asks, what if the NYPD’s original purpose wasn’t to protect, but something darker? Kumanyika uncovers the police force’s roots in slavery, its transformation, and its rival police gangs fighting across New York. Throughout the episodes, he explores the everyday people who resisted these forces at every turn. While I disagree with some of his political views around Palestine, Kumanyika’s passion and attention to detail are undeniable. He sheds light on a hidden history that many people don’t know, and should. Ultimately, the podcast prompts reflection on policing’s origins and where it is headed.
7. Hysterical
Hysterical is a gripping podcast that investigates a mysterious illness affecting high school girls in LeRoy, New York, in 2011. The girls suddenly develop violent symptoms, and the podcast explores the potential causes, ranging from contaminated water to something within the school itself. Some experts suggest it might even be “all in their head,” raising questions about mental health and societal influences. The podcast delves into the debate, with some claiming it’s the most severe case of mass hysteria since the Salem Witch Trials. As the story unfolds, listeners are left to ponder the true cause of the outbreak. Hysterical challenges assumptions, keeps the audience intrigued throughout, and was named the best podcast of 2024 by Apple Podcasts.
6. Long Shadow: In Guns We Trust
Long Shadow: In Guns We Trust explores the profound impact of guns on American life, starting with Columbine. The 1999 massacre thrust the U.S. into an era of mass shootings, making gun violence a regular epidemic. Now, America’s landscape is shaped by active shooter protocols, lockdown drills, and an almost religious devotion to the Second Amendment. Guns were once just part of rural life, but they’ve since become a menacing symbol of modern society. Host Garrett Graff (an avid shooter himself), in collaboration with The Trace, dives into how this transformation occurred. Through riveting interviews and archival tape, Long Shadow uncovers the complex history of guns all the way back to the founding of our nation. And he reveals some very clear truths about how the NRA and a few hardliners are shaping today’s gun culture. It’s a swift and detailed podcast that offers vital insights for our current political climate.
5. Chameleon: The Michigan Plot
This was one of the most transformative podcasts I listened to all year. One that I started by feeling one way and ended by completely disagreeing with the way I had felt before. Chameleon: The Michigan Plot delves into the FBI’s 2020 raids that shocked the nation. Fourteen men were arrested across three states for allegedly conspiring to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. However, this podcast challenges the narrative, questioning whether the plot was as sophisticated as claimed. In season 7, Chameleon takes listeners inside the investigation, offering an unprecedented look through hundreds of hours of wire recordings. These recordings reveal an FBI informant infiltrating an anti-government group, but the question remains: were these men truly dangerous? The podcast explores whether the FBI thwarted a real threat or inadvertently created one, leaving listeners to question the truth behind the plot.
4. In the Dark: Season 3
In the Dark: Season 3 explores the 2006 killings of 24 Iraqis in Haditha and the aftermath. In the spring of that year, a small group of U.S. Marines faced legal jeopardy after killing 24 civilians. The military launched an investigation, and President Bush promised the public would see the results. However, the media coverage quickly faded, and the cases against the Marines unraveled. In the end, no one served time in prison. Hosted by Madeleine Baran, this season is the result of four years of investigative reporting, including hundreds of interviews and unreleased government documents. Over the course of its nine episode length, In the Dark uncovers the truth about what happened in Haditha and the military’s failure to pursue justice.
3. Noble
Before coming into this podcast I thought very little of what we are supposed to do with a body. As far as I am concerned, they are gone after their heart stops beating and their organs shut down. Yet, this podcast and the insane story it tells, changed my perspective a bit. Noble delves into the chilling discovery of over 300 bodies found on a property in Noble, Georgia, in 2002. What followed was one of the largest and most costly investigations in the American South. Journalist Shaun Raviv travels to this rural community, uncovering long-held secrets about the well-respected family who owned the land.
Along the way, Raviv investigates the fates of the bodies sent to the Tri-State crematory and seeks out the mysterious man at the center of it all. Through his journey, Raviv really challenges us to consider what we owe the dead and what we expect when we send our loved ones to be cremated? The podcast combines investigative journalism with a profound philosophical inquiry.
2. Who Killed JFK?
60 years ago, right here in Dallas, the greatest murder mystery in American history shocked the nation. In that entire time, it has long been felt that the story the American people were fed was a cover and that Lee Harvey Oswald was indeed the patsy he claimed. In Who Killed JFK? that question gets the best answer I’ve ever heard on the whole matter. Award-winning journalist Soledad O’Brien and acclaimed filmmaker Rob Reiner team up to uncover the truth. Together, they explore the events surrounding the assassination and the conspiracy theories that continue to persist. Throughout the podcast, O’Brien and Reiner examine how the tragic moment shaped American society. Yet, more than anything, it probes recent evidence to deliver a very compelling picture. We may never know for sure what happened, but after listening to this podcast I feel pretty confident that I know.
1. Ultra
I cannot believe that this story is not common knowledge. Well, I guess this is why it matters who writes the history books. In the second season of her award-winning podcast Ultra, Rachel Maddow digs deep into the ascendance of Joe McCarthy and a movement that threatened the entire country. I thought I knew about McCarthy after seeing countless movies about the McCarthy era, but I didn’t know anything. Maddow meticulously lays out this story, highlighting the thin line that existed between violent extremism from Nazi’s all over the world and the mainstream politics of the era.
Throughout the season, Maddow uncovers international manhunt’s for American Nazi propagandists, American nazi spies within the Nazi war crimes prosecutions, and how Joe McCarthy’s witch hunt was about love of fascism and not just a hatred of communism. This plot was so deep inside congress that it will astound you. Through meticulous research and storytelling, Maddow sheds light on how these events still echo in today’s political landscape. Ultra reveals unsettling truths about power, manipulation, and extremism. Which couldn’t be more important in this day and age. That’s why it is the best podcast of 2024!
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