I love listening to podcasts. Reading books and listening to podcasts are my two of my favorite pastimes. Both are excellent ways to become a well-rounded person.
Podcasts have two big advantages going for it as a medium. The first is that there’s a podcast for everything. You can find a podcast on pretty much any topic: history, sports, politics, comedy, personally finance, crime, religion, self-help, and many more. So, we can all find a podcast that fits our own interests and tastes. Secondly, podcasts are versatile platform. People can listen to podcasts anywhere, at time, and on any tech device. Because podcasts are an intangible medium, you don’t have to carry it around when you’re on the go. For instance, you can download a podcast onto your phone and play it through your car on a long road trip. You can also listen to a podcast when you’re relaxing in the evening or cleaning the house.
On that note, I wanted to share some of my favorite podcasts that I listen to. Without further ado, let’s get started:
The Baker’s Dozen:
1. Art of Manliness (Variety—Manhood)
The Art of Manliness podcast was one of the first podcasts that I ever started listening to. So, it holds a special place in my mind. I started listening to this podcast in high school, and I have continued to do so in college. The AOM podcast now boasts an archive of 700 episodes total, so there’s a rich collection of information available for anyone interested.
The Art of Manliness podcast is a single part of the broader Art of Manliness blog/website. AOM’s founder Brett McKay delves deep into what manhood is in the classical sense of the term. Every AOM episode includes McKay and a guest host in fields such as history, philosophy, psychology, financial literacy and much more.
There aren’t a ton of solid resources out there on becoming a better man. The AOM podcast and blog has filled that void for me and many other men out there. Stay Manly, my friends.
2. America First with Sebastian Gorka Podcast (Politics)
The Sebastian Gorka radio show is one of the most pro-MAGA podcasts out there. Fair warning, you probably won’t like this podcast if you don’t like President Trump.
The podcast’s host Sebastian Gorka is a conservative talk radio host and a former member of the Trump administration. I listened to him speak at Turning Point USA’s Student Action Summer (SAS) last December (2020).
3. Issues Etc. (Theology)
If you don’t know already, I am a Lutheran. Being Lutheran is a big part of my life. One of the best resources that has nurtured my Lutheran faith is this radio program/podcast: Issues Etc.
Issues Etc. is a weekday syndicated talk radio program/podcast for my Church denomination: the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS). Issues Etc helps countless Christians (like myself) in understanding the contemporary world through a Christian perspective.
If you become a fan of this program, you’ll get the tagline “You’re listening to Issues Etc!”stuck in your head like a catchy ringtone.
4. The Victor Davis Hanson Podcast (History/Politics)
This National Review podcast is probably my favorite political podcast at the moment. In this weekly podcast, Classical history professor Victor Davis Hanson (VDH) and National Review VP Jack Fowler discuss the week’s political events through a historical lens.
Hanson is one of my favorite political pundits due to his extensive history background. He often approaches current events from a much different perspective than other political commentators. Nothing is new under the sun, and VDH’s podcast proves that to be the case.
5. The Rush Limbaugh Show (Politics)
It’s been over two months since the radio legend Rush Limbaugh passed away. However, the Rush Limbaugh show is still running. Currently, a rotating group of guest hosts comment on current events and incorporate Rush’s timeless commentary/wisdom into what’s going on today. Since Rush was national radio for over 30 years, there is plenty of material that the show’s producers use.
Even though I did not listen to Rush much when he was alive, I still enjoy listening to this show. Few people provided better analysis on trends and events in our nation than Rush did. So, I would recommend listening in on this podcast to get your dose of Rush.
6. The Jocko Podcast (Leadership/Self-Help)
This podcast’s host is none other than Jocko Willink. Jocko is a highly-decorated former SEAL team member who fought in the Iraq war. Having retired from the military, he now focuses on producing his weekly podcast: The Jocko Podcast. With his co-host Echo Charles, Jocko mainly discusses the ideas of leadership and disciple from his military background. However, Jocko’s podcast can apply to anyone wanting to succeed in their careers, civic organizations, or family life. Overall, Jocko’s catchphrase of “discipline makes you free” encapsulates what his podcast is about.
Each podcast episode is fairly long/meaty. They typically last between 2 and 4 hours. Nevertheless, Jocko does a fantastic job of keeping the listener engaged. My favorite episode is #207 with Gary Sinise. Sinise came on the Jocko Podcast to talk about his life and 2019 book Grateful American—Sinise’s tale of how began to serve American veterans.
7. The Charlie Kirk Show (Politics)
I would be remiss to not mention my fearless leader: Charlie Kirk. Charlie founded the pro-America student activism organization Turning Point USA—of which I am a member.
The Charlie Kirk Show podcast is a recording of his syndicated weekday talk radio show. You might be surprised to learn that Charlie Kirk never went to college. You wouldn’t think that because Charlie is one of the sharpest conservative political commentators around. What I really enjoy about this podcast is that Charlie gives a broader view of today’s events. Personally, I find that many political podcasts/shows get lost in the weeds of day’s events. The Charlie Kirk Show does the opposite. This podcast shows me
8. The Dave Ramsey Show (Personal Finance)
Financial literacy is not a skill you’re born with. What’s more, the average American does not have the personal finance knowledge. That’s where the Dave Ramsey Show comes in. During his show, Financial guru Dave Ramsey provides easy-to-understand financial advice to the show’s guest callers.
Dave Ramsey’s information/advice is really useful people in debt. His goal is to help everyone get out of debt and live below your means/income.
9. Jordan B Peterson Podcast (Variety of philosophy, history, and more)
Jordan Peterson has become a internet celebrity for many young men in America. Dr. Peterson is a clinical psychologist and professor over in Canada.
In 2016, Peterson launched The Jordan Peterson podcast. Peterson’s podcast is fairly broad in scope. Still, some of the common threads in the podcast are psychology, religion, science, literature, and politics. Peterson also interviews many influential people and experts on his show: from Ben Shapiro to Sam Harris and Joe Rogan to Steven Pinker.
For sure, I can guarantee that you will definitely feel smarter after listening to this podcast.
10. The Masculinist (Variety–Manhood)
I just started listening to the Masculinist a few months ago, and now it’s one of my favorite podcasts. Having launched in September 2020, the Masculinist dives into a variety of topics—such as culture, theology, conservatism, and more—with the goal of living as a traditional Christian man in an increasingly hostile culture. The show’s host is Aaron Renn–a former think-tank guy and a current podcaster/blog writer. Although the podcast is not well-known, I would recommend it to any young Christian man
11. Fireside Chat with Dennis Prager (Life advice/Politics/History)
Dennis Prager’s Fireside Chats is one of my favorite podcasts to listen to. A few months ago, I wrote a post about a question that I asked on Dennis Prager’s podcast.
Lasting about thirty minutes long, Fireside Chats consist of Dennis Prager smoking a cigar, sharing wisdom (primarily from the Bible), and answering listener’s questions. One neat aspect of this podcast is that it’s completely unscripted. That feautre gives this podcast a genuinely authentic quality. I cannot say enough good things about Mr. Prager’s podcast because it has helped me become a wiser and better man.
12. The Book Club (Literature)
This one is a fairly new PragerU podcast as it launched in January 2020. For this monthly podcast, Daily Wire personality Michael Knowles and a guest host have a “book club” discussion about various great books. Many of guest hosts include well-known writers, political commentators, and intellectuals of both conservative and classically liberal oreintations.
Here are some of my favorite episodes of The Book Club: The Federalist Papers with Ben Shapiro, Brave New World with Ted Cruz, Of Human Bondage with Larry Elder, and Man’s Search for Meaning with Dennis Prager.
13. The Suzanne Venker Show (Romantic Relationships)
Because I am considered sexist by 2021 standards, I have to redeem myself by finally including a podcast hosted by a woman. For context, Suzanne Venker is a marriage/relationship coach, writer, and blogger. If you read and listen to Venker’s podcast/work, you’ll here plenty of refreshingly true advice in a uber-feminist culture.
Her podcast mainly focuses on challenging the current notion in America that men and women are the same. She has helped me a bit in understanding male-female dynamics and why modern relationships and marriages are failing. She brings on some fantastic guests on her show that are quite knowledgeable about male-female relations.