15 Best Podcasts of 2023

Podcasts have gone from a niche hobby to a full-blown phenomenon. There are over 5 million podcasts globally, with 70 million episodes between them. 

This article spotlights the 15 best podcasts among these millions that most resonated with audiences in 2023. These podcasts, ranging across categories from true crime and health to business and comedy, consistently delivered high-quality content that kept fans engaged throughout the year.

Read on for a curated list of the best podcasts of 2023!

Best podcasts of 2023

Here’s the list of the best podcasts of 2023:

  1. Strike Force Five
  2. Critics at Large
  3. You Didn't See Nothin
  4. 10 Minute MBA — Daily Actionable Business Lessons with Scott D. Clary
  5. The BizChix Podcast
  6. Business Accelerator
  7. My Favorite Murder
  8. Ear Hustle
  9. Blind Plea
  10. Huberman Lab
  11. Found My Fitness
  12. The Doctor’s Farmacy
  13. WTF with Marc Maron
  14. Office Ladies
  15. Comedy Bang! Bang!
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Did you know?

The US podcast ad revenue hit a record-breaking $2 billion in 2022. Industry studies predict this revenue will grow and reach $4 billion by 2024.

Best new podcast 2023

Here are the 3 best podcasts that started in 2023:

  • Strike Force Five
  • Critics at Large
  • You Didn't See Nothin

Strike Force Five

Following the Hollywood writers' strike, five well-known late-night TV hosts—Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel, John Oliver, Jimmy Fallon, and Seth Meyers came together to create the podcast Strike Force Five to support the hosts' writing staff who were impacted by the strike.  

The hosts get into discussions and entertain the audience by playfully mocking one another's public personas, sharing amusing celebrity anecdotes, and participating in good-natured pranks.

While Strike Force Five provided financial assistance for struggling writers, it gave us a new way to enjoy the hosts' humor and rapport.

Available on: Apple Podcasts and Spotify

Average episode duration: 60 minutes

Hosted by: Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel, John Oliver, Jimmy Fallon, and Seth Meyers

Critics at Large

Critics at Large is a weekly culture podcast hosted by three New Yorker writers: Naomi Fry, Vinson Cunningham, and Alexandra Schwartz. 

Every Thursday, the hosts convene to discuss and debate the latest buzz-worthy topics across the arts, entertainment, and pop culture landscapes.

In 2023, the hosts analyzed trending stories ranging from Taylor Swift's outsized influence to how Elon Musk is transforming the social media landscape

Leveraging their inside access at The New Yorker, the hosts provide added context and behind-the-scenes insight to help you deeply understand the cultural events and phenomena of the moment—how they came to be, what they mean, and where they could lead.

Available on: Apple Podcasts and Spotify

Average episode duration: 45 minutes

Hosted by: Naomi Fry, Vinson Cunningham, and Alexandra Schwartz

You Didn't See Nothin

The podcast You Didn't See Nothin provides a deeply personal perspective on a 1997 hate crime in Chicago. Host Yohance Lacour revisits an incident from his youth when a group of privileged, white teenagers brutally beat a black boy to death in Lacour's neighborhood. 

As media coverage transformed the story into a misleading narrative of racial reconciliation, Lacour conducted his investigation of the event. He reflects on how the crime and its aftermath shaped his path into investigative journalism. 

Rather than treating this as a typical true crime story, Lacour places himself within the story, connecting his own experiences to the community affected by hate and violence. 

His intimate involvement and reflections turn this from an account of a crime into a thought-provoking memoir and social commentary.

Available on: Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Average episode duration: 30 minutes

Hosted by: Yohance Lacour

Best business podcast 2023

Here are the 3 best podcasts in 2023 that kept us clued in on leadership, innovation, career growth, and the future of business:

  • 10 Minute MBA
  • The BizChix Podcast
  • Business Accelerator

10 Minute MBA — Daily Actionable Business Lessons with Scott D. Clary

10 Minute MBA — Daily Actionable Business Lessons with Scott D. Clary is a daily business podcast that provides practical advice to improve business. The podcast is hosted by the Founder and CEO of The Social Club, an exclusive community of high-net-worth entrepreneurs, investors, and executives.

Each episode lasts 10-12 minutes and covers topics ranging from how to create a business plan to sales strategies and email marketing tips.

Available on: Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Average episode duration: 10 minutes

Hosted by: Scott D. Clary

The BizChix Podcast

The BizChix Podcast, hosted by Natalie Eckdahl, is a women-centric weekly podcast that offers business coaching and advice to empower female entrepreneurs.

Drawing from her MBA training and real-world experience launching ventures, Eckdahl actively engages listeners through expert interviews and direct on-air coaching calls. She confronts the array of roles women business owners must play, from building leadership skills to mastering inner confidence to balancing work and personal life. 

Available on: Apple Podcasts.

Average episode duration: 30 minutes

Hosted by: Natalie Eckdahl

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Business Accelerator

Business Accelerator, hosted by New York Times bestselling author Michael Hyatt and CEO Megan Hyatt Miller, discusses the tips and tools you need to win at work and succeed in life.

In 2023, they went deep into topics such as goal-setting, feedback, self-improvement, leadership, and business influence. 

Follow this podcast if you want tips on becoming a more productive and impactful leader.

Available on: Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Apple Podcasts.

Average episode duration: 20 minutes

Hosted by: Michael Hyatt and Megan Hyatt-Miller

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Best true crime podcast 2023

The best podcast 2023 in the true crime genre includes:

  • My Favorite Murder
  • Ear Hustle
  • Blind Plea

My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark

My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark is one of the best podcasts of 2023 that discusses true crimes. Unlike most shows in the genre that take a serious tone, this podcast injects comedy into its coverage of terrifying stories.

Over the years, the hosts have shared their lifelong fascination with crimes ranging from notorious serial killers to mysteries, deadly cults, incredible survival tales, and significant historical events like the 1921 Tulsa race massacre

Available on: Spotify.

Average episode duration: 60 minutes

Hosted by: Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark

Ear Hustle

Ear Hustle is a groundbreaking podcast that sheds light on the little-known realities of life behind bars. Created and produced by Nigel Poor along with formerly incarcerated co-hosts Earlonne Woods and Antwan Williams, the show shares first-hand stories from prisoners past and present.

Unlike most portrayals of prison life filtered through media lenses, Ear Hustle gives listeners direct access to the candid voices of those living within the system.

Available on: Ear Hustle.

Average episode duration: 45 minutes

Hosted by: Nigel Poor, Earlonne Woods, and Antwan Williams

Blind Plea

Blind Plea is a true crime podcast that narrates one woman’s harrowing journey through the criminal justice system after an act of self-defense. 

Devin Gray, a Black woman, killed her abusive white partner in Alabama. Instead of going through an unpredictable trial, she opted for a risky blind plea—an option to take an unknown sentence in exchange for pleading guilty. 

The show follows her case intimately from that fateful night through her time in prison and eventual release, spotlighting flaws and inequities endemic to the legal system along the way. 

Available on: Spotify, Google Podcasts, Pocket Casts, and Apple Podcasts.

Average episode duration: 45 minutes

Hosted by:  Liz Flock

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Best health podcast 2023

Here are 3 best health and wellness podcasts in 2023:

  • Huberman Lab
  • Found My Fitness
  • The Doctor’s Farmacy

Huberman Lab

The Huberman Lab podcast is hosted by Dr. Andrew Huberman, a Stanford neurobiology professor and neuroscientist.

On the show, Dr. Huberman discusses the latest research on the brain and nervous system, explaining how they control human perception, behavior, health, and performance.

New episodes are released every Monday.

Available on: Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Podcasts.

Average episode duration: 120 minutes

Hosted by: Dr. Andrew Huberman

Found My Fitness

In the podcast Found My Fitness, host Rhonda Patrick shares tips to improve your overall health and well-being based on the latest research on nutrition, aging, and disease prevention.

Available on: YouTube and Apple Podcasts.

Average episode duration: 60 minutes

Hosted by: Rhonda Patrick, PhD

The Doctor’s Farmacy

The Doctor's Farmacy podcast, hosted by Dr. Mark Hyman critically examines how the food and healthcare industries impact public health. He examines how Big Food and Big Pharma profit from poor nutrition and widespread chronic illnesses rather than preventing them.

Unlike conventional medical approaches, Dr. Hyman goes beyond treating symptoms to explore how diet, lifestyle, environment, and social factors intersect. His goal is to get to the root causes of disease. 

By contextualizing health issues systemically, The Doctor's Farmacy helps listeners understand the political dimensions behind suboptimal wellness.

Available on: Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Apple Podcasts.

Average episode duration: 20 minutes

Hosted by: Mark Hyman M D

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Best comedy podcast 2023

Here are 3 best podcasts that turned frowns upside down in 2023:

  • WTF with Marc Maron
  • Office Ladies
  • Comedy Bang! Bang!

WTF with Marc Maron

WTF with Marc Maron offers a rare backstage pass into the personal lives of celebrities. 

Veteran standup comedian Marc Maron brings his candid, thoughtful interview style to long-form conversations with a staggering roster of performers. His willingness to explore sensitive topics allows guests to open up emotionally and professionally in ways other hosts can't match.

Available on: Spotify, WTF with Marc Maron, and Apple Podcasts.

Average episode duration: 60 minutes

Hosted by: Marc Maron

Office Ladies

Office Ladies is a rewatch podcast of the sitcom—The Office.

Hosted by actual Office stars Jenna Fischer (Pam) and Angela Kinsey (Angela), the podcast revisits each episode in turn. As they recap plotlines and key scenes, Fischer and Kinsey also reveal little-known trivia, on-set memories, and the tremendous effort invested into this seminal comedy series by the talented cast and crew. 

Both funny and heartfelt, Office Ladies lets us reminisce about the emotional finales, fan-favorite romances, and coworker bonds that made the sitcom relatable.

Available on: Office Ladies.

Average episode duration: 40 minutes

Hosted by: Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey

Comedy Bang! Bang!

Comedy Bang! Bang! offers an unpredictable and hilarious weekly comedy podcast. 

Host Scott Aukerman talks and jokes with different guests and performers in a very loose, casual setting. The conversations often deviate into funny improvised bits, made-up characters, and absurd jokes. Both the host and guests follow their comedy instincts wherever they lead.

With no rules or limits guiding the comedy, Comedy Bang! Bang! is perfect for fans of more experimental, playful humor.

Available on: Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Average episode duration: 60 minutes

Hosted by: Scott Aukerman

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Transcribe your favorite podcasts for free with Fireflies.ai 

On average, a podcast episode can go up to 41 minutes in duration. Even most of the above podcasts have episodes lasting between 40 to 120 minutes.

What if you could get the context or key takeaways of these lengthy podcasts in just a few minutes? 

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Fireflies is an AI-powered transcription tool that can precisely transcribe and summarize hour-long videos in just minutes. Simply upload any video or audio in MP3, MP4, M4A, or WAV format to Fireflies to transcribe and summarize them instantly.

Fireflies summaries are crisp, concise, and well-structured, so you can get the gist of a podcast just by glancing at it. You can also customize Fireflies to produce a summary that matches your intel.

Fireflies also offers a GPT-powered chatbot, AskFred. Chat with it and get answers to any questions you might have about the podcast content. You can also ask the chatbot to create social media posts, blogs, emails, etc., from the content.

Sign up to Fireflies and explore more for free!

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Did you know?

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