The 15 Best Podcasts of 2023 if You’re in the Market for a New Listen
Always have a podcast on in the background? Shake up your routine with some new recs.
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There are two kinds of busy people: those who prefer to work in silence (i.e. my mom), and those who absolutely must have music or a podcast playing in the background. If you're the latter, then you're hardly alone. In fact, you are one of 464.7 million podcast listeners globally, so yeah, you're in great company.
Most Americans have tried a podcast episode at least once, but if you're a regular listener (hi, my people), then you know all too well how fun it can be to sample something fresh. We all have our "comfort podcasts," but one of the best parts of the medium at large is exploring new shows. But with 5 million+ podcasts in the world and new ones starting up each and every day, the question remains: What should I listen to??
Thankfully, the Cosmopolitan staff is *also* in love with podcasts, so we've compiled our fave picks for the best 2023 podcasts in no particular order to add to your rotation, from celebrity gossip and candid talks about sexuality, to health and wellness fads and spooky stories. The common thread? Great storytelling, of course. If The Daily just isn't hitting the same for you right now, dip into our best new podcast recs below and see if one sparks your interest. Happy listening!
'Normal Gossip'
As an avowed lover of gossip, Normal Gossip is my favorite thing to listen to. Host Kelsey McKinney and producer Alex Sujong Laughlin (along with their guest—often a comedian, writer, scientist, or other interesting person) share “anonymous morsels of gossip from the real world.” They’ve covered everything from niche knitting community drama to dog park showdowns to wedding planning drama, all of it utterly joyful to listen to. It’s kind of like listening to your best friend gleefully tell you about the latest happenings with her friends/enemies/coworkers you’ve never met, and it’s perfect. Also, the Normal Gossip team makes it a point to take regular breaks from production/social media specifically to avoid burnout, which is very cool to see in the media industry. — Jamie Ballard
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'Anything Goes' With Emma Chamberlain
Emma Chamberlain may have debuted her podcast from her bed back in 2020, but it has expanded tenfold in the years since. The shift from casual side-project to The Real Deal is apparent in the episodes themselves without losing any of Emma's signature charm. And to this day, she still records from the comfort of her bed. — Alexandra Whittaker
'Sibling Rivalry'
The mega-hit TV show RuPaul's Drag Race has spawned many a podcast in its wake, but if you only listen to one, make it Sibling Rivalry by Bob the Drag Queen and Monét X Change. They cover topics beyond the TV series too, so even if you aren't caught up on the many seasons of Drag Race, it's a fun listen. — Alexandra Whittaker
'The Shit No One Tells You About Writing'
This may just be the holy grail of publishing podcasts. Even if you aren't writing a book yourself, the advice Bianca Marais, Carly Watters, and CeCe Lyra offer on how to package a story idea and hook an audience make it a must-listen for any creative who touches the written word. It's just as submitter Alecs Kakon said in a recent episode: The Shit No One Tells You About Writing is a "masterclass masquerading as a podcast." Thank me later for the rec. — Alexandra Whittaker
'Sounds Fake but Okay'
Think of Sarah and Kayla as aromantic asexual and biromantic demisexual pals who give chummy advice and insight about relationships of all kinds, both romantic and not. And bonus: Sarah and Kayla just published a book centering asexual and aromantic perspectives on love, so if their friendly podcasting convos speak to you, go ahead and add their book to your TBR. — Alexandra Whittaker
'Maintenance Phase'
With the annual New Year's deluge of weight loss ads and diet talk, Maintenance Phase is a breath of fresh air. Hosted by Aubrey Gordon and Michael Hobbes, this monthly-ish podcast examines health and wellness fads to see where they came from and if there’s any truth to them. (Spoiler: Usually not!) As a fat/plus-size woman, some of the episodes can be so affirming to listen to (BMI really is bullshit) and even the most esoteric topics (like a deep dive into the history of apple cider vinegar) are fascinating. Maintenance Phase started 2023 with a look at Aubrey Gordon’s new book, You Just Need to Lose Weight” and 19 Other Myths About Fat People, and I can't wait for more. —Erika Smith
'Who? Weekly'
Who? Weekly has been around since 2016, and in its seventh (!) year, it’s maybe better than ever??? If you haven’t listened (catch up!), it’s a twice-weekly celeb gossip podcast that breaks celebs down into Thems (A-listers) and Whos (everyone else) in order to really focus on the Whos. 2023’s episodes have talked about topics from Andrea Riseborough’s mysterious, out-of-nowhere Oscars campaign to Craig David’s go-to hotel meal, to the best spon-con of all time (Bella Hadid’s 2017 Photoshopped deviled eggs photo for Postmates). —Erika Smith
'ICYMI'
Co-hosted by Rachelle Hampton and Candice Lim, Slate’s ICYMI is a deep dive into internet culture, whether figuring out where the latest TikTok trend started or taking a bigger-picture look at decades-long cultural changes. This year's episodes include examining how the pandemic changed RuPaul’s Drag Race, a look into the “corecore aesthetic,” and explaining the controversy around TikTok influencer Alix Earle. —Erika Smith
'Brav Boys'
Usually "bro-ified" takes on anything make me cringe. (See: Dude wipes.) But somehow the BravBros' (Steel and Shooter) weekly convos on all things Bravo/Housewives universe have become a huge source of comfort for me. While I can never really keep up with their sports analogies, I've got a lot of love for their nuanced episode breakdowns. —Annabel Iwegbue
'And That's Why We Drink'
And That's Why We Drink is hosted by two best friends, one who is obsessed with true crime and one who loves all things paranormal. Each week, they regale each other a true crime and a creepy ghost story. They're so funny, I've learned a ton, and they love each other so much, it's like I'm vicariously also best friends with them. Win-win-win. —Abbey Adkison
'Before Breakfast With Laura Vanderkam'
This one is VERY Type A, but Before Breakfast With Laura Vanderkam is a super short (5 minutes an ep!) podcast about productivity hacks. Laura has written a lot of books on time management, and I've learned so many little hacks about how to work smarter and save time. Highly recommended for any Virgos toiling away to establish their careers. —Abbey Adkison
'Celebrity Memoir Book Club'
I love, love, love the podcast Celebrity Memoir Book Club! Memoirs are without a doubt my favorite book genre, so this podcast was pretty much made for me. The hosts, comedians Claire Parker and Ashley Hamilton, spend each episode recapping one celebrity memoir—Prince Harry, Lily Collins, Gabrielle Union...you name a star with a memoir, and they've probably covered it—and don't hold back on their opinions in the process. My subway rides would not be the same without them!!! —Hannah Chubb
'Expanded by To Be Magnetic'
Okay, I'll be the first to admit I like a little ~woo woo ~ in my wellness practice. But I am obsessed with To Be Magnetic because they take away all the vision boarding and positive thinking of manifestation and discuss it in a scientific way they call "neural manifestation." Truly from the first episode I listened to, I found amazing tools that have changed the game for my mental health, and I now implement them daily. I ultimately ended up signing up for "The Pathway," which is their whole course, but I listened without having a membership for months and still took so much away. —Beth Gillette
'Goblin Market'
When an episode of Goblin Market drops, I do not immediately pressing play. Instead, I save it for a quiet, dark night where all my focus can be the macabre, spooky story. Writer/director Nolan Sordyl writes and reads each episode, which even comes with a suggested listening setting. For example, listen to the episode Simulacra on late night walks through dark suburbs. Expect themes of death, loneliness, and utter terror. —Katie Buckleitner
'Confessions' by Cosmopolitan
Let's end with something ~personal~: Cosmo's own podcast, Confessions! At Cosmo, we're famous for keeping your secrets, and we've turned our podcast into a safe space to talk about all life's weirdest stuff. Host Mia Lardiere (and a few special guests) dig into anonymous listener confessions, from musings about toxic in-laws to extremely awk sex stories. Consider this our gift to you!
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