You’ve finished your morning Nice News read but are still craving some uplifting, thought-provoking media — might we suggest turning to a podcast next? We’re big fans of the medium (so much so that we released a season of our own podcast last year!) and love how these audio shows can inform, inspire, and entertain during mundane moments of the day.
We rounded up nine engaging shows that we think are worth a spot on your playlist, whether you’re doing the dishes, walking the dog, or just looking to unwind on the couch.
No Such Thing As a Fish
Prepare to laugh and be amazed. The recipient of the Heinz Oberhummer Award for Science Communication in 2019, No Such Thing As a Fish features researchers from the BBC’s comedy game show QI who spotlight a trove of hilarious and mind-boggling facts they’ve dug up over the previous week. The episodes are sure to leave you smiling after each listen.
“It explains what the Second World War and carrots have to do with each other or how long you have to cook a space egg,” per a statement from the Oberhummer Awards. “And while you listen, laugh, and marvel for 40 minutes, you often don’t notice how much you’ve learned.”
On Humans
A favorite of Nice News Assistant Editor Rebekah Brandes, On Humans seeks to answer three questions: “Where do we come from? How did we get here? And what kinds of creatures are we?” In each episode, host Ilari Mäkelä interviews scholars primarily about our origins as humans, delving into specific topics like shamans, why we laugh, and the early days of farming. The show “always leaves me feeling smarter and more curious,” Rebekah said.
Good Hang With Amy Poehler
Amy Poehler isn’t trying to dole out advice or “make you better” — she’s simply looking for a good time. In Good Hang, which won the first-ever Golden Globe for best podcast earlier this year, Poehler interviews celebs and other “fun people” to provide a cozy, relaxed alternative to the plethora of self-improvement-focused media out there. Start with standout episodes featuring Jennifer Lawrence, Seth Meyers, and Tina Fey.
Home Cooking
Pals Samin Nosrat, author of Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat, and Hrishikesh Hirway, creator and host of the podcast Song Exploder, dished up cooking advice for amateurs with a side of friendly banter in Home Cooking, which ran from 2020-2025. A self-described perfectionist, Nosrat explained to Vogue in 2020 that the show centers a different mindset around cooking: “It’s about putting something out there to make people feel comforted and like they have technical support in the kitchen and some way to pass the time by hanging out with these funny, very dorky friends.”
Unconditional With Maggie Lawson
Animal lovers know there’s something special about the bonds they share with their pets — and this podcast celebrates exactly that. Hosted by Psych actor Maggie Lawson, the series explores the special connection celebrities like Henry Winkler and Janel Parrish have with their pets, and features interviews with animal experts about the “healing effects” of our furry friends. “Anyone who is obsessed with their pets will feel so seen by this podcast,” said Nice News Writer Marika Spitulski, adding, “I already want to be [Lawson’s] friend and hang out with her dog Linus.”
Weirdly Helpful
How can we take control of our “news diet”? And what’s considered proper handshaking etiquette in our modern age? These questions and more are answered in Weirdly Helpful, a series of bite-size episodes (each around 20 minutes or less) that spotlight guests who cover unexpected but intriguing ways to make life better. “Thanks for making me feel inspired while giving me concrete steps to evolve,” one reviewer wrote.
Happier With Gretchen Rubin
In 2024, we picked Gretchen Rubin’s brain about practical ways to lead a happier life — and in her award-winning podcast, the author and happiness researcher shares more strategies, ideas, and personal anecdotes to inspire you to live joyfully. Try one of her “A Little Happier” episodes for a quick fix; each lays out a lesson in five minutes or less. You can also check out her “Move Happier” series, intended to be paired with 26 minutes of movement as part of her Move 26 in ’26 challenge.
The Allusionist
If you’re a fan of NPR’s “Word of the Week” series, we bet you’ll love The Allusionist, which won smartest podcast at the 2018 British Podcast Awards. In each episode, host Helen Zaltzman dives into the intricacies of language, including the etymology and cultural significance of some of our most used words (and profanities), with a hefty dose of humor. Start with her April 13 episode “Hues” to learn why some of Merriam-Webster’s lexicographers took decades to define certain color names.
Get Birding
On HBO Max, you can catch Sean Bean ruling his corner of Westeros as the Stark family patriarch in Game of Thrones. On your podcast feed, though, he’s a soothing presence pointing out birds as they fly over his garden. The English actor took over as host for Season 4 of Get Birding, inviting ornithologists into his backyard and beyond to talk all things avian. The biweekly episodes, which you can also watch on YouTube, cover everything from why birdsong makes us feel good to why birds sing at daybreak.
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