Do you find yourself constantly pondering the mysteries of life and the grand questions of human existence? Are you exhilarated by discussions on groundbreaking ideas, like strategies for revitalizing the economy after a significant downturn?
If so, you are probably a deep thinker who enjoys deep conversations. You enjoy listening to scientists, innovators, entrepreneurs, and world leaders sharing their thoughts and philosophies on life.
In this article, we share a list of the nine best thought-provoking podcasts that can help you expand your thoughts and develop your understanding of how the world and everything in it works. These podcasts will surely spark that light bulb in your head and make you realize things you’ve never thought of before.
Those listening to these podcasts are never bored. While some speakers struggle to hold your attention, these podcasts are different—they will keep you interested and fascinated until the end.
Let’s check them out!
1. Revisionist History
Malcolm Gladwell's podcast, “Revisionist History,” is a captivating exploration of the overlooked and misunderstood narratives in our past. As a master storyteller, Gladwell dives into historical events and digs beneath the surface to uncover hidden patterns and overlooked details that reshape our understanding of the past.
Each episode offers a mixture of historical facts and human behavior insights, revealing how history often repeats itself unexpectedly. With a knack for weaving complex narratives, Gladwell sheds light on historical moments that have shaped the world, inviting listeners to reconsider what they know about history with newfound wisdom and perspective.
Through “Revisionist History,” Gladwell challenges traditional narratives, drawing attention to the nuances frequently missed in mainstream accounts. By examining the intricate relationships between historical moments, he encourages listeners to question the conventional wisdom surrounding events we often take for granted.
His engaging storytelling style and keen analysis unravel the complexities of human behavior across time, prompting a deeper reflection on how the past continues to influence the present. Gladwell's podcast is a compelling journey through history, where each episode redefines what we know and thought we understood about the world around us.
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2. Invisibilia
Invisibilia is a Latin word that directly translates to “invisible things,” this podcast is a narrative of how invisible forces control our attitudes and behavior in life. It discusses how indiscernible and intangible elements affect our thoughts, emotions, and assumptions.
Hosted and produced by Alix Spiegel and Hanna Rosin, Invisibilia is one of the top thought-provoking podcasts featuring deep conversations. It is broadcasted through National Public Radio (NPR) and presently ranks as one of its finest shows.
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3. Upstream
Upstream is a project from Della Duncan and her colleagues that specifically advocates a “democratic, just, and sustainable future economy.” It features a series of interviews and documentaries that tackle issues related to the 21st-century economy. According to George Richardson, it is a “beautifully crafted podcast” that is “informative and motivating.”
This stimulating podcast was created in 2016 and is still listened to by millions of people today because of its sensible topics and heartfelt stories. Duncan aims to challenge cultural norms and awaken people to how a democratic, just, and sustainable economy should be structured.
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4. Hidden Brain
Hidden Brain is a provocative podcast that “explores the unconscious patterns that drive human behavior and questions that lie at the heart of our complex and changing world.” It helps people understand the human mind and the human world and reveals how our unconscious, subconscious, and implicit minds work.
This thought-provoking podcast, hosted by NPR’s social science correspondent Shankar Vedantam, is one of the fastest-growing shows today. It was launched in 2015 and already has millions of subscribers and supporters. Its popularity led to the creation of Hidden Brain Media in 2019, which allowed the show to reach more people.
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5. Intelligence Squared
Intelligence Squared originally started as a live debate that aimed to inform and inspire people about how specific issues from around the world affect their lives. After some time, its founders expanded their reach and turned the live debates into podcast shows. Its main goal is to “promote a global conversation” among individuals to encourage wise decision-making based on essential facts.
The podcast is currently one of the most prominent of its kind. According to listeners and reviewers, the debates are usually passionate and profound. Some even report that the show forces them to question their opinions. If you are looking for thought-provoking discussion, we suggest checking this podcast out.
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6. People Fixing the World
People Fixing the World is an intriguing podcast with “brilliant solutions to the world’s problems.” In each episode, host Dhruv Boruah interviews people with bright ideas to present solutions to some of the world’s biggest and most common dilemmas. It covers resolving the gender pay gap, increasing HIV awareness, and creating affordable housing projects.
This podcast is a product of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) World Service. As you would expect from a BBC production, the quality of this podcast is exceptional—from the research and writing to the delivery. Every episode has around 20 minutes of air time.
7. Reply All
If you’ve ever wondered how the Internet is affecting our lives and behavior today, we suggest listening to Reply All. In this show, expert podcasters discuss “how people shape the Internet and how the Internet shapes people.” It is all about how technological advances in the online world affect our day-to-day lives as individuals in the modern era.
Reply All is a brainchild of Gimlet Media, an award-winning podcasting company that aims to produce quality podcasts to help people live better and more satisfactory lives. It is created, managed, and hosted by PJ Vogt and Alex Goldman, two of the most respectable podcasters in America today. Reply All is the second podcast that Gimlet Media developed and remains one of its best shows.
Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Google Podcasts
8. The Partially Examined Life
Nothing is more thought-provoking than a podcast about philosophy, philosophers, and philosophical texts—precisely what The Partially Examined Life was created to do. Inspired by the idea of bringing back the good old days when you and your friends enjoyed drinks after a long seminar and chatted about things that mattered, this podcast is a roundtable discussion of all things philosophical.
The Partially Examined Life is hosted and produced by Mark Linsenmayer, Seth Paskin, Wes Alwan, and Dylan Casey.
Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Google Podcasts
9. Radiolab
We highly recommend Radiolab for those with philosophical thoughts like, “What is the essence of time?” or “How do we measure people’s morality?” This is one of those deep-thinking podcasts that questions the existence of everything essential, like life itself and the source of all happiness. As its tagline states, the podcast is dedicated to “investigating a strange world.”
Radiolab is devoted to explaining scientific, philosophical, and political topics to its listeners. It is hosted by Jad Abumrad, Latif Nasser, and Lulu Miller. Because of its respected status in the podcast production industry, Radiolab is currently one of the most notable podcasts of all time.
Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Google Podcasts
Final Words on These Thought-Provoking Podcasts
Whenever you want to hear someone speak with sense—or if you ever want to expand your knowledge about how things in this beautiful yet complicated world work—we hope these podcasts can help point you in the right direction. Try one or two of them and see if they interest you.
If so, tune in each week and expand your mind!
Check out more interesting curated podcast lists you may love:
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