Did you know listening to funny podcasts regularly can make you happier?
Humor and laughing don't only make you feel better “right now.” They can also be a path to increased long-term happiness and life contentment.
Life can be stressful. Whether you're at home, at work, at school, or even commuting, you can encounter stressful situations or be thinking about something in your life that isn't going quite as planned. Even when you turn on the TV to relax, the news and current events will likely stress you out.
Sometimes you just need to take a break—and often a good laugh will do.
That’s when funny podcasts come in handy.
These funny podcasts are full of humor. A good joke or humorous statement can combat mood disorders. Laughter seems to be the best medicine when you are feeling bad mentally. It’s been proven by science! As stated in an article on Live Happy, laughter and fun are potent agents in alleviating stress, anxiety, and other conditions.
How does laughter help mental health, you ask?
Laughter and humor trigger the release of dopamine and serotonin, the hormones that can lift your mood. They can even increase the production of endorphins, which relieve your brain from chemicals that allow you to feel pain.
Because of that, most psychologists suggest watching shows or listening to live entertainments that bring joy and laughter.
We have compiled the 27 best and most entertaining podcasts for this year. Humor is subjective. While you may not enjoy all of these funny podcasts, you are sure to find a few that tickle your funny bone.
If you want to feel happy every day, watching or listening to them once or twice a day might not be a bad idea.
27 Comedy & Funny Podcasts to Listen to in 2024
1. Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend
The Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend series premiered on November 18, 2018, when O'Brien's talk show was on a break. O'Brien announced that, despite interviewing thousands of people during his lifetime, he has yet to develop a lasting friendship. He thought that by starting a podcast, he would have a better chance of bonding with his guests.
Some of the guests O'Brien has had on his podcast include Adam Sandler, Will Ferrell, Kristen Bell, and Dax Shepard. This funny podcast has gotten great positive reviews from its listeners. Fans note that they enjoy listening to the host's more vulnerable, behind-the-scenes feel. O'Brien uses self-deprecating humor, which makes the show feel accessible to listeners as well.
Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Stitcher
2. Anna Faris Is Unqualified
Anna Faris created Anna Faris Is Unqualified because she loves talking about relationships. Each episode includes an interview with a celebrity or someone active in pop culture, as well as phone calls with listeners seeking relationships and other advice. Anna and her co-host, Sim Sarna, have made over 175 episodes of this podcast.
Some guests who have appeared on this show include Macaulay Culkin, Julia Stiles, and Stan Lee. Faris talks to her guests about being in the entertainment industry and does an occasional improvisational comedic sketch with them. Listeners find this weekly podcast to be both funny and helpful.
Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Stitcher
3. Uhh Yeah Dude
Uhh Yeah Dude is a weekly hour-long podcast hosted by Seth Romatelli and Jon Larroquette. The duo uses this time to discuss interesting things they saw on the news during the previous week and personal experiences. The fun podcast has received positive reviews due to its unique concept of discussing things that are going on in the world that no one else is really discussing.
The hosts welcome live audience input through calls and texts, making this an interactive experience. The show airs two new episodes each Friday and is currently in its 13th year.
Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Stitcher
4. WTF With Marc Maron
Since its release in 2009, WTF With Marc Maron has become one of the most iconic comedy podcasts. Stand-up comedian Marc Maron has welcomed numerous celebrity guests to his show, including Robin Williams, Jim Norton, and Ray Liotta.
New episodes are available every Monday and Thursday. Maron often references his own life and happenings around the world. His raw conversations with well-known personalities are honest, funny, and thought-provoking.
Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Stitcher
5. My Dad Wrote a Porno
My Dad Wrote a Porno is a British podcast hosted by Jamie Morton, James Cooper, and Alice Levine. The premise revolves around a guy, Jamie Morton, who discovers that his dad wrote pornography throughout his life, simply as a hobby. Each episode features Morton reading a chapter of his father's amateur series, along with the reactions and commentary of Cooper and Levine, who are both hearing the material for the first time.
Many people find this interesting concept as one of the funniest podcasts available. This podcast has gained a large following since its beginning in 2015, boasting over 120 million downloads. It releases new episodes every Monday.
Listen on Acast | Listen on Stitcher
6. My Brother, My Brother and Me
My Brother, My Brother, and Me is a weekly advice podcast hosted by brothers Justin, Travis, and Griffin McElroy. The episodes revolve around the brothers using comedy to answer questions that have either been submitted by listeners or uncovered on Yahoo! Answers.
Since its beginning in 2010, this podcast has consistently been listed on “Top 10 best funny podcast” lists. Some notable guests include Elsie Fisher, John Hodgman, Marilu Henner, and Jimmy Buffett. The brothers release updates for this show every week, and even have a television series based on the podcast.
Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Stitcher
7. The Adventure Zone
The Adventure Zone biweekly podcast, hosted by My Brother, My Brother, and Me, personalities the McElroy brothers and their father, Clint McElroy, and is loosely based on the popular game Dungeons and Dragons.
Each episode highlights the family solving puzzles, battling their enemies, and moving their characters up in comedic encounters. This podcast was developed after the brothers played Dungeons and Dragons on an episode of My Brother, My Brother and Me with their father, which was met with rave reviews.
If you are familiar with Dungeon and Dragons, this might be the right podcast for you.
Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Stitcher
8. Bertcast
Stand-up comedian Bert Kreischer hosts Bertcast. Each Wednesday, a new episode comes out featuring Bert interacting with a fellow comedian. Since its inception in 2012, Bert has recorded the episodes for this podcast from his Man Cave, which was built thanks to a home renovation reality TV show.
Bert has had well-known guests on his show, including Brian Regan and Finesse Mitchell. Listeners appreciate the hilarity and approachable vibe of this podcast.
Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Stitcher
9. How Did This Get Made?
Hosted by Paul Scheer, June Diane Raphael, and Jason Mantzoukas, the How Did This Get Made? podcast deconstructs and mocks bad movies.
The hosts feature a new guest for each episode as they joke about movies they find hilariously bad. Some notable guests they have had on their show include Daniel Radcliffe, Dave Franco, and James Franco.
This podcast has gained a large following since its beginning in 2010. Listeners especially enjoy the hosts' “second opinions,” which are originally found on Amazon as five-star reviews.
Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Acast
10. You Made It Weird With Pete Holmes
Hosted by Pete Holmes, You Made It Weird With Pete Holmes began with the concept that Holmes would ask his fellow comedian guests about three obscure facts he knew about them.
However, the show has evolved into a more natural conversation about topics such as comedy, religion, and sexuality. The podcast has also grown to feature guests outside of the comedy profession, including pastors, authors, and scientists. Some notable guests include Rob Bell, Rob Delaney, Andy Samberg, and Bill Nye.
Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Stitcher
11. Never Not Funny
Never Not Funny is hosted by comedian Jimmy Pardo and co-host Matt Belknap. Listeners can enjoy free episodes every Wednesday and prime episodes each Sunday. In the second half of each episode, the hosts welcome a guest and engage in insightful and hilarious free-form conversation with them.
This podcast discusses topics ranging from pop culture and music to personal or interesting anecdotes. Listeners especially enjoy a segment called Judge Jimmy, where the cast settles a dispute submitted by a listener. Some notable guests include Andy Daly, Sarah Silverman, Chris Elliott, Colin Hanks, and Conan O’Brien.
Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Stitcher
12. Doug Loves Movies
In 2006, Doug Benson released Doug Loves Movies, which was originally named “I Love Movies With Doug Benson.” Benson hosts heavy-hitting guests each week, such as Mark Cohen, Chris Distefano, and Amy Miller, to talk about comedy and movies they either love or hate.
Some regular features of this podcast include Name That Movie, Tweet Relief: Tweets About Movies, Watch This/Not That, From the Corrections Department, and Whose Tagline Is It Anyway?
Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Stitcher
13. Your Mom's House
Your Mom's House is hosted by married comedians Tom Segura and Christina Pazsitzky. The couple discusses topics such as ongoing events, comedy, and anecdotes from their daily lives. Some notable guests they have hosted to date include Bryan Cullen, Joe Rogan, and Bill Burr. This podcast was nominated as a comedic finalist in the Best Comedy category of the 2012 Stitcher Awards. Listeners enjoy weekly updates on Tuesdays.
Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Stitcher
14. The Joe Rogan Experience
The Joe Rogan Experience is a podcast hosted by comedian, actor, sports commentator, and TV host Joe Rogan. It has grown to become one of the most popular podcasts worldwide. The podcast concept involves Rogan conversing with friends and famous guests, such as Brian Redban, Sam Harris, and Andrew Yang. Rogan also welcomes other comedians, actors, musicians, authors, and more. To date, there have been over 1,000 episodes of this podcast.
Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Stitcher
15. Comedy Bang! Bang!
Formerly known as Comedy Death-Ray Radio, Comedy Bang! Bang! is a weekly podcast that has been on the air since 2009. Hosted by comedian Scott Aukerman, who also created and hosted the TV series of the same name, this podcast offers a mix of conversation and character work from today’s most famous comedians.
Many notable guests have appeared on the podcast, such as David Cross, Andy Daly, Michael Cera, “Weird Al” Yankovic, and Aziz Ansari. Listeners find this podcast to be hilarious and unpredictable. The show's format occasionally includes game segments, such as guests playing characters or impersonating certain celebrities, sometimes for the whole episode.
Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Stitcher
16. The Worst Idea of All Time
The Worst Idea of All Time is hosted by New Zealand comedians Tim Batt and Guy Montgomery. The duo watches and reviews the same film each week for a year, which is typically one neither has seen and is largely considered a bad film. Some films they reviewed so far include Grown Ups 2 (for 52 weeks) and Sex and the City 2 (for 52 weeks). This year, they are reviewing We Are Your Friends. To add positivity to their comically pessimistic conversation, the hosts include a “shining light” segment in each episode, highlighting their favorite part of the movie for the week. New episodes are released every week.
Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Stitcher
17. The Comedian's Comedian
The Comedian's Comedian, hosted by Stuart Goldsmith, is an interview-style podcast where Goldsmith interviews comedians about their process of writing and performing standup comedy.
Some notable interviewees include Russell Brand, Stewart Lee, and Patton Oswalt. This weekly podcast (with updates released on Mondays) has been up for several awards.
Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Acast
18. Harmontown
Harmontown started on June 6, 2012. Dan Harmon, the creator of the TV series Community and Rick and Morty, hosts this podcast alongside Whose Line Is It Anyway? actor Jeff B. Davis. This podcast started as a live, monthly show but became a weekly occurrence after Harmon discontinued his work on Community.
The original idea for this podcast started with the hosts' discussions about how to reduce the number of flaws in society and therefore create a utopian world. Harmon and Davis envisioned that this could happen with the creation of a lunar colony that would occur in front of a live audience. The podcast often has guest appearances, with some notable guests including Jack Black, John Oliver, Aubrey Plaza, and Ben Stiller.
Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Stitcher
19. The Dollop
The Dollop has been hosted by comedians Dave Anthony and Gareth Reynolds since 2014. Each episode features a historical event or person selected for its humor or uniqueness. In every episode, Anthony presents a new topic to Reynolds without Reynolds knowing ahead of time what the topic will be. The Dollop has consistently been voted into various top 100 lists. Some issues from past episodes include the history of firefighters, George Washington (and his teeth), and the Straw-Hat Riots.
Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Google Podcast
20. Fake the Nation
In Fake the Nation, Negin Farsad and her funny and politically savvy friends discuss current events and the news, making their listeners laugh and think at the same time. This podcast is updated every Friday.
Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Stitcher
21. The Read
The Read, hosted by vlogger Kid Fury and internet sensation Crissle West, doesn't hold back when it comes to hurting people’s feelings. Each episode features the hosts discussing and analyzing pop culture and current events. The hosts are longtime friends, which adds to their clever banter that brings listeners back every week. This is also an inclusive podcast, as both hosts are open about their lives and sexuality.
Each episode begins with a movie quote chosen by Kid Fury, and ends with an acronym that is created by Kid Fury, and that's typically inspired by something discussed in the show that day. Some other segments include Black Excellence, where the hosts celebrate a high-achieving person in the Black community; Hot Tops, in which the duo talks about current events; Listener Letters; and Crissle's Couch, where Crissle shares something she has learned from her mental health provider and The Read.
Listeners enjoy updates every Thursday, and some notable guests include Kelly Rowland, Shaun Ross, and Jennifer Lewis.
Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Stitcher
22. Lovett or Leave It
Lovett or Leave It is hosted by Jon Lovett, a well-known speechwriter and screenwriter. Each episode features a loose panel discussion about politics in everyday, straightforward language. This is a live panel podcast with guests from various backgrounds, including journalism, comedy, and politics. Topics discussed include recent news stories, focusing primarily on US politics and President Donald Trump's administration.
Some panel guests include comedians Sarah Silverman, Brett Gelman, Paul Scheer, screenwriter Wil Wheaton, and journalist Katie Nolan.
Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Stitcher
23. Hannibal Buress: Handsome Rambler
Hannibal Buress is a comedian, writer, and actor who is a fan favorite on both the big and small screen. In Hannibal Buress: Handsome Rambler, which updates once or twice a month, Buress has hosted an eclectic variety of guests ranging from rappers to fellow comedians. Some notable guests have included Neil Brennan, Al Jackson, and Chance the Rapper. The premise of this show revolves around Buress living on the road and sharing his stories and thoughts from the road with his listeners.
Listen on Apple Podcasts
24. Judge John Hodgman
Judge John Hodgman podcast features host John Hodgman acting as a judge in the courtroom, examining real-life disagreements within a fictional courtroom setting. Hodgman listens to and offers judgment on a petty dispute between two call-in guests in each episode.
Hodgman's co-host, Jesse Thorn, acts as a “bailiff” who interjects comedic questions and observations throughout the mock trial and interviews the defendants before and after the verdict is announced. Listeners can call in as “expert witnesses” to offer their thoughts regarding the case. Although this podcast is made purely for entertainment purposes, the disputants in each case verbally agree to abide by Hodgman's ruling before the case is presented.
Listeners love the pure entertainment of this podcast. New updates are available every Wednesday.
Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Stitcher
25. Citation Needed
Citation Needed is a collaborative podcast of comedians who are looking to create an interesting, unique, fun show for listeners. In 2017, Citation Needed was born with the premise of the hosts choosing a subject, reading a Wikipedia article about it, and pretending to be experts. The hosts aim to show how misleading some information on Wikipedia can be while also providing listeners with some information and a laugh. This show comes out with updates every Wednesday.
Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Stitcher
26. Dear Hank and John
Dear Hank and John is a podcast hosted by Hank and John Green, two brothers who are authors and work on various entertainment projects. During the show, Hank and John respond to emailed questions and offer uncertain advice. They also discuss off-the-wall subjects such as the latest news on Mars and third-tier English football club AFC Wimbledon.
The podcast follows a standard format, starting with an opening section, which is followed by the main portion of the show, a news segment about Mars and the AFC Wimbledon football club, and finally, a discussion about what the brothers learned that day. Updates are available to listeners every Monday, and an exclusive episode has been made every year since 2015 to benefit the annual Project for Awesome fundraising campaign.
Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Stitcher
27. The Bugle
John Oliver and Andy Zaltzman created the Bugle news podcast in 2007. The hosts cover news from around the world, but their primary focus is on stories in the UK and US. The podcast is currently hosted by Andy Zaltzman and a rotating cast of co-hosts, who have included Wil Anderson, Nish Kumar, and Al Murray.
This show updates once a week and offers a funny commentary about the most and least important news stories around the globe. The satire in this series is admired for its wit, originality, and hilarious nature.
Listen on Apple Podcasts | Listen on Stitcher
A Final Word on Funny Podcasts
As it turns out, laughter is indeed the best medicine. Whatever you’re feeling or going through, good humor can always turn a gloomy day into a happier one.
Each of the funny podcasts we list above has its style, format, and structure. Nevertheless, they are all good sources of laughter and happiness.
Try listening to an episode or two from each of these 27 funny podcasts to figure out which can tickle your giggle the most. Once you find the best ones, subscribe to them and listen during your free time.
Actually, you can listen to them even when you’re busy, as this can make your work easier. You may even sneak an episode in while you’re commuting. Find happiness in whatever you do by subscribing to these podcasts. If you're looking for other types of podcasts, you can check out these mindfulness podcasts too.
Finally, one proven way to improve your happiness and life satisfaction is to focus on goals that truly matter. To get started, check out this FREE printable worksheet and a step-by-step process that will help you set effective SMART goals.
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Looking for more exciting podcasts to fill your days with learning and joy? Check out these posts about the best “Top Rated” podcasts in different genres:
- 19 Best Happiness Podcasts
- 17 Best Christian Podcasts for Women
- 9 Best Thought-Provoking Podcasts to Expand Your Mind
- 17 Motivational Podcasts to Inspire You Throughout the Day
- 7 Best Psychology Podcasts to Better Understand Yourself and Others
