Comedy podcasts have boomed in recent years, due to the ease with which comedians can create, develop, and deliver their sets from the comfort of their homes or studios. No one knows this better than experienced comics who are moving to the podcast world en masse and pushing the envelope further than it’s ever gone. To give you an idea of what’s possible in comedy podcasting (and to make you laugh) we put together this short list of the sharpest, craziest, most creative and hilarious rib-ticklers in the podcast world, from stand-up to shows that are way farther… out there.
Comedy Bang! Bang!
Join Scott Aukerman of Mr. Show for this audio adaptation of his beloved IFC show, Comedy Bang! Bang! Aukerman hosts some of the biggest names in comedy for a surreal performance that starts as a relatively straight-laced interview before unfolding into zany sketch, improv, and character comedy. That steady escalation of absurdity plus an assortment of eccentric games make for a comedy cocktail that gets stronger with each sip.
2 Dope Queens
Jonesing for a classic comedy show that actually centers live, raw comedy? WNYC Studios’s hit series 2 Dope Queens has you covered. For three years, best friends and co-hosts Phoebe Robinson and Jessica Williams taped live shows in Brooklyn that mixed hilarious banter between the hosts with stand-up performances from up-and-coming comedians. The series debuted at number 1 on the podcast charts and culminated in 2018 with a fantastic interview of Michelle Obama. It may be four years old now, but 2 Dope Queens still holds the nation’s heart. And holds up.
Comedy Gold Minds with Kevin Hart
If you’re curious about what goes on inside the minds of your favorite comedians, give this heady interview series hosted by comedy superstar Kevin Hart a try. The funny flow between Kevin and his A-list guests is enough to carry the show, but what makes it remarkable is the way he gets them to open up on tape. If you didn’t know, Kevin Hart is a superb interviewer. He elicits juicy, vulnerable, personal information from celebrities that you will not find anywhere else.
WTF with Marc Maron
Started in 2009 and with over 250 million downloads in just its first six years on the air, WTF with Marc Maron is one of the most famous podcasts of all time. What’s Maron’s secret? A deep commitment to truth and a refusal to let his guests off the hook easily. He mostly interviews comedians, since that’s the world he came up in, but Maron talks to all kinds of celebrities, from Keith Richards to former President Barack Obama. Regardless of who’s in the hot seat, Maron pursues those honest, intimate, (and hilarious!) made-for-tape moments with unflinching courage.
Poog
Is the Wellness Industry really selling wellness or the pursuit of wellness? Join stand-up comedians Kate Berlant and Jacqueline Novak as they try and review products to get to the bottom of this pernicious modern question (and hopefully get free stuff). Poog is satirical, philosophical, whimsical, and above all else, hysterical; it’s the first thing both enemies and fans of Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop can agree on. Poog was named one of the ten best podcasts of 2021 by Time magazine, as well one of the 10 best comedy podcasts of 2021 by Vulture.