20 Best Educational Podcasts That Help You Become Smarter Without Trying Hard

When was the last time you had one of those "wow, I never knew that" moments that made you feel excited about learning? Educational podcasts are the fastest way to reclaim that feeling.

We're talking about conversations that'll spark your brain, plus quick wisdom drops from popular books. You'll find shows that match your interests and schedule. We'll also tell you about the Headway microlearning approach. It's helpful when you're too busy to dive into an hour-long lecture.

Try Headway today to squeeze maximum learning into small pockets of time throughout your day.

Quick picks: Top five educational podcasts

Here are the best educational podcasts you can find on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube:

1. 'Radiolab': Science stories that blow your mind (20–50 minutes per episode).

2. '99% Invisible': The hidden design choices all around us (30–40 minutes per episode).

3. 'Hidden Brain': Why people do what they do (30–150 minutes per episode).

4. 'Stuff You Should Know': Random facts about everything (40–50 minutes per episode).

5. 'Throughline': How history connects to today (40–50 minutes per episode).

The 16 educational podcasts worth your time

Finding the right show means picking podcasts that match what you want to learn. We've collected new podcast options for learners who want to grow while walking, running, or relaxing at home.

Science and curiosity podcasts

1. 'Radiolab' with Lulu Miller and Latif Nasser

This science podcast makes hard topics fun. The hosts use stories and interviews to explain everything from physics to psychology. Each episode feels like a mini movie that stays with you.

This podcast is a perfect match for people who love science mysteries. You'll learn about space, history, and big questions about right and wrong.

2. 'Hidden Brain' with Shankar Vedantam

Want to understand why people act the way they do? This NPR show explores research about decisions, relationships, and well-being. You'll start to understand yourself better.

This podcast is a perfect match for anyone curious about human behavior. Why do we help strangers? Why do we hold grudges? You'll find answers here.

3. 'Ologies' with Alie Ward

This show introduces you to scientists who study things you never knew existed. Ward interviews experts about volcanoes, spiders, and everything in between. Her excitement makes even technical stuff easy to follow.

This podcast is a perfect match for podcast listeners who want professional development while having fun. You'll discover new fields and maybe find your next career.

4. 'StarTalk Radio' with Neil deGrasse Tyson

'StarTalk' mixes science with pop culture. Tyson and comedians talk about space, physics, and life hacks for astronauts. New episodes always bring something interesting.

This podcast is a perfect match for space fans who want to explore the universe without leaving Earth.

5. 'Science Vs' from Spotify Studios 

This show fact-checks health trends and scary headlines. 'Science Vs' looks at real research on everything from diets to 5G towers. They do the hard work so you don't have to.

This podcast is a perfect match for people who want real answers about health claims and current events everyone's arguing about on social media.

6. 'Short Wave' with Emily Kwong and Regina Barber

This NPR podcast delivers science news in under 15 minutes. The co-hosts make science fun and easy to understand for everyone.

This podcast is a perfect match for busy people who want quick science updates about aging, climate, oceans, and space.

When you're short on time but crave new information daily, Headway's audio summaries are the perfect solution. You can get fascinating insights from summaries of books like 'Ten Lessons for a Post-Pandemic World' by Fareed Zakaria and 'Thinking in Systems' by Donella Meadows and Diana Wright in under 15 minutes.

General knowledge and trivia podcasts

7. 'Stuff You Should Know' with Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant

Want to learn about champagne, chaos theory, true crime, and Rosa Parks? This great podcast covers it all. Josh and Chuck make learning feel like hanging out with friends.

This podcast is a perfect match for trivia lovers who enjoy discovering weird facts that make great conversation starters.

8. '99% Invisible' with Roman Mars

Roman Mars shows you the hidden stories behind everyday things. From highway signs to city planning, these podcast episodes change how you see the world.

This podcast is a perfect match for people who love learning about design, buildings, and the choices that shape our daily lives.

9. 'The Complete Guide to Everything' with Tim Daniels and Tom Reynolds

These two friends try to explain everything from North Korea to Nicolas Cage. They get sidetracked a lot, but that's what makes it fun.

This podcast is a perfect match for people who enjoy random deep dives into pop culture and weird topics with hosts who make you laugh.

10. 'Trivia Time' with Kelly Sharron and Rickey Lime

This show brings the pub quiz to your ears. Five rounds of questions plus word puzzles test your knowledge on music, general facts, and more.

This podcast is a perfect match for trivia fans who miss their weekly quiz nights.

11. 'Go Fact Yourself' with J. Keith van Straaten and Helen Hong

Celebrities compete by showing off what they know about random topics. Recent guests include actors, comedians, and musicians sharing their surprising expertise.

This podcast is a perfect match for entertainment fans who want to see famous people geek out about their hobbies.

Want to learn how to ask better questions? Check out 'Power Questions' by Andrew Sobel and Jerold Panas on the Headway app. You'll get the main ideas in minutes.

History and culture podcasts

12. 'Throughline' with Rund Abdelfatah and Ramtin Arablouei

This NPR show connects past events to today's news. The hosts make history feel important by showing how it affects current events right now.

This podcast is a perfect match for history fans who want to understand how the past shapes today's headlines about rights, wars, and politics.

13. 'The Rest Is History' with Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook

These British authors bring humor to history podcasts. They cover ancient Rome to modern politics with wit that keeps you listening through longer episodes.

This podcast is a perfect match for people who love dramatic historical stories about murders, scandals, and empires told with British humor.

14. 'You Must Remember This' with Karina Longworth

This podcast digs into Hollywood's forgotten stories. Longworth explores the entertainment industry's past with help from guests like John Mulaney and Patton Oswalt.

This podcast is a perfect match for classic movie fans who want to know the real stories behind old Hollywood.

15. 'Las Culturitas' with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang

These comedians discuss the hottest moments in American culture. They share funny takes on celebrities, awards shows, and entertainment news.

This podcast is a perfect match for pop culture lovers who want witty commentary from two comedy writers who work in entertainment.

16. 'Revisionist History' with Malcolm Gladwell

Malcolm Gladwell retells stories that people got wrong the first time. He shows you new ways to think about events you thought you knew.

This podcast is a perfect match for thinkers who like questioning what everyone believes and finding overlooked details that change everything.

Love history? 'The Battle for Christmas' by Stephen Nissenbaum and 'Humankind: A Hopeful History' by Rutger Bregman offer great insights. Find their summaries on Headway.

4 more podcasts for when you have only 10 minutes (but crave that knowledge fix)

Sometimes you only have a few minutes between meetings or while waiting at the doctor. These shows give you quality content without the time commitment:

1. 'TEDx SHORTS': Big ideas in 10 minutes or less

2. '5 Minute History': Quick stories about events, places, and products

3. '5 Minute Biographies': Amazing life stories in bite-sized episodes

4. 'Quick Smart': Psychology, money, and history explained fast

When you want key takeaways from books even faster, try Headway. The app delivers summaries you can finish in 5–15 minutes instead of waiting for new episodes.

Podcasts vs. apps: What's best for your learning style?

Choosing between podcasts and learning apps depends on how you like to learn. Both help with self-improvement and professional development, but they work differently.

Podcasts work best when you:

• Have 30+ minutes for in-depth exploration

• Enjoy casual conversations between co-hosts and guests

• Want entertainment mixed with education

• Like discovering topics through your favorite podcasts and playlist recommendations

• Learn through stories and examples

Learning apps like Headway work best when you:

• Need key insights in 15 minutes or less

• Have specific goals for professional development

• Want structured takeaways without browsing social media

• Prefer learning from multiple experts quickly

• Like tracking your progress

Many learners use both. You might listen to history podcasts for fun and use Headway when you need quick skills for work.

Make the most of educational content with Headway

Here's the secret: learning a little each day beats trying to be perfect. Start with topics you actually care about, not what you think you should study. Being curious helps you learn faster.

Many educational podcasts also have YouTube channels and social media where you can watch highlights. Whether you find shows through Spotify recommendations or your existing playlist, pick content that fits how you learn.

Why Headway works as well as podcasts for busy learners

Short on time? Download the Headway app. Millions of users already enjoy audio summaries covering the same topics as your favorite podcasts.

Here's what makes Headway work for learners:

• Personalized learning paths: Headway picks content just for you. No more searching through hundreds of episodes to find what you need.

• Features that help you remember: The app helps you review and track progress. While podcasts give you content, Headway makes sure it sticks.

• Access to bestselling authors: Many podcast guests wrote books on Headway. Get their main ideas now instead of waiting for them on your favorite show. With 1,700+ summaries, you'll always have something new.

• Flexibility that beats any playlist: Read or listen based on your mood. Driving? Play the audio. Have five minutes? Read the key points. Download the Headway app to see how learning fits into real life.