How to Discover New Podcasts

With over 5 million podcasts available, finding your next favorite show can feel overwhelming. Here are 5 proven methods to discover podcasts you'll actually love.

1. Browse by Topic (The Fastest Method)

Start with what you're already interested in. Topic-based browsing lets you quickly find shows in your niche.

Popular Topics to Explore

• Business: All-In, My First Million, How I Built This
• Technology: Hard Fork, a16z, Latent Space
• News: The Daily, Up First, Morning Brew Daily
• Health: Huberman Lab, The Peter Attia Drive
• Comedy: SmartLess, Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend

2. Read Episode Summaries Before Committing

Don't waste time listening to full episodes of shows you might not like. Read AI-powered summaries first.

Why Summaries Work

• See what a show is actually about in 2 minutes
• Test multiple podcasts without time commitment
• Find specific episodes that match your interests
• Avoid boring episodes even from great shows

3. Follow the Guest

If someone gave a great interview on one podcast, search for their other appearances.

How to Track Guests

• Google: "[Guest Name] podcast appearances"
• Check their Twitter/LinkedIn for podcast mentions
• Look for "media" or "press" pages on their website
• Browse multiple interview shows (Rogan, Lex Fridman, Tim Ferriss)

4. Start with "Best Of" Lists

Let others curate the best episodes for you. Start with proven winners.

Curated Best-Of Lists

5. Try Comparison Guides

Not sure which podcast to choose? Read comparisons of similar shows.

Popular Comparisons

Discovery Strategy for Beginners

Week 1: Start Broad

• Pick 2-3 topics you're interested in
• Try the #1 podcast in each topic
• Listen to 2-3 episodes of each
• Keep what you like, drop the rest

Week 2: Go Deeper

• From your favorites, read "Best Episodes" lists
• Follow interesting guests to other shows
• Try 1-2 podcasts in related topics

Week 3: Build Your Feed

• Aim for 5-10 regular shows
• Mix of daily (news) and weekly (deep dives)
• Variety of lengths (15 min to 2+ hours)
• Balance learning and entertainment

Common Discovery Mistakes

Starting with 20+ Podcasts

You'll get overwhelmed and quit. Start with 3-5, then expand.

Only Listening to Trendy Shows

Popular ≠ right for you. Try niche shows that match your interests.

Giving Up After One Episode

Most podcasts take 2-3 episodes to click. Give them a fair shot.

Never Exploring New Shows

Your interests evolve. Revisit discovery every few months.

Advanced Discovery Tips

Use Speed to Your Advantage

Listen at 1.5x speed when testing new podcasts. You'll cover more ground faster.

Skip to the Middle

Jump to the 15-minute mark. If you're not hooked, move on.

Check the Archives

New podcasts often have their best content in episodes 20-50 (after they hit their stride).

Follow the Network

If you love a podcast, check what else their network produces. Similar quality, similar topics.

Podcast Discovery Checklist

• ☐ Browse 2-3 topics you're interested in
• ☐ Read summaries of 5-10 episodes before listening
• ☐ Try 1-2 episodes of 3 different shows
• ☐ Read a "Best Episodes" guide for one show
• ☐ Follow one interesting guest to another podcast
• ☐ Set a reminder to discover new shows every quarter

Start Discovering