Philosophy helps younger thinkers to inquire, reason, and explore deeper aspects of human thinking. For high school audiences, podcasts are a terrific format for students to engage with important philosophical content in a casual and accessible format. Whether it is ancient ideas or contemporary dilemmas, these programs help students develop their critical thinking skills and engage ethically with different aspects of society.
Here's a list of 10 insightful philosophy podcasts, each designed to ignite curiosity and help young scholars better understand the world and themselves.
1. Philosophize This!
Philosophize This!, hosted by Stephen West, is typically the first place curious students turn to when exploring philosophy. The podcast has taken a historical route from the Pre-Socratics to postmodern thinkers. West is able to explain concepts (e.g., Plato's forms, Descartes' doubt, etc.) with excitement and relatable analogies that offer a different access point to difficult content. His storytelling is perfect for high school student learning pacing, not rushed or overly complex. The episodic nature of this podcast is perfect for any subject area (ethics, logic, existentialism etc.) as it is as if you are being taken on a passionate, accessible classroom experience on the go.
2. Hi-Phi Nation
Hi-Phi Nation is unique in its ability to combine philosophical analysis with riveting real-life stories. Barry Lam, a philosophy professor, hosts Hi-Phi Nation. He and his guests explore questions like "Can war ever be justified?" or "Is punishment just?" using real stories, legal cases, or interviews from individuals and organizations. It feels like a cross between a documentary and a philosophy lecture. For upper secondary students, it is a great way to see how deep thinking matters in law, politics, technology, and the moral dilemmas of living in modern society.
3. The Partially Examined Life
This podcast has presented a band of ex-philosophy grad students who reconvene to talk about 'big' philosophical texts and ideas in a somewhat casual and humorous way. Each episode examines one thinker (such as Kant, Simone de Beauvoir) or one concept (such as a series of episodes on aesthetics or political theory). This podcast is probably a little more advanced but high schoolers wanting to take literature, debate, or critical theory will enjoy it for their intellectual deep dive (the hosts not only discuss/explain, but they actually wrestle with the ideas so that the show is almost like you are studying together in real time!).
4. In Our Time: Philosophy
Produced by the BBC and hosted by Melvyn Bragg, In Our Time: Philosophy offers polished, deep discussions between leading academics. Each episode focuses on either a philosopher or a school of thought (e.g. Confucianism, Stoicism, phenomenology), and takes the audience on a journey that is less than an hour long. High school students with an interest in history or global perspectives would benefit from the breadth and depth of the discussions. While the program is more academic in style, the discussions are clear enough to follow, and they often facilitate connections to subject areas in school curriculum like world history and civics education.
5. The Daily Stoic
The Daily Stoic, created by author Ryan Holiday, is a collection of daily teachings based on ancient Stoic philosophy. Holiday draws on ancient thinkers from the Stoic tradition such as Marcus Aurelius and Seneca, to discuss topics such as resilience, focus, humility, or emotional control, all things many high school kids have in common. Most of the individual episodes take just 3-10 minutes to listen to, making it ideal for students whose morning routines include podcasts or during a study break. It is, in effect, a short, sweet, mixture of self-help and ancient philosophy, teaching students how to connect and adapt centuries old ethical ideas with an age of personal growth, and modern problems.
6. Crash Course Philosophy
While Crash Course Philosophy is on YouTube, if you're listening and not watching, it works as if it were an audio-only podcast. You know Hank Green's personality from his YouTube work, and in this course he uses that energy, as well as humor, to dive into metaphysics, epistemology, and political theory. The web series episodes are each around 10 minutes long, and utilize real life examples, pop culture references, and cartoons to make big ideas fun. This is an ideal resource for students looking for a short, entertaining introduction to the big ideas, especially useful before tests, or as a supplement to in class learning!
7. The Panpsycast Philosophy Podcast
Based in the UK, this podcast effectively blends structure with levity with its well-structured, guiding explanation and spontaneous, reflexive storytelling. Hosted by teachers and students, and discussing philosophical topics such as, but not limited to, determinism, utilitarianism, and personal identity, the podcast digs deep into these topics while linking them back to our cultures, movies, and current events. It is particularly useful for exam or essay preparation, as many episodes are relevant to A-level and IB courses. Having a friendly, sometimes humorous, tone feels like a group of friends exploring life's biggest questions.
8. Philosophy Bites
Philosophy Bites consists of short, sharp interviews with a professional philosopher, normally between 15–25 minutes. Each episode has Nigel Warburton and David Edmonds interviewing a philosopher on a specific topic like free will, moral luck, or aesthetics. It is a perfect way for high schoolers with short attention spans or busy schedules to experience philosophy, and to perhaps build upon their perspectives in future studies. It is also a good option to quickly review or locate the main themes of a topic before reverting to the texts. The vocabulary is simple, meaning the direct questioning aids the listener to keep a focus on digestible philosophical ideas.
9. Very Bad Wizards
In this podcast, philosopher Tamler Sommers and psychologist David Pizarro discuss morality, ethics, and decision-making from both a serious and humorous angle. The irreverence and informality by Tamler and David make many of the podcasts feel more like informal conversations than lectures, and there is some mildly mature content, but many are appropriate for older high school students. Also, a number of topics run from free speech to the ethics of revenge, and they almost always present a film, piece of literature, or real life example so listeners can view alternatives. This podcast is suitable for listeners who enjoy pushing their thinking and like a nice balance of philosophy and psychology.
10. The Ethics Lab
The Ethics Lab is produced by Duke University's Kenan Institute for Ethics, and its mission is to cultivate young people's understanding and engagement with ethical problems in today's world. The podcast introduces conversations about politics, AI, climate change, and medical ethics. High school listeners interested in social justice, technology, or leadership will find these episodes timely and insightful. It's not just a podcast about theory, it's an opportunity for students to think about how to make good decisions in a complex, constantly evolving society.
Philosophy podcasts can be a strong means of developing thoughtful, open-minded citizens. These 10 podcasts combine history, ethics, and current inquiry, with content relevant to high school thinkers. If you want to connect and engage more with big, ancient ideas, or with contemporary dilemmas, each episode offers at least one ingredient to stir reflection or conversation. So, plug in, mobilize your mind, and let these podcasts take you on your own self-discovery journey in philosophy.
FAQS:
Q. Is it okay for me to use these podcasts for school assignments or coursework?
A. Sure! A lot of these podcasts tackle themes like justice, identity, or ethics - very common themes in essays for English, debate topics, or social studies in general. You can absolutely quote them or use them for context in your presentations or writing!
Q. How can I stay focused while listening to Philosophy Podcasts?
A. You could try listening in small bursts so maybe 15-30 minutes long while commuting, walking, or during a study break. Maybe do some light note taking or summarizing of what you heard in any form afterward to help you retain and understand the ideas.
Q. What if I don't understand everything they are talking about?
A. That's Normal! Philosophy is very much about big ideas and tricky words but as you go along your understanding will grow. Focus on the main ideas and if you want to listen again, or if they are using a specific term you aren't sure about it is also okAY to pause and look it up; this is all part of the experience of learning!
Q. Do they talk about things that connect or relate to teenage life?
A. Definitely! They have many episodes that deal with themes around decision making , feelings, identity, and relationships, all issues most high school students face as they are developing. Some of the podcasts will even provide some take-aways taken back to the normal world around managing stress , peer pressure, or independent thinking, making the ideas directly useful in one's daily life.
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