High school can be interesting, yet sometimes overwhelming. Balancing academics, extra classes, or hangouts with friends leaves hardly any time to ponder on matters of the world. Engaging and exciting, podcasts are wonderful agents for opening one's mind: hitch them on during commute time, at the gym, or just relaxing. Here is a list of 10 intellectual podcasts that will surely nurture a teenager into becoming reflective and well-informed.
Why Listen to Intellectual Podcasts as a Teen?
Podcasts are a stimulation of the mind; they provoke critical thinking and help open up one's mind by presenting multifaceted views and complex themes in a simple language. When high school students start watching and listening, the podcasts will be their gateway to lifelong learning, igniting curiosity and planting the seed for new interests.
1. Hidden Brain
Host: Shankar Vedantam
Available on their website
Why Listen?
The Hidden Brain podcast discusses all the hidden and unconscious patterns that govern human behavior. Through the art of storytelling into research from psychology, neurobiology, and sociology, Shankar Vedantam opens avenues for his audience to appreciate themselves as well as the external world. Topics range from memory and attention to relationships and decision-making, perfect for any adolescent curious about why humans behave the way they do.
Sample Topics:
The science of forgetting
How biases shape our choices
The psychology of relationships
2. Radiolab
Hosts: Latif Nasser and Lulu Miller
Available on their website
Why Listen?
Radiolab is considered a pioneering show in science and philosophy podcasting, due to its creative sound design and treatment of complex subjects. Storytelling, interviews, and science-debate questions about time and moral issues, and pondering mysteries of the universe-all of which allow the show to be both educational and entertaining.
Sample Topics:
What is time?
The ethics of artificial intelligence
The science of memory
3. Stuff You Should Know
Hosts: Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant
Available on iHeart
Why Listen?
Stuff You Should Know covers any topic from history, science, and pop culture to everyday peculiarities. The conversational style of the hosts turns complicated subjects into something fun and entertaining, which is very suitable for teens who like to learn.
Sample Topics:
How DNA mutations happen
The history of ice cream
The psychology of social interactions
4. Freakonomics Radio
Host: Stephen J. Dubner
Available on Spotify
Why Listen?
Freakonomics Radio brings economics to life by revealing the hidden side of everything. Stephen J. Dubner interweaves storytelling with research to expose the surprising connections between economics and everyday life, which would greatly appeal to teens interested in understanding how the world works.
Sample Topics:
Why do people cheat?
The economics of sleep
How to make better decisions
5. Overheard at National Geographic
Hosts: Peter Gwin and Amy Briggs
Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, Google Podcasts, Castbox, and Amazon Music.
Why Listen?
Taking listeners behind the scenes with scientists, explorers, and photographers, Overheard at National Geographic covers a variety of subject areas: history, science, adventure, and conservation-wonderful treat for curious teens eager to explore new ideas.
Sample Topics:
Dinosaur hunting in Morocco
Searching for lost slave ships
The discovery of a new color
6. Dear Hank & John
Hosts: Hank Green and John Green
Available on Spotify
Why Listen?
Dear Hank & John is a funny and heartfelt advice podcast by the famous Green brothers. Promoting questions and answers on everything from science to history to life advice, they manage to intermingle comedy with thoughtful insights-perfect for teens that want a bit of wisdom balanced out with entertainment.
Sample Topics:
How to quit a job
Why it’s harder to wake up on rainy days
The science of irritation
7. The Stuff of Life
Host: Various
Available on Spotify and iHeart
Why Listen?
The Stuff of Life is a world of wonders, freakishness, and splendor. She features researchers and experts talking about all things from nostalgia to social phenomena; that is to mean discussing new angles on humanity.
Sample Topics:
The science of nostalgia
Why we love music
The mysteries of memory
8. Part-Time Genius
Hosts: Will Pearson and Mangesh Hattikudur
Available on Spotify and iHeart
Why Listen?
Part-Time-Genius is an enjoyable, trivia-based podcast dedicated to unusual subjects and hidden histories. The hosts have a somewhat playful approach that turns learning into a game, an ideal situation for any teenager with an interest in facts and stories.
Sample Topics:
Why do economists bet on panda poop?
What does your belly button have to do with sports?
The secret history of everyday objects
9. She Persisted
Host: Sadie Sutton
Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, iHeartRadio, Google Podcasts, Castbox, and Amazon Music.
Why Listen?
She Persisted is a teen mental health podcast made for teens, by a teen. In She Persisted, Sadie Sutton offers real and relatable conversations about mental wellness, relationships, and navigating high school, creating a safe space where all teens feel understood and empowered.
Sample Topics:
Coping with anxiety
Building self-esteem
Navigating family relationships
10. Reply All
Hosts: PJ Vogt and Alex Goldman (original hosts; currently hosted by others)
Available on Spotify
Why Listen?
Reply All is an internet-based podcast that talks about how technology shapes a person's life. The show explores subjects such as privacy, social media, and digital culture, drawing on a special blend of irritating humor and investigative journalism-ideal for any tech-savvy teenager wishing to inform himself about the digital world.
Sample Topics:
The Snapchat thief
The mystery of the boy in the photo
How tech is changing us
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