While we here at Wit & Delight have many different interests and favorite ways to spend our time outside of the office, one thing remains true across the board: We listen to a heck of a lot of podcasts.

As the year comes to a close, we’re collectively sharing the fifteen podcasts that garnered the attention of our ears most fervently in the last 365 days. Whether you’re looking for something that will entertain or inspire you, or something you can listen to with your kids, there’s something for everyone on this list.

P.S. Can you be so kind as to add your recommendations in the comments, too? Despite how often I already listen to podcasts, there has been many a time I’ve run out of shows in my queue, so please, share your favorite shows down below. Thank you in advance!!

Bridgette Dutkowski

Brand Director

1. You’re Wrong About

Two journalists research and discuss events from our collective past and debunk what we all remembered incorrectly. This podcast is great for someone who loves minutiae and trivia.  

2. Wow in the World

Technically this podcast is for kids, but that doesn’t mean it’s not entertaining for adults, too. It explains science and other larger questions for the under 10 set. My kids are obsessed, which means I’ve listened to all of the episodes. (Another podcast for kids that our family loves is But Why: A Podcast For Curious Kids.)

3. The Two Princes

An unexpected love story between (spoiler alert) two princes. What I loved about this podcast was that the romance between the two main characters was natural and didn’t feel any different than the heteronormative fairy tales I grew up with. My kids loved it as well. 

Zoe Vossen

Fulfillment Manager – Shop Wit & Delight

1. Armchair Expert

This is my go-to podcast for all of my life’s little moments that need to be filled with sound. Dax Shepard is INCREDIBLY smart and well-spoken and I am always entertained from start to finish.

2. Clever

I recently discovered this podcast, hosted by Jaime Derringer and Amy Devers. These ladies really dig deep into all different types of design and have created a community around that. They’re super inspiring and always have thoughtful conversations with their guests.

Erin Hamilton

New Business Director

1. How I Built This

This is a constantly inspiring podcast with just the right amount of failure stories mixed in (it’s nice to know we’re not alone in our missteps!).

2. Armchair Expert

I resisted this one for a while, thinking I didn’t have time for the long episodes, but now I’m all in. I love getting a peek behind the world of such well-known celebrities.

3. 10 Things to Tell You

I’ve followed Laura for a while now, and I love her honesty about mental health and her spot-on book recommendations.

Kate Arends

Creative Director, Founder

1. Noble Blood

This podcast shares the untold stories of history’s most infamous monarchs—what they could have been thinking in their final days, weeks, and months of their reign. It’s incredibly written and beautifully produced.

2. Behind The Bastards

The whole truth behind notorious business owners, cult leaders, and idolized thinkers who often leave destruction along their paths toward power. It’s funny, it’s infuriating, it’s informative.

3. Brown Ambition

When you’re young, ambitious, and a woman of color, it takes a special kind of determination to succeed. That’s what hosts Tiffany Aliche and Mandi Woodruff have done and they’re helping millions of listeners do the same. It’s inspiring, tactile, and filled with incredible interviewees who haven’t stopped pushing toward new heights.

Raquel Benedict

Graphic Designer, Illustrator, and Art Director

1. Hidden Brain

There’s always a good nugget of info in each of these episodes. I like how you never know what you’re going to get, but know you can expect great narration and a fun way to learn something new. I loved the episode called The Edge Effect! 

2. Keep It

I’ve been listening to this Crooked Media pod every Wednesday for as long as I can remember and I just love it so much. It feels like I’m listening to my friends talk at this point and it’s a great way to stay up to date on culture with a bit of politics mixed in. The host, Ira, is also hilarious on Twitter, so that’s a plus!

Jackie Saffert

Editorial Director

1. Forever 35

I first started listening to this podcast at the end of 2018 and it has since become a bright spot in my life, twice a week. There’s something so delightfully calming about listening to Kate and Doree’s consistent banter and musings on life.

2. Heavyweight

Love human interest pieces? You’ll love Heavyweight (promise). Host Jonathan Goldstein goes back in time and tries to solve what wasn’t solved, to tie the proverbial bow on stories that had been left untied. He does it all with a signature curiosity and a self-deprecating, highly amusing bent that you can’t help but enjoy.

3. Girls Gotta Eat

This podcast was a consistent source of humor and joy for me each Monday morning in 2019. I dated more in 2019 than I ever have before (by a lot), and this show was one of the things that helped me feel less alone on the many dating adventures (and misadventures) I experienced. While I take some nuggets of advice the hosts give with a grain of salt, their wit, sense of humor, and supreme sense of confidence are all contagious in the very best way.

Searching for more podcast suggestions? Have a look at Kate’s recommendations for 9 Podcasts That Will Make You Smarter. And if you haven’t yet, be sure to catch up on The Wit & Delight Podcast, where Kate interviews guests and expands on topics such as parenting, mental health, and design. There’s more to come from The W&D Podcast in 2020, so be sure to follow along!