We’ve missed you! It’s 2026, the days are officially getting longer, and our favorite pods are slowly coming out of holiday hibernation—not a moment too soon. Dedicated podheads have been subsisting on a thin gruel of prerecorded mailbag episodes, highlight reels, and unlocked Patreon content to keep our own thoughts at bay. (No, we don’t have a problem. Why do you ask?)

At the top of our pod news docket: Netflix’s first foray into podcasting is officially underway. Per TheWrap, a whopping 34 pods will debut on the streamer in January alone, a mix of new and licensed properties. We tuned in to “The Bill Simmons Podcast” on Sunday, and it was, well —  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯  — the Bill Simmons podcast. 

TBD whether the streamification of these shows genuinely upends the podcast ecosystem in a meaningful way or whether it just means that this Guardian article was right, and the audio experience is about to get worse. For us, the real test will come when “Behind the Bastards” starts Tudum-ing on the 26th. 

Meanwhile, we’ve been trying to get our arms around the mostly grim and infuriating news overwhelming our lives and social feeds. At a moment when corporate media is at its most sycophantic and risk averse, it’s natural to find oneself a bit burned out or jaded about staying informed. If you’ve noticed yourself drifting away from your go-to news podcasts because you just can’t, you’re not alone. 

In case this resonates with you, we’ve done a quick roundup of news and current events podcasts that go beyond the usual suspects. You won’t see “Up First” or “Pod Save [Insert Location]” in this list; you already know about those. Instead, here’s hoping you discover a new favorite that makes you feel more informed.

• “The Take” (Al Jazeera) – This daily interview-driven series from host Malika Bilal eschews headline roundups in favor of one big story per day, featuring subject matter experts on everything from Maduro’s capture to ICE’s crimes to the future of AI.
  
• “Americast” (BBC News) – Perspective is everything, as they say. These BBC journalists offer clear-eyed coverage of U.S. news that’s consistently more instructive than reporting from inside the house.
  
• “Front Burner” (CBC) – This daily news show covers the world — and, frequently, the turmoil within the U.S. — from the Canadian point of view. If you’re an American curious about what our next-door neighbors think of us, this show provides some clues.

• “The Hell Gate Podcast” (Hell Gate) and “FAQ NYC” (THE CITY) – A twofer recommendation for NYC listeners, and/or those who wish to stay current on Mayor Mamdani’s administration. These quirky and extremely local weekly shows exist mainly to support the respective news websites, giving them a relaxed, chatty feel even when covering dire events.
  
• “The LA Report” (LAist) – A thrice-daily debrief covering news on the ground from Southern California in five-minute bites from LA’s NPR affiliate, 89.3 FM. Shows like this are why the Corporation for Public Broadcasting will be so sorely missed. 
• “City Cast” (City Cast) – Don’t live in New York City or LA? David Plotz’s experiment in reviving metro coverage between the coasts is approaching its fourth anniversary. Whether you live in one of the 13 City Cast locales or are voyeuristically curious about the goings-on in Nashville, these shows have you covered. Not sure where to start? The network aired a special New Year’s episode across all 13 feeds.

• • “Democracy Now!” (Democracy Now) – This beloved, long-running show is both extremely well-established and still manages to feel like a rare vinyl find at the back of the record store. Hosts Amy Goodman and Juan González dig into breaking news daily, in exhaustive detail, in both video and audio formats. 
• • “Reveal” (The Center for Investigative Reporting / PRX) – This twice-weekly investigative marvel hosted by Al Letson recently celebrated its 10th anniversary. Letson goes deep on issues others merely skim. Also, the show is the rare entry on this list where production quality matches the excellence of the ideas presented.
• • “Citations Needed” (Citations Needed) – The hosts of this weekly show on PR, power, and policy have a knack for seeing through propaganda campaigns and identifying lies laundered through mainstream media. For a wild time warp experience, listen to this 2021 episode on how Trump tried to capture Maduro the first time in 2019.

• • “Why Is This Happening?” “(MSNow / Chris Hayes) – If you dislike the brightly lit, synthetic cable-news flavor of most MSNow programming, you may have avoided this show on principle. But the conversations on “Why Is This Happening?” tend to be thoughtful, curious, and free-flowing in a way that host Chris Hayes’ better-known nightly TV show isn’t always.
  
• • “What A Day” (Crooked Media) OK, OK, Crooked isn’t exactly “corporate media,” but its love of horse race coverage and frequent deference to political consultants can make it feel that way. “What A Day,” a morning news roundup currently hosted by Jane Coaston, is the exception. If you only have 20 minutes to efficiently catch up on headlines, this is the show for you. 

Nicole Byer is the Real Deal

You might call her a triple threat. But this comedian, actor, and media phenom says she’s just being herself.

Words by: Brianna Wellen
Photos by: Savanna Ruedy

Nicole Byer is a talker. 

“I fucking love chitchatting!” she said with a hearty laugh and an air of unshakable conviction. 

That confidence is earned — she’s a professional and prolific chitchatter. With four podcasts to her name and countless guest appearances on others, Byer’s voice has become one of the most recognizable in the industry. Her squeals of delight, gasps of disbelief, and signature “tee-hee-hee”s are defining factors of her shows, bringing an aural dynamism that stands out in an increasingly oversaturated medium.

But what really sets her apart from others in the industry is what she says and how she says it. She takes an unfiltered, unapologetic approach to talking about all aspects of her life, whether that’s being unfathomably giddy about Sonic the Hedgehog or openly crying at the sheer thought that her best friend might die before her. Byer can be big and loud and silly and emotional. For so many other performers, combining these qualities can feel phony. For Byer, they’re beacons of her authenticity.

“I am just genuine because I don’t know how else to be,” Byer said. “I’m not putting on a character, and honestly, if I was, I would create a more interesting character.”

According to Byer’s listenership, she is interesting exactly as she is. Her four podcasts together attract hundreds of thousands of listens each week, and she commands sold-out crowds for live episodes and has legions of social media fans. And, of course, Byer is not just a podcaster. Her star’s been steadily on the rise for years with stand-up specials, hosting gigs, and acting roles, making her a household name. She’s a bona fide multiple threat in the entertainment industry, and she’s done it by simply being herself. 

Read the rest

 ICYMI

Some other stories that have our attention:

• • James Cridland at Podnews delivered quite the scoop on the tool ripping podcasts and selling illegal ad-free versions.
• • Back in November, iHeart announced a “multiplatform partnership” with TikTok. Watch this space.  
• • We knew it was coming, but that doesn’t make us less sad. CPB Votes to Dissolve After Trump Administration Defunding.
• • The inaugural Golden Globe Award for Podcasting went to Amy Poehler’s “Good Hang.” OK. 
• • Apple Podcasts’ latest curated collection is “Living Well,” featuring health and wellness podcasts alongside relationship shows, including “Why Won’t You Date Me?” from our cover star, Nicole Byer!
• • This one’s for the sickos. “Better Offline” made its annual pilgrimage to CES to talk shit about the tech bros from an open bar at the Venetian.