There’s nothing like an indulgent podcast to keep you company throughout the summer. From fashion, culture, food, news, true crime, and comedy to geeking out over unassuming rabbit holes, here are the ones worth listening to and adding to your rotation to make your next commute or workout all the more enjoyable. These are podcasts you actually take something away from, rather than just idle background noise.
Off Menu
Learn More
Comedians Ed Gamble and James Acaster host guests to concoct their dream restaurant, where they build the perfect menu together. Guests choose a drink, starter, main course, side dish, and dessert of choice. It’s a window into some of our favourite people’s palates (like Amanda Seyfried, Robert De Niro, and Elle Fanning). Along the way, they explore stories on childhood, travel, family, careers, food obsession, and memorable dining experiences. The episodes also unravel guests’ preferences, like ‘still or sparkling’, and their one forbidden ingredient, to really understand their nitty-gritty ways of dining. They also have a helpful list of global restaurant recommendations for upcoming date nights or trips.
Today, Explained
Learn More
Produced by Vox, Today, Explained breaks down complex news and cultural topics in quick, digestible 25-minute episodes each weekday. It gives you something new to learn every day, from global affairs and technology to business, science, and culture. With the help of journalists, experts, and firsthand accounts, episodes unpack trending topics like the rise of smart glasses, dupes, the burnout economy, the death of dating, why people cheat, and more. Rather than offering a quick headline, it provides more context and explains why a story matters today — without feeling overwhelmed by the heavy news cycle.
Throwing Fits
Learn More
For those into fashion and culture, you’ve probably already heard of this podcast. Hosted by James Harris and Lawrence Schlossman, the duo explores menswear and pop culture with a lax approach. Aside from solo episodes, they host guests from backgrounds like entertainment, fashion, and media. Previous guests have included NYC mayor Zohran Mamdani, screenwriter Chris Black, actress Rachel Sennott, to Canadian chef-turned-actor Matty Matheson. Considered the number one global men’s fashion and lifestyle podcast, its sharp, humorous conversations feel like you’re eavesdropping on a friend’s FaceTime call.
Canadian True Crime
Learn More
If you’re into mysteries, true crime, and stories that will keep you up at night, Canadian True Crime is for you. Kristi Lee, the Aussie-Canadian host, digs deep into the country’s most compelling cases, making complex cases easy to follow. As one of the country’s leading podcasts, with more than 75 million downloads and over 200 episodes, it draws stories directly from public and court records, news archives, academic research, and, when possible, input from victims and survivors. The stories focus on what happened, why, and the impact on those left behind, using a trauma-informed lens.
Stuff You Should Know
Learn More
If you ever wanted to learn more about topics like the tragic life of Vincent van Gogh, how fever dreams work, Lyme disease, Malcolm X, or the Fyre Festival fiasco, look no further. Equally educational, digestible, and entertaining, Stuff You Should Know unpacks the things you should know but likely don’t. Consistently topping the iTunes and Spotify top podcast charts — and winning multiple awards — hosts Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant make every story compelling and fascinating (and, of course, without judgment). For those who are constantly curious, each listen leaves you more knowledgeable about niche but important topics that are likely to impress your friends.
Looking for more? Find our favourite podcasts from years past below.
SECTION BY: SHARP STAFF
The Canadian podcasting landscape is more vibrant and diverse than ever. With innovative formats and engaging content, podcasts continue to captivate audiences across the country. As technology advances, accessing this rich array of audio content has never been easier, leading to a surge in listener engagement and the emergence of new genres.
This thriving ecosystem is not just about entertainment; it’s about fostering community, cultural awareness and connecting people through shared interests. The following podcasts not only entertain but also reflect the diverse identities and interests within Canada, offering listeners a journey through humour, nostalgia, creativity and thought-provoking discussions.
Canadian Comedy at Its Best: Stop Podcasting Yourself
Learn More
Stop Podcasting Yourself is a Canadian comedy podcast distributed on the Maximum Fun network and hosted by Graham Clark and Dave Shumka. Each week, the comedy duo invites a guest, typically a fellow comedian, for a conversational interview. The podcast has won the Canadian Comedy Award for Best Podcast/Best Audio Show or Series three times (2012, 2013 and 2014). It features segments like “Get to Know Us,” where they get to know the guest, and “Overheard,” where they discuss humorous things they’ve overheard or seen in their daily lives. Despite having little in the way of a formal format, the show maintains a consistent tone and pace, regardless of whether the guest is a famous LA comedian or a smaller local one. Episodes are consistently released and usually recorded at Shumka’s home studio in Vancouver.
Redefining Modern Muslim Identity: This Being Human
Learn More
This Being Human is the Aga Khan Museum’s arts and culture podcast devoted to amplifying the voices of leaders redefining what it means to be Muslim in today’s world. Through expert storytelling and thoughtfully cast interviews, the series aims to break down stereotypes, highlight connections between cultures, and uncover new insights on the human condition. Abdul-Rehman Malik, a writer, journalist, educator and pop culture aficionado, currently lectures at Yale University’s School of Divinity, where he also leads the Council on Middle East Studies cultural literacy initiative. He was a past artist-in-residence at the Doris Duke Foundation’s Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Design, and Culture, curating the series “What is Muslim Culture?” His most recent work for the BBC was a radio essay for Holy Week entitled “Behold the Man,” a Muslim meditation on a medieval depiction of Jesus.
Guilty Pleasures, Unpacked: I Hate It But Love It
Learn More
Kat Angus and Jocelyn Geddie, a writer and editor from Toronto and a Canadian Screen Award-nominated television writer and comedian, respectively, break down movies and TV shows they despise yet adore in their podcast. With the occasional confused special guest, their podcast is lovingly produced by the From Superheroes Network. It has won Best Comedy Podcast (2019), Best Host in a Series (2020) and the People’s Choice Award (2021) at the Canadian Podcast Awards. It has also been nominated for Best Television & Film Podcast (2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022) and the People’s Choice Award for Best Podcast in Canada (2019) at the Canadian Podcast Awards, as well as Best Television & Film Podcast (2021) at The Podcast Awards.
A Great Hang, Disguised As A Podcast: The Best Hang Podcast
Learn More
The Best Hang Podcast is hosted by seasoned writer, director and producer Mike Veerman, Juno-winning Arkells lead singer Max Kerman and Shane Cunningham on Acast. Formerly known as Mike On Much, it features tales of camaraderie and conversations with creative figures from the world of music, film and television.
Comedy Meets Horror: Let’s Make A Horror
Learn More
From the team that brought you the Webby award-winning Let’s Make A Sci-Fi, a New Yorker Best Podcast of 2022, and Let’s Make A Rom-Com, comes season three: Let’s Make A Horror. This time, comedians Mark Chavez, Maddy Kelly and Ryan Beil learn what it takes to create truly frightening horror, interviewing Hollywood writers, directors and enthusiasts, probing their deepest fears and eventually taking a stab at writing and directing their own shocking short film. Through perseverance and the guidance of Hollywood experts such as director Eduardo Sánchez, actor Rose McIver and many more, they created their horror short film, Close and Lock the Patio Door!
Exploring the Mysterious & Bizarre: Nighttime
Learn More
Nighttime is an audio documentary series that has been stirring listeners with Canadian true crime, mysteries and unique events since 2015. The series covers a wide range of topics, from crime and mysteries to the just plain weird, all thoroughly researched and presented through interviews, archival audio and engaging storytelling techniques. Nighttime also features several ongoing and recurring series. “Keep Canada Weird” is a weekly segment where host Jordan Bonaparte and his friend Aaron Airport delve into quirky Canadian news stories from the past week. Another highlight is “The Sunday Night Show”, a weekly discussion series with guests Paul Palango and Adam Rodgers, focusing on Canadian crime, justice and controversial topics.
A Nostalgic Trip Through the 1990s: History of the 90s
Learn More
Corus Entertainment’s Curiouscast network takes listeners back three decades with the History of the 90s podcast, promising a wave of nostalgia. Co-creator and host Kathy Kenzora dives into the defining moments of the 1990s every two weeks, sparing no details. The podcast also features expert interviews, such as David Kamp of Vanity Fair discussing the disproportionate tabloid coverage of the ’90s. Building on the success of her previous podcast, History of 1995, which was recognized as one of Apple’s Best Canadian Podcasts in 2018, Kenzora’s show highlights the lasting impact of 1990s events on modern life.
Conversations with Musical Mavericks: Industry Tactics with Friendly Rich
Learn More
Join oddball Canadian composer Friendly Rich as he interviews some of the finest outsiders in music today. Originally from Oakville, Ontario, Friendly Rich is known for composing background music for three seasons of MTV’s The Tom Green Show. Since 1994, he has recorded exclusively for his eclectic record label, The Pumpkin Pie Corporation. Recently, he completed his PhD in music education from the University of Toronto. Friendly Rich and his modern music ensemble, The Lollipop People, have toured the world.
