I am unapologetically a podcast junkie–ask anyone. They’re a great way to expand your knowledge of the world, get advice from the pros, and listen to some great stories. This makes them a valuable resource for writers, and I’ve rounded up my top ten to help you grow in your skills and knowledge.
88 Cups of Tea features interviews with authors, discussing everything from going through rejection, drawing inspiration from family stories, and the struggles of querying an agent. The host, Yin Chang, can be a little long-winded at times, but it gives you valuable insight into the lives and habits of published, well-known authors.
Run time: 40 minutes to an hour
Hosted by the quirky and lovable Kirsten Oliphant, Create If Writing includes insight both on the craft of writing and on building your platform, that ever ambiguous goal of the writer. Episodes can be Kirsten discussing a topic on her own or she sometimes brings on a guest to have a more in-depth conversation.
Run time: 30 to 40 minutes
Write or Die is a newer podcast, but it’s already one of my favorites. It’s primarily interviews, both with authors and members of the publishing side of things, such as literary agent Suzie Townsend. Host Claribel Ortega is charming and insightful, incorporating stories from her own writing journey and asking the questions you really want to know.
Run time: 30 to 45 minutes
Sadly, the 10 Minute Writer’s Workshop recently aired its last episode, but it’s worth listening to the backlog. Featuring short interviews with writers such as Dan Brown, Salmon Rushdie, Celeste Ng, and many others, the episodes are refreshing and encouraging. Virginia Prescott cuts to the chase so that you get the wisdom of beloved authors distilled into a bite-sized episode.
Run time: 10 minutes
If you don’t know who Levar Burton is, I don’t even know what to say to you. The beloved actor is on his third season of Levar Burton Reads, with each episode featuring a new short story. The stories vary in genre, style, and when they were published, but each one is an example of brilliant storytelling that’s sure to inspire you.
Run time: 1 hour
From the New Yorker, The Writer’s Voice is another source to find stories you’ll wish you’d written. Each episode features a story published in a recent issue of the magazine, read by the writer. Even if you read the stories in print, it’s a special experience to hear the writer read their own work.
Run time: 30 to 50 minutes
While not specifically focused on writing, The Accidental Creative has great advice and insight for living a creative life. It’s easy to let the craziness of life get in the way of writing, or any sort of creative act, but these short episodes are helpful reminders of how to prioritize your writing and make sure you’re always in a good headspace to do your best work. The host, Todd Henry, tends to plug his own books frequently, but it’s not so annoying that you’re distracted from the information
Run time: 10 to 15 minutes
Podcasts can also be a source of inspiration for stories, even if they’re not directly writing-related. These next podcasts are chock-full of fun facts sure to give you all sorts of story ideas (and be the life of the party!)
This podcast, hosted by the always lovely Flora Lichtman, spends each episode investigating topics that range from the genius of birds to plastic chairs to underwater tunnels. Every episode of Every Little Thing is fascinating, featuring interviews with experts and usually personal stories from listeners who have called the ELT “help line” to get their question answered.
Run time: 25 minutes
Another podcast from Gimlet (basically I love anything Gimlet does), Reply All, generally, is a podcast about all things internet and technology. But since these two topics pervade through nearly every aspect of our lives (that’s a whole other post), it’s really a podcast about exploring the modern life and what connects us. Hosted by PJ Vogt and Alex Goldman, it’s full of wit and humor, and you’re sure to finish every episode laughing and having learned something.
Run time: 40 minutes
If you’re familiar with podcasts, you’ve probably heard of RadioLab. It’s one of the more popular ones, and it’s the reason I got into podcasts (take that, Serial!). It typically gets categorized as a science and technology podcast, but their newest tagline really says it best: they spend each episode “investigating a strange world.” They often group a few episodes together in a mini-series (recent topics include gender & sexuality and immigration), but they just as frequently spend a single episode doing a deep dive into a topic.
Run time: 40 to 60 minutes
There’s now a part two! Check out 5 more podcasts for writers.
What do you think? Have you listened to any of these? Do you have any writing podcasts you love? Let me know in the comments!
I really like Writing Excuses With Brandon Sanderson, Dan Wells, and a couple of others
I’ve heard good things about that one! I need to try it.