Between ongoing favourites that offer comfort and continuity and newly debuted podcasts alive with fresh storytelling, this year offered no shortage of top-tier podcast listening. Find your next obsession in this collection of 15 of the best series the year had to offer, spanning genres including true crime, comedy, news, and well-being.
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Dynamic duo Toni Lodge and Ryan Jon Dunn host Toni and Ryan, a long-running and beloved podcast that has fans hooked to their unfiltered humour, outrageous dating stories, and contagious laughter. While you can’t go wrong with jumping in anywhere with this 2025 Webby-winning and 2024 Australia Podcast Award-winning show, recent episodes have been particularly delightful, tackling humiliating gym crushes, haircut regrets, and the Costco food court.
Journalist Marc Fennell exposes a scandal where you’d least expect it: the fine-wine world. In this Audible Original podcast, Fennell brings his deep-dive investigating into the world of competitive wine and how it’s possible to cheat your way to becoming a master sommelier. Don’t worry, if wine’s not your thing, it isn’t Fennell’s either. You’ll learn along with him while enjoying this niche, riveting drama, with or without a glass in hand. Hear our interview with Corked creator Marc Fennell.
Hosted by Meshel Laurie, Australian True Crime dives into Australia's most notorious crimes through interviews with law enforcement, forensic scientists, and victims themselves to get the real story of what happened. With a robust backlog of episodes to choose from and recent episodes covering both cold cases and unfolding crimes, this podcast sheds valuable light on the justice system and the people who work within it. Excellent episodes include the guest appearance of Supreme Court Justice Lex Lasry, a look into the real role of a coroner, and an exploration of youth crime rates.
Adventurers Mike Corey and Cassie De Pecol continue their highly engaging podcast Against the Odds, dedicated to stories about humans surviving the unimaginable. This standout season focused on a watershed moment in America's Pacific Northwest. In 1980, Mount St. Helens started to show signs of activity. Though scientists warned everyone to steer clear, there were still 150 people in the line of destruction on eruption day. In each episode, you'll hear the harrowing stories of people who experienced this Pompeii-like disaster first-hand. After finishing all the seasons of this hit podcast series, you can get more practical advice by listening to Wondery’s related audiobook, How to Survive Against the Odds.
Comedy duo Hamish Blake and Andy Lee talk about the mundane, the strange, and everything in between in their ongoing podcast Hamish & Andy. Listeners love their casual chatter and comedic timing, perfect for keeping you company on a morning commute. This year brought us a delightful World’s Tallest Hat world record attempt, the riveting Golf Buggy Saga, and a song sleuth segment on Taylor Swift. While you can tune in on any episode, Hamish and Andy love an inside joke or an ongoing bit, making this a great one to start from the beginning.
Zara McDonald and Michelle Andrews explore everything pop culture and celebrity in this long-running podcast. Their banter is engaging as they discuss what’s new, covering breaking news in 2025 with episodes dedicated to the Met Gala, the hit show White Lotus, why so many celebrities have Lyme disease, and Sabrina Carpenter's newest album, just to name a few. To stay current on the happenings in media, art, and entertainment, look no further!
The Imperfects, hosted by Hugh van Cuylenburg, Ryan Shelton, and Josh van Cuylenburg, digs into all things vulnerability as the hosts interview folks with a variety of expertise about imperfection. With moments of true introspection, honesty, and laugh-out-loud humour, this podcast also boasted a particularly excellent 2025 lineup, including comedian Melanie Bracewell, AFL’s Mitch Brown, and numerous episodes with resident psychologist Dr. Emily Musgrove.
Science and comedy meet on this new podcast about technological advances that might change our lives for the better—or much worse. The future is unclear. British icons Richard Ayoade and Warwick Davis look into the digital crystal ball as expert guests explain everything from self-driving cars to VR vacations. With sci-fi vibes, big laughs, and lots of fun facts, Future Tense is an entertaining look at where technology will take us next.
WTF has run for 16 years, but in 2025 the interview-style podcast finally came to a close. With his characteristic insight, humour, and inquisitiveness, host Marc Maron spent his final season interviewing some of his best guests ever, from Christopher Guest to Jeremy Allen White to Judd Apatow, all building to a final episode featuring former US President Barack Obama. If you haven't checked out WTF yet, now is the time to dive in: There's a fantastic library of episodes to catch up on, and the final season is particularly compelling.
Travel the world in search of the twistiest true crime stories with the Crime Scenes podcast. Narrator Emilia Fox sets the scene for chilling tales of murder set across a variety of time periods and locations, from a beautiful Welsh island to an Australian forest to a Florida town built by Disney, all with dark secrets to hide.
For chilling yet unpauseable true crime, tune in to I Catch Killers with Gary Jubelin. With decades of experience working as a detective chief inspector, Jubelin brings his expertise to the table as he interviews law enforcement, victims, and even former perpetrators to gain insight into all sides of the justice system. This year's episodes feature a Special Air Service dog handler, Australian Idol winner Kate DeAraugo, and Cheng Lei, who spent three years imprisoned in a Chinese jail.
A scandalous affair with a king who would have a total of six wives. A concubine who became emperor of China. An Indigenous woman who agreed to translate for the Spanish colonists and was dragged through history for it. Jameela Jamil and Dr. Kate Lister dig into the controversial lives and often erased histories of six rebellious, maligned, or silenced women.
Mia Freedman, Jessie Stephens, and Holly Wainwright host Mamamia Out Loud, an ongoing podcast covering everything current in pop culture. With a backlog you should be sure to check out, this one will keep you entertained with the hosts’ witty banter and thought-provoking questions, each offering a different perspective on what’s happening right now. Episodes this year cover The Golden Bachelor, why it feels like everyone is ruder, and “Chatfishing,” just to name a few.
Reporting live from the climate crisis, host Zach Goldbaum unveils the dark secrets, crimes, and environmental abuses destroying our planet. You'll hear a variety of gripping tales, from a missing Montana coal mine executive to the mob behind a New York City private-waste-management company to the mysterious massacre of gorillas in the Congo. Goldbaum balances informative journalism with engaging storytelling to showcase what's at stake when our planet goes unprotected.
For something a little different, check out this newly dropped podcast to help you get some shut-eye. Host Taesha Glasgow reads chapters from classic literature or famous short stories in a calming voice, designed to lull you to sleep. Next time you can't turn your brain off or if you need a little background noise to help wind down for the night, add this one to your list.
