Podcasts

The Nod tells the stories of Black life that don’t get told anywhere else, from an explanation of how purple drink became associated with Black culture to the story of how an interracial drag troupe traveled the nation in the 1940s. We celebrate the genius, the innovation, and the resilience that is so particular to being Black -- in America, and around the world.

This is a podcast made for and by teens, focusing on mental health. Episodes focus on topics like insomnia, how sound affects everyday life, and social media and mental health.

You don't have to be socially awkward to enjoy The Socially Awkward Podcast. The hosts, Justin and Zac Weber (aka "The Weber Boys"), aren't teens, but the stories about their lives are good for a laugh.

Every teen has probably dipped into a TED Talk or two. The podcast maintains what's enjoyable about them: they're short, easily digestible nuggets of interesting information.

Hosts Franklin and Susie Cota aren't teenagers, but they delve into books, movies, and TV shows made for teens, talking about the portrayal of the teenage years while remembering their own pasts. It's a good excuse to watch some old teen movies together.

This is another podcast you can probably cajole your teen into listening to with you. A public-radio institution, it features slices of life, focusing on a different theme each week.

Real brothers and vloggers John Green (a young adult novelist) and Hank Green (a YouTuber) co-host a lighthearted advice podcast where they answer questions on everything from random thoughts to deep, emotional topics. The advice they give out is mostly good and always entertaining. Their easy camaraderie and self-deprecating charm make you feel like you're in on their inside jokes (of which there are many).

What if the Harry Potter series was considered a holy book? While this can feel true to many Potter fans, this thoughtful, spiritual podcast actually puts it into practice. Each episode takes a chapter of a Harry Potter book and looks at it through the lens of a universal theme like love, hope, or destiny. You don't need to be religious to enjoy this delightful series, but it's not always spoiler-free, so make sure you've read the books ahead of time.

Dr. Santos hopes to show you that your own happiness is in your control in even the smallest ways using findings from cutting-edge scientific research on the link between human behavior and emotions.

The long-running National Public Radio (NPR) news quiz “Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!” is a current events call-in game show so famous for its devotion to its weekly show format and revolving door of comedian guest panelists that host Peter Sagal has made jokes about its listeners at home falling asleep before the show ends.

Gretchen Rubin is HAPPIER, and she wants you to be happier too. The #1 bestselling author of The Happiness Project and Better Than Before gets more personal than ever as she brings her practical, manageable advice about happiness and good habits to this lively, thought-provoking podcast. Gretchen’s cohost and guinea pig is her younger sister, Elizabeth Craft, a TV writer and producer living in Los Angeles, who (lovingly) refers to Gretchen as her happiness bully. Part of the Cadence13 Network.