Over the past several years, podcasts have become very popular. It is estimated that over 584 million people globally are currently listening to podcasts, and the number is projected to reach 600 million by the end of 2025. Approximately 144 million of these listeners are in the US, which represents about 41% of the US population, with 28% listening on a weekly basis. Those are certainly impressive statistics, and I am one of those US listeners.
Warning: this is a very long post, but I felt it was important to highlight these podcasts.
There are many reasons why podcasts have become so popular. They are very convenient. Listeners can tune in while commuting, working out, doing chores, etc., transforming otherwise idle time into a source of learning or entertainment. Typically, podcasts are free and available on multiple platforms, making them very easy to find on your phone, in your car, or on any of your smart devices. The on-demand nature allows listeners to pick specific topics, hosts, or episodes, unlike scheduled TV or radio.
There are literally millions of podcast episodes out there, covering almost every topic imaginable, from niche hobbies to global news. The format allows for deep, longer discussions, rather than the quick sound bites that we are used to from other media. I have found that the format and conversational tone help listeners feel a close, personal connection with the hosts, creating trust and loyalty.
I commute about an hour in each direction every weekday for work, and this time allows me to listen to one or two episodes each way. Listening gives me some focus while I am driving, and I often come away having learned something new or gained some new insight into a topic with which I was familiar.
I have mentioned my podcast listening on my blog before, and I promised that I would write a post talking about the podcasts I listen to and why I like them. To that end, here is my list of favorite podcasts. With the exception of a few, I tend to listen to Jewish content podcasts.
I start almost every commuting day listening to “The Daily” from the New York Times. Say what you will about the Times—you might love them, or hate them—but “The Daily” seems to go beyond any of the stereotypes you might have when you think of the Times. While the newspaper has shown some anti-Israel bias, “The Daily” has, with infrequent exceptions, been very even with its coverage of Israel, and perhaps has leaned a little toward being more pro-Israel.
The podcast began in 2017 as an extension of the Times podcast “The Run-Up,” which focused on the 2016 presidential race and election. Initially, it focused heavily on the first Trump term in office but later expanded to many different topics. Each episode is between 30 and 45 minutes.
In each episode, the host (currently one of three different reporters) interviews another NY Times journalist about some reporting they have been doing and goes into the story with a little more depth. Generally, the stories come from the news of the day. I find it to be a great way to keep up with what is happening in our world, and I can say that on a day I miss the podcast, I really notice.
I listen to three other NY Times podcasts, though not regularly. There is “The Headlines”, which is a quick 10-12 minute rundown of the top stories of the day. “The Opinions” features different opinion reporters from the Times, either reading an opinion piece published in the Times or summarizing their thoughts on a topic. Finally, there is “The Ezra Klein Show”. I listen to this one most infrequently. Ezra Klein is an opinion writer for the Times and sometimes has good insights into topics of the day, albeit from a very liberal stance.
There are many Jewish podcasts that I have listened to, but here are some of my favorites (in no particular order).
There are three different organizations from which I listen to at least two different podcasts: Jewish Unpacked, from OpenDor Media, The Shalom Hartman Institute, and The Times of Israel.
Jewish Unpacked is a website devoted to Jewish learning, but they take a more nuanced approach to everything Jewish. It is geared toward people who do not have a lot of Jewish background but can also be enjoyed by those who do. The main person behind Jewish Unpacked is Noam Weissman, a gifted Jewish educator, who hosts (or co-hosts) two amazing podcasts.
Unpacking Israeli History is a podcast that does just that. In each episode, Noam Weissman looks at a different topic in Israeli history and takes a very nuanced approach. This is not a podcast that shows an Israel that is a perfect utopia, as many of us were taught in school (if we were taught anything). For example, listen to his episodes about the Altalena and Deir Yassin.
Wondering Jews, hosted by Mijal Bitton and Noam Weissman, has a self-descriptive title. The co-hosts tackle topics about Jewish life in America today. Currently, they are in the middle of a series focusing on basic Judaism topics like Shabbat, prayer, and What even is Judaism?.
The Shalom Hartman Institute is a leading research and educational center serving Israel and world Jewry. Their mission is to enrich the moral and spiritual life of Israel and the Jewish people, deepen the commitment to pluralism and Israel’s Jewish and democratic character, and rebuild the covenant between Israel and the Jewish world (taken from their website). They have two podcasts that I often listen to.
For Heaven’s Sake is hosted by Donniel Hartman (co-President of the Hartman Institute) and Yossi Klein Halevi. The name comes from the Jewish concept of machloket l’shem shamayim—”disagreeing for the sake of heaven”—which is exactly what takes place each week as Donniel and Yossi discuss the moral aspects of topics affecting Israel, world Jewry, and the future of Zionism. The podcast focuses mostly on the Israeli side of things.
Identity/Crisis, hosted by Yehuda Kurtzer, the other co-President, talks with leading thinkers to unpack current events affecting Jewish communities in North America, Israel, and around the world, revealing the core Jewish values underlying the issues that matter most to you. This podcast focuses mainly on the diaspora side of things.
The Times of Israel is probably the best source of news about Israel available today. They host a daily show called “The Daily Briefing”. Each 10-15 minute episode focuses on the news in Israel, presented in English for diaspora listeners. They also have a weekly show called “What Matters Now”, which takes a more in-depth look at one current topic in the Israeli news cycle.
They also have a show called “Israel Story”, which is similar in format to “This American Life” from NPR. Since the war started two years ago, they have been presenting what they call “Wartime Diaries,” short 10-15 minute episodes about life in Israel during the war.
There are two other podcasts that I want to highlight that are not part of any other organization.
Ask Haviv Anything, from Haviv Rettig Gur, a journalist with The Times of Israel, takes questions from his listeners and goes in depth on the topics. I don’t listen to every episode, but his knowledge is remarkable, and I highly recommend the podcast.
Being Jewish with Jonah Platt is perhaps the most important of the bunch! Actor and advocate Jonah Platt (brother of Ben Platt) brings on different guests each week to talk about being Jewish today. I think this podcast is so important because Jonah is not a Jewish educator (although he has become one) and is not a religiously observant Jew. He is an actor who understands that he can use his celebrity status to help bring Judaism to an audience that, since 10/7, is looking for Jewish content on their level. So often in the organized Jewish world, we try to bring unaffiliated Jews in. But Jonah understands that the way to reach these Jews is to go out to them and meet them where they are—and that is exactly what his podcast does. In many ways, I should have listed this one first. If you only want to listen to one of these podcasts, I would recommend this one.
Well, there you have it—my list of favorite Jewish podcasts. If you have others that you think I should listen to or would like to highlight, please comment on this post or send me an email!
