By Dana Block
“Podcasting gives me the freedom to talk about the things I'm passionate about, without any censorship or limitations.” — Roxane Gay
Looking for a new podcast to add to your listening library? These five shows are new and noteworthy and could be the next "Serial," the next "SmartLess," or simply your personal favorite:
Documentary: "Metro with Sarah Koenig" -- From the team who put true-crime podcasts on the map ("Serial"), host Sarah Koenig teams up with "the country's best newsroom" (The New York Times) and interviews the most interesting subjects in urban America (New Yorkers). In the first episode, Koenig takes her listeners on a whirlwind audio tour of the Big Apple to investigate what its citizens worry about the most. She follows this up with a story in Manhattan's diamond district about a fight between two store owners that went viral. (Metro-with-Sarah-Koenig.Simplecast.com)
Arts: "Don't Call Me Darlin'" -- In 1994, banjo player Murphy Hicks Henry and her daughter, Casey, were sitting in the audience for a performance when five young men on stage were touted as "the future of bluegrass." After learning that the producers "couldn't find any young women to participate," Murphy took matters into her own hands and launched a self-published newsletter that profiled the wealth of female talent in the genre of bluegrass music. This podcast features conversations with legends like Alice Gerrard, Missy Raines, Laurie Lewis and many more. (RedCircle.com)
Self-Improvement: "Your Turn with Allison Aubrey" -- Hosted by NPR health correspondent Allison Aubrey, this new weekly podcast helps "midlifers" navigate the many life-defining changes they encounter during their 50s and beyond. In a recent episode, we meet Genevieve, who was forced to close her restaurant during the pandemic and faced questions like: "Who am I without my work? What's next?" Special guest Dr. Judith Joseph helps Genevieve and those like her by using tools to cope with high-functioning depression and showing them how to redefine their "purpose in middle age." (NPR.org)
Documentary: "The Guild of Ghostly Grounds" -- Halloween has come and gone, but ghost stories are always in season with this new "Podcast of Paranormal Pursuits." Come along on an adventure with hosts and cousins Zach Kennedy and Kyle Selig as they uncover the strange objects and clues from the journal that their late grandfather left behind. Joining them are experts in the paranormal, historians, and "a few terrified celebrities" as they discover where each item leads them, the folklore surrounding them, and some family secrets. (TheGuildOfGhostlyGrounds.com)
Comedy: "So U Think U Can Sports?" -- Writer/producer/comedian Eliot Glazer ("Broad City") says there's one thing he definitely doesn't know anything about, and it's sports. This is what makes his podcast so delightful, as he interviews subjects like NBA legend Charles Barkley and ESPN host Mike Greenberg "with the enthusiasm of a naive, well-meaning buffoon." His first guest is WWE star Becky Lynch, who matches Glazer's sense of humor punch for punch. (LemonadaMedia.com)
(c) 2026 King Features Syndicate, Inc.