Podcasts That Won't Make You Sad

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Written by Josie Brandmeier, Arts Staff Writer

We’re in the golden age of podcasts. There has never been such a large library of educational audio stories available, full of facts to sneak into a conversation and make yourself sound really smart. Planet Money, Serial, The New York Times’ The Daily, and their multiple long-form series are all informative podcasts popular among podcast fans. This American Life, Modern Love, Revisionist History and Invisibilia all tell interesting, poignant and sometimes heartbreaking stories.

However, sometimes short stories and informative podcasts can be a bit much. There’s a time and a place for listening to tragic stories or learning about facts and economic issues, and maybe now isn’t the time. Sometimes, you just want to laugh or be inspired.

This list is dedicated to podcasts that will make you smile or even laugh out loud.

Las Culturistas

This is a podcast for people who love chatting about all things pop culture. The two hosts, comedian Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang of “Saturday Night Live,” invite guests on to discuss current events and moments in pop culture that were formative to them. One segment on the show is called “I don’t think so honey,” in which the guest has 60 seconds to rant about current topics in pop culture that are annoying to them. Yang and Rogers are infectious hosts and listening to their real-life friendship will warm your heart and make you cackle to yourself in the apartment.

Jesus and Jollof

In this podcast, author Luvvie Ajayi and Yvonne Orji of HBO’s “Insecure” discuss love, life, growing up Nigerian, their careers and all topics in between. This show is full of so much heart, and you will be inspired by Ajayi and Orji’s glow ups, challenges and journeys to becoming the artists they are today.

Iconography

In a similar category to Las Culturistas, comedians Ayo Edebiri and Olivia Craighead take deep dives into the lives and work of their favorite celebrities on Iconography, a podcast for people who love discussing celebrity icons. Guests pick an icon who is influential to them, and then spend the duration of the episode unpacking their lives and career. Some icons they’ve discussed in previous episodes include Ariana Grande, Amy Adams, Keanu Reeves and even Stephen Sondheim.

Off Book

This is an improvised musical podcast. That’s not a joke. Every episode, the two hosts, their guests and their studio accompanist begin by chatting, and when the inspiration strikes them, they begin a full-length, improvised musical completely unplanned in advance. My favorite episodes include “Sham Wowowow,” “Four People Who Decided To Eat Food: The Musical” and “Wet Fly Story.”

Bea’s Big Laughs

Hosted by eleven-year-old Beatrice Red Star Fletcher, this show is self-described as “a podcast featuring interviews of mostly female comedians,” according to her website (which also charmingly looks like it was made by an eleven-year-old). In quick 20 to 30 minute episodes, Beatrice chats with comedians such as D’Arcy Carden, Kristen Schaal and Fred Armisen to discuss hard-hitting questions such as: What’s your favorite flavor of gelato? Were you ever a babysitter? What’s your definition of intergenerational feminism? It is truly charming to listen to professional comedians sit down and have a genuine, innocent chat with Red Star Fletcher, a bubbly and fun host.

2 Dope Queens

An oldie but a goodie, 2 Dope Queens is hosted by comedians Jessica Williams of “The Daily Show” and Phoebe Robinson, writer on “Girl Code” and multiple books. Since being picked up for television by HBO, the show is no longer on air, but the episodes are still gems. During each live-recorded episode, the two queens joined by their favorite comedians discuss sex, love, living in New York, race, their hair journeys and Robinson’s obsession with Bono. This is one of my favorite shows of all time. The last episode features an appearance by Michelle Obama.

Overall, listening to lighthearted podcasts can boost your mood, make you laugh and keep you company. Staying informed is important, but taking the time to listen to podcasts purely for enjoyment is just as necessary. Hopefully, there’s a podcast in this that will brighten your day.

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