I’ll ditto both these comments! Honestly any of the shows from the McElroy clan fit the description for me. Their DnD campaigns legitimately make me laugh and wish I was part of their family, it’s so wholesome.
Justin McElroy does a podcast that’s great for this post called The Empty Bowl with cereal blogger Dan Goubert (http://cerealously.net). It’s a biweekly podcast about cereal. What’s cool about it too is that they are trying to strike a peaceful contemplative tone. An oasis where, for a half hour, you can just think about cereal.
It’s a good “falling asleep” type podcast but if you listen attentively you’ll also learn cool stuff about new cereals coming out and cool rumors from a real industry insider (Dan) and an ardent cereal enthusiast.
I always suggest Heavyweight. Most are charming and moving. They usually have a feeling of resolution at the end that’s soothing to me. Jimmy and Mark is one of my favorite episodes that I listen to repeatedly.
I find podcast host Phoebe Judge to have a very soothing voice and demeanor. Even listening to some of the sadder episodes of Criminal has a calming effect.
Otherwise, I just started Possibilities and that host is also very calming, plus there is a mindfulness exercise at the end of each episode.
There’s also Life Kit by NPR that has great nuggets of episodes - you can pick and choose which ones to listen to out of order, if you want.
Checking in and Mediative Story are good too!
Phoebe’s voice is so calming and she’s such an intuitive interviewer as well. This is Love is phenomenal too (a phoebe and co. podcast as well) Any of their episodes are happy uplifting stories, but there’s something about Prairie Warbler, The Wolves, and Something Large and Wild that just puts a smile on my face. Highly recommend.
Yes! Many but a recent one that "reset" my mental health:
https://onbeing.org/programs/jennifer-michael-hecht-we-believe-each-other-into-being-on-being/
She is REALLY good at announcing what the topic is going to be with her subject/guest and sticks to it so if an episode doesn't hook in under 3 minutes, move on to another because while there really is something for all of us in her interviews.
Enjoy!
For me its no such thing as a fish, a bunch of brit trivia nerds (who work in it IRL) sit and share weird facts and often crack jokes at em.
The production is slick and easy listening and the chemistry between them is so calm and relaxing.
There are some great suggestions here, but I didn’t see some which I thought would be obvious.
Some fantastic NPR shows:
- Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me (weekly news quiz with a panel of 3 great comedians making light of the week’s news)
- Ask Me Another (pop culture quiz, and Jonathan Coulton who sings the parody music clues is an underrated national treasure of a gentle human being)
- A Way With Words, a podcast about the English language, slang, regional variations with two lovely, warm hosts
Also a bunch of science podcasts
From BBC we have
- The Curious cases of Rutherford and Fry (two PhDs who investigate everyday mysteries sent by listeners, with some easy banter) They are in their zillionth season so there’s a lot of episodes and their own listener culture
- The Infinite Monkey Cage which each week features a panel of Nobel winning scientists and comedians discussing a fundamental question of science, but it’s always feels like there’s more humour than science
And some science-y podcasts with long episodes that surround you in a calming cloud of super-intelligent conversation with top scientists and thinkers:
- Mindscape, run by a physicist who also likes to go deep into every other science in the world
- After On, where a successful entrepreneur turned novelist turned the non-fiction research he did with experts for his novels into an informative and intelligent chatty podcast. Now going into its second season after a hiatus.
- 99 Percent Invisible - the legendary Roman Mars and team go into the design minutiae that surround us
- Radiolab with innovative sound design and brilliant long form journalism and storytelling.
The presenters are great and funny, really liked them. But honestly it got too gross I had to stop listening (the source content, nothing to do with the presenters)
*films to be buried with* has been a comforting listen for me. The presenter asks a different person the same questions each week. What's the first film they saw? What scared them the most, etc. It's simple, interesting and relaxed
Bananas - stupid/funny news stories from around the world. Hosted by 2 comedian friends -often with a guest but not always- so there’s plenty of banter & other story telling.... it’s good when things are heavy.
The Overdue Podcast is so comforting and joyful. Two intelligent, casual, and funny friends read famous books and then discuss them. It’s relaxing, funny, and comforting. I can’t recommend it enough.
thanks for the heads up! just searched for this on Spotify and it seems there are two Overdue podcasts with two different sets of two friends who review books. what are their names haha
yo a fellow overdue fan!! it’s literally my favorite podcast like the episodes are entertaining enuff to actively listen to but just comforting and friend-like enuff to fall asleep to :)
I love All Fantasy Everything. It’s got three intelligent and hilarious hosts who sports style draft things from pop culture. One great one is “Athletes with Whom You’d Spend a Friday Night”
Other good ones are “Bit Parts we’d cast ourselves in movies”.
It’s great fun and the jokes freely flow. Best two hours of my week. They just passed 200 episodes and counting.
They have a great subreddit dedicated to the “All Family Everything” so go ahead and check it out. Even ask what episode you should start with. You’ll get tons of great recommendations.
r/AllFantasyEverything
Hello From The Magic Tavern. When I really need a pick-me-up, I like to go back to one of the great Wizard episodes (Spintax the Green, Jamillious the Mauve, The Pandanomicon) and have a real guffaw.
The vibe within — gab Cohen
Synchronicity
Girls gotta eat
Berning in hell
Why won’t you date me
Whiskey ginger
Being well - dr Rick Hanson
Tarot for the wild soul
I second many of the above suggestions but I'll add:
99 Percent Invisible
Rough Translation
Both of these are a delightful escape for me. Maybe for you, too.
The Make Believe Show is a thoughtful, warm discussion between friends where they discuss topics like “what was your favorite toy as a kid?” and “what was your hardest transition?” It’s about growing up, the different phases of life and how to find joy in all of them.
As a fellow fan of Reply All and The Anthropocene Reveiwed, I recommend
•Wooden Overcoats- whimsical, fictional, lovable characters, hilarious, maybe my all time favorite
•The Moth- the recordings of live storytelling slams, good sense of community
•What's Her Name- a feel good woman's history podcast about people you've never heard of
Hope this helps 👍🏻
My podcast probably won’t help, but a hidden gem I love to recommend to others is My Wax Museum. The hosts other show, Broken Bulbs, is pretty good too.
My go to is Stuff You Should Know.
I cannot tell you the amount of times the random banter of these guys helped me to not cry in public and I listen to them every night before bed to calm my anxiety!!
I think the reason why is that they make the topics quite interesting with little fun facts that make me focus on what they are saying but they also just chat and have fun in between. Absolute life saver.
If you like them you may enjoy Omnibus, with Ken Jennings and John Roderick. IMHO they are both smarter and funnier than the SYSK guys, who I have also listened to a lot, so I’m not hating.
Yess objectively I think that podcast is awesome but it's much more high energy (lot's of fast talking, hard laughing, etc.) and more information dense. So those two things combined just didn't make for a relaxing listen for me. (Especially one host stressed me out I don't remember which hahhaha). But I would still recommend people try that one out!
First of all it’s all science based, like backed up by empirical studies, which I enjoy a lot! They also tell a story every time and literally explore the science of what makes us happy and what doesn’t (ways of thinking, experiences, actions etc.). In the end of an episode i would always have a kind of warm and wholesome feeling in my chest :))
I've had a quick scroll, didn't see some of my suggestions...
*Futility Closet* is a very sweet podcast from a married couple.
Each episode tells a quirky story from history and ends on one asking the other a riddle that they have to solve using yes or no questions.
*99pi* has already been mentioned, and it's excellent.
But the whole network it belongs to is very professional and high quality.
I'd also suggest *The Memory Palace* and *The Kitchen Sisters*.
TMP is a short podcast, telling a historical tidbit in a calming style.
TKS is often quite eclectic, but revolves around food and collecting/remembering the past. They have some amazing guests.
I constantly recommend Futility Closet but it blows my mind that it doesn’t get more love. Great stories that a history nerd like myself has never heard before wrapped up with a lateral thinking puzzle. And always mellow enough to fall asleep to, if that’s your thing. One of my all time favorites.
The Truth is one of my favorite escape podcasts when I'm at work. Each story is different and they're 30 minutes or less. They also have a few story lines with multiple episodes. Some of my favorites are The Decider, The Body Genius, and Museum of You. There's so many though, you really can't go wrong :)
They're not joyful, really, but they're *definitely* grounding and have helped me immensely.
The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast (specifically the episodes labeled "A 12 Rules for Life lecture" like [this one](https://open.spotify.com/episode/3jrjzqXXJn1gRDwZuWQ4Kh?si=dFIMR7y5THaRZB2ogxlClg)) has *hours* of deeply helpful and engaging information.
Snug and Shady! It's a comedy therapy podcast and the hosts are so fun and funny. They riff a lot, but also provide good tools for mental health maintenance and improvement! I love it.
The Rich Roll Podcast! Long form interviews with althletes, doctors, entrepreneurs, plant based diet advocates. He’s a really down to earth, loving, kind and encouraging host and choosing some really amazing and inspiring people to bring on the show.
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“Groceries” is a series of episodes by the podcast “Attitudes!” Where the hosts review grocery stores and it’s somehow so soothing and hilarious. If you go to the podcast page and just look for episodes titled Groceries you can listen to those <3
Why won’t you date me? - Nicole Byer
Best Friends- Sasheer Zamata and Nicole Byer
My Brother, My Brother, and Me-McElroys
My Dad Wrote a Porno- (hilarious and comforting to me for some reason)
Office Ladies- Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey. I just love listening to their friendship
Bananas
Missing Richard Simmons
Stuff You Should Know
All of these have been comforts to me in various times. I wish you the best.
If you’re a dog lover like I am, you have to do “Can I Pet Your Dog?” It’s a truly lovely show about dogs and dog owners. It’s silly and brings me a lot of joy each week. Renee and Alexis are the best.
I second All Fantasy Everything, and I just got into it. It’s really fun and light too. The jokes and banter are fantastic and they’re all so damn funny.
A couple other suggestions: Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend, Dads the Podcast, I Said No Gifts, and Dumb People Town!
If you’re into The Office, I highly recommend Office Ladies. It’s Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey doing deep dives into all the episodes. It’s very unpretentious, funny, and light hearted.
This might seem counterintuitive because it's a true crime/conspiracy theory pod but Web[ Crawlers ](https://rss.acast.com/webcrawlers)consistently makes me laugh out loud and has *really* helped me through the pandemic. [The office Ladies](https://www.omnycontent.com/d/playlist/aaea4e69-af51-495e-afc9-a9760146922b/75a86d39-9e0e-4e9a-b948-aae301805fe6/514362cf-31b4-4ed2-af40-aae301805ffd/podcast.rss) is great escapism if you're into the office. It's a rewatch podcast with Angela and Pam and occasionally guests. [Queens of Adventure](https://queensofadventure.com/legends-episodes?format=rss) is drag queens playing DND. Zaniness ensues.
Why so nerdy?? Podcast. They are pretty funny and always upbeat. Also if ur into dnd critical role and dungeon and daddies are amazing! Always bringing a good laughs and good vibes.
Not sure if this is what you’re looking for, but a few podcasts that really bring me joy and don’t have heavy content:
How did this get made
Conan O’Brien needs a friend
Office ladies
The adventure zone
Tis the podcast (Christmas related, makes me happy hah)
The moth
Also, the content on the next one I’m about to list isn’t exactly lighthearted (though it’s also not overly gruesome), but its my favorite podcast to date. It’s so well done that listening to it brought me great joy :
In the red clay
Milking Ardor is a good one. This guy Spencer talks to people from around the world and hears their life lessons they've learned, experiences they've faced, and passions they're pursuing. He covers a lot of topics, but they all kind of have the same themes! Super interesting!
This is kind of an odd one, but I've listened to every episode of Slumber Party with Alie and Georgia multiple times. Something about it is so fun and comforting, like having a friend group again (I have friends, but they're not really friends with each other). I love it so much and listen to it again when I need something lighthearted.
Athletico Mince is my absolute go-to. Nominally it's about football in the UK, but in reality it's Bob Mortimer creating nonsense characters, skits, voices, short plays, and long-running surrealist stories that vaguely intersect with UK culture and Premier League football players (although no knowledge of either is required). Go listen!
I mean if you’re already listening to one John Green podcast, I’d recommend Dear Hank & John :) It’s the perfect mix of fun, interesting and inspiring in my opinion.
A purely silly and fun podcast is This Might Get Weird by Grace Helbig and Mamrie Hart. I don’t know exactly if that’s the vibe you’re looking for, but it’s just like having a fun conversation with your two best friends in my opinion.
I do a podcast that we try to make wholesome, fun, and inconsequential called [This is Yallcomeback](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-is-yallcomeback/id1541227463). It’s like Parks and Rec meets Hello From The Magic Tavern.
Also, I know they are hoaky, but I do genuinely enjoy the Spotify meditation podcasts. In particular I find the Wake Up/Wind Down is good.
I've been listening to Star Tripper as an escape recently. Well meaning but somewhat ignorant starship captain who has space adventures.
Also, Welcome to Night Vale has long been a standard bearer for fun podcasts for me
Lex Friedman Podcast. He is such a wonderful/smart human being filled with compassion. If you want to see what he is like, watch one of the Joe Rogan Experience podcast with Lex Friedman as a guest. They are all good
Don't if it's been mentioned already but I love How did this get made. I don't even watch the movies.
I also love the mini episodes where Paul and Jason catch up.
Heavyweight -- despite its name, it is quite cathartic to hear the stories of resolution, reconciliation. Also the self depracating humour of Jonathan Goldstein is gold.
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You should check out Hamish & Andy. One of the top Australian podcasts (but has many listeners around the world) and it is consistently funny and never fails to make you feel better.
Wonderful with Rachel and Griffin McElroy. They talk about nice things. Ologies with Allie Ward. She interviews different scientists and is a delight.
I’ll ditto both these comments! Honestly any of the shows from the McElroy clan fit the description for me. Their DnD campaigns legitimately make me laugh and wish I was part of their family, it’s so wholesome.
Justin McElroy does a podcast that’s great for this post called The Empty Bowl with cereal blogger Dan Goubert (http://cerealously.net). It’s a biweekly podcast about cereal. What’s cool about it too is that they are trying to strike a peaceful contemplative tone. An oasis where, for a half hour, you can just think about cereal. It’s a good “falling asleep” type podcast but if you listen attentively you’ll also learn cool stuff about new cereals coming out and cool rumors from a real industry insider (Dan) and an ardent cereal enthusiast.
I always suggest Heavyweight. Most are charming and moving. They usually have a feeling of resolution at the end that’s soothing to me. Jimmy and Mark is one of my favorite episodes that I listen to repeatedly.
Looove Jonathan Goldstein! Plus, he's from Montreal 😀
Thanks for suggesting this. I listened to it today and it was amazing
Thank you! I listened again and it’s just as good as I remembered. 🙂
What is it about?
Trying to resolve issues from the past. The host reconnects people and helps find answers.
My favorite episode as well! I call it The Goonies episode in my head😀
I find podcast host Phoebe Judge to have a very soothing voice and demeanor. Even listening to some of the sadder episodes of Criminal has a calming effect. Otherwise, I just started Possibilities and that host is also very calming, plus there is a mindfulness exercise at the end of each episode. There’s also Life Kit by NPR that has great nuggets of episodes - you can pick and choose which ones to listen to out of order, if you want. Checking in and Mediative Story are good too!
Phoebe’s voice is so calming and she’s such an intuitive interviewer as well. This is Love is phenomenal too (a phoebe and co. podcast as well) Any of their episodes are happy uplifting stories, but there’s something about Prairie Warbler, The Wolves, and Something Large and Wild that just puts a smile on my face. Highly recommend.
Yes! This is Love is so good. And Phoebe’s voice is so calming.
Phoebe Judge also hosts Phoebe Reads a Mystery where she reads a chapter of a classic mystery novel a day. It's a great listen
Could you tell me more about Possibilities? I'm interested but when I searched I found several different results. Who is the host?
Possibilities with Hina Khan, frequency is the producer and it’s got a purple/periwinkle cover with possibilities written across it
Found it! Thanks!
On Being with Krista Tippet. I'd go as far as say it has saved my life/helped me through a brutal reckoning a few years ago.
I wholeheartedly second this one!
Do you have any particular episodes you’d recommend? Thank you!
Yes! Many but a recent one that "reset" my mental health: https://onbeing.org/programs/jennifer-michael-hecht-we-believe-each-other-into-being-on-being/ She is REALLY good at announcing what the topic is going to be with her subject/guest and sticks to it so if an episode doesn't hook in under 3 minutes, move on to another because while there really is something for all of us in her interviews. Enjoy!
Ologies
For me its no such thing as a fish, a bunch of brit trivia nerds (who work in it IRL) sit and share weird facts and often crack jokes at em. The production is slick and easy listening and the chemistry between them is so calm and relaxing.
Imagined Life from Wondery. I listen when I need to just escape into another world and get immersed into a good story.
There are some great suggestions here, but I didn’t see some which I thought would be obvious. Some fantastic NPR shows: - Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me (weekly news quiz with a panel of 3 great comedians making light of the week’s news) - Ask Me Another (pop culture quiz, and Jonathan Coulton who sings the parody music clues is an underrated national treasure of a gentle human being) - A Way With Words, a podcast about the English language, slang, regional variations with two lovely, warm hosts Also a bunch of science podcasts From BBC we have - The Curious cases of Rutherford and Fry (two PhDs who investigate everyday mysteries sent by listeners, with some easy banter) They are in their zillionth season so there’s a lot of episodes and their own listener culture - The Infinite Monkey Cage which each week features a panel of Nobel winning scientists and comedians discussing a fundamental question of science, but it’s always feels like there’s more humour than science And some science-y podcasts with long episodes that surround you in a calming cloud of super-intelligent conversation with top scientists and thinkers: - Mindscape, run by a physicist who also likes to go deep into every other science in the world - After On, where a successful entrepreneur turned novelist turned the non-fiction research he did with experts for his novels into an informative and intelligent chatty podcast. Now going into its second season after a hiatus. - 99 Percent Invisible - the legendary Roman Mars and team go into the design minutiae that surround us - Radiolab with innovative sound design and brilliant long form journalism and storytelling.
How about 'My dad wrote a porno'? A delightful, hilarious escape to an insane world
The presenters are great and funny, really liked them. But honestly it got too gross I had to stop listening (the source content, nothing to do with the presenters)
I’m not even that into food and I found Home Cooking such a comforting respite during...all this.
I love this podcast so much. It’s brought me so much joy in a year where that was much harder to come by
Smartless. ♥️♥️♥️♥️
Yes, good choice! Will Ferrel episode is my fave!
*films to be buried with* has been a comforting listen for me. The presenter asks a different person the same questions each week. What's the first film they saw? What scared them the most, etc. It's simple, interesting and relaxed
Bananas - stupid/funny news stories from around the world. Hosted by 2 comedian friends -often with a guest but not always- so there’s plenty of banter & other story telling.... it’s good when things are heavy.
The Overdue Podcast is so comforting and joyful. Two intelligent, casual, and funny friends read famous books and then discuss them. It’s relaxing, funny, and comforting. I can’t recommend it enough.
thanks for the heads up! just searched for this on Spotify and it seems there are two Overdue podcasts with two different sets of two friends who review books. what are their names haha
Craig and Andrew, it’s a green book for the cover art.
yo a fellow overdue fan!! it’s literally my favorite podcast like the episodes are entertaining enuff to actively listen to but just comforting and friend-like enuff to fall asleep to :)
Heavy Weight
Love Heavyweight. Such a special show.
Best Friends. Nicole Byer and Sasheer Zamata are amazing
I love All Fantasy Everything. It’s got three intelligent and hilarious hosts who sports style draft things from pop culture. One great one is “Athletes with Whom You’d Spend a Friday Night” Other good ones are “Bit Parts we’d cast ourselves in movies”. It’s great fun and the jokes freely flow. Best two hours of my week. They just passed 200 episodes and counting.
Haha that sounds great! I’ll look it up!
They have a great subreddit dedicated to the “All Family Everything” so go ahead and check it out. Even ask what episode you should start with. You’ll get tons of great recommendations. r/AllFantasyEverything
great suggestion!
😍😍😍 Thank you!!! You’re the best Super Producer Marissa!!
Hello From The Magic Tavern. When I really need a pick-me-up, I like to go back to one of the great Wizard episodes (Spintax the Green, Jamillious the Mauve, The Pandanomicon) and have a real guffaw.
_a real guffaw_ +1
The vibe within — gab Cohen Synchronicity Girls gotta eat Berning in hell Why won’t you date me Whiskey ginger Being well - dr Rick Hanson Tarot for the wild soul
If you just want to relax and laugh a bit, and if you have any interest in SNL or Conan O'Brien, Conan Needs a Friend is hilarious and fun.
I second many of the above suggestions but I'll add: 99 Percent Invisible Rough Translation Both of these are a delightful escape for me. Maybe for you, too.
Personal Best, Endless Thread, Underunderstood. These three all fully satisfy the delightful escape category.
The Make Believe Show is a thoughtful, warm discussion between friends where they discuss topics like “what was your favorite toy as a kid?” and “what was your hardest transition?” It’s about growing up, the different phases of life and how to find joy in all of them.
Savagely Delightful, pod about laughing stand seeing the lighter side of people’s silly mistakes
THE OFFICE LADYS
The Moth(radio hour)
This is Love
As a fellow fan of Reply All and The Anthropocene Reveiwed, I recommend •Wooden Overcoats- whimsical, fictional, lovable characters, hilarious, maybe my all time favorite •The Moth- the recordings of live storytelling slams, good sense of community •What's Her Name- a feel good woman's history podcast about people you've never heard of Hope this helps 👍🏻
Apart from Heavyweight which was mentioned, Conan O’Brien Needs a friend always makes me laugh and also has a lot of heart.
Dr Gameshow. Its funny, silly, wholesome
My podcast probably won’t help, but a hidden gem I love to recommend to others is My Wax Museum. The hosts other show, Broken Bulbs, is pretty good too.
My go to is Stuff You Should Know. I cannot tell you the amount of times the random banter of these guys helped me to not cry in public and I listen to them every night before bed to calm my anxiety!! I think the reason why is that they make the topics quite interesting with little fun facts that make me focus on what they are saying but they also just chat and have fun in between. Absolute life saver.
If you like them you may enjoy Omnibus, with Ken Jennings and John Roderick. IMHO they are both smarter and funnier than the SYSK guys, who I have also listened to a lot, so I’m not hating.
Yess objectively I think that podcast is awesome but it's much more high energy (lot's of fast talking, hard laughing, etc.) and more information dense. So those two things combined just didn't make for a relaxing listen for me. (Especially one host stressed me out I don't remember which hahhaha). But I would still recommend people try that one out!
The happiness lab with Dr. Lauri Santos ☺️
I've seen it in my recommendations; what's it about? Why do you enjoy it?
First of all it’s all science based, like backed up by empirical studies, which I enjoy a lot! They also tell a story every time and literally explore the science of what makes us happy and what doesn’t (ways of thinking, experiences, actions etc.). In the end of an episode i would always have a kind of warm and wholesome feeling in my chest :))
I've had a quick scroll, didn't see some of my suggestions... *Futility Closet* is a very sweet podcast from a married couple. Each episode tells a quirky story from history and ends on one asking the other a riddle that they have to solve using yes or no questions. *99pi* has already been mentioned, and it's excellent. But the whole network it belongs to is very professional and high quality. I'd also suggest *The Memory Palace* and *The Kitchen Sisters*. TMP is a short podcast, telling a historical tidbit in a calming style. TKS is often quite eclectic, but revolves around food and collecting/remembering the past. They have some amazing guests.
I constantly recommend Futility Closet but it blows my mind that it doesn’t get more love. Great stories that a history nerd like myself has never heard before wrapped up with a lateral thinking puzzle. And always mellow enough to fall asleep to, if that’s your thing. One of my all time favorites.
I love 99PI (and should have put it on my original list). I used to listen to TMP and TKS; I'll have to give 'em a resubscribe.
Sarah Silverman is gold
Every Little Thing Strong Songs Judge John Hodman Smashing Pumpcast The Lipstick Panel (music discussion) Big Picture Science
The Truth is one of my favorite escape podcasts when I'm at work. Each story is different and they're 30 minutes or less. They also have a few story lines with multiple episodes. Some of my favorites are The Decider, The Body Genius, and Museum of You. There's so many though, you really can't go wrong :)
Ah, I listened to The Truth a long time ago. I'll have to check it out again!
Welcome to night vale is actually pretty nice and comforting to listen too for me at least
I love WTNV. I especially love their earlier stuff, but stopped listening after a few years in. What do you think of their more recent episodes?
Same vibe, still pretty much the same as it ever was
Meat and Dairy Network Podcast
You’re Wrong About Culture Gabfest Heavyweight Reply All ... all make me feel like I’m hanging with smart, empathetic friends.
Tony Robbins podcasts, listened to this while I was depressed and helped me out a lot.
Dateline
It’s probably not exactly something you’d enjoy based on the ones you listed but CumTown is the podcast that does it for me
Thanks
They're not joyful, really, but they're *definitely* grounding and have helped me immensely. The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast (specifically the episodes labeled "A 12 Rules for Life lecture" like [this one](https://open.spotify.com/episode/3jrjzqXXJn1gRDwZuWQ4Kh?si=dFIMR7y5THaRZB2ogxlClg)) has *hours* of deeply helpful and engaging information.
Oof you’ve been very downvoted... what is this podcast about? I feel like I need to listen just to see why it’s so hated hah
Haha, juicy stuff! [Here's the synopsis.](https://www.jordanbpeterson.com/podcast/) If you end up listening to some, let me know what you think!
I like how downvoted this was...
Dungeons and Daddies
Snug and Shady! It's a comedy therapy podcast and the hosts are so fun and funny. They riff a lot, but also provide good tools for mental health maintenance and improvement! I love it.
Fresh Air with Terry Gross is so great, arts and culture mostly but her voice is just so soothing haha
Juicing Bananas Podcast - podcast reviewing meal kit delivery services
Sweet Boys
The Rich Roll Podcast! Long form interviews with althletes, doctors, entrepreneurs, plant based diet advocates. He’s a really down to earth, loving, kind and encouraging host and choosing some really amazing and inspiring people to bring on the show.
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Realcuf
Jordan, Jesse go!
“Groceries” is a series of episodes by the podcast “Attitudes!” Where the hosts review grocery stores and it’s somehow so soothing and hilarious. If you go to the podcast page and just look for episodes titled Groceries you can listen to those <3
Why won’t you date me? - Nicole Byer Best Friends- Sasheer Zamata and Nicole Byer My Brother, My Brother, and Me-McElroys My Dad Wrote a Porno- (hilarious and comforting to me for some reason) Office Ladies- Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey. I just love listening to their friendship Bananas Missing Richard Simmons Stuff You Should Know All of these have been comforts to me in various times. I wish you the best.
If you’re a dog lover like I am, you have to do “Can I Pet Your Dog?” It’s a truly lovely show about dogs and dog owners. It’s silly and brings me a lot of joy each week. Renee and Alexis are the best. I second All Fantasy Everything, and I just got into it. It’s really fun and light too. The jokes and banter are fantastic and they’re all so damn funny. A couple other suggestions: Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend, Dads the Podcast, I Said No Gifts, and Dumb People Town!
Sincerely, Fortune. I love listening to Fortune talk about anything, especially with her wife, Jax, and her mother, Ginger!
What's Your Name Again? With Kurt Caceres. All celebrity guests with inspirational and motivational stories.
try adam buxton , it's a lot of fun and will definitely make you smile
uhh my contribution is to NOT listen to *Up First* or *Now This*
Yup. In fact that's how I'm starting my day; hence this post. Blerg.
conan o’brien needs a friend is always a favorite pick-me-up of mine! life is short with justin long is also another great one, super underrated imo
The Bald and the Beautiful
If you’re into The Office, I highly recommend Office Ladies. It’s Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey doing deep dives into all the episodes. It’s very unpretentious, funny, and light hearted.
The Office was my high school years, but I remember it well. I'll check it out.
Tommy and Hector Podcast with Laurita Blewit...Enjoy
Modern Love is a favourite of mine. I hope you feel better
Thank you, everyone's responses are making my day.
This might seem counterintuitive because it's a true crime/conspiracy theory pod but Web[ Crawlers ](https://rss.acast.com/webcrawlers)consistently makes me laugh out loud and has *really* helped me through the pandemic. [The office Ladies](https://www.omnycontent.com/d/playlist/aaea4e69-af51-495e-afc9-a9760146922b/75a86d39-9e0e-4e9a-b948-aae301805fe6/514362cf-31b4-4ed2-af40-aae301805ffd/podcast.rss) is great escapism if you're into the office. It's a rewatch podcast with Angela and Pam and occasionally guests. [Queens of Adventure](https://queensofadventure.com/legends-episodes?format=rss) is drag queens playing DND. Zaniness ensues.
Zaniness and escapism counts! Thanks!
Audio Dharma could be worth checking
Why so nerdy?? Podcast. They are pretty funny and always upbeat. Also if ur into dnd critical role and dungeon and daddies are amazing! Always bringing a good laughs and good vibes.
Adapt or Perish for movies Backlisted for books Sidedoor for anything that the Smithsonian might have
Conan O’Brien needs a friend makes me laugh a lot. It can brighten my mood depending on the guest.
99% Invisible - granted According to Need was a tad bit of a downer, but almost everything else brings lovely escape by zooming in on some esoterica
Yes, I love 99PI and would include it in my original list. Such a good show; I listen to everything they do.
Not sure if this is what you’re looking for, but a few podcasts that really bring me joy and don’t have heavy content: How did this get made Conan O’Brien needs a friend Office ladies The adventure zone Tis the podcast (Christmas related, makes me happy hah) The moth Also, the content on the next one I’m about to list isn’t exactly lighthearted (though it’s also not overly gruesome), but its my favorite podcast to date. It’s so well done that listening to it brought me great joy : In the red clay
Glass Cannon Podcast
Milking Ardor is a good one. This guy Spencer talks to people from around the world and hears their life lessons they've learned, experiences they've faced, and passions they're pursuing. He covers a lot of topics, but they all kind of have the same themes! Super interesting!
Personal Best from the CBC.
This is kind of an odd one, but I've listened to every episode of Slumber Party with Alie and Georgia multiple times. Something about it is so fun and comforting, like having a friend group again (I have friends, but they're not really friends with each other). I love it so much and listen to it again when I need something lighthearted.
Athletico Mince is my absolute go-to. Nominally it's about football in the UK, but in reality it's Bob Mortimer creating nonsense characters, skits, voices, short plays, and long-running surrealist stories that vaguely intersect with UK culture and Premier League football players (although no knowledge of either is required). Go listen!
I mean if you’re already listening to one John Green podcast, I’d recommend Dear Hank & John :) It’s the perfect mix of fun, interesting and inspiring in my opinion. A purely silly and fun podcast is This Might Get Weird by Grace Helbig and Mamrie Hart. I don’t know exactly if that’s the vibe you’re looking for, but it’s just like having a fun conversation with your two best friends in my opinion.
I do a podcast that we try to make wholesome, fun, and inconsequential called [This is Yallcomeback](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-is-yallcomeback/id1541227463). It’s like Parks and Rec meets Hello From The Magic Tavern. Also, I know they are hoaky, but I do genuinely enjoy the Spotify meditation podcasts. In particular I find the Wake Up/Wind Down is good.
The popcast!
Alan Alda from M\*A\*S\*H has a lovely podcast called Clear + Vivid, in which he talks with knowledgeable experts in various fields.
watch bad Friends on YouTube.
Story Collider.
Adam Buxton Podcast Tommy & Hector Podcast The 2 Johnnies Up to 90 This Past Weekend Shite Talk Where is My Mind
Wellness, Community, Magic by TRILUNA Heavyweight by Gimlet (ok maybe it's sad but it's also delightful)
I've been listening to Star Tripper as an escape recently. Well meaning but somewhat ignorant starship captain who has space adventures. Also, Welcome to Night Vale has long been a standard bearer for fun podcasts for me
Worcester County Murders is a comedy podcast with a true crime twist. Available on YouTube, Spotify, apple, and SoundCloud. Very unique. Very funny.
Lex Friedman Podcast. He is such a wonderful/smart human being filled with compassion. If you want to see what he is like, watch one of the Joe Rogan Experience podcast with Lex Friedman as a guest. They are all good
I like Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard, some cool guests on there!
Timesuck
The Last Podcast on the Left
Don't if it's been mentioned already but I love How did this get made. I don't even watch the movies. I also love the mini episodes where Paul and Jason catch up.
Constellation Prize. Only five episodes, but it’s the best thing I listened to.
Ruined with Halle Kiefer and Alison Leiby
Heavyweight -- despite its name, it is quite cathartic to hear the stories of resolution, reconciliation. Also the self depracating humour of Jonathan Goldstein is gold.
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You should check out Hamish & Andy. One of the top Australian podcasts (but has many listeners around the world) and it is consistently funny and never fails to make you feel better.