The Best Podcasts of 2023

The audio space is just exploding with excellence right now that putting together a “Best of List” is almost impossible. I’m in awe of so many incredible creators who tell beautiful and compelling stories. But these are my personal favorites—the ones that I just couldn’t stop thinking about through 2023. For more great picks, we’ve included some honorable mentions from the rest of the Paste staff:

Honorable Mentions

60 Songs that Explain the ’90s, The American Birding Podcast, Critics at Large, Endless Scroll, Hard Feelings, Maintenance Place, Normal Gossip, Otherworld, The Retrievals, Slow Burn, Too Far, Unclear and Present Danger, Weekly Planet, You Are Good

The Girlfriends

When it first dropped, I couldn’t wait for the next episode because the story was so juicy. The premise of The Girlfriends is Jewish matchmaking meets true crime. It starts in Las Vegas where Dr. Bob Bierenbaum seems like a fabulous eligible bachelor. Turns out he’s creepy and controlling with a dubious past. His ex-girlfriends and their families set out to discover the truth. Host Carole Fisher (who is also one of the girlfriends) takes us through this wild, haunting and addicting tale. Bonus points for the original music and sound design. The ending is so haunting it leaves you longing for even more. Naturally, it’s already been optioned for a TV series.

Think Twice

This 10-part series goes way behind the music with little gems about Michael Jackson that you never knew. Of course, they “go there” with the scandals, but it’s his butterfly effect on culture, race and music that reminds us how truly influential Michael Jackson was, even when it’s super uncomfortable. Leon Neyfakh and Jay Smooth’s back-and-forth storytelling brings different perspectives. I’ll never hear Jackson the same again. Pure podcasting brilliance. A master class in pop culture in music.

The 13th Step

The 13th Step explores the intersections of the addiction crisis and #MeToo. Journalist Lauren Chooljian got a tip that Eric Spofford, the founder of New Hampshire’s largest addiction recovery center, was harassing and assaulting women. So she investigated and reported on it. Her piece on New Hampshire Public Radio got a lot of traction but Spofford denied the numerous on-the-record accusations. Retaliation against Chooljian becomes an unexpected part of her own reporting. It’s gripping and truly shocking what unfolds—so much so they needed a few bonus episodes to cover what was happening in real time.

Grapevine

From the creators of the award winning series Southlake about a Texas school district’s diversity and inclusion policies. This follow delves into “parents rights” activism. A teacher in the Grapevine school district is scrutinized for a book with LBGTQ themes.. A beloved teacher is fired even though the school administration admits she did nothing wrong. This in depth look at the district reflects the hysteria of LBGTQ inclusion, book banning and outside groups trying to take over school boards.

Scamanda

It was one of the most popular shows of the year, so it’s clear I’m not the only one who’s a sucker for a grifter story. Amanda is a one woman “Make A Wish” enterprise—a Christian influencer with cancer, whose blog provides daily life inspirations and solicits donations to help others. But of course, things aren’t what they seem when friends and online fans are fleeced out of a lot of money. She ultimately pleaded guilty to soliciting more than $100,000 in donations to help pay for cancer treatments that she never received.

Ghost Story

This wildly original series is true crime meets the paranormal. Journalist Tristan Redman always wondered about the strange occurrences in his teenage bedroom. Turns out there was a gruesome murder suicide that happened in the house in 1937. In a crazy coincidence, he learns it was his wife’s great grandmother who was the murder victim! Redman investigates what really happened and what he discovers is a prickly past that puts the family at odds.

Earwitness

This series follows Toforest Johnson’s conviction for the shooting of a Sheriff’s Deputy in 1995 and the revelations that a key witness was secretly paid a $5,000 reward to tie him to testify against him. Journalist Beth Shelburne’s laser-focused reporting and interviews take you all the way back to the beginning. It’s like hearing injustice play out in real time. After decades of appeals, the U.S Supreme Court will decide whether it will review Johnson’s case in October 2023.

Weight For It

If you’ve ever struggled with your weight (all of us basically) this is an excellent look at fat bias in our culture. Host Ronald Young Jr. details his struggles with yo-yo dieting, dating and how others perceive him. But what really makes this series unique is learning how overweight people are seen by doctors, fashion designers, reality TV and pharmaceutical companies. By the end, you feel like he’s your best friend. Actually, I would like him to be my best friend.

Blind Plea

Hosted by Emmy Award-winning journalist Liz Flock, Blind Plea tells the heartbreaking saga about Deven Grey. She’s a young mother who shot and killed her abusive partner in a trailer in rural Shelby County, Alabama. While it is a hard story to listen to, you’ll be captivated by what she had to endure. Blind Plea asks the important question about Stand Your Ground laws: Why do they only apply to certain people?

Behind the Table, The View

As a media figure, I love behind-the-scenes palace intrigue, and I’m a superfan of The View. Each day, exectuive producer Brian Teta has one of the ladies on for a daily dish. Teta is a terrific interviewer and host, he knows everything about pop culture. You learn fun facts about the hosts, and it gives insight into how he manages some of the most powerful women in broadcasting. I love how they talk about what topics they cover and the guest booking process. Behind The Table is a perfect example of how podcasts are becoming an extension of entertainment and news brands. The fans want more! And I love it.

Mara Davis is a media personality based in Atlanta. In addition to hosting the VoteHer podcast with Senator Jen Jordan, she also is a senior talent booker for various television networks and podcasts. Follow her on Twitter @MaraDavis.