As fun as it is to recap all the good listens of the year, it’s also incredibly difficult to pin down what was the best of the best. With so many great memoirs and essays and podcasts, the comedy just never slowed down. And while all the titles here hit you right in the funny bone, many of these stories also deliver real humanity and vulnerability that will leave you with more than just a laugh.
Save this list to your Library Collections now.
Ever wonder what TikTok lesbians would have done in the 1980s? Well, they likely would have been reading Alison Bechdel's Dykes to Watch Out For, the iconic comic strip that plunged lesbians into pop culture in a big way. The sketches centered on Mo, a shy but passionate sapphic who couldn’t seem to find love (or sex) to save her life. Now, Mo (voiced by Carrie Brownstein) and her gang of Doc Marten-wearing pals are back. Performed by a full cast of celesbians led by Jane Lynch of Glee fame, this listen creates a truly L Word-esque immersive experience that had me hooked. —Madeline A.
Now that weed has been decriminalized in many places, business is a-booming. And that’s why George—voiced by Sam Richardson—quits his pharmacist gig and starts his own dispensary with some friends. Featuring the incredible comedic talents of Richard Kind, Tim Meadows, Rachel Dratch, and Method Man, Yes We Cannabis is 10 episodes of ... well, I don’t want to give too much away, but I can tell you one thing—this isn’t your grandma’s disillusioned pharmacist-turned-weed purveyor podcast. —Aaron S.
Gary Gulman’s memoir is packed with keen and hilarious observations about all the weirdness of childhood—which shine in audio. But quickly, you'll realize this listen is more than just comedy. It's a story about his life with depression and how he's navigated through some of his darkest moments, one day at a time. While fans of Gulman’s comedy may already feel connected to him, it was in listening to Misfit that I truly felt like I knew him. —A.S.
After writing Born Standing Up, Steve Martin felt he had more to say, and this project fills in new details in an expansive, life-like format that was made to be heard. Building on a year's worth of conversations between Martin and friend, neighbor, and writer Adam Gopnik, as well as archival audio and Martin's own original banjo score, So Many Steves digs into the many influences and evolutions that make Steve Martin such a singular creative force. —Kat J.
It’s always a good year when Samantha Irby drops another collection of essays. Quietly Hostile is a formidable follow-up to 2020’s Wow, No Thank You, as she documents her rise to literary fame and all of the weirdness that comes with success. But fear not—the success hasn’t changed her signature voice or the sharpness of her humor. Brought to life in audio by Irby herself, these essays might be her best yet. —A.S.
After losing her job with an esteemed practice in Connecticut, therapist Michelle Rojas moves back home and brings therapy to her neighborhood. The location of her new practice? The local corner store. Michelle Rojas Is Not Okay is a New York story—a Washington Heights story, specifically—that’s as much about a community as it is about one woman figuring out her next steps in life. The way it's performed by Dascha Polanco (Orange Is the New Black) and a full cast, listeners will be fully immersed in the Heights. You really can find anything you need in a bodega. —A.S.
The third series of Alan Partridge’s From the Oasthouse has got to be the most talked about in-house comedy listen of the year here at Audible. If you’re familiar with the first two series, this is precisely the follow-up you’ve been hoping for. Dare I say? It might be the best bloody one yet. Sorry—the voice in my head got a little English after listening to this one all the way through. —A.S.
Few comics can command attention the way Joey Diaz does. His fans love him, the podcast world loves him, and after listening to his memoir, you’ll love him too. In Tremendous, Diaz tells the story of how he went from dealing drugs in New Jersey to becoming one of the most popular stand-ups working right now. If you’re already a fan, you know exactly what’s in store when you press play. And for the uninitiated—make sure you’re wearing headphones when listening to this one. –A.S.
Laura Belgray has blessed us with this brutally honest, irreverent debut that serves as a reminder that life is about figuring out who you are on your own terms and your own timetable—and that a woman who doesn’t make apologies for herself is an empowering thing to behold. But please note—this listen is worth your time for the “chin wobble” story alone. —Phoebe N.
Comedian and satirical talk show host Ziwe's sharp and witty collection of essays cuts to the core of what the titular phrase “Black friend” actually means. While she tells stories of her own life, she discusses race and gender in a way that is both profound and deeply funny. It only makes sense that she would narrate these stories herself, and her performance is spot-on—easy to listen to and full of heart, vulnerability, and, of course, attitude. —M.A.
I laughed my way through Unle❤️sh for Love, a scripted rom-com executive produced by Kevin Hart and Charlemagne Tha God that takes a fresh look at one woman’s search for her happily ever after. Created by Serita Wesley and actor Alesha Reneé, it's performed by a stellar full cast led by Reneé, along with Pretty Vee, Logan Browning, and cameos from Jasmine Guy and Kadeem Hardison of A Different World fame. This hilarious, semi-autobiographical take on dating and reality TV perfectly captures the struggles of juggling love, friendships, and careers in your 30s and beyond in an honest and relatable way. —Margaret H.
