Celebrities are more accessible to their fans than ever before. Thanks to social media, reality shows, and, increasingly, podcasts, you can engage with unique, personal, often unscripted content from your favorite stars. From actors and influencers to comedians and musicians, many of the boldest-face names are taking to podcasting to chat about a wide variety of topics that matter to them. And since the sheer array of celebrity podcasts out there can be overwhelming, we've rounded up the best of the best in this list of favorites.
Breakthrough is the audio-only singing competition taking the world by storm. This first-of-its-kind, truly blind singing competition features major musical chops from its star-studded judging panel and talented aspiring singers. Produced by The Chainsmokers and AT WILL MEDIA, hosted by Tony and Grammy Award winner Daveed Diggs, and judged by the incomparable Sara Bareilles and Kelly Rowland, Breakthrough introduces five artists who pursue their dream to be the next singing sensation just using the power of their voice. An audiophile’s dream, this innovative 10-part series has us cheering on the contestants in anticipation of its June 22nd season finale.
As fans of Curb Your Enthusiasm know, JB Smoove is one of the funniest men on TV—which makes him the perfect host for this Audible Original series celebrating Black comedy icons who paved the way for today’s comedy superstars. Funny My Way tells the stories of six fearless Black comedians and activists: Paul Mooney, Flip Wilson, Moms Mabley, Dick Gregory, Rudy Ray Moore, and Redd Foxx. Interweaving archival clips with insights from contemporary comedians such as Cedric the Entertainer, D. L. Hughley, and Margaret Cho, episodes capture how these six trailblazers broke color barriers and battled racism while making people laugh.
Every Monday, join beloved stars of television and film Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett on SmartLess, the podcast that aims to connect and unite people from all walks of life. In each episode, one of the hosts introduces their mystery guest to the other two, who have been left totally in the dark about what—or who—to prepare for. What follows is a genuinely improvised conversation—sometimes with a well-known name in the world of entertainment (like Sean Penn or Ryan Reynolds); sometimes with an expert on a cold case or a hot button topic—filled with humor and sincerity.
Though she’s beloved by millions for her role as Meredith Grey on the award-winning and critically acclaimed ABC drama Grey's Anatomy, Ellen Pompeo is also an activist and a podcast host. On Tell Me, Pompeo sits down with a wide range of guests to chat about the issues that matter to her, discussing topics such as voting rights, social justice, and women's rights. Notable past guests include the likes of Bowen Yang, Martha Stewart, Charlamagne Tha God, Emmanuel Acho, and Emily Ratajkowski.
Everyone has a story to tell, and in Storytime with Seth Rogen, actor and comedian Seth Rogen sits down with folks to hear what they have to say. This podcast is fueled by Seth's genuine curiosity about people and the world, so every episode ends in a really special, genuine place. Not every guest is a celebrity or even someone well-known, and not every episode is laugh-out-loud funny—what this show does instead is create an audio documentary out of each guest's story, with supporting interviews and archival tape woven into each episode.
You know Kate Hudson and Oliver Hudson in their careers as actors—but what about in their lives as siblings? Tune into their podcast Sibling Revelry as this celebrity brother and sister duo discuss family dynamics, the sibling bond, and much more. In each episode, Kate and Oliver have a relaxed, fun, and often hilarious discussion about the issues that matter to them. They often host other famous siblings as well, including Rob and Chad Lowe, Ron and Clint Howard, and Emily and Zooey Deschanel.
If you love The O.C., you'll love joining the two original O.C. bitches—friends and co-stars Rachel Bilson and Melinda Clarke—as they take a trip back in time to the early 2000s. Grab your Juicy Couture tracksuit and take a seat by the pool to listen in as Rachel and Melinda look back at every juicy episode of The O.C., give you the behind-the-scenes scoop, and welcome back plenty of special guests from the show that defined an era.
It started as a social media post; then, it became a mental health movement. And now, it's a podcast. On I Weigh, join actress and activist Jameela Jamil as she challenges societal norms through her thought-provoking conversations with performers, activists, influencers, thought leaders, and friends about their own mental health experiences. Jamil’s previous guests include body confidence and self-acceptance influencer Alex Light; actors and activists Elizabeth Banks and Evan Rachel Wood; comedian and writer Natasha Leggero; and many other notable creatives from a range of different backgrounds and lines of work.
Anna Faris is an actress best known for her comedic turns in films like Scary Movie, The House Bunny, and Overboard. In other words, she's completely unqualified to host a podcast where she gives relationship advice. And yet, in Anna Faris is Unqualified, that's exactly what this celebrity is doing. In every episode, Anna is joined by another celebrity guest who's also entirely unqualified, and together they help listeners with their relationship woes. Previous guests include Morena Baccarin, John Bradley, Aasif Mandvi, and plenty of other stars who have no business offering their advice.
How do we make the most of the brief time we have on this earth? That's what Justin Long aims to find out on his podcast, Life is Short. An actor for most of his life, Justin is used to getting inside the heads of the characters he plays. But as he has gotten older, he's become more and more interested in the stories of others and how they find meaning in life. In every episode, Justin gets personal with people from all walks of life, chatting with them about the real important stuff—like, their favorite snack food. Also on deck is Justin's brother Christian, there to keep Justin honest and every now and then offer up an embarrassing story to keep Justin humble.
On Work in Progress, actress Sophia Bush chats with guests about how they’ve gotten to where they are, and where they plan on going in the future. This podcast is rooted in Bush’s belief that everyone is allowed to be both a masterpiece and a work in progress at the same time. Every episode is a frank, funny, personal, and professional conversation with well-known inspiring people who have made massive impacts, including Jamil Smith, Erin Brokovich, Jason Isaacs, Michael Tubbs, Connie Britton, and Natalie Portman.
Jessie Ware is a singer and songwriter—but did you know she's also a podcaster? Table Manners is Jessie's food podcast with her chef extraordinaire mother, Lennie Ware. Join this mom and daughter duo every week as they discuss food, family, and the art of having a chat, all at their very own dinner table. On every episode, the Wares invite guests from the world of music, culture, and politics to stop by for dinner and conversation about everything from current events to hangover cures.
In one of the year’s most anticipated new podcasts, Michelle Obama brings listeners deeper into the world of her bestselling memoir, The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times. Where the audiobook initiated a dialogue with listeners on some of life’s biggest challenges—from building lasting relationships and meaningful success to overcoming obstacles and navigating identity—the podcast will explore these themes and more with an esteemed selection of friends and luminaries. In intimate recordings from her star-studded book tour, the former First Lady draws on her trademark humor, warmth, and compassion to elicit moments of startling insight and vulnerability from guests including Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres, Tyler Perry, and Conan O’Brien. The result is a series of searching conversations that will leave you feeling smarter, inspired, and, yes, lighter.