The Best Educational Podcasts of 2026
The top educational podcasts of 2026 — history, science, philosophy, and ideas worth knowing, ranked by their global audience.
9 education podcasts — the big names, ranked by WP Score
1TED Talks Daily
TED
2Conversations
ABC Australia
3Otherppl with Brad Listi
Brad Listi
4RadioWest
KUER
5Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques
Matt Abrahams, Think Fast Talk Smart
6Stuff You Should Know
iHeartPodcasts
7The Book Club
Goalhanger
8How To Do Everything
NPR
9Annotated
Book Riot
Hidden gems
Great shows flying under the radar
New Books in Public Policy
New Books Network
New Books in African American Studies
LessWrong (Curated & Popular)
Writing Off Social: The Podcast | Build Your Platform and Grow Your Email List Without Social Media
Making Math Moments That Matter
New Books in Urban Studies
Self-Publishing with ALLi
The Entheogenic Evolution
Martin W. Ball
Blank Page to Best Seller
Daily Astrocat: Your Playful and Profound Daily Astrology Podcast!
Shane Jinson, Original backing tracks by Cabbitha.
The Grading Podcast
Mishnah Yomit in Video - Two Mishnayot Each Day from the Mishnah Project
Agriculture Today
Fluent Fiction - Catalan
Fluent Fiction - Polish
Fluent Fiction - Dutch
Fluent Fiction - German
Study Sounds
The Blue Collar Scholar
Taurus Daily Horoscope
How we rank Education podcasts
Every podcast on WhichPodcast is ranked using WP Score — our own proprietary algorithm that weighs audience reach, episode consistency, cross-platform presence, and listener engagement signals across Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. Unlike single-platform metrics, WP Score reflects a show's true footprint across the entire podcast landscape. The education podcasts above are the highest-scoring shows in this genre right now, updated regularly as new data comes in.
Want a more personal recommendation? Our podcast discovery quiz matches you to the right show based on your mood, how much time you have, and whether you want a household name or a hidden gem.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best educational podcasts for adults?
The best educational podcasts for adults cover everything from history and science to philosophy, economics, and language learning. The top-ranked shows on this page have been chosen by millions of listeners and represent a wide range of subjects and formats.
Are there educational podcasts suitable for children?
Yes — there are excellent educational podcasts produced specifically for children and teenagers, covering science, history, maths, and current events in age-appropriate ways. Our rankings include shows for all ages, so use the search or quiz to find one that fits.
Can podcasts actually teach you something, or are they just entertainment?
The best educational podcasts are genuinely informative — many listeners report retaining information better from audio than from reading, especially when the content is well-structured and engaging. Consistent listening compounds over time, and many people use podcasts as a supplement to books and formal learning.
What topics do educational podcasts cover?
Educational podcasts cover an enormous range of subjects: history, science, philosophy, psychology, economics, mathematics, language learning, literature, and more. The genre is one of the broadest in podcasting, so there's almost certainly a show that covers whatever you're curious about.