Top Society & Culture Podcasts

It’s March 2012 in a region of Afghanistan known as the birthplace of the Taliban. Staff Sergeant Robert Bales leaves his base–in the dead of the night–and lays siege to two villages, killing a reported sixteen innocent Afghan civilians. The reaction from the American government is swift and severe; provoking universal condemnation and a life sentence in Fort Leavenworth military prison.

Over a decade later, the lingering question about what became known as the Kandahar Massacre remains. Why did it happen? Anchored by 18 hours of exclusive interviews from America's most notorious war criminal and complemented by a chorus of people central to this polarizing case, THE WAR WITHIN: THE ROBERT BALES STORY is a 12-episode investigative podcast that will shed new light on the inner sanctum of the military. Throughout, the series will contain explosive revelations that run the gamut, from brain injuries, to potentially toxic drugs, to possible cover-ups by the nation Robert Bales swore to protect.

Love reality dating shows but tired of the obsession with marriage? Welcome to Hang Up, a reality dating show with no rings attached.

In each season, one person is matched with six prospective love interests. They go on dates over the phone and never see each other. After the dates, the Star chooses one person to “hang up” on and eliminate from the show.

And there’s a twist— in the end, the winning caller makes their own choice: to either choose the Star back and take an all-expenses-paid vacation together or hang up on the Star and take a cash prize instead.

This podcast tells the remarkable stories of political prisoners around the world risking it all for something bigger than themselves: a better future for all of us.
 
With Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine dominating headlines, Season One brings you the story of another Vladimir who's standing up to Putin despite two poisonings and a current 25-year prison (virtual death) sentence.
 
To confront the global  challenges of our time and build hope for the future, we shouldn’t hear out regimes who rule by force.
 
We should listen to the voices of conviction.

Visit www.priceofconviction.com to learn more.

Welcome to In Bed With the Right, the new podcast from the Clayman Institute for Gender Research. Hosts Moira Donegan and Adrian Daub welcome a range of scholars and critics to analyze right wing ideas about gender, sex and sexuality – and to plumb the ways in which these ideas persist in and shape our present moment.

Join Grammy-nominated hitmaker, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Billy Mann on a journey through the twists and turns of failure in "Yeah, I Fucked That Up." Mann has had the privilege of rubbing shoulders with some of culture's most influential figures. Drawing inspiration from one of his kids who really struggles with failure, Mann invites his guests to peel back the veneer of success and reveal the humanity beneath. From legendary musicians to top CEOs, the stories of failure, fuck-ups and redemption will inspire, enlighten, and entertain. So buckle up and get ready to learn from the best - and their worst - in this fascinating exploration of the human side of success.

A podcast featuring the TikTok stars from Baker Banter. Siblings Jenna, Derek, and Katy Baker, often joined by Baker Banter Mom and Dad (Valerie and Eric). The Baker family centers around Derek, who has Down syndrome. You can expect lots of fun family banter, chaos, authenticity, and hopefully a few good laughs

“The History of the World’s Greatest Nightclubs.” From London Audio, iHeartRadio, and executive producer Paris Hilton. 

Hosted by Ultra Naté, this is a 12-part podcast exploring how different clubs around the world revolutionized the way we party. How they ushered in the birth of new genres and became hotspots for political activism. But above all how they created space for people to escape the world around them, to lose themselves in the music and leave it all on the dance floor. 

Nightclubs are sanctuaries where people find their chosen family. It's where you experience the joy of dancing in crowded rooms with people open to accepting you for who you are, or whoever you want to become, even if it’s only for the night.

Partying brings us together. Whether that’s under a mirror ball in New York or out in the sun in Lagos, beneath the glare of bright strobe lights in Berlin or while listening to the early sounds of a new genre in Detroit. They influence one another. 

Nightclubs do change the way we see the world. Because the pure joy of a good party has the unique ability to transcend language, culture and place. To reach people from different parts of the world and unite them through the magical, unshakable, desire to… dance.

“The History of the World’s Greatest Nightclubs” is executive produced by Paris Hilton, Bruce Gersh and Bruce Robertson for London Audio, and Jonathan Hirsch for Neon Hum Media.

Special thanks to our host and executive producer, Ultra Naté and the team at Peace Bisquit, Bill Coleman and Angelo “Pepe” Skordos.

Vassilis Paleokostas, aka “Greece’s Robin Hood,” has been on the lam for 14 years. In his absence, legends of his generosity have grown. But no one knows where he is, or if the stories are even true. 

Here’s what we do know: there’s a million Euro bounty out for Vassilis, and a 24-hour task force trying to track him down. When he robs banks, he shares the money with the poor. When he kidnaps industrialists -- and he only kidnaps those who are known for unfair labor practices -- they give baffling interviews showing how he opened their minds. And when he escapes heavily reinforced prisons, as he’s done ... by helicopter ... twice, he does it without harming a guard. 

Join host Miles Gray and our team of Greek reporters as we follow Vassilis’ trail from Athens to tiny islands to remote mountain hideouts. Along the way, we’ll meet Vassilis’s inner circle, chat with police chiefs and prime ministers, and work to understand how this thief managed to steal the country’s heart. 

What do you do when you can’t solve a problem? I like to talk to smart people who can help me understand the subject better. I call this process “getting unconfused”—and I think it is one of the best ways to learn something new. In my new podcast, I try to get unconfused about some of the things that fascinate me. Join me on my learning journey as I talk to brilliant guests about Alzheimer’s disease, marijuana, plant-based meat, the evolution of language, and more. 

Thirty years ago, a movement called riot grrrl started in the Pacific Northwest. It wasn't just music – it was politics, feminism, culture and zines. And we're still feeling its effects today. Starting a Riot tells the history of riot grrrl: why it started in the Pacific Northwest, and what its lasting impact has been. And we focus on the stories that haven’t often been told as part of the history of the movement. We’ll hear from people on the margins, people who felt left out, and the people who insisted on being part of the conversation anyway.

Tim Ballard, Author, Historian, and founder of Operation Underground Railroad, shares an inside view on his years of experience in rescuing children from the horrors of human trafficking, insights into the American Covenant and History, and more.