Top Society & Culture Podcasts

“LA Made” is a series exploring stories of bold Californian innovators and how they forever changed the lives of millions all over the world. Each season will unpack the untold and surprising stories behind some of the most exciting innovations that continue to influence our lives today.

Season 3, "LA Made: The Other Moonshot," tells the story of three Black aerospace engineers in Los Angeles, who played a crucial role in America’s race to space, amid the civil unrest of the 1960s.  When Joanne Higgins was growing up in Compton in Los Angeles, she heard her godfather, Charlie Cheathem, tell stories about his key role in the Apollo mission to the moon. As an adult, she realized that his experiences — and those of other Black engineers — had been left out of the history books. She set out to record for the first time the accounts of these men, now in their 90s, whose crucial contributions to the early days of the Apollo mission have been overlooked — or taken credit for by others — despite their ingenuity and determination. 

Season 2, “LA Made: The Barbie Tapes,” tells the backstory of the world’s most popular doll, Barbie. Barbie is a cultural icon but what do you really know about her? Hear Barbie's origin story from the people who created her. Co-hosted by Antonia Cereijido and M.G. Lord, author of Forever Barbie: The Unauthorized Biography of a Real Doll, hear the wild stories from never-before-heard tapes of interviews with Barbie inventor Ruth Handler, her wardrobe designer and the sculptors and fabricators, and the innovative marketers who made her what she is today. This 3-part series premieres July 6, 2023.

Season 1, “LA Made: Blood, Sweat & Rockets,” tells the hidden story of the fearless, groundbreaking and ambitious crew who shaped our quest to outer space and ushered in the early days of space exploration at Pasadena’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) at CalTech. Known as the “Suicide Squad,” the team’s road to triumph was fraught with controversies involving the occult, a suspected spy ring, unplanned explosions, and a suspicious death. Join writer and life-long aerospace fanatic M.G. Lord as she uncovers their story and reveals the shocking origins of rocket science in this 12 episode season.

Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live. This podcast was made possible with support from the Committee for Greater LA in partnership with the Weingart Foundation.

Comedian Kerry Godliman takes a journey into the world of dog shows, on the hunt for answers, after the death of an Irish setter in 2015. It’s a playful investigative podcast, which follows all leads into the wondrous world of dog showing, while trying to make sense of the death of a beloved pet.

Forget Willy Wonka and those heart-shaped Valentine’s boxes. OBSESSIONS: Wild Chocolate. is a totally different beast. Join host Rowan Jacobson as he elbows his way through the rain forest, crash lands into cocaine flyaways, and avoids a few too many anaconda, tagging along with modern-day Lara Crofts as they try to get their hands on some of the world’s most ancient– and expensive– cacao.

Roses Are Dead is where hand-me-down myths die. We challenge the entry-level performance of manhood—holding doors, flashing wallets, staring at exits—and demand more: vision, discipline, emotional strength, and purpose. In this space men confront the myths they inherited, hold one another accountable, and rise as whole leaders. Masculinity isn’t a role to play; it’s a standard to live.

To All the People Podcast, hosted by Janell Roberts, is more than just a space for conversation—it’s a testament to resilience, growth, and the power of using your voice. Coming from humble beginnings, Janell has lived through difficult seasons that shaped her into the woman she is today. She doesn’t just speak on overcoming challenges—she’s walked through them. With a background rooted in perseverance and an unwavering belief in purpose, she created this podcast to share real stories, raw truths, and meaningful dialogue. This isn’t about preaching; it’s about connection, healing, and reminding people that no matter where they come from, their voice matters. Through insightful discussions, personal reflections, laughter and thought-provoking guest interviews and Solo's. To All the People Podcast, creates a space where every listener feels seen, heard, and inspired. Whether you're navigating life’s transitions, chasing your dreams, or reclaiming your voice, this podcast is a must-have in your journey toward self-discovery and purpose.

Urban One and Reach Media present The Amanda Seales Show podcast. Available weekdays after 5pm eastern. Comedian and actress who starred in the HBO series Insecure, star of the HBO stand up comedy special “I Be Knowin” and former co-host of the daytime talk show The Real presents a daily podcast of her nationally syndicated radio show.

Known for her Smart, Funny and Black moniker the Amanda Seales daily show will feature her thoughts on the day’s events with Blackcurate News, The Big Up/Let Down of the day, Betcha Didn’t Know which is history told in a fun and creative way plus celebrity and news figures checking in.

Follow on all socials @sealessaidit

Educator and bestselling author Dr. Emily Nagoski answers questions about sex with the latest science. The eight-part series is a modern guide to sexual wellbeing, backed by groundbreaking research about desire, anatomy, orgasm and much more. In conversation with her producer, Mo, Dr. Nagoski debunks cultural myths and flips the script on everything you thought you knew about sex and sexuality. Come As You Are will help you unlock your most pleasurable life, in the bedroom and beyond.

New episodes drop on Wednesdays.

Lead production by Monique LaBorde.

Come As You Are is produced by Pushkin Industries and Madison Wells.

Show art by Sofie Birkin.

To hear episodes a week early and ads free, subscribe to Pushkin+ in Apple Podcasts or at pushkin.fm/plus.

Jenny Hutt is holding nothing back on her Just Jenny Podcast. This twice weekly podcast is real conversations about the things that matter to women: love, loss, finances, mental health, physical health, relationships, parenting, friendships, current events and more. You will even learn where to shop and what to buy every Saturday during the "Saturdays with (Jenny's sister) Stacy" episodes.

Ever the anxious optimist, Jenny shares her own story with vulnerability, humor, candor and tears while speaking to various friends and experts in all aspects of life. 

Listening to The Just Jenny with Jenny Hutt podcast will make you realize that you're part of a community of phenomenal and resilient women who can handle it all.

The Boy in the Woods, six-year-old Rikki Neave, had been strangled and left naked. His body was positioned in a distinctive star shape.

People on the council estate where he lived told police they had seen his mother, Ruth, hitting and shouting at Rikki. He was on the Social Services Register of children at risk. All the people closest to Rikki were in trouble and all of them were known to the authorities who offered help. It didn't work. The day before he died his mother begged a family aid worker to take him into care, saying she would kill him.

Winifred Robinson has been following this case for more than 20 years. She's always felt it held the key to what goes wrong in the lives of society's most vulnerable children. Police built a case against Rikki's mother but this investigation uncovers how crucial evidence was never brought before the court. Ruth Neave was jailed for seven years for child cruelty while Rikki's killer was left at large.

The series exposes how this happened and what it took for the truth to emerge. Original police interview tapes, evidence from forensic scientists and others who have never spoken to the media before, help piece together what happened.. Close friends of Rikki, who were themselves vulnerable children, reveal for the first time how his death came to shape all their lives.

And as the net closes in on the real killer, who was himself a boy of only 13 at the time, how he goes on the run, taunting police from abroad.

We hear from a teacher who alerted police to this boy at the time of Rikki's death, noticing his obsession with the case. We've recorded the first interviews with a family aid worker who was with Rikki, the day before he died and with a troubled teenager who was alongside his mother on the day he was killed.

As the verdict is delivered, the jurors share with us how they weighed the evidence that convinced them they had looked into the eyes of a killer.

Winifred Robinson, the reporter, and Sue Mitchell, the series producer, are an award-winning BBC documentary team. They have worked together for 20 years on high profile cases, interviewing the father of James Bulger. His son's killing provoked huge interest in Rikki's case.

It was the most unlikely art heist of all time. Join some improbable detectives and one determined comic book dealer as they investigate the mysterious theft of the most important comic in the world ... a comic stolen from Nicolas Cage.