Top Society & Culture Podcasts

If you've ever yelled at someone on social media about, say, cancel culture or mask-wearing, then you are a soldier in the culture wars - those everyday battles for dominance between conflicting values. The acclaimed writer and podcaster Jon Ronson has seen friends swallowed up in them to the extent that it's ruined their lives. Jon was curious to learn how things fell apart, and so he went back into the history of the culture wars to find some of the origin stories: the pebbles thrown in the pond, creating the ripples that led us to where we are today. He had no idea what he'd find, but he's uncovered some extraordinary people and the strangest, yet most consequential tales.

Imperfect Paradise is an award-winning weekly narrative podcast showcasing California stories with universal significance, hosted by Antonia Cereijido. Each deeply reported story is driven by characters who illuminate aspects of American identity and underscore California's reputation as a home for dreamers and schemers, its heartbreaking inequality, its varied and diverse communities, its unique combination of dense cities and wild places. New episodes premiere Wednesdays, with broadcasts on LAist 89.3 the following Sundays.

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.

Virginia Tapscott is on a quest to uncover her family’s darkest truth - and shine a light on the secrets in all our families. This gripping new investigative podcast is created by Tapscott and journalist Steve Jackson, and brought to you by The Australian. Proudly supported by the Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas.

Marginalized people live many realities and fight many battles all at the same time. Our unfiltered words are often confined to break room whispers, living room rants, or raw heartfelt talks with members of our community. What if anyone could be a fly on the wall during these conversations? Oftentimes, we are pressured to “Count to ten,” or play it cool despite these realities. On The Count to Ten Podcast we will be amplifying real people, stories, and conversations to break this code of silence.  

Count to Ten is a weekly podcast hosted by Bri Hall who is an artist, motivational speaker, and social media creator who has amassed over 1.1 million followers on all her platforms. With a dedication to philanthropy and activism, The Count To Ten Podcast is another natural extension of her commitment to social justice and mental health.