The hottest Podcasts Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Business Topics

Delete social media

The Rectangle • 226 implied HN points • 16 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Podcasts
  1. Delete social media apps from your phone — it usually frees up time and cuts the low-level dread that comes with endless scrolling.
  2. Don’t get sucked into the cult of optimisation; making yourself more efficient should let you enjoy life, not turn living into an endless self-improvement project.
  3. Be pragmatic and kind to yourself: deletion can be flexible (use a spare phone or redownload briefly), but do it to make real time for the things you actually care about.

The successful YouTube channels hiding in plain sight

Simon Owens's Media Newsletter • 299 implied HN points • 19 Dec 25
💼 Business Podcasts
  1. White-noise and other long-play YouTube videos can earn outsized revenue through YouTube Premium because they accumulate huge watch time, giving them much higher CPMs than typical videos.
  2. Host-read podcast ads perform better in audio-only environments than on YouTube video, so advertisers should ask for audio vs. video impression breakdowns and value audio impressions more highly.
  3. Platforms are simultaneously cracking down on deceptive AI content and rolling out more aggressive ad features and paywalls, so creators and brands must track changing policies and sponsorship opportunities to adapt monetization strategies.
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Turnover is vanity, profit is sanity

Off to Lunch • 2103 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
💼 Business Podcasts
  1. In business, profit is more important than turnover.
  2. Retailers may boost sales through price cuts but it doesn't always mean more profit.
  3. Interpreting financial metrics like like-for-like sales can be complex and impact comparisons between retailers.

Spotify’s Plans For AI Generated Music, Podcasts, and Recommendations, According To Its Co-President, CTO, and CPO Gustav Söderström

Big Technology • 5879 implied HN points • 13 Nov 24
🕹 Technology Podcasts
  1. Spotify is embracing AI to enhance creativity in music and podcasts. They see these tools as ways to help artists express themselves better rather than replacing them.
  2. The company is focusing on improving how users find new music and podcasts. They want users to feel like they have control over their recommendations and can provide feedback.
  3. Spotify aims to create a more personal experience by using AI. They envision a platform where users can interact like friends with the app, making the recommendations feel tailored and engaging.

Free Friday: The Fame Game

JoeBlogs • 1552 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
🎾 Sports Podcasts
  1. Play a fun and addictive game to vote on the most famous baseball people of the last 50 years.
  2. Join author Joe Posnanski on his upcoming tour dates at various locations for baseball events.
  3. Appreciate the unique brilliance of Mahomes as a quarterback and avoid getting caught up in comparisons.

How I Write Culture Study

Culture Study • 3885 implied HN points • 26 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Podcasts
  1. Organizing your week can help you manage different types of work like essays and Q&As. It’s about finding a balance and creating a routine.
  2. Creating interesting content often involves a bit of mystery or curiosity. This can lead people to appreciate and pay for the material you offer.
  3. Collaboration with others can enhance your work. Finding 'coworkers' or partners can support your creative process and make things more enjoyable.

Tuesday Thread: Non-Fiction Concierge

Culture Study • 1167 implied HN points • 12 Aug 25
🎭️ Culture Podcasts
  1. The post discusses non-fiction books and their recommendations.
  2. Listeners are encouraged to explore a newsletter called 'The Maris Review' for more book ideas.
  3. The conversation highlights the importance of sharing and discussing non-fiction resources.

Links for January

By Reason Alone • 84 implied HN points • 01 Feb 26
🎭️ Culture Podcasts
  1. A wide-ranging roundup recommends books, music, films, podcasts, and events, and points readers toward youth programs and speaking opportunities. It’s a mix of cultural picks and practical links for careers and learning.
  2. Public debate and policy often rest on sloppy language or bad reasoning — for example, ‘speculation’ in housing debates conflates opposite practices, and counting regulation-driven hiring as a net benefit confuses costs with benefits. Clearer terms and economic thinking are needed when discussing land, rents, and public investment.
  3. On AI and machine learning the emphasis is on technical clarity and history: be careful about what people mean by ‘reinforcement learning’, learn by implementing ideas, and pay attention to recent research on issues like capability forgetting and early AI milestones.

11 Best Things of 2025

SatPost by Trung Phan • 244 implied HN points • 19 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Podcasts
  1. Deep, long-form storytelling — from multi-hour documentaries to investigative podcasts and narrative books — still cuts through and gives people context and payoff that short-form streaming often doesn’t.
  2. Scarcity and presence drive cultural and commercial value: phone-free live shows and limited-schedule events (like major sports) command attention, higher prices, and more memorable experiences.
  3. The online attention economy is split between AI-generated "slop" and nostalgia-driven viral moments, yet original films, breakout songs, and solid investigative work can still break through and shape culture.

A bank holiday bonanza of things to read, watch & listen to this weekend

The Shift With Sam Baker • 878 implied HN points • 28 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Podcasts
  1. The post shares a bank holiday bonanza of things to read, watch, and listen to, providing a variety of recommendations for entertainment and information consumption.
  2. It features insights on effort, productivity, and decision-making, emphasizing the importance of giving it your all but also learning to tolerate unknowns and knowing when to give up on certain endeavors.
  3. Recommendations include books read, shows watched, and podcasts listened to, offering a diverse range of content suggestions for different tastes and interests.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

History, etc • 1788 implied HN points • 21 Dec 23
📚 Literature Podcasts
  1. The writer expressed gratitude to the readers for their support throughout the year.
  2. The newsletter has grown to over 12,000 readers with various engaging content like Q&A, interviews, and history quizzes.
  3. Future plans for the newsletter include more content like monthly interviews, history quizzes, and maintaining subscription prices until 2025.

RKUL: Time Well Spent, 1/1/2026

Razib Khan's Unsupervised Learning • 154 implied HN points • 01 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Podcasts
  1. Read a few rigorous interdisciplinary books this year; they are a small, high-value way to learn durable ways of thinking about science, history, and culture.
  2. Political activism is reshaping academic norms and sometimes sidelines traditional methods like philology; the worth of scholarship should rest on the usefulness of its methods and insights, not scholars' personal politics.
  3. New ancient DNA and genomics studies are steadily sharpening our view of human history by revealing deep regional roots, admixture, and selection, but in some regions more modern samples give diminishing returns so careful interpretation matters.

Performative hydration has gone too far

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 838 implied HN points • 27 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Podcasts
  1. Performative hydration in wellness culture has become excessive, with water being portrayed as a solution for various health and beauty issues.
  2. The trend of performative hydration is closely tied to the rise of wellness culture in the past 15 years, where water has been turned into a fashionable accessory.
  3. Public health attempts to promote water consumption have evolved into a market of exclusive and expensive water products, potentially detracting from the original goal of encouraging healthy hydration choices.

The True Crimeification of Israel

Mental Hellth • 2240 implied HN points • 01 Nov 23
🎭️ Culture Podcasts
  1. The article discusses the fear and obsession with crime in Israel.
  2. It mentions instances where people express fear of another Holocaust and human trafficking.
  3. Popular media, like podcasts, are influencing a constant state of fear in society.

The Week In Recommendations 1.31.24

Rich Text • 1218 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Podcasts
  1. The post discusses recommendations for shows, podcasts, and products.
  2. Various book, podcast, TV show, and product recommendations are shared by Emma and Claire.
  3. The content includes insights on eye cream, rom-com shows, books, and food recipes.

More for me!

Austin Kleon • 3437 implied HN points • 09 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Podcasts
  1. Embracing the phrase 'More for me!' can help you focus on what you enjoy, even if others don’t share your tastes. It’s a great way to remind yourself to keep doing what makes you happy.
  2. Nostalgia can bring up deep feelings when revisiting childhood memories. Reflecting on these moments can help us appreciate our past and connect with loved ones.
  3. Listening to music, like Miles Davis's 'Milestones,' can set the mood for your experiences. Finding the right soundtrack can transform ordinary moments into something special.

Unexplained item in the inflation area

Off to Lunch • 1316 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
💼 Business Podcasts
  1. Inflation in the UK rose unexpectedly, contradicting predictions from economists.
  2. The main drivers of the inflation increase were alcohol, tobacco, and government taxes on smoking.
  3. The rise in inflation may impact the Bank of England's decision on interest rates.

What's got my attention this week #43

The Shift With Sam Baker • 698 implied HN points • 05 Apr 24
🎭️ Culture Podcasts
  1. Julia Louis-Dreyfus highlights the power of aging and questions the overrating of youth.
  2. Exploration of diverse topics like quilting for emotional sustenance and benefits of working with hands.
  3. Insightful discussions on various issues including gaslighting, book publishing, and the evolving roles of women.

Odds and ends

The Watch • 366 implied HN points • 12 Nov 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Podcasts
  1. The investigation into Jordan Silverman was recognized by the Columbia Journalism Review and sparked discussions in online forums, leading to some apologies.
  2. New episodes of the podcast 'Collateral Damage' cover significant cases of wrongful deaths due to drug war policies, showing their ongoing relevance today.
  3. The latest episode highlights the tragic story of Veronica and Charity Bowers, connecting past events to current issues with drug policy and government actions.

What's got my attention this week #40

The Shift With Sam Baker • 878 implied HN points • 08 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Podcasts
  1. The newsletter shares links, recommendations, and stories to enjoy over the weekend.
  2. One highlighted book discusses the challenges faced by women trying to advance in their careers, offering a relatable and eye-opening narrative.
  3. The podcast episode features a remarkable woman, Karyn McCluskey, who made significant impact in reducing gang violence in Glasgow and shares candid insights on various topics.

Pivot to Video!

Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality • 184 implied HN points • 15 Dec 25
🎭️ Culture Podcasts
  1. Text is still where ideas are born and sharpened, but video is now the better way to spread those ideas and get discovered by a wider audience.
  2. To have influence you need a workflow that does both: keep writing long-form while turning ideas into audio and short-form video, including making podcasts into video where useful.
  3. Start experimenting with formats, lengths, platforms, and tools now — use TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube to reach people without abandoning careful, text-driven thinking.

We are back!

Off to Lunch • 1218 implied HN points • 15 Jan 24
💼 Business Podcasts
  1. Off to Lunch newsletter is back for 2024 with exciting plans, including relaunching Business Leader magazine.
  2. The podcast associated with Off to Lunch covers big business stories and interviews key figures like the CEO of Seedrs and UK boss of Peloton.
  3. Important news stories highlighted include weakening UK job market, Artifact app closing down, and Adidas CEO sharing his phone number with all staff for feedback.

Links for December

By Reason Alone • 114 implied HN points • 13 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Podcasts
  1. AI is a major focus, covering its history, the recent scaling era, and interpretability research like toy models of superposition, alongside practical debates about preserving old model weights and deployment economics.
  2. There is a strong emphasis on Irish culture, history, and civic work, from essays on Protestant magic to infrastructure reform and active local reading and maths initiatives.
  3. The post is a wide-ranging media roundup with clear recommendations across books, films, music, and podcasts, highlighting specific discoveries and thoughtful reactions to each.

A "Non-Panicky" Nuclear War

Useful Idiots • 1926 implied HN points • 29 Jun 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Podcasts
  1. The article discusses a 'Non-Panicky' Nuclear War with a cynical tone.
  2. It mentions the perspectives and actions of key political figures and media personalities.
  3. The hosts aim to mock and critique politicians and pundits in a Thursday bonus episode.

Varieties of Exhaustion

Five’s Substack • 299 implied HN points • 31 May 24
🎭️ Culture Podcasts
  1. Recovering from illness can change how we spend our time, like listening to true crime podcasts instead of focusing solely on reading classics.
  2. It's challenging for young adults to maintain an intellectual life outside of school because there are no structured support systems like deadlines or guidance.
  3. Building a meaningful intellectual life requires both access to resources and a network of support, but many people struggle to make it work.

Conversations with women (over 40): no longer Accidental Icon, Lyn Slater

The Shift With Sam Baker • 678 implied HN points • 16 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Podcasts
  1. Lyn Slater discusses the importance of aging and embracing identity in her new book 'How to be Old'. It's about being comfortable in your own skin at any age.
  2. There is a shift in society where young women are interested in truthful conversations about aging and challenges that come with it. They want honesty and realism rather than idealized versions of aging.
  3. As older women, there is a responsibility to speak truthfully about the positives and challenges of getting older. It's about remaining optimistic while acknowledging the serious aspects of aging and life changes.

Things Are Getting Heated

Holodoxa • 199 implied HN points • 26 Jun 24
📚 Literature Podcasts
  1. The author recaps their activities during the second quarter of 2024, including reading, writing, and podcast launch plans.
  2. The author set a reading goal of 75 books for 2024 and shared top book recommendations from Q2, such as 'How the World Became Rich' and 'Everything is Predictable'.
  3. The author shared a list of written content produced in Q2, highlighting posts on topics like narcissism, genetics, and cancer, along with a reiteration of consistently reviewing completed reads on Goodreads.

The Week In Recommendations 1.17.24

Rich Text • 1022 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Podcasts
  1. Engaging content recommendations and reviews from Emma and Claire
  2. Discussion on diverse topics like polyamory, TV shows, podcasts, and fashion
  3. Real-life experiences with products like sweatpants, jeans, brownies, and soup

A quieter issue | #319

Boundless by Paul Millerd • 95 implied HN points • 05 Jan 26
🎭️ Culture Podcasts
  1. The newsletter is shifting to a shorter, less-frequent format so more time can be spent on book-length projects instead of trying to constantly produce new, novel pieces.
  2. There are curated reading and listening recommendations—books and essays about freelancing, change, habits, and experimental ways of living—plus a podcast aimed at creators balancing full-time work.
  3. Readers are asked to complete a short survey to help shape future content, and there’s an open invitation to join a global community along with a list of recommended tools and services for creators and travelers.

Culture Study Classifieds, Heart of Winter Style

Culture Study • 2372 implied HN points • 07 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Podcasts
  1. The classifieds section connects readers from all over the world, allowing them to share services and create groups like book clubs.
  2. People can post about services they offer, skills they want to share for free, or projects they're proud of to gain support and praise.
  3. This space encourages readers to find recommendations, make new friends, or even trade items, creating a supportive community online.