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Our board of jurors sorts through all of the best podcasts each year to choose the truly outstanding ones. This year’s best reframe history; take us into places, communities, courtrooms, prisons, and even deep into oceans and rivers where most of us would not otherwise go; and tell gripping stories that speak to wider societal forces, from gender issues to climate change, incarceration, and mass violence. Load up your favorite podcast app with these Peabody nominees.
‘Blindspot: The Plague in the Shadows’
WNYC Studios and The History Channel delve into the initial stages of the AIDS epidemic, focusing on the the stories of the activists who fought on the frontlines at a time when powerful forces wanted to ignore the devastation it was causing—and the diverse cross-section of victims it claimed, sending ripple effects that last to today.
Where to Listen: WNYCStudios.org
‘The Good Whale’
Serial Productions and The New York Times chronicle the efforts to free the orca that starred in the film Free Willy, aiming to release the iconic animal from an amusement park in Mexico City and into the wild. However, this ambitious endeavor takes several unexpected turns—including the fact that “Willy” might not know how to be free—raising important questions about the ethics of keeping animals in captivity, particularly those that are celebrities.
Where to Listen: NYTimes.com
‘In the Dark Season 3: The Killings in Haditha’
This investigative podcast from The New Yorker delves into the deaths of 24 Iraqi civilians caused by U.S. Marines, exploring whether these actions constituted war crimes, murder, or legitimate combat operations. Reporter Madeleine Baran and her team dedicated four years to uncovering the story, journeying across 21 states and three continents.
Where to Listen: NewYorker.com
‘Lost Patients’
NPR’s Lost Patients shifts the conversation about serious mental illness in the United States by emphasizing the voices of those living with psychosis, highlighting systemic failures within mental health care, and going inside the courtrooms that decide the fates of these lost souls.
Where to Listen: NPR.org
‘Pablo Torres Finds Out: Watching the Dallas Cowboys on Death Row’
In this episode of the popular podcast, correspondent David Fleming investigates a unique phenomenon in a Texas super-max prison: death row inmates using their last words to support their favorite sports teams. Through the story of Charles Flores, the piece illustrates how sports fandom allows inmates to assert their identity, forge connections, and maintain a sense of humanity, even in their final moments.
Where to Listen: YouTube.com
‘Pulse: The Untold Story’
In this Audible production, host Trevor Aaronson challenges the prevailing narrative about the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting, one of the deadliest mass shootings in American history. He shows that it was not a premeditated anti-LGBTQIA+ hate crime, as widely believed, but rather an opportunistic act by shooter Omar Mateen—a startling revelation that changes the entire story, but has received limited attention.
‘Ripple’
In its inaugural season, this investigative podcast examines the aftermath of the catastrophic 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, uncovering the persistent ecological and health challenges that Gulf Coast communities continue to endure long after the media has moved on.
Where to Listen: RipplePodcast.org
‘Salmon Wars’
Oregon Public Broadcasting and ProPublica collaborate to investigate the declining salmon population in the Northwest, sharing the story through the experiences of a Yakama Nation family dedicated to preserving the fish.
Where to Listen: OPB.org
‘Supermajority’
NPR’s Embedded presents a four-part special series that follows three conservative mothers as they confront Tennessee’s Republican-controlled state legislature, advocating for changes to gun laws following a mass shooting at their children’s school in 2023. Although these lifelong conservatives expected to be heard by their own party, they run up against some difficult realities along the way.
Where to Listen: NPR.org
‘Tested’
Hosted by Rose Eveleth, the series Tested offers a “surprising history of women’s sports” by exploring the ongoing debate over gender eligibility, centering on athletes Christine Mboma and Maximila Imali, who confront difficulties due to new testosterone regulations. It addresses broader themes of fairness, identity, and the societal consequences of enforcing rigid gender binaries, while also promoting crucial discussions about sex and gender in athletics.
Where to Listen: Tested-Podcast.com
‘This Is the Case of Henry Dee’
This American Life goes inside the parole case of Henry Dee, who is pursuing release after spending 50 years in prison. The episode offers listeners an intimate look at the process and raises important questions about the purpose of parole and the concepts of crime and punishment.
Where to Listen: ThisAmericanLife.org
‘Yousef, Youmna, Banias and Majd: Four Lives in Gaza‘
While much of the ongoing news coverage of Gaza has focused on the violence and humanitarian crisis, This American Life brought listeners deep into the personal stories of those affected by the conflict in this group of episodes. Through intimate phone conversations, reporter Chana Joffe-Walt’s interviews offer a unique perspective on the war, emphasizing the humanity and agency of individuals experiencing it, from families facing relocation to children dealing with unspeakable trauma.
Where to Listen: ThisAmericanLife.org