I’ve listened to 300+ comedy podcasts. Here are the best comedy podcasts and stand up comedians on Spotify that are actually funny.
Did you know laughter has positive effects such as strengthening your immune system as well as boosting your mood and makes your feel less stressed? Also check out my other best lists of comedies on Apple TV, stand-up comedy albums and specials and comedies on Sky.
Stand By Your Band
The funniest music podcast
Stand By Your Band is my favourite thing ever. And that includes my favourite music, TV show and movies.
Love a band people love to make fun of? Show me someone who doesn’t and I’ll show you a liar.
Tom Thakkar and Tommy McNamara invite fellow comedians to defend their chosen band with a six song playlist. But the hosts research hilarious band stories, terrible lyrics and interviews and the unhinged comments fans leave on the comments section on YouTube and songmeanings.com that make them indefensible. No one is safe.
Some of the episodes I frequently relisten to include All American Rejects, Ja Rule and Good Charlotte. The episodes are funny even if the bands and artists covered aren’t well known or are just tough to listen to (Aqua, and the sea shanty’s of Stan Rogers anyone? I’ve also found a ton of new songs I like and new appreciation for Carly Rae Jepsen, country music and *whispers* rap rock…
With more than 300 episodes, there’s still many bands yet to be defended, including my personal favourites Death Cab For Cutie. Find out who their 20 worst rated bands are and listen to the 6 most controversial moments on Stand By Your Band (which they did an episode on!).
My favourite podcast of all time (I listen to it at least once a month) is Shane Torres talking about Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo and Juliet soundtrack.
And for a more typical episode where the guests talk about a band, listen to the best (and wild) quotes and stories from Oasis.
Check out their live shows where they host a battle of the bands, comedians defend their band and roast others. It can get wildly heated!
And sign up to their Patreon for measley $3 a month where they to find the worst song on Spotify and share music they actually like (they actually have pretty good taste in music it turns out. Although they hate Yellowcard…).
See my list of best music podcasts!
Are You Garbage?
The funniest podcast which asks are you a trash person
Like do you brush your teeth in the shower? Do you keep your toothbrush in the shower? Do you pee in the shower. Do you sleep with any weapon best you? Have you ever tried to train a pet to retrieve a beverage for you? Have you ever eaten a boiled egg in public? Have you ever skied in jeans? Have you or a family member ever represented themselves in court?
Kevin Ryan and H Foley invite your favourite comedians to determine whether they are garbage through a series of questions and comics telling tales from their childhood as well as their new money tendencies. Turns out I definitely have some garbage traits…
The bonus episodes are also worth listening to where fans of the podcast send in their garbage questions, while on the Patreon they bet 10k on the roulette table…
While the likes of Tim Dillon and Tom Segura have been on the show, my favourite episode is Tom Thakkar explaining his wild childhood…
Full episodes are on YouTube too which I recommend watching.
And watch their tour special for some wild live questions from the audience.
Valley Heat
The funniest fictional story podcast
Doug Duguay investigates suspicious activities around his home and neighbourhood of Burbank. It quickly escalates. I haven’t felt this tense since watching Uncut Gems.
If you like Curb Your Enthusiasm, you’ll probably think Valley Heat is pretty, pretty good. His Larry David-esque opinions gets him into multiple awkward situations and interactions with Seinfeld-like oddball characters, ridiculous sponsored adverts and ‘inventive’ songs by local band, Cephalopods Are People.
See my list of Best comedies on Apple TV!
Exit Interview
The funniest improvised podcast
Who knew the Devil and God are actually friends? And host a podcast together. In an elevator between heaven and hell. Yep, this podcast is ridiculously silly.
Dan Kuan Peeples and John Goodman (not that John Goodman) improvise stories with their guest, revisiting important moments in a fictional character’s life to find out how they died. Cue hilarious backstories and terrible ways to die. The Devil and God then decide if that person should go to heaven or hell. I would love to see an animated series of Exit Interview.
If you enjoy Whose Line Is It Anyway and Murderville on Netflix then you’ll probably enjoy Exit Interview.
The Known Zone
The funniest historical podcast
I’ll use historical loosely. Andy Haynes and Wilfred Padua know very little, so each week they research a historical event or person to talk about with a guest. I’d say maybe half of the podcast or about the topic, the rest of the time is then getting side tracked, riffing and taking about stand up – one of a handful of podcasts I don’t mind when they do this.
Examples of topics include the Salem With Trials, Napoleon and the Statue of Liberty, but this episode about all the funny ways people crossed the Berlin wall with Mike Cannon is great.
Never Seen It
The funniest film podcast
Kyle Ayers invites guests to rewrite a script for a film – they’ve never seen.
Cue hilarious film clichés and alternate takes on famous movie plotlines. There’s also a bunch of fun movie quizzes and games like guess the movie Kyle’s dad is describing from watching the trailer…
Listen to Andrew Collin rewrite A Star is Born (it’s certainly an alternate take on the modern version).
See my list of best film podcasts!
Hunk with Mike Bridenstine
The funniest topical panel show podcast
The episodes end with a fun bracket tournament which sees the eight best songs of a chosen year pitted against each other.
Pappy’s Flatshare
The funniest gameshow
Ben Clark, Matthew Crosby and Tom Parry and guests battle it out playing nonsensical musical and word play games – around the theme of being housemates.
If you loved Flights of the Conchords, you’ll probably like Pappy’s Flatshare. I’ve seen the show live a few times at Machynlleth Comedy Festival in Wales.
Wolf and Owl
The funniest podcast about random topics
The Wolf (Tom Davis) and Owl (Romesh Ranganathan) catch up with no real theme, but whatever they talk about it’s always funny. Unless the theme is Romesh making fun of Tom (which is always funny too. They also provide advice to listener emails.
In this episode, Tom and Rom talk about celebrities advertising products.
Bananas
The funniest podcast about weird news stories
Let’s face it, the news it down right depressing most of the time. Hosts Kurt Braunohler and Scotty Landes focus on the funniest and weirdest stories from around the world. The world is a funny place it turns out. I recommend following their Instagram account too, where they share stories which didn’t make the episodes. The cutting room floor is still a gold mine.
All Fantasy Everything
The funniest podcasts about best lists
Each episodes sees comedians Ian Karmel, David Gborie and Sean Jordan draft a pop culture list, from movies and music to fictional characters they’d want to fight.
Listen to this episode where they talk about movies/books/songs they would’ve written eventually. If you like this episode, I’d also recommend checking out their draft of the best moments from the Fast and the Furious franchise.
Beautiful/Anonymous
The funniest phone hot line
If you could talk to Chris Gethard, what would you say? Beautiful/Anonymous see Chris answer a phone call from an anonymous person for an hour. And he can’t hang up first. To give you an idea how wide topics range from, here are just some of the podcast episode titles; My Dad Was An Axe Murderer, Snoop Dogg Stole My Xbox and I’m a Sugar Baby…
Drifting Off With Joe Pera
The funniest relaxing podcast
If you like/need something to listen to when going to sleep like I do, look no further than Drifting Off With Joe Pera.
Released monthly, each 25 minute episode focuses on a different theme (history of clocks and videos games) and features fun historical facts and amusing interviews with guests with thematical soundscapes soundtracking your journey to relaxation.
If you like sleep stories on meditation apps like Calm, you’ll love this. I also recommend signing up to the Patreon for extended hour long episodes with longer soundscapes.
Check out this episode feature Red Dead voice and motion caption actor Roger Clark.
Dumb Pitches
The funniest podcast about bad ideas
Successful comedians tell Monica Nevi their worst ideas. They are all hilariously bad.
Shane Torres has lots of bad ideas. A LOT.
Dr. Gameshow
The funniest gameshow podcast
Hosted by Jo Firestone and Manolo Moreno play fun and original games – sent in by listeners.
Some are good, some are bad, but it’s worth it to hear Jo grow increasingly frustrated by rules which make no sense. Manolo singing on-the-spot songs also makes listening to Dr. Gameshow worth it too.
You could really pick any episode, they’re all unique.
Good Time Gal with Caitlin Peluffo
The funniest podcast about drinking
Caitlin Peluffo invites guests to share stories of when alcohol out drugs helped them make the worst decisions.
Congrats on the New…
The funniest improve podcast
Steen Raskopoulos invites guests to promote their new project. Except it totally made up and they have to field Steen’s questions on the spot.
This episode with Daniel Sloss had me in stitches, as he promotes his new TV show, The Love Hunter… Listen to find out all about it.
Don’t You Know Who I Am?
The funniest quiz show podcast
Last Podcast on the Left
The funniest true crime podcast
Who knew true crime could be this funny?
Ben Kissel, Marcus Parks and Henry Zebrowski tell in-depth stories about macabre murders and mysteries, whilst poking fun at the killers.
>>>Check out my favourite true crime YouTube channel, BuzzFeed Unsolved!<<<
Evil Men
The funniest podcast about bad guys
Tyrants, creeps and bozos from history to modern times are exposed in Evil Men. Find out all the misdeeds of Morrissey.
Dumb Love
The funniest podcast about the dumb things people do for love
Jen O’Neill Smith and Sally Brooks tell their favourite stories from around the world about love.
Listen to this episode about what two NASA nerds got up to…
The Peter Crouch Podcast
The funniest football podcast
Ever wondered what life would be like as a footballer?
Former England striker reveals all from training to matches to… the team bus. Peter Crouch has a funny story for every scenario. You won’t hear a more honest account of being a footballer.
Listen to this episode about nights out as a footballer.
See my list of best football podcasts and football documentaries!
Elis James and John Robins
The funniest radio show
It’s hard to describe what the show is about – it’s a little bit random. Expect made-up games, British topics of discussions and embarrassing listener emails. Listen to the best of 2021 to give you an idea.
Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster
The funniest food podcast
POPPADOMS OR BREAD!? is just one of the questions guests are asked on Off Menu (bread every time for me thanks).
The premise is simple, what would you have as your dream, starter, main course and dessert? There are stories of childhood delights and personal for gripes and dislikes.
Ed and James also talk about the best food in London.
Listen to Joe Thomas (of The Inbetweeners fame) walk through his menu, which is quite frankly a mess.
Netflix Is A Daily Joke
The funniest podcast about Netflix comedies
Short clips every day featuring the best stand up comedies on Netflix – a great way of finding what to watch on Netflix next if you struggle like me.
Parenting Hell
The funniest podcast about being a parent
Being a parent is challenging. Whether it’s a newborn baby or dealing with an angsty teen. Rob Beckett and Josh Widdicombe invite celebrity guests to tell funny stories as a parent and about their parents.
My Mate Bought a Toaster
The funniest podcast about your purchase history
Who knew you could make a podcast about people’s Amazon purchase history interesting let alone funny?
Tom Price picks his guests weirdest and most mundane purchases to reveal funny stories behind them.
Listen to the time Danny Wallace bought pegs (I know what you’re thinking but it’s genuinely funny).
Wheel of Misfortune
The funniest podcast about embarrassing stories
Fern Brady and Alison Hagan spin the wheel of misfortune and tell personal and listener stories on a topic from tattoos to travel.
Listen to the Wheel of Misfortune episode on terrible holidays.
You Look Nice Today
The funniest podcast about hairbrained money making schemes
While You Look Nice Today is no longer recording new episodes, it was one of the first comedy podcasts I subscribe too and still relisten to old episodes.
Make Up or Break Up
The funniest podcast about relationships
If you love Married at First Sight (which I do), then you’ll probably love Make Up or Break Up.
In this classic game of Mr and Mrs, Alyssa Al-Dookhi and John Deary ask a series of questions like most annoying habit which have hilarious answers. And could break up the couple.
Grubstakers
The funniest podcast about billionaires
Are all billionaires bad people? Probably.
Learn how they made their money and laugh at them with Grubstakers.
That’s a First!
The funniest podcast about stories of your first time
Maisie Adam and Tom Lucy invite guests to tell stories about their the first times in their life.
Listen to Romesh Ranganathan tell stories about shitting himself…
