What are some good ad-free podcasts?
What are some good ad-free podcasts?
So I've run my own show for just about ten years now. We've never had ads or sponsorships of any kind other than a Patreon plug at the very end.
When I go out into the world and listen to other podcasts I'm perpetually annoyed at the lengthy, frequent ad-breaks. I don't mind being reminded to engage or click on their link or go to a show's Ko-Fi page, but a two minute dollar shave club or AG1 ad is just too much. And, honestly, the amount of advertising dollars some shows take makes me question their integrity just a bit. I know it might be a bit old-fashioned to think that, but I can't help it.
What are you favorite sponsorship-free, ad-free podcasts?
Blowback is incredible, and has ads only at the beginning and end, so very skippable. I can't recommend Blowback enough. Each season covers the "behind the scenes" of different US atrocities, from the Iraq War, to Cuba, to Korea, to the Afghan War, to Cambodia. Any USian needs to listen to it especially to truly understand how and why US foreign policy acts in the manner it does.
Oh yeah I listened to a bunch of them, it was definitely very good. Pre and post ads are probably the most bearable sort, but I'm trying to avoid them altogether if possible. But for anyone with more tolerance than me: absolutely also recommend this one.
- Citations Needed
- Behind the News with Doug Henwood
- Economic Update with Richard D. Wolff
- Macro N Cheese
- Geopolitical Economy Report
- The Deprogram
- Actually Existing Socialism
- Revolutionary Left Radio
- Guerrilla History
- This Machine Kills
- Tech Won't Save Us
- Bad Faith
- The Socialist Program with Brian Becker
- QAnon Anonymous
- TrueAnon
Well, there's your problem is another one.
That's quite the pile of political shows! I'll dig through them and pick out the ones that hook me. Thanks for taking the time to link them all, makes it easier to use an online took to yank out the RSS feeds for subscription.
Note: I don't actually listen to podcasts myself (I struggle to process voices when doing other tasks, or for long periods of time) but my spouse enjoys it.
I've listened to this one before! Pretty interesting show, but unfortunately opens with several minutes of ads. Latest episode is about two and a half minutes of ads right off the bad, although one is their Patreon.
Fall of Civilizations Podcast by Paul Cooper.
He doesn't release very often, but when he does its high quality, very long and completely ad free.
It's a fantastic podcast I would suggest anyone to listen to, Paul is a excellent storyteller and manages to breathe incredible life into history, even if you might not be interested in it.
Sounds awesome! On the list.
This is probably the pinnacle of what the modern documentary format should be.
Cannot recommend it enough.
I'm behind on my listening, but this is a top tier podcast!
Information dense but delivered in such an engaging format.
I remember liking to "David Tennant does a podcast with". I don't remember any ads. Unfortunately it's over now
- The Cryptid Factor
- The Modern Mann (very few ads)
- Darknet Diaries (very few ads)
F1 related:
- Superlicense
- The Midfield F1 podcast
- For Formula 1's Sake
- Box of Neutrals
I assume the first one was a typo and you meant Cryptid Factor? Seems like a really cool show, but unfortunately opens straight up with ads. First one was for 1-800-Flowers and then on to one for Rocket Money.
These two popped up in my brain right away.
Thanks! Onto the RSS feed they go.
Give "the fall off civilisations" a go
Good Morning Johto is a fun Pokémon news podcast. They sort of do ads, but it’s made up shit. It’s funny.
Knowledge fight is my go to
I'll check it out!
Final v3 is funny cartoon man Noodle and his game-dev friend Sam talking about the creative industry. Mostly about why you shouldn't work in the creative industry.
Well There's Your Problem is two communists an anarchist exploring awful ways architecture and infrastructure can turn people into a homogeneous paste. Notably this one has slides to accompany the audio.
Kill James Bond is a review podcast for slagging off spy movies and related films.
A history of rock music in 500 songs is very good
Thanks for asking something I'd thought of asking but never gotten around to. Also, what's your podcast OP?
Haha, glad to be of service! I've already gotten several good recommendations that are syncing to my MP3 player as we speak.
I run a retro gaming podcast, you can find us here: https://retrowarriors.net/
Or just directly subscribe via RSS here: http://retrowarriors.libsyn.com/rss
If you’re into game dev or retro games in general, Dev Game Club is a small podcast where the hosts play old games and discuss their design + influence on games that would come later. I don’t think they even have a patreon lol
I am indeed! My show is a retro gaming show. Def adding this one, thanks!
Geeknights - 2 geeks talking about geeky stuff which is not just 1 but 3 different shows.
Ludology - talks about boardgame design
Self-hosted podcast - this one has a couple ads but all related to the tech and usually includes discounts
Darknet diaries- I think this has a bit of ads but can't remember right now
Hackaday - news about random stuff and cool projects
Just remembered people make games, but it's for patreon only
Walk The Pod is a daily-ish ramble chat on various topics. It only has a Patreon plug (https://walkthepod.com/)
Total Party Kill is a D&D actual play podcast that I have yet to hear an ad on. (https://www.theincomparable.com/tpk/)
Your Rivers Are Wrong is a podcast about storytelling. No ads here either. (https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/yraw-podcast)
I used to like kexp song of the day but they changed the format.
Now I like https://kutkutx.studio/category/song-of-the-day/feed
Also many good shows on WFMU, some music, some talk. https://wfmu.org/podcast
My favorites are:
- Downtown Soulville with Mr. Fine Wine
- Honky Tonk Radio Girl with Becky
- Techtonic with Mark Hurst
- Bucci (warning this one is weird but in a good way
Other good ad free ones:
- Birdnote. https://feeds.simplecast.com/OB7SrYSf
- Derrière le son (French language) https://feeds.podcastics.com/podcastics/podcasts/rss/5423_17676b1841af819ae181d6abb1a2e320.rss
- Molly White's Citation Needed (interesting but lower production value) https://www.spreaker.com/show/6019906/episodes/feed
Let me know if any of these have ads I'm pretty sure they all don't.
I'll have to sit down tomorrow to go through these ones, but thanks for listing them all out in such a nice format!
There’s a whole ecosystem of listener-supported podcasts using the “value for value” model popularized by “the Podfather” Adam Curry. You can find most of them on podcastindex.org or through a supported app like Podverse or Fountain.
The Dogg Zzone and Bigfeets.
Both absurd comedy by Cracked alum Robert Brockway, Seanbaby and Jason Pargin (the latter only for Bigfeets). Just a Patreon plug and nothing more.
Breaking Points
Went to listen to a bit of this one and was instantly hit with ads for the NFL and other stuff. Maybe you're on their Patreon feed or something?
I mostly listen to them on Youtube.
Do you mean normal ads from the platform, or ads which are presented by the show host? (Think LTT style)
Can you give a general idea of what sort of subject matter you're interested in?