Comedy podcasts regularly top the charts, outperforming heavy-hitting news shows and the ever-popular true crime genre. Given the near-constant barrage of grim headlines, it’s no shock that people want a mental break and a few laughs with their favorite virtual pals.

If you’re new to the world of funny podcasts, cutting through the so-so and hyper-niche options can be messy. Fortunately, the comedy scene is broader and sharper than ever.

Top 10 comedy podcasts

Trying to uncover the funniest podcasts is an entirely subjective exercise. Still, we rounded up some of the top comedy podcasts by the numbers as well as a few sleepers that you shouldn’t, well, sleep on.  

1. The Bald and the Beautiful with Trixie Mattel and Katya Zamo

This one is an easy sell for fans of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” Featuring two of the show’s most beloved queens, The Bald and the Beautiful covers pop culture, modern beauty, and whatever else pops into its hosts’ slightly deranged heads. It’s more or less a must-listen for “Drag Race” completists, but even if you’ve never watched the show, Trixie and Katya’s rapport will make you feel like you’re hanging out with some old friends.

2. Comedy Bang Bang: The Podcast

It would be malpractice to list top comedy podcasts and skip this behemoth. Scott Aukerman’s project began as a radio show in 2009, which practically makes it podcast royalty. And it’s still going strong.

Each week, Aukerman brings on stand-up comedians, musicians, actors, and improvisers for a freewheeling riff session. Comedy diehards will love the outrageous new characters; newcomers will find it a solid gateway into fresh comedic talent.

3. Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend

Conan O’Brien has been a cornerstone of American comedy for decades, and naturally, he now has his own podcast. According to Audible, *“After 25 years at the Late Night desk, Conan realized that the only people at his holiday party are the men and women who work for him. Over the years...”*—and that isolation spurred him to invite guests for deeper, more personal chats.

The premise of Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend is straightforward: longer interviews with folks Conan barely had time for on TV. In practice, it’s a weekly dose of Conan’s trademark self-deprecation, plus plenty of jokes with his producer and assistant, all while swapping war stories with icons like Molly Shannon, Paul Rudd, and Tracy Morgan.

4. Doughboys

Doughboys is a testament to how talented comedians with podcasts can talk about pretty much anything and make it entertaining. On the surface, Doughboys is a chain restaurant review show wherein two friends and a guest discuss the highs and lows of a trip out to eat (or, occasionally, a takeout experience). But the rapport of hosts Mike Mitchell and Nick Wiger transforms it into something else — they’re like an old married couple, both for their relentless ribbing of each other and their obvious mutual affection.

5. The Flop House

“A bunch of dudes talking about bad movies” is not an uncommon theme in podcastiverse, but The Flop House is the rare exception that’s worth a listen. For one thing, hosts Dan McCoy, Stuart Wellington, and Elliott Kalan actually make an effort to diversify the on-mic talent by bringing on the occasional guest. For another, the Peaches (as the trio is affectionately known to fans) are as sensitive and affable as they are funny. You don’t even have to watch the movie in question to enjoy an episode — and given what they have to say about the movies in their deep dives, most of the time, you wouldn’t want to.

6. Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang

Another prime example of talent carrying the concept, Las Culturistas relies wholly on the charisma of its cohosts to propel it forward. Rogers and Yang (of SNL’s Gay Iceberg fame) have undeniable chemistry and charisma, and they’re able to easily bring their guests into the fold as they recall stories from their youth and dissect pop culture.

7. My Brother, My Brother and Me

My Brother, My Brother and Me is supposed to be an advice podcast hosted by the three McElroy brothers, Justin, Travis, and Griffin. But it’s really an excuse for these ebullient siblings to joke around and debate the awkward ins and outs of social niceties. It’s another long-time fixture of the podcast scene, so by this point, the show has plenty of its own inside jokes — including a podcast within a podcast called Munch Squad, all about fast food press releases. That said, the jovial brothers will easily appeal to new listeners.

8. Scam Goddess

Are you a fan of capers, cons, and grifts? As Apple Podcasts notes, it’s “the funny side of fraud from the Scam Goddess herself.” Host Laci Mosley is an enthusiastic follower of scams; she crowdsources unbelievable listener tales and digs into historical cons with a parade of savvy guests. The show’s worth it for Mosley alone—her quick wit and ad-libbing make each episode a raucous good time.

9. Stop Podcasting Yourself

OK, is Stop Podcasting Yourself basically just two comedians talking about whatever? Yes, but they also happen to be two very, very funny Canadians. Every week, Graham Clark and Dave Shumka welcome a guest (usually a Canadian comedian) and share their favorite things they’ve seen or heard. Since so many of the guests are up-and-coming talent from up north, there’s a good chance you’ll hear someone hilarious that you’d probably never find on an American comedy podcast.

10. Why Won’t You Date Me? with Nicole Byer

If you’ve watched Netflix’s ‘Nailed It!,’ you’ve seen host Nicole Byer’s hilarious, zero-filter approach to everything. She brings that vibe to Why Won’t You Date Me?—it’s an unapologetic deep dive into dating fails, personal stories, and whatever wild tangent grabs her (and her guests) along the way.

How do I share short comedy clips from my podcast on social media?

In Descript, you can highlight the funniest moments and then use Underlord to create short clips. Publish them directly or export the final videos to share on any social platform, which is a quick way to grow your audience.

Are there any award-winning comedy podcasts?

Yes. Many comedy podcasts have received awards from organizations like the Webbys and iHeartRadio. Shows that feature unique formats or strong comedic personalities often get recognized for their creativity.

How can I improve comedic timing when editing my podcast?

In Descript, you can edit dialogue like a text document. Trim awkward pauses and tighten punchlines by deleting words or silences. You can also use Studio Sound to clean up audio so each joke lands clearly.

How do I record a comedy podcast if my co-host is remote?

You can use Descript Rooms to record high-quality remote sessions with up to 4K video. Once recorded, bring the files into Descript to edit your audio and video, remove mistakes, and polish your show for release.

Frequently asked questions