I love listening to podcasts while running – the best podcasts for me involve two or more people having a conversation – I tend to tune out audiobooks or single person podcasts.

Running Podcasts

Get-Fit Guy’s Quick and Dirty Tips

This is only tangentially related to running, but this is a short, fun podcast by Brock Armstrong. Sometimes he talks about fun exercise fads, sometimes weight lifting. He seems like a genuinely all around nice guy.

Marathon Training Academy

Wife and husband podcasting and running coaching team Angie and Trevor, this podcast has lots of interviews, lots of marathon race reports (not during current marathon dearth of course).

Run to the Top Podcast

This podcast is in-depth interviews with runners and running related people. Claire Bartholic, the host, recently interviewed Jeff Galloway (12/30/20) and this was an excellent episode.

Ultrarunnerpodcast.com

I have zero plans of running an ultramarathon, but I love this podcast. The host, Eric Schranz, interviews ultrarunners, sometimes there are product reviews. Why do I love this one? Often the focus is not on how easy and fun ultramarathons are, but what happens when things get very tough, 60 miles in to a 100 mile race, people hallucinating, having to DNF, etc., which always helps give me motivation when trying to complete a 20 mile long run.

Runners without Limits

Coach Heather and her friend and coaching client, Jen, talk about all things running related. These runners are into Disney races, something I’ve never done and have zero interest in doing, but their podcast is very enjoyable for me. These two women are much closer to my speed than many of the runners in the other podcasts I listen to, and are two women who are doing their best to incorporate running into their very busy lives.

Non-running Podcasts

The History Chicks

This is one of my all time favorite podcasts.  The podcasters are two very smart women who cover historical women from all times and places.  Every episode is heavily researched – they will read multiple books, watch movies, and go deep on the subject before each episode, the amount of work for each episode is mind-blowing. Lately they have branched out and focused on many African American women, something I have very little knowledge of but am enjoying thoroughly. It is really informative but also easy to listen to while running. These women are so enthusiastic about their topics that I actually find myself deeply sympathetic towards women like Wallis Simpson and Marie Antoinette.

Fighting in the War Room –  A movies and pop-culture podcast

Four movie critics talk about movies, TV shows, and random parts of their lives.  Actually, lately it is very little movie reviews and more just random conversation. I like this podcast. I don’t actually go to see movies, so it is interesting that this makes my list.

Lovett or Leave It

This has a “slightly” political bend, but it is funny and covers current news topics.  The host Jon Lovett is a former Obama speech writer, and I look forward to listening to this one every Saturday morning on my run. I also very much enjoy What A Day and Pod Save America, two more Crooked media podcasts.

Oh No Ross and Carrie

They show up so you don’t have to.  Ross and Carrie are two Southern Californians who like to test out fringe science, spirituality, and claims of the paranormal.  This podcast is so much fun, but also informative, like joining the Mormons or learning about Flat Earthers.  They tend to be pretty skeptical, but I too am a skeptical person, so I really like this one. This was my go-to podcast on runs in 2014, when I was experiencing high anxiety all the time and switched from music to podcasts running to help distract my too-busy brain. I started with the Mormons, but I’ve stayed for everything (except the Arrythmia series, any mention of bodily fluids is not for me.)