If you’ve ever sat in traffic wondering what to do with that dead hour or found yourself craving perspective while aimlessly scrolling through social media, you’re not alone. In 2024, podcasts have become the new currency of conversation. Whether you’re looking to decode India’s business scene, hear billionaires talk about failure, or understand the science behind your sleep, there’s a podcast for that.
And it’s not just a Western wave anymore. Indian creators have stepped up to the mic with global-level audio experiences. Here’s a curated list of six standout podcasts—Indian and international—that aren’t just good listens, they’re essential audio companions.
1. The Ranveer Show (TRS) – Hosted by Ranveer Allahbadia
Ranveer Allahbadia, aka BeerBiceps, one of my personal favourites btw, doesn’t just host conversations, he curates experiences. From spiritual gurus to Navy veterans, Bollywood actors to start-up founders, every episode feels like you’re eavesdropping on an afterparty for the ultra-curious. What sets TRS apart is its ability to switch lanes from motivation to meditation, from money to mythology, without losing the listener. The podcast doesn’t try to fit into a niche. It is the niche. Every podcast feels like you have had a bomb of knowledge dropped upon you, which redefines how you think.
2. Raj Shamani’s Podcast – Figuring Out
If TRS is a fireside chat, Raj Shamani’s podcast feels like coffee with that ambitious friend who’s always reading three books at once. “Figuring Out” taps into the millennial and Gen Z obsession with productivity, ambition, and smart money. Raj, a self-made entrepreneur himself, speaks in a language that’s deeply relatable, yet aspirational. His guests are disruptors and digital trailblazers, people who’ve figured out life, or at least parts of it. Expect real talk, minus the jargon.
3. Think School’s Indian Business Podcast – Hosted by Ganesh and Parsh
Think School isn’t just a podcast. I would call it a crash course in Indian economics disguised as binge-worthy storytelling. Ganesh and Parsh dissect Indian brands, business scandals, and marketing strategies with the flair of film critics and the precision of Harvard case studies. Think School doesn’t just explain what’s happening, it helps you understand why it matters. If you’re a curious Indian wondering how Tata, Zomato, or Byju’s became what they are, this one’s your sonic goldmine.
4. WTF is with Nikhil Kamath – The Podcast by India’s Youngest Billionaire
What do Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Narayana Murthy, and Sudha Murthy have in common? They’ve all been on WTF by Nikhil Kamath. And the conversations aren’t PR-polished, they’re honest, often meandering, and thoroughly disarming. Kamath, the Zerodha co-founder, brings the rare combo of credibility and curiosity. He doesn’t play host, he plays student. It’s one of the few shows where billionaires are allowed to sound unsure, vulnerable, even poetic.
5. Huberman Lab – Hosted by Dr. Andrew Huberman
Let’s head west. If your idea of self-improvement comes with a dose of science, the Huberman Lab is your go-to. Dr. Andrew Huberman, a neuroscientist at Stanford, unpacks topics like stress, focus, sleep, and cold exposure with clarity that feels like a TED Talk and a masterclass rolled into one. The episodes are long, but not a second feels wasted. Huberman makes the brain sound less like a mystery and more like a toolkit.
6. The Joe Rogan Experience – The OG of Podcasting
You can’t talk about modern podcasts without mentioning Joe Rogan. Love him or loathe him, Rogan’s show remains an unmatched playground of uncensored ideas. From Elon Musk lighting up on air to long-winded rants with comedians and scientists, Rogan keeps things raw and unscripted. His strength lies in what many media outlets lack: time and freedom of expression. Each episode feels like a late-night road trip conversation with someone far smarter, or at least more reckless, than you.
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Why These Podcasts?
Podcasts today aren’t just passive listening tools. They’re replacing textbooks, shrinking classrooms, and reshaping how we form opinions. Each of these shows whether homegrown or international offerings provide listeners with a doorway into a deeper understanding. They invite you not just to listen, but to think.
And that’s the quiet revolution we’re witnessing: in a world of 30-second reels and fleeting tweets, podcasts are winning attention the old-school way through storytelling, consistency, and trust.
So the next time you’re stuck in traffic, maybe don’t hit shuffle.Instead, tune into one of these shows and learn your way out. For the curious, the hungry, and the ones still figuring it out, one episode at a time.
Written by – Subham Choudhary