The Podcast Pantheon: 101 Podcasts That Changed How We Listen--From Wtf to Serial

Spanning the most popular podcast genres--true crime, comedy, sports, relationships, and more--culture critic and Vulture's Start Here columnist Sean Malin introduces the first comprehensive canon in podcast history. Featuring a foreword by award-winning actor and producer Jon Hamm.

The Golden Age of podcasts is upon us. With over fifty official podcast networks, more than three million programs of every imaginable category available for download, and tens of millions of unique listens and views every week in the US alone--plus, our favorites being adapted into dozens of beloved films, TV series, and books--podcasts are now part of the fabric that makes up our everyday global media. Finally, here is an exclusive insider's perspective told through 101 different shows across dozens of genres.

The Podcast Pantheon is the first book of its kind: A resource for discovering podcasts and learning more about how this multibillion-dollar industry came into being from the geniuses who created it.

Delving into genres of all kinds--including fashion, food, health, sex, tech, and more--Malin profiles all the top podcasts, from Serial to Comedy Bang! Bang!, guiding fans to:

• Find out more about their favorite shows and how they got started.
• Learn about each podcast's influences and impact on culture, history, future shows, and the industry at large.
• Hear exclusive stories and enjoy never-before-seen behind-the-scenes photos from favorite hosts.
• Discover hidden gems, whether an entirely new podcast, a new-to-you genre, or something reminiscent of an old favorite.

Readers will find podcasts worth listening to and get expert advice on the best episodes to start with, solving one of the biggest and most intimidating hurdles when trying to dive into a longstanding show. Malin's easy-to-read profiling and titillating exploration of 101 podcasts offers something for everybody, whether you've been listening to podcasts for years, are new to them, or are looking to start your own.

EXPERT KNOWLEDGE: A culture critic since 2007 and the writer behind Vulture's hit podcasting column Start Here, Sean Malin has interviewed and connected with the world's top podcasters, including Marc Maron, Conan O'Brien, Nicole Byer, Ira Glass, and Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey, among many others, and has the inside scoop on the most popular and award-winning podcasts.

A MUST-HAVE LISTENER'S COMPANION: Dip in and out of this enticing guide that's perfect for beginners and serious listeners alike. Profiled podcasts include:

• WTF with Marc Maron
• My Favorite Murder
• Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend
• Office Ladies
• Why Won't You Date Me?
• The Accessible Stall
• Stuff You Should Know
• Wait, Wait . . . Don't Tell Me!
• How Did This Get Made?
• Fresh Air
• The Moth
• S-Town
• Hollywood Handbook
• Doughboys
• Bad with Money
• Welcome to Night Vale
• And many more!

FAN FAVORITES AND NEW DISCOVERIES: Sean Malin reveals fascinating information about 100+ shows and their talented hosts, tells you where to listen, and offers his favorite episode pick for each. His wide-ranging and comprehensive overview gives ample opportunity to discover something new to dive right into.

Perfect for:

• Podcast enthusiasts and new listeners
• Those in search of new podcasts to devour
• Podcast creators and anyone interested in starting their own podcast
• Foodies, artists, entrepreneurs, fashionistas, parents, teachers, fitness enthusiasts, newshounds, and many more
• Gift-giving to podcast junkies and pop culture fans
• Media professionals, scholars, educators, historians, and consumers

Author: Sean Malin
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Published: 09/16/2025
Pages: 240
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.35lbs
Size: 8.50h x 6.70w x 1.10d
ISBN: 9781797232249


Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 08/04/2025
Kirkus Reviews 08/15/2025

About the Author
Sean Malin is a culture critic whose writing and speaking on film, comedy, and food, among other topics, have been published by the New York Times, Eater, Austin Chronicle, and the Los Angeles Times. A participant in the inaugural critics class of Current TV's The Rotten Tomatoes Show, he has since 2019 been Vulture's Start Here columnist, where he conducts deep dives into the defining episodes of the world's funniest podcasts. Sean lives between California and Texas.