Top 10 Podcasts of 2022
“This kind of long-term storytelling in podcasting is more than just ‘fine.’”
While I didn’t notice any immediate patterns for my literary sensibilities in 2022, I uncovered an immediate one for podcasting. As I transitioned from living in the hub of themed entertainment to moving away from them for perhaps the final time, I found myself drawn to theme park podcasts more than I ever have before. I’ve always enjoyed having them in my feed, but in 2022, they were like a life raft, keeping me afloat and tethered to a specific passion I’ll always cherish. Minor entries in my feed became prominent must-listens as soon as new episodes rolled in. Some past favorites became dopamine hits whenever their logos popped up in my notification bar. Theme parks could come with me even when I left them in the past.
It’s a microcosm for what I’ve always loved about the medium, really. Beyond the whole “they feel like your friends” thing, there’s truly a podcast for any niche interest, passion, or hobby you have. (I just subscribed to a Shakespeare one!) There might not be shows about Disney World and Universal Studios on television or movies about them in the theaters, but in the world of podcasting, there exists all the discussion and celebration I could ask for. That’s valuable. In previous years, if you loved an actor or had nostalgia for something like Blue’s Clues and Steve Burns, once that thing wrapped, it kind of went to the ether. Now, I follow Steve Burns on TikTok. The same is true in podcasting; Adam Richman has a show! I loved him on Man v. Food! Tyson Apostol has a show! I loved him on Survivor! Brian Barrett has one! I loved him on WEEI when I was growing up! So, really, podcasting is not only a way to stay connected to loved ones and “friends.” It’s a way to stay connected to the interests that ignite passion within us!
Honorable Mentions: Can’t Wait for Christmas, Every Single Album: One Direction, The Meals That Made Me, Off the Pike with Brian Barrett, The Pod Has Spoken, R U Talkin’ RHCP RE: Me?, StoryCorps, Unofficial Universal Orlando Podcast
Retired from My Feed: MuggleCast, Pod Save America, The Ringer-Verse, Song Exploder, You Made It Weird with Pete Holmes
I also want to give a special shoutout to three podcasts that are hosted by people I know personally, so it would be weird to rank them. Goodbye Mello Brick Road has had a tremendous fourth season so far. Spoilers! continues to roll with their movie reviews, live episodes, and trivia contests. I was honored to discuss The Nightmare Before Christmas with them this year; those guys do a bang-up job. And, last but not least, Post Park Broadcast is just about the best thing I have the pleasure of listening to on a weekly (or bi-weekly, occasionally) basis. Hosted by Hector Servin, it is a tremendous glimpse into the world of all things Disney and Universal. It comes with my highest recommendation.
10. The PosCast
Taxes, Diane Warren Oscar nominations, and new PosCast logos. Every year, Joe Posnanski’s and Michael Schur’s auditory menagerie has a new emblem. This year, now that they’re fully under the umbrella of Dan Le Batard and the goons of Meadowlark Media, maybe their logo will actually stay as the permanent one. It features some traditional banners and Posnanski and Schur as PosCast bobbleheads, resembling a Kansas City Royal and a Boston Red Sox, respectively. (Though, I can’t help but think of Joe as a Milwaukee Brewer, if my eyes move too quickly.) The number one sports podcast in America might have seen the most regularly uploaded PosCast slate ever in 2022, as Joe and Mike seemed committed to dishing on baseball nicknames, football happiness scales, and 1990s trading card packs on a weekly basis, rather than a “whenever” schedule. As always, their final episode of the year vaulted them back into the top ten, as this year’s Holiday Draft (for holiday lyrics) didn’t even come close to disappointing. It’s the best tradition in all of podcasting; get on it, folks; I’m always going to bellow its praises.
9. The Town
Three podcasts are new to the list this year and The Town is one of them. After serving as the editor of The Hollywood Reporter for many calendars, Matthew Belloni made the complete transition to both his newsletter, Puck, and to his podcasting home, The Ringer, in 2022. The Town is his flagship creation as it aims to cover the ins-and-outs of Hollywood and its surrounding industries from voices who are either affixing their ears to the star-laden ground or are typically glossed over for credit in favor of the Ryan Reynoldses and Sydney Sweeneys of the world. His breakdowns of behind-the-scenes decision-making are always fascinating, but my favorite aspects of The Town are twofold: when he’s ready to unpack an emergency, like Bob Iger returning to replace Bob Chapek as CEO of Disney, and when he’s ready to shoot the shit with Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw about arbitrary Hollywood categories like “power rankings” and “stock up, stock down.” It’s breezy, efficient, always insightful, and has become an integral part of my regular listening rotation.
8. Tea Time
There’s something special about Tea Time that I’m reminded of every December when the Spotify Wrapped is unveiled for everyone and hosts Amelia Wedemeyer, Liz Kelly, and Kate Halliwell (along with producer Kaya McMullen) discuss their pride and shame over what the music streamer determined to be their “year in music.” It’s the perfect encapsulation of how Tea Time can focus on a fun tradition that many (especially youths) love to partake in and provide their unique, cutting commentary on it. Described as a “weekly pop culture podcast,” Tea Time is so much more. Yes, the hosts delve into the week’s gossip, strange headlines, virality, and unanswerable questions. But they also debate who the Sexiest Man Alive should be, along with the merits of who it was. They devote “Cringe Mode” segments to certain themes (January 2022 was dubbed “Chanuary,” as they revisited the filmography of Channing Tatum). They have a rollicking good time reminiscing about when Justin Bieber mocked Maria Menounos’ laugh. If that video clip just popped into your mind vividly, you have the sensibility needed to listen to Tea Time on the Ringer Dish feed.
7. The Watch
I went to a movie theater in the spring and saw an ad for an upcoming Hulu series entitled The Bear. The actors were recognizable, but I didn’t know them by name. The quality of the images were also a bit blurry, but I couldn’t tell if that was the theater’s fault or the marketing department’s fault. Either way, I leaned over to my girlfriend and remarked, “That’ll be reviled.” Nothing about it fit the scheme of what usually portends a quality television binge. But a certain podcast flipped me on it. Without this podcast, I wouldn’t have ever given it a chance because I trust their tastes. This podcast is a perennial favorite of mine. What more is there really to be said about The Watch? Twice a week, longtime friends Chris Ryan and Andy Greenwald reconvene on the podcast feeds of The Ringer to discuss the television shows they’re into (or, in the case of Andy and House of the Dragon this year, not so into) and the state of the industry, writ large. This year’s slate of shows was strong as Ryan and Greenwald celebrated major hits like Andor (along with multiple appearances from show creator Tony Gilroy) and The White Lotus, while also turning savvy television watchers onto more under-the-radar hits, like The Bear. Their coverage of Better Call Saul’s final season was my personal highlight, though, even if I wish Pachinko got more time from them.
6. Little Gold Men
For a podcast that mostly focuses on Vanity Fair roundtables about the various awards races (namely the Oscars and Emmys), alongside interviews with the people campaigning in them (this year featured Michelle Yeoh, James Cameron, and Adam Sandler, among others), it might seem like a high position on the list. However, I’ve found the Vanity Fair team to be extremely personable in a subject that could be grating if done wrong. Katey Rich is a superb host and Richard Lawson is consistently hilarious. Plus, their prognostications are always pragmatic when it comes to the awards race. Awards season podcasts can tend to delve into blue sky hopefuls without ever focusing on what the trends and circuits are telling us. That is to say, they don’t dismiss something even if they don’t like it. It’s refreshing to have that and lean editing, but the podcast is also elevated by hearing from those who made the films and shows in the mix.
5. Blank Check with Griffin & David
Last year’s number one still cracks the top five this year! I think a fraction of the novelty wore off, but I’d rather have that happen than never feel as if Blank Check has become a comforting part of the rotation. I was deeply invested in their 2022 March Madness (I just couldn’t get Early Spielberg across the finish line) and even more invested in the slate of filmmakers Griffin Newman and David Sims covered. Blank Check unpacks directors’ filmographies one movie at a time and their 2022 selections allowed for guests like Lin-Manuel Miranda, Patton Oswalt, Colin Quinn, Timothy Simons, and Rachel Zegler to appear to talk about them. The year began with Jane Campion (and almost led into The Power of the Dog as a Best Picture winner in real time, but CODA had other plans) before curving into Sam Raimi, just in time for the horror director’s return to the superhero genre. (The Raimi miniseries had one of my favorite titles: “Podcast Me to Hell.”) The summer featured a quick detour into Bob Fosse and one of the best movies ever covered on the show (All That Jazz) before the March Madness winner, Stanley Kubrick. Can’t be mad about it, especially with The Shining on Halloween! The year also ended brilliantly with a Henry Selick miniseries and the year’s sweatiest miniseries title: “Ben Hosley’s The Podmare Before Castmas.” Those titles just don’t miss.
4. Podcast: The Ride
The sensibility taken by Blank Check towards movies is humorous, lacking in self-seriousness, interested in re-appraisals, and willing to relish in the weird mess these cultural institutions and mediums have. In that sense, Podcast: The Ride is like the Blank Check of theme park podcasts. It’s not formal, rigid, or segmented. It’s simply three earnest comedians (Scott Gairdner, Mike Carlson, and Jason Sheridan) who discuss the unique and colorful aspects of our society that are niche and seasonal. If it was beloved in childhood (not in a Stranger Things/1980s nostalgia way) and now exists as a weird anomaly, Podcast: The Ride is game to cover it. Think less that they cover Chuck E. Cheese and more that they cover Count Chocula. Think less McDonald’s PlayPlace and more Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville. If the vibes are correct, Podcast: The Ride is there. They cover a lot more than just theme park rides, though. Their feed this year also included dives into the Na’vi, Flintstones-A-Palooza, Planet Hollywood, and the Contemporary Resort. But when they do cover staples of Disney and Universal, it’s awesome to have their light, ribbing, specifically-engaged sensibilities tackling topics that are as well-known as some of their other installments are rare. And sometimes, it’s even more fun to hear them rip into Doctor Doom’s Fear Fall or Disney’s America than it is to hear them discuss something beloved like the PeopleMover (sans their yearly Haunted Mansion progressions). I even enjoyed exploring their archives this year with episodes about CityWalk and Canobie Lake Park to savor. This is definitely the best new show I added to my rotation this year!
3. The Big Picture
After many years circling the list, The Big Picture finally cracks the top three! Sean Fennessey’s hub for all things movies at The Ringer has always been a favorite of mine, but the output from him and the surrounding team (Amanda Dobbins, Chris Ryan, Bobby Wagner, and a flurry of Ringer hosts and guest filmmakers) was exceptionally strong in 2022. The structure of The Big Picture is to cover the latest news and reviews in cinematic releases and the film awards season. The thesis of The Big Picture, however, is to celebrate the art form and let people know about all the incredible stories that are just waiting to be taken in by them at nearby multiplexes. While Fennessey may feel perennially anxious about the state of the industry, there’s a lot of reason for optimism and I think that shines through — even when they don’t realize it. While I’m not always on board with their reviews, the Movie Drafts, Movie Auctions, and fun ranking games are undeniable.
2. Comedy Bang Bang
Another podcast that has long been circling the rankings, Comedy Bang Bang finally arrives in the top three thanks to one of the strongest years it’s ever had. In a season that was lacking in frequent appearances from some classic staples (Jon Gabrus, Mike Hanford, Neil Campbell, Lauren Lapkus), the Scott Aukerman-hosted improv show did not suffer. Instead, in its thirteenth year, CBB brought new indie comedy stars to the forefront, like Lily Sullivan and Dan Lippert, and soared. There were plenty of episodes with fan-favorite celebrity guests (Jon Hamm, Phoebe Bridgers), but also plenty with some CBB regulars. Yet, it was still the newer stars that shone the brightest for the podcast and made its 2022 campaign one of its best so far. I’m thinking most primarily of Ned Belanela, the busiest man in the world, and — of course — Dr. Sweetchat the Small Talk Robot, which is responsible for maybe the hardest I’ve laughed at Comedy Bang Bang ever? Both were brought to life by the great Gil Ozeri.
1. The WDW Radio Show
It is time. Just take a look at the titles for some of the episodes Lou Mongello released in 2022 for WDW Radio, the definitive podcast about Walt Disney World. “Past, Present, and Future of Frontierland,” “Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort Report,” “Top Ten Smells in Walt Disney World,” “Top Ten Ways to Celebrate the Holidays in Walt Disney World,” “Three Bridges Live Review.” That’s just a small sampling of all the wonder and joy provided by Mongello and his merry menagerie of theme park experts who stop by to take part in those good, deeply good feelings. Listening to Lou Mongello’s podcast about Disney World is like turning a corner on Main Street and seeing Cinderella Castle for the first time or stepping into the MCO baggage claim and seeing decal advertisements for Epcot’s current festival. Yes, the topic may not be broad enough to recommend to everyone, but the motivations and tones of the show are kind and enchanting and cozy enough to recommend to anyone. I truly believe that Lou has done as much to make the Disney community a more welcoming and more enriching place as Walt Disney did. He is a pillar of the community and his podcast is only one element of all that he does for Disney and for the people who make it worth caring about. It’s long overdue for my title of “Podcast of the Year” because it’s always going to be the podcast I love the most.
More from the Best of 2022:
See also:
My 20 Favorite Podcasts of 2017
My 15 Favorite Podcasts of 2018
My 20 Favorite Podcasts of 2019
