# The 10 Best Podcasts Right Now

> ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini, asked 5 times each, rank The Daily as the #1 of the best podcasts right now, followed by Crime Junkie and The Joe Rogan Experience. The Daily (The New York Times). ChatGPT and Gemini put it first; the combined vote across all 15 answers made it #1.

Source: https://clankerlists.com/lists/best-podcasts-right-now · Collected 2026-10-10 · Podcasts

| Rank | Pick | ChatGPT | Claude | Gemini |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | [The Daily](https://clankerlists.com/items/the-daily-podcast) (The New York Times) | #1 | #3 | #1 |
| 2 | [Crime Junkie](https://clankerlists.com/items/crime-junkie) (True crime) | #6 | #2 | #5 |
| 3 | [The Joe Rogan Experience](https://clankerlists.com/items/the-joe-rogan-experience) | #14 | #1 | #2 |
| 4 | [This American Life](https://clankerlists.com/items/this-american-life) (Ira Glass) | #2 | — | #4 |
| 5 | [SmartLess](https://clankerlists.com/items/smartless) (Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett) | #8 | #5 | #3 |
| 6 | [Call Her Daddy](https://clankerlists.com/items/call-her-daddy) (Alex Cooper) | — | #4 | #6 |
| 7 | [The Ezra Klein Show](https://clankerlists.com/items/ezra-klein) (Politics, ideas, culture) | #3 | — | — |
| 8 | [The Rest Is History](https://clankerlists.com/items/the-rest-is-history-podcast) | #4 | — | — |
| 9 | [Good Hang with Amy Poehler](https://clankerlists.com/items/good-hang-with-amy-poehler) (Comedy/interviews) | #5 | #10 | — |
| 10 | [This Past Weekend with Theo Von](https://clankerlists.com/items/theo-von) | #9 | #6 | #13 |

## 1. The Daily

The New York Times' daily news show, hosted by Michael Barbaro, turns one big story into a tight, narrative twenty minutes. ChatGPT and Gemini both had it as their #1, and it's the clear consensus pick.

## 2. Crime Junkie

Two friends, Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat, retell true crime cases with warmth and a weekly rhythm that built a giant audience. It made every engine's list, and it's the very definition of a binge-friendly staple.

## 3. The Joe Rogan Experience

Joe Rogan's marathon conversations span comedy, fighting, science and controversy, and it's the biggest podcast in the world. Claude had it as its #1; others rated it lower, but nobody ignored its reach.

## 4. This American Life

Ira Glass's long-running public radio institution pairs themed stories with beautiful production, and it basically taught the genre how to tell stories. ChatGPT and Gemini love it; Claude left it off entirely.

## 5. SmartLess

Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes and Will Arnett surprise each other with a mystery guest and let the banter roll. Easygoing, funny and consistently charming, it landed in every engine's top list.

## 6. Call Her Daddy

Alex Cooper's candid, boundary-pushing interview show about relationships, fame and life made her a podcasting powerhouse. Claude and Gemini both rank it highly, while ChatGPT passed on it.

## 7. The Ezra Klein Show

The New York Times columnist sits down with thinkers and policymakers for long, curious conversations about politics, ideas and culture. ChatGPT had it near the top; the other two never mentioned it.

## 8. The Rest Is History

Historians Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook bring sharp, witty, endlessly digressive takes to everything from Rome to the Cold War. A British hit that ChatGPT adores and the others missed.

## 9. Good Hang with Amy Poehler

Amy Poehler's warm, funny interview show is built on real curiosity and a good-natured hang with her guests. ChatGPT rated it in the middle of its list every time; the others barely noticed it.

## 10. This Past Weekend with Theo Von

Theo Von's loose, strange, storytelling-heavy chats with comedians and oddballs have built a devoted fan base. Claude had it on its list every time, and it pulled votes from the other two as well.

## Lone wolves

- The Ezra Klein Show: only ChatGPT
- The Rest Is History: only ChatGPT
- Science Vs: only ChatGPT
- Ologies with Alie Ward: only ChatGPT
- Dan Carlin's Hardcore History: only Gemini
- Huberman Lab: only Gemini
- Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend: only Gemini
- Search Engine: only Gemini

## Questions

**What podcast should I listen to right now?**

Start with The Daily (The New York Times). Already heard it? Try Crime Junkie or, for something less obvious, The Rest Is History (only ChatGPT picked it).

**According to AI, what is #1 of the best podcasts right now?**

The Daily (The New York Times). ChatGPT and Gemini put it first; the combined vote across all 15 answers made it #1.

**Do ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini agree on the best podcasts right now?**

Partly. 5 of the 10 picks made all 3 AIs' lists. The biggest split was The Joe Rogan Experience: ChatGPT #14, Claude #1, Gemini #2.

**Which best podcasts right now did only one AI pick?**

The Ezra Klein Show (only ChatGPT); The Rest Is History (only ChatGPT); Science Vs (only ChatGPT); Ologies with Alie Ward (only ChatGPT); Dan Carlin's Hardcore History (only Gemini); Huberman Lab (only Gemini); Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend (only Gemini); Search Engine (only Gemini).

**How was this ranking of the best podcasts right now made?**

We asked ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini "What are the 10 best podcasts right now? Rank them from 1 to 10, best first." 5 times each, every time in a fresh chat with web search on, in 2026-10. A #1 earns 10 points and a #10 earns 1; each AI's points are averaged over its runs and each AI gets an equal say.