10 Podcasts That Are Perfect to Cook To
Podcasts that make chopping, stirring and washing up a whole lot more entertaining.
There are two kinds of podcasts to listen to while cooking: The ones that make you want to put down your knife and pay attention, and the ones that make the rhythms of cooking feel like the most entertaining part of your day.
The best kitchen companions, though, fall somewhere in between. They’re absorbing enough to keep you company, but easygoing enough that missing 30 seconds while you wrestle with a stubborn jar lid isn’t a disaster. Here are 10 podcasts worth queuing up the next time you’re making dinner.
“The Sporkful”
Food is the subject, but “The Sporkful” is really about people — how we eat, why we eat the way we do, and the often surprising stories hiding behind everyday meals.
It’s curious, funny and frequently much more thoughtful than you expect. A particularly good choice when you want food-related conversation without feeling as though you’re listening to a cooking class.
“This American Life”
Few podcasts are better at making ordinary life feel fascinating. “This American Life” builds each episode around a theme and fills it with reported stories, interviews and personal accounts that will hook you in and move you.
It’s particularly good for a long Sunday cooking session when you’ve got several hours of prep ahead of you. Put on an episode, start chopping – and suddenly, you’re halfway through dinner.
“Seasoned”
We’d be remiss not to mention our own food-related offering . “Seasoned,” our six-part series, is a deep dive into the lives of five incredible women who helped to define American food culture: MFK Fisher, Cecilia Chiang, Lena Richard, Edna Lewis and Elena Zelayeta.
Our episode on Edna Lewis is a fascinating look at the Virginia chef and cookbook author whose writing and cooking helped transform how Americans understood Southern food. It runs about 31 minutes – making it just about perfect for listening while whipping up dinner.
“The Moth”
For a kitchen soundtrack that feels like a room full of fascinating people, try “The Moth.” The premise is simple: Real people get onstage and tell true stories from their lives.
The episodes vary enormously in subject and tone, which makes it easy to dip in and out. And because you’re listening to one person’s story rather than trying to follow an elaborate investigative plot, it’s forgiving if you have to turn your attention to the frying pan for a minute.
“Table Manners” with Jessie & Lennie Ware
What could be more appropriate for dinner prep than a podcast recorded around a dinner table? Jessie Ware and her mom, Lennie, invite guests from the worlds of music, culture and politics over for food and conversation.
It’s warm, funny and gloriously nosy. The guest list has included everyone from beloved singers Dolly Parton and Cher to actor Stanley Tucci and Beatles great Paul McCartney, and the show has released more than 200 episodes for you to choose from.
“The Food Programme”
For cooks who want to know more about the world behind their ingredients, “The Food Programme” is an excellent companion. The long-running BBC Radio 4 series investigates virtually every aspect of what we eat, from farming and food production to changing tastes, food politics and the stories behind individual ingredients.
It’s less about recipes and more about the bigger picture — which makes it particularly good listening when you’re cooking.
“You’re Dead to Me”
Not a food podcast at all — “You’re Dead to Me” is BBC Radio 4’s comedy history podcast, hosted by author Greg Jenner, in which a comedian and an expert historian join him to explore a particular moment, person or subject from the past.
The format is perfect for kitchen listening: The stories are fascinating but easy to follow, the conversation is lively, and you can learn something without feeling as though you’re sitting through a lecture. The huge back catalogue covers topics ranging from Stonehenge and the Tudors to ice cream, high heels, Broadway and Bollywood — so there’s almost certainly an episode to match your vibe.
“House of R”
For anyone who likes getting very deep into a fictional universe, “House of R” is an ideal cooking companion. Hosted by Mallory Rubin and Joanna Robinson, the Ringer podcast goes far beyond straightforward TV recaps, unpacking mythology, character arcs, themes, storytelling techniques and the wider histories of worlds including “Game of Thrones,” “Star Wars,” “The Lord of the Rings” series and most every offering from the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
“Radiolab”
For easier cooking sessions when you have some time to stop and think – say, while your sauce simmers – “Radiolab” is hard to beat. The award-winning WNYC podcast explores science, philosophy, culture and the strange questions hiding inside everyday life, using immersive sound design, fascinating interviews and plenty of narrative twists.
It’s a particularly good kitchen companion because each episode feels like a story unfolding around you. You might start chopping only to end up thinking about memory, language, time, animals – even what it means to be human.
“Gastropod”
Hosted by Cynthia Graber and Nicola Twilley, “Gastropod” investigates the hidden stories behind the things we eat, from ancient feasts and chili peppers to food technology and farming. The hosts have a wonderfully playful chemistry, which makes even the nerdier subjects feel like a conversation between two very entertaining friends.