23 Best “Why” Podcasts That Answer Big Questions to Listen to (2026)

Radiolab is on a curiosity bender. We ask deep questions and use investigative journalism to get the answers. A given episode might whirl you through science, legal history, and into the home of someone halfway across the world. The show is known for innovative sound design, smashing information into music. It is hosted by Lulu Miller and Latif Nasser. more

Why do I feel stuck? How can I become more creative? What can I do to improve my relationships? If you've ever asked yourself these questions, you're not alone. On Hidden Brain, we help you understand your own mind — and the minds of the people around you. (We're routinely rated the #1 science podcast in the United States.) Hosted by veteran science journalist Shankar Vedantam. more

Brains On!® is a science podcast for curious kids and adults from Brains On Universe. Each week, a different kid co-host joins Molly Bloom to find answers to fascinating questions about the world sent in by listeners. Like, do dogs know they're dogs? Or, why do feet stink? Plus, we have mystery sounds for you to guess, songs for you to dance to, and lots of facts -- all checked by experts. Sales and Distribution by Lemonada Media https://lemonadamedia.com/ more

Every week Chris Hayes asks the big questions that keep him up at night. How do we make sense of this unprecedented moment in world history? Why is this (all) happening? This podcast starts to answer these questions. Writers, experts, and thinkers who are also trying to get to the bottom of them join Chris to break it all down and help him get a better night's rest. more

Should I buy a house? Why do I say 'like' so much? Should Gen Z bother to save for retirement?Explain It to Me is the hotline for the issues that matter to your life. Send us your questions about health, personal finance, relationships, and anything else that matters to you. Host Jonquilyn Hill will take you on a journey to find the answers, whether it's to the halls of Congress or the local bar. You'll get the answers you were looking for, and sometimes ones you didn't expect — and always with a dose of humor. New episodes every Sunday. Part of Vox and the Vox Media Podcast Network. more

A Podcast For Curious Kids

Why do news anchors all sound the same? Do wolves really howl at the moon? How did Elvis imitators take over Las Vegas wedding chapels? On ELT, you call with a question, we find you an answer. Our helpline is open 24-7. Call 833-RING-ELT or send an audio message to ****@gimletmedia.com.Subscribe to Every Little Thing PLUS by clicking here and access all episodes of Every Little Thing ad-free. more

Hannah Fry and Dara Ó Briain tackle listeners' conundrums with the power of science!

Research psychologist Angela Duckworth (author of 'Grit') and tech and sports executive Mike Maughan really like to ask people questions, and they believe there's no such thing as a stupid one. So they have a podcast where they can ask each other as many 'stupid questions' as they want. New episodes each week. 'No Stupid Questions' is a production of the Freakonomics Radio Network.To get every show in the Freakonomics Radio Network without ads and a monthly bonus episode of Freakonomics Radio, start a free trial for SiriusXM Podcasts+ on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. more

Unexplainable takes listeners right up to the edge of what we know…and then keeps on going. The Unexplainable team — Noam Hassenfeld, Julia Longoria, Byrd Pinkerton, and Meradith Hoddinott — tackles scientific mysteries, unanswered questions, and everything we learn diving into the unknown. New episodes Mondays and Wednesdays. From Vox and the Vox Media Podcast Network. more

'The Joy of Why' is a Quanta Magazine podcast about curiosity and the pursuit of knowledge. The mathematician and author Steven Strogatz and the cosmologist and author Janna Levin take turns interviewing leading researchers about the great scientific and mathematical questions of our time. New episodes are released every other Wednesday. Quanta Magazine is a Pulitzer Prize winning, editorially independent online publication launched and supported by the Simons Foundation to illuminate big ideas in science and math through public service journalism. Quanta 's reporters and editors focus on developments in mathematics, theoretical physics, theoretical computer science and the basic life sciences, emphasizing timely, accurate, in-depth and well-crafted articles for its broad discerning audience. In 2023, Steven Strogatz received a National Academies Eric and Wendy Schmidt Award for Excellence in Science Communications partly for his work on 'The Joy of Why.' more

Closer To Truth presents the world's greatest thinkers exploring humanity's deepest questions in Cosmos, Life, Consciousness, and Meaning. Engage new and diverse ways of thinking. Appreciate intense debates. Seek your own answers. more

Science you can trust. Questions that matter. Join Professor Brian Cox and a panel of the world's top scientists and experts as they tackle your questions about some of the biggest science challenges facing society today. Can we cure cancer? How do you separate nutrition fact from fiction? What do climate change and the march of AI mean for our future? Could we live forever? Each episode is recorded in front of a live audience and it's their questions that drive the debate. Hear from the experts who actually know what they're talking about, including Adam Rutherford, Helen Sharman, George Monbiot, Giles Yeo, Jeanette Winterson, Rory Cellan-Jones, Paul Nurse, Kevin Fong and You, Me and the Big C 's Lauren Mahon. With a focus on accuracy, openness, and debate, A Question of Science brings you the latest on what we know, what we don't, and where science might take us next. A BBC Studios production for the Francis Crick Institute, an independent charity and world-leading research lab. more

The extraordinary and hidden histories behind everyday objects and actions

One big question at a time. Explored, untangled, and (possibly) solved. Self-improvement is everywhere but most of it's overly simplistic, shouty, and backed by vibes, not evidence. I'm Ed Stott, former BBC & ABC journalist turned independent audio doco maker, obsessed with figuring out how to live better. (That obsession once led to 50 stand-up gigs in 6 months… but more on that later.) Each month, I tackle one big, messy life question like 'What's my purpose?' or 'Should I quit my job?' and get real answers from the world's sharpest minds. No fluff. Just big ideas, explored creatively, to help you make sense of your life. more

Ready to break your brain? Particles of Thought , the hit video podcast from the producers of NOVA is back with new mind-expanding conversations with scientists on the edge. Host Hakeem Oluseyi dives into how to hack your own anxiety, the surprising connection between dark matter and black holes, the secrets of animal communication, the hidden geometry shaping our world, and even what it means to be human. Along the way, he tackles big questions, uncovers surprising answers, and opens up entirely new ways to think. Learn more about NOVA and subscribe to our YouTube channel. more

Popular Science answers your most outlandish, mind-burning questions—from the everyday things you've always wondered to the bizarre things you never thought to ask. Join our editors as they explain it all, with new episodes every other Wednesday. Submit a question for a future episode at https://popsci.com/ask more

Ever wonder if your pet is lying to you, what's inside a black hole, or whether you'd survive being cryogenically frozen? With infectious curiosity, cartoonist and former roboticist Jorge Cham makes science fun and accessible as he answers your biggest questions on the ScienceStuff podcast. more

What makes us human? How can I find purpose in life? How can my relationship survive a rough patch? What do I say to a friend who's suffering? Does any of this mean anything at all? It's easy to lose sight of fundamental human concerns amid the churn of the news cycle and the demands of every day. Each week on The Permanent Questions, host David Brooks seeks to return them to our attention through thoughtful conversation with the world's deepest thinkers. more

'Will my bacon sandwich kill me?', 'Is vaping better than smoking?', 'How do you become an astronaut?' - just some of the Big Questions we ask some of the brightest minds behind Oxford science. Join us in each podcast as we explore a different area of science. more

The podcast for curious minds. Every Wednesday, Emma Kennedy delves into the science and psychology of why we are the way we are. Emma is joined by leading experts and some of science's brightest minds to answer the big questions you never knew how to ask. Why do people join cults? Why do we need the moon? Why are we drawn to evil? Why do we have fetishes? Find out all of this and more on Why? from the makers of Oh God, What Now? and The Bunker . Follow us on social media: Threads Instagram Bluesky Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. more

Hosted by scientist Dr Matt Agnew, Why Though? is Australia's new science podcast for curious kids aged 8 12.Every episode starts with one question kids actually ask... and ends with a science adventure. Real answers, weird facts, and the kind of stuff that makes you look at the world differently on the walk home from school.Perfect for car trips, classrooms, and kids who can't stop asking why.Why Though? The show for little scientists who love asking big questions. Follow or subscribe now so you don't miss Episode One. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. more

Why Is It Like That? is a curiosity podcast hosted by designer, social scientist and sustainability provocateur Leyla Acaroglu. Each episode takes you on a wild ride through science, design, innovation, nature, and the quirks of everyday life. In every episode, Leyla sits down with fascinating thinkers — scientists, designers, explorers, philosophers, and innovators — to unravel counterintuitive questions about the world around us. Expect surprising insights, humour, and more as she digs into the big and small things that shape our lives and our planet. Curious, thought-provoking, and always entertaining, Why Is It Like That? invites you to see the world differently, one question at a time. more