Eight of the best podcasts of 2026 so far

In the creation myth, de Groot considers the question: shall we reproduce or shall we not reproduce? It’s a raw, compelling audio memoir, moving from the present to the past and back again as it documents its creator’s deepest fears about motherhood. Now, from the perspective of her 40s, de Groot finds herself questioning her own convictions and weighing the impact her decision will have on herself, her friendships, and her marriage.

Listen in cbc.ca

7. The best is yet to come

Seniors have been underserved by podcasts for the past decade, but change is on the horizon. The huge success of Bill Nighy’s “Ill Advised” programme, 76, has revealed the appetite for wisdom of society’s elderly. Enter The Best is Yet to Come, the new podcast from 90-year-old Sir John Tusa, the BBC journalist who launched the Newsnight television program and was managing director of the BBC’s World Service. Tusa conducts extensive interviews with his non-age group colleagues about their lives, careers and plans for the future. There is a warmth and depth to these conversations, avoiding the casual chatter found in chat groups aimed at younger listeners. Tosa’s first guest is Philip Graham, a child psychiatrist and author whose miserable childhood led him to study and improve the lot of British children. Upcoming guests include author and historian Lady Antonia Fraser and former Deputy Prime Minister Michael Heseltine.

I listen Acast

8. City of Lights

In 2002, in Aurora, Illinois, Al and Mary Ann Signorelli’s 21-year-old son, Jeff, was shot and killed at a social gathering in what appeared to be a random act of violence. No arrests have been made and the case remains unsolved, but this podcast, written, produced and hosted by Willie Nast, is Not Murder. Decades in the making, City of Lights is a thoughtful and emotional account of the aftermath of a murder and what happens to those left behind.

For the Signorelli family, coping with their grief meant trying to reform the indifferent political and social systems that had allowed violent crime to flourish in their city. Nast is not a neutral observer: He grew up in Aurora and knew Jeff Signorelli, albeit vaguely. His involvement in the story makes for a heartfelt, honest portrait of a city and a couple whose determination and resilience take your breath away.

Listen in willynast.com

—

If you liked this story Subscribe to the Essential List newsletter – A handpicked collection of unmissable features, videos and news, delivered to your inbox twice a week.

For more culture stories from the BBC, stay tuned Facebook and Instagram.