2024 may be remembered for the year in which everything just snowballed for 12 months straight. Everywhere we looked, there were cries for help and news that made getting through the day more difficult than… well, five minutes ago.

And while it’s important to stay up-to-date, it’s also important to take a break at regular intervals for your own mental health. One of our favourite ways to shut it all off is by getting lost instead in the world of comedy podcasts—where a seemingly innocent piece of trivia can set up an elaborate lung-busting bit, or a completely outrageous situation can lead to a deep meaningful conversation about life, the universe and everything.

At DeadAnt, we believe in sharing the love, which is why we’re back with our top comedy podcasts of the year. Some are old favourites. Others are new entrants. But they all helped keep us sane in 2024. And we hope they do the same for you. Happy listening!

10. Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me 

F*ck the news, amirite?! With all the wars being waged, despots taking over the world and innocent people bearing the brunt of their d*ck swinging contests, it really tests one’s belief in humanity. But we’ve all grown up listening to the classic line—tragedy mein comedy. Add some trivia to the mix as well, and we get Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me. 

Hosted by American humourist Peter Sagal, each episode features a panel of comedians (including Hari Kondabolu, Josh Gad, Cristela Alonzo, Tom Papa) and a celebrity guest (including Gary Oldman, Sue Bird, Bill Clinton) who compete in a quiz regarding the news of the week. From guessing who made a certain outlandish quote to theories about what certain celebrities are up to, this podcast is a great way to stay in touch with everything—serious and light-hearted—happening in the world. 

9. You’re Dead To Me 

History might have been the most boring subject in school, mainly because of the dull manner in which our teachers went through the text. If only they had taken a page out of Greg Jenner’s book. On his podcast, the British historian and author invites the best names in history academia to unpack all the facts about a figure or era. The twist is that there’s also a comedian in the room, which keeps proceedings fresh and funny. Think Drunk History, but there’s a little something-something for you all year-round. 

Each episode is a refreshing blast from the past as we learn about how Cleopatra’s childhood compares to Game Of Thrones, or about Shakespeare and his influence on The King James Bible. It all feels a little like the class topper and the back-bencher having a funny-serious discussion. And once class is dismissed, there’s a little quiz to make sure you were paying attention during the episode. 

8. Chaar Yaar 

In October, comedian Amit Tandon decided to enter the podcasting ring with his brand new show Chaar Yaar. The motivation was simple. Tandon wanted to bring some greenroom banter to the online space for the fans to enjoy. In each episode, the comedian is joined by three peers as they unpack a particular topic because… well, you need some structure when there are four comedians trying to mine laughs. 

With 21 episodes slated for the first season, there’s a lot still to come. But going by the eight episodes that have aired so far, fans can expect a rare window into the minds of some of India’s top comedy voices. Whether they are talking about Bollywood, financial security or school memories, there are moments of candour that make this a worthwhile listen. “You’ll see the thinking side of comedians in the process,” he told DeadAnt leading up to the first episode. “It’s not just all laughs constantly. There are some serious moments that came up while discussing certain topics and we did that extremely comfortably.”

7. My Favourite Murder 

True crime is one of the most saturated genres in entertainment today. Streaming platforms are riddled with TV shows and documentaries that focus on serial killers, and there’s a glut of films about the gritty realities of these twisted individuals. Ditto for true crime podcasts. Naturally, it’s difficult to grab the audience’s attention in such a market. Comedians Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark have found a way to cut through the clutter—true crime comedy.

On their weekly podcast My Favourite Murder, the two comedians dive into cases sent in by friends and listeners, adding a layer of sass, wit and overall positivity to the gruesome details. It sure sounds like a challenge to pack all of that in when you’re talking about stabbings and disembodiment, but that’s why they’re the professionals. We’re just here to enjoy the laughs. 

6. This Past Weekend 

Theo Von is a comedian who has found incredible success in the podcasting game. Formerly a part of the King And The Sting podcast, Von is now focused on his solo show This Past Weekend, which started in 2016. He brings his incredibly zany humour to every episode, which may or may not feature a celebrity guest, mostly from the world of comedy. Although this year we did see some unusual guests, including US President Donald Trump, spiritual guru Sadhguru and billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban. 

Von has a knack for coming across as extremely earnest, while disarming guests with hints of his sketchy past. In the process, we get to dive deep into the thoughts of some comedy legends and become privy to their outlook of the world. If that’s not enough for you, come for Von’s personal stories. Trust us, they’re wildly funny. 

5. Monday Morning Podcast

Bill Burr’s legacy rests on his ability to sneak in comedy nuggets while ranting about the most basic things in life. He doesn’t need a reason. If it exists, he’s going to find a reason to get pissed off about it. On his show The Monday Morning Podcast, Burr treats us to these angry rants because… well, that’s easier than putting out a special every week.

But there’s more on offer than just his ramblings. Burr often focuses his angry comedic lens on the world of sports, and on occasion, also touches upon geopolitics. He even dishes out some advice. None of these are devoid of his trademark humour though. Each episode oscillates between raw and refined, hilarious and discomfiting, cerebral and droll. To do all of that week-on-week definitely earns him a spot on this list.

4. The Internet Said So

Yeah, they’re back on the list but how could they not? The Internet Said So celebrated its fifth anniversary in 2024, went on a tour of the country with their live show TISS Uncensored, and even took it overseas to Europe and the United Kingdom. Aadar Malik, Kautuk Srivastava, Neville Shah and Varun Thakur managed to do all of this while staying true to what they do best—dishing out weird food combos, sharing “monkey facts” and impersonating Salman Bhai. They even hosted infamous marriage-breaker Daniel Sloss just ahead of his eight-city India tour on the inaugural edition of The Loop by DeadAnt Live. We also got to enjoy some of the behind-the-scenes action from their tours in their series Vlogesh, bringing the fans even closer to their online family.

In the half-decade that they have been active, the four comedians and friends have discussed, dissected and joked about pretty much every topic under the sun. But we clearly want more because Tuesdays can’t get here soon enough for the TISS Army! 

3. Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend

After almost three decades, countless interviews and thousands of standup routines, Conan O’Brien realised one thing—he hasn’t made any lasting friendships with his celebrity guests. He’s taken it upon himself to fix this very pressing problem on his podcast Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend. In typical O’Brien fashion, he has managed to capture the essence of podcasting—forming a closer bond with his fans through the intimate moments he shares with the listeners and his guests. 

As the longest-serving current late-night talk-show host, O’Brien has amassed an impressive rolodex, and he puts it to good use. It’s not just that the podcast features high-profile guests such as Bill Hader, Tom Hanks, Al Pacino and Lisa Kudrow. O’Brien’s superpower lies in his ability to get them to open up and discuss deep, complex issues. With O’Brien, each conversation is an incredibly insightful listen that’s worthy of your time.

2. Stavvy‘s World

When Stavros Halkias announced his departure from the incredibly successful podcast Cum Town in 2022, fans were distraught. Where else were they going to get glorious free-wheeling conversations that perfectly blended pop culture and edgy humour? Well, they didn’t have to worry for too long. After a brief hiatus, Halkias returned with his podcast Stavvy’s World in December 2022, where he and his guests shoot the sh*t and dish out some advice to callers along the way. 

Over the last two years, Halkias has brought on some of the biggest names in comedy—including Mark Normand, Andrew Santino, Rachel Feinstein and Chris Distefano—to discuss…pretty much everything. It’s difficult to put their conversations under one umbrella when they seamlessly transition from talking about their writing process to joking about wet farts. The cherry on top of this deliciously ugly cake is the advice they offer to fans who call in. It’s all mega-chaotic but also mega-fun.

1. Bad Friends

Whoever says Mondays are the worst clearly isn’t aware of Bad Friends. Comedians Andrew Santino and Bobby Lee get together at the beginning of every week to make edgy jokes and laugh at what’s going on in the world. With almost 40 years of standup comedy experience between the two of them, the jokes come at you quick. So, we don’t blame you if you re-watch each episode a bunch of times. We do that too.

Since its premiere in 2020, the show has rapidly risen in terms of popularity and numbers, mostly thanks to the chaotic camaraderie between the hosts and the little family of recurring guests. With the 250th episode just around the corner, and a Hulu show based on the podcast in the works, now is the best time to dive into this comedy treasure trove. We sure wish we could do it all over again.