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Lend Them Your Ears: The Funniest Podcasts Of 2022

By Shantanu Sanzgiri 11 December 2022 5 mins read

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Podcasting has been around for decades at this point. A quick Google search tells me that there are at least 2,864,367 podcasts out there currently. Out of those, I’m pretty sure 2 million have been started by comedians. Jokes aside, podcasting has proven to be a viable way for comedians to win over new audiences in recent years. As a bonus, there’s the possibility you hit the jackpot and somehow land yourself a $100 million deal with a streaming service.

But within this glut of podcasts, which ones should you tune into for your comedy fix? Well, we did our homework throughout the year to give you the best of the best. There’s a little bit of everything on this list. Podcasts inspired by TV shows, candid conversations, adulting 101—it’s all there.

1. The Internet Said So 

It’s not a DeadAnt podcast list without the two-time DACA-winners The Internet Said So. The most consistent podcast in the Indian comedy circuit, Aadar Malik, Varun Thakur, Neville Shah and Kautuk Srivastava have discussed, dissected and guffed about pretty much every topic under the sun over the past three years.

Srivastava’s love for Sagar Chinese, Thakur randomly saying “bell bottom”, Aadar’s “facts” and Neville’s general disdain for everything have got the TISS Army hooked. A cool 150 episodes in, we FINALLY got the promised part twos of so many episodes and got to watch them live this year! Packed with the most random, interesting, shocking, weird or absurd “facts” (IYKYK) this podcast is always a safe bet for a laugh.

2. Overthink Tank 

Surbhi Bagga has been in the podcasting game longer than you’d think. The Queens of Comedy finalist worked as a producer on multiple podcasts at IVM before putting her hat in the ring with Overthink Tank in 2019. The show is exactly what it sounds like: a safe space for her guests and her to sit and overthink every little detail of their lives. Which situation calls for a double text? How intense is it to live alone? And what really is cringe? All of this and more, only on Overthink Tank.

Case in point: this episode, in which Rohan Joshi and Srishti Dixit ask positive affirmations to suck their d*ck.

3. Number One Bullshit Podcast 

Comicstaan season one’s Shashwat Maheshwari has really upped his game on his new material. The comedian seems sharper than ever with his quips and throwaway lines. That could possibly be a result of him bringing back the Number One Bullshit Podcast and regularly riffing with his peers. Maheshwari and fellow up-and-coming comic Chirag Panjwani shoot the sh*t about all things relatable, but there’s always a bit lurking around the corner, waiting to catch you unaware.

And they bring other comics in on the action too. Guests include Devesh Dixit, Masoom Rajwani and Shreeja Chaturvedi, with the latter’s freewheeling marathon of an episode being our personal favourite.

4. Office Ladies 

The Office has reached F.R.I.E.N.D.S levels of fandom in recent years, if not bigger. There are references to the show everywhere and you absolutely cannot escape the memes. So, if you’ve given in and become an Office supremacist, here’s a way to get a fresh Dunder Mifflin fix. 

Jenna Fischer (Pam Beesly) and Angela Kinsey (Angela White)—co-stars and best friends—are dishing out anecdotes, “fast facts” and all the juicy BTS goss as they re-watch this cultural phenomenon they were a part of. It’s refreshing to see the two of them break down laughing just like us as they revel in the awkwardness of the show. And if you are some kind of Office fiend who needs even more, you can check out The Office Deep Dive with Brian Baumgartner. But honestly, at that point, just please touch grass.

5. The Always Sunny Podcast 

When you’ve been working together for over 15 years, there’s a certain chemistry that is inevitable. That’s precisely what makes The Always Sunny Podcast so damn fun. There’s no doubt that It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia is a milestone in comedy history. And when you’ve been writing a show this weird and out there for so long, obviously there are plenty of anecdotes to share when Glenn Howerton, Rob McElhenney and Charlie Day sit down to discuss the show episode-by-episode.

It’s interesting to see how they reflect on their own irreverent jokes and plotlines, arguing about whether they still hold up today and explaining the often-odd series of events and adlibs behind some of the show’s iconic moments. Even if you’re not a fan of the show, it’s amazing to watch these three friends riffing off each other as they break down their creative process.

6. Binge-O-Clock 

Rohan Joshi and Sahil Shah are the comedy circuit’s torchbearers for all things pop culture. The two comic-book nerds, who also love playing video games and geeking out over sci-fi, started their own YouTube show (which we’re taking the liberty of calling a podcast because… why not?) to drop watchlists and recommendations for all their viewers. Because let’s face it, there’s too much content out there and we need someone to help us sift through the garbage of zombie franchises and hubristic big studio blunders. You know, so we don’t have trust issues the next time we start a new show. So thank these two for doing the Lord’s work and get to the binge party.

7. Nobody Panic 

It doesn’t take a genius to realise that adulting is hard. How hard? Crawl into bed and curl up and cry at the thought of filing your returns hard. Having the willpower to not order McDonald’s and eating the dal roti at home hard. And if you’re only just starting out on this great (read: horrifying) adventure, Nobody Panic is for you. Writer-comedians Stevie Martin and Tessa Coates are here to guide you through every minor hiccup you’re going to get overwhelmed by. Or maybe not. Maybe they’ll just make fun of you. But at least you’ll get a laugh out of it. 

8. WTF with Marc Maron 

Marc Maron has been in the standup comedy scene for decades. He’s worked with the biggest names in standup and mentored some of the newer talents. Needless to say, Maron has developed some close friendships with people in the biz over the years. He invites them as guests on his decade-long podcast (what?!) WTF with Marc Maron for some candid conversations.

Maron has a knack for making his guests—like Bruce Springsteen, Patrice O’Neal, Robin Williams or Anthony Bourdain—feel comfortable enough to drop their guard and open up about their personal lives and experiences. WTF with Marc Maron is a treasure trove of stories from some of the most interesting personalities in the world. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Shantanu Sanzgiri

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