Holiday Podcast Recommendations: A Curated Collection
By Andreea Coscai, EarBuds Newsletter & Community Coordinator
Hey, podcast lovers!
Here at EarBuds, we’re all about curation. We know there are A LOT of podcasts out there and that it can be hard to choose. That’s why we send our weekly newsletter that shares five podcasts, on a theme, each week curated by a different person.
As we wrap up 2024, I’m excited to bring you a special selection of some of my favorite 2024 EarBuds curations that are perfect for listening to during the holiday season.
The holidays are all about cozy moments and meaningful connections. For this type of feeling, I tend to gravitate towards fiction podcasts, as they have a unique way of building worlds that not only inspire but also teach us something new with every story. I also threw in a collection of journalism podcasts to balance things out. Fiction and non-fiction. We can have it all!
And because this season is all about family, I've included a special treat at the end that families can enjoy together — podcasts for kids!
I loved all of these lists and hope you do too! Thank you for being a part of our podcast community this year. I wish you the happiest of holidays, however you celebrate.
Podcast cover art for Arden, Death by Dying, Mockery Manor, Finding Pattersby, and Mansfield Mysteries.
Scripted Cozy Mysteries
Curator:
👉🏽Drew Frohmann (he/him)
Why this theme?
👉🏽Everyone loves their cozy mysteries on our screens — Knives Out, Only Murders In The Building, The White Lotus. So it's high time to uncover the absurdly entertaining mysteries lurking in the darkest corners of the podiverse.
Find the full curation here.
Podcast cover art for Private Affairs, Harlem Queen, Past Due, Creencias, and What’s Poppin’ Penny?
Audio Drama Podcasts Created by Black Women
Curator:
👉🏽 Yhane Washington Smith (she/her)
Why this theme?
👉🏽If you are a writer, especially an aspiring TV writer, audio dramas/fiction podcasts are a terrific way to tell your stories and put them into the world.
Find the full curation here.
Podcast cover art for Killed, Deja News, The Journalism Salute, Longform, and Local News Matters.
Story Behind the Story
Curator:
👉🏽 Mark Simon (he/him)
Why this theme?
👉🏽In every area of my life, I find myself fascinated by "the story behind the story."But that's a vague phrase — there are so many ways to learn the story behind the story, and I thought I'd use this theme to illustrate them.
Find the full curation here.
Podcast cover art for Stories from Ylelmore, The Badlands, Inn Between, Desperado, and Sidequesting.
Fantasy Audio Drama
Curator:
👉🏽Tal Minear (they/them)
Why this theme?
👉🏽 I love fantasy stories, and fiction podcasts have so many good ones. Here are some of my favorites!
Find the full curation here.
Podcast cover art for Grimm, Grimmer, Grimmest, Snoop & Sniffy, Girl Tales, Frozen Podcast, and Koala Moon.
The latest and greatest in podcasts for kids
Curator:
👉🏽 Andi Smiley (she/her), founder of the Friendly Podcast Guide
Why this theme?
👉🏽As a mom myself, I use kids podcasts daily to help my day go smoother. I use them while driving to cut down on whining. Or when I just need a break, I'll grab an easy activity like coloring pages or Magnatiles, turn on a kids podcast, and my kids will be entertained for at least 30 glorious minutes.
Find the full curation here.
Here’s to more amazing curations and building the EarBuds community even stronger in 2025. Want to curate a list? We’d love it!
If you’re enjoying these recommendations, don’t forget to subscribe to the newsletter for more curated lists and all things podcasting.