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Did you know that listening to funny podcasts on a regular basis can make you feel happier?
Life can be stressful. Whether you're at home, in your workplace, at school, or even commuting, you can run into stressful situations or be thinking about something in your life that isn't going quite as planned. Even when you turn on the TV to relax, the news and current events will likely stress you out.
Sometimes you just need to take a break—and often a good laugh will do.
That’s when funny podcasts come in handy.
These funny podcasts are full of humor. A good joke or funny statement can actually combat mood disorders. It seems that laughter can really be the best medicine when you are feeling bad, mentally. It’s been proven by science! As stated in an article on Live Happy, laughter and fun are powerful agents in alleviating the symptoms of stress, anxiety, and other conditions.
How does laughter help mental health, you ask?
Laughter and humor trigger the release of dopamine and serotonin, the hormones that can lift your mood. They can even increase the production of endorphins, which relieve your brain from chemicals that allow you to feel pain.
Because of that, most psychologists suggest watching shows or listening to live entertainments that bring joy and laughter.
(Side note: One proven way to improve your happiness and life satisfaction is to focus on goals that truly matter. To get started, check out this FREE printable worksheet and a step-by-step process that will help you set effective SMART goals.).
In this post, we have compiled the 27 best and most entertaining podcasts that you can listen to this year. If you want to feel happy every day, watching or listening to them once or twice a day might not be a bad idea.
What You Will Learn
- 27 Comedy & Funny Podcasts to Listen to in 2022
- 1. Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend
- 2. Anna Faris Is Unqualified
- 3. Uhh Yeah Dude
- 4. WTF With Marc Maron
- 5. My Dad Wrote a Porno
- 6. My Brother, My Brother and Me
- 7. The Adventure Zone
- 8. Bertcast
- 9. How Did This Get Made?
- 10. You Made It Weird With Pete Holmes
- 11. Never Not Funny
- 12. Doug Loves Movies
- 13. Your Mom's House
- 14. The Joe Rogan Experience
- 15. Comedy Bang! Bang!
- 16. The Worst Idea of All Time
- 17. The Comedian's Comedian
- 18. Harmontown
- 19. The Dollop
- 20. Fake the Nation
- 21. The Read
- 22. Lovett or Leave It
- 23. Hannibal Buress: Handsome Rambler
- 24. Judge John Hodgman
- 25. Citation Needed
- 26. Dear Hank and John
- 27. The Bugle
- A Final Word on Funny Podcasts
27 Comedy & Funny Podcasts to Listen to in 2022
1. Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend
This weekly podcast series premiered on November 18, 2018, when Conan O'Brien's talk show was on a break. O'Brien announced that, despite the fact that he has interviewed thousands of people during his lifetime, he has yet to develop a lasting friendship. He thought that by starting a podcast he would have a better chance of bonding with his guests.
Some of the guests O'Brien has had on his podcast include Adam Sandler, Will Ferrell, Kristen Bell, and Dax Shepard. This funny podcast has gotten great positive reviews from its listeners. Fans note that they enjoy listening to a more vulnerable, behind-the-scenes feel from the host. O'Brien uses self-deprecating humor, which makes the show feel accessible to listeners as well.
2. Anna Faris Is Unqualified
Anna Faris created this podcast due to her love of talking about relationships. Each episode includes an interview with a celebrity or someone who is active in pop culture, as well as phone calls with listeners who are seeking relationships and other advice. Anna and her co-host, Sim Sarna, have made over 150 episodes of this podcast to date.
Some guests who have appeared on this show include Macaulay Culkin, Julia Stiles, and Stan Lee. Faris talks to her guests about being in the entertainment industry and does an occasional improvisational comedic sketch with them. Listeners find this weekly podcast to be both funny and useful.
3. Uhh Yeah Dude
This is a weekly hour-long podcast hosted by Seth Romatelli and Jon Larroquette. The duo uses this time to talk about interesting things they saw on the news during the previous week, as well as personal experiences. The fun podcast has received positive reviews due to its unique concept of talking about things that are going on in the world that no one else is really discussing.
The hosts welcome live audience input through calls and texts, making this an interactive experience. The show airs two new episodes each Friday and is currently in its 13th year.
4. WTF With Marc Maron
WTF with Maron has become one of the most iconic comedy podcasts since its release in 2009. Stand-up comedian Marc Maron has welcomed numerous celebrity guests to his show, including Robin Williams, Jim Norton, and Ray Liotta.
New episodes are available every Monday and Thursday. Maron often references his own life, as well as happenings around the world. His raw conversations with well-known personalities are honest, funny, and thought-provoking.
5. My Dad Wrote a Porno
This is a British podcast hosted by Jamie Morton, James Cooper, and Alice Levine. The premise revolves around a guy, Jamie Morton, who discovers that his dad wrote pornography throughout his life, simply as a hobby. Each episode features Morton reading a chapter of his father's amateur series, along with the reactions and commentary of Cooper and Levine, who are both hearing the material for the first time.
Many people find this interesting concept as one of the funniest podcasts available. This podcast has gained a large following since its beginning in 2015, boasting over 120 million downloads. It comes out with new episodes every Monday.
6. My Brother, My Brother and Me
This hilarious weekly advice podcast is hosted by brothers Justin, Travis, and Griffin McElroy. The episodes revolve around the brothers using comedy to answer questions that have either been submitted by listeners or uncovered on Yahoo! Answers.
Since its beginning in 2010, this podcast has consistently been listed on “Top 10 best funny podcast” lists. Some notable guests to date include Elsie Fisher, John Hodgman, Marilu Henner, and Jimmy Buffett. The brothers release updates for this show every week, and even have a television series based on the podcast.
7. The Adventure Zone
This biweekly podcast hosted by My Brother, My Brother, and Me personalities the McElroy brothers, along with their father, Clint McElroy, is loosely based on the popular game Dungeons and Dragons.
Each episode highlights the family solving puzzles, battling their enemies, and moving their characters up in a series of comedic encounters. This podcast was developed after the brothers played Dungeons and Dragons on an episode of My Brother, My Brother and Me with their father, which was met with rave reviews.
If you are familiar with Dungeon and Dragons, this might be the right podcast for you.
8. Bertcast
This podcast is hosted by stand-up comedian Bert Kreischer. Each Wednesday, a new episode comes out featuring Bert interacting with a fellow comedian. Since its inception in 2012, Bert has recorded the episodes for this podcast from his Man Cave, which was built thanks to a home renovation reality TV show.
Some well-known guests that Bert has had on his show include Brian Regan and Finesse Mitchell. Listeners appreciate the hilarity and approachable vibe of this podcast.
9. How Did This Get Made?
Hosted by Paul Scheer, June Diane Raphael, and Jason Mantzoukas, this irregularly scheduled weekly/bi-weekly podcast deconstructs and makes a mockery of bad movies.
The hosts feature a new guest for each episode as they make jokes about movies that they find to be hilariously bad. Some notable guests they have had on their show include Daniel Radcliffe, Dave Franco, and James Franco.
This podcast has gained a large following since its beginning in 2010. Listeners especially enjoy the “second opinions” that the hosts report, which are originally found on Amazon in the form of five-star reviews.
10. You Made It Weird With Pete Holmes
Hosted by Pete Holmes, this podcast began with the concept that Holmes would ask his fellow comedian guests about three obscure facts he knew about them.
However, the show has evolved into a more natural conversation about a variety of topics, such as comedy, religion, and sexuality. The podcast has also grown to feature guests outside of the comedy profession, including pastors, authors, and scientists. Some notable guests include Rob Bell, Rob Delaney, Andy Samberg, and Bill Nye.
11. Never Not Funny
This weekly podcast is hosted by comedian Jimmy Pardo and co-host Matt Belknap. Listeners can enjoy free episodes every Wednesday, and prime episodes each Sunday. The hosts welcome a guest in the second half of each episode and engage in insightful and hilarious free-form conversation with them.
The topics discussed on this podcast range from pop culture and music to personal or interesting anecdotes. Listeners especially enjoy a segment called Judge Jimmy, where the cast settles a dispute submitted by a listener. Some notable guests to date include Andy Daly, Sarah Silverman, Chris Elliott, Colin Hanks, and Conan O’Brien.
12. Doug Loves Movies
In 2006, Doug Benson came out with this weekly comedy podcast, which was originally named “I Love Movies With Doug Benson.” Benson hosts various heavy-hitting guests each week, such as Mark Cohen, Chris Distefano, and Amy Miller, to talk about comedy and movies that they either love or hate.
Some regular features of this podcast include Name That Movie, Tweet Relief: Tweets About Movies, Watch This/Not That, From the Corrections Department, and Whose Tagline Is It Anyway?
13. Your Mom's House
This comedy podcast is hosted by married comedians Tom Segura and Christina Pazsitzky. The couple discusses topics such as ongoing events, comedy, and anecdotes from their daily lives. Some notable guests they have hosted to date include Bryan Cullen, Joe Rogan, and Bill Burr. This podcast was nominated as a comedic finalist in the Best Comedy category of the 2012 Stitcher Awards. Listeners enjoy weekly updates on Tuesdays.
14. The Joe Rogan Experience
This daily audio and video podcast is hosted by comedian, actor, sports commentator, and TV host Joe Rogan, and has grown to become one of the most popular podcasts worldwide. The concept of the podcast is Rogan having a conversation with friends and famous guests, such as Brian Redban, Sam Harris, and Andrew Yang. Rogan also welcomes various other comedians, actors, musicians, authors, and more. There are over 1,000 episodes of this podcast to date.
15. Comedy Bang! Bang!
Formerly known as Comedy Death-Ray Radio, Comedy Bang! Bang! is a weekly podcast that has been on the air since 2009. Hosted by comedian Scott Aukerman, who also created and hosted the TV series of the same name, this podcast offers a mix of conversation and character work from today’s most popular comedians.
Many notable guests have appeared on the podcast, such as David Cross, Andy Daly, Michael Cera, “Weird Al” Yankovic, and Aziz Ansari. Listeners find this podcast to be hilarious and unpredictable. The show's format occasionally includes game segments, such as guests playing characters or impersonating certain celebrities, sometimes for the whole episode.
16. The Worst Idea of All Time
This podcast is hosted by New Zealand comedians Tim Batt and Guy Montgomery. The duo watches and reviews the same film each week for a year, which is typically one that neither has seen and is largely considered to be a bad film. Some films that they reviewed so far include Grown Ups 2 (for 52 weeks) and Sex and the City 2 (for 52 weeks). This year, they are reviewing We Are Your Friends. In order to add some positivity this their comically negative conversation, the hosts include a “shining light” segment in each episode, highlighting their favorite part of the movie for the week. New episodes are released every week.
17. The Comedian's Comedian
The Comedian's Comedian, hosted by Stuart Goldsmith, is an interview-style podcast where Goldsmith interviews comedians about their process of writing and performing standup comedy.
Some notable interviewees to date include Russell Brand, Stewart Lee, and Patton Oswalt. This weekly podcast (with updates released on Mondays) has been up for several awards.
18. Harmontown
This live, semi-weekly comedic podcast started on June 6, 2012. Dan Harmon, who is the creator of the TV series Community and Rick and Morty, hosts this podcast alongside Whose Line Is It Anyway? actor Jeff B. Davis. This podcast started as a live, monthly show, but became a weekly occurrence after Harmon discontinued his work on Community.
The original idea for this podcast started with the hosts' discussions about how to reduce the number of flaws in society and therefore create a utopian world. Harmon and Davis envisioned that this could happen with the creation of a lunar colony that would occur in front of a live audience. The podcast often has guest appearances, with some notable guests including Jack Black, John Oliver, Aubrey Plaza, and Ben Stiller.
19. The Dollop
This bi-weekly podcast has been hosted by comedians Dave Anthony and Gareth Reynolds since 2014. Each episode features a historical event or person that has been selected for its humor or uniqueness. In every episode, Anthony presents a new topic to Reynolds, without Reynolds knowing ahead of time what the topic will be. The Dollop has consistently been voted into various top 100 lists. Some topics from past episodes include the history of firefighters, George Washington (and his teeth), and the Straw-Hat Riots.
20. Fake the Nation
In this podcast, Negin Farsad, along with her funny and politically savvy friends, talk about current events and what is going on in the news, making their listeners laugh and think at the same time. This podcast comes out with updates every Friday.
21. The Read
This weekly pop culture podcast hosted by vlogger Kid Fury and internet sensation Crissle West doesn't hold back when it comes to hurting people’s feelings. Each episode features the hosts discussing and analyzing pop culture and current events. The hosts are longtime friends, which adds to their clever banter that brings listeners back every week. This is also an inclusive podcast, as both hosts are open about their personal lives and sexuality.
Each episode begins with a movie quote chosen by Kid Fury, and ends with an acronym that is created by Kid Fury, and that's typically inspired by something discussed in the show that day. Some other segments include Black Excellence, where the hosts celebrate a high-achieving person in the Black community; Hot Tops, in which the duo talks about current events; Listener Letters; and Crissle's Couch, where Crissle shares something she has learned from her mental health provider and The Read.
Listeners enjoy updates every Thursday, and some notable guests include Kelly Rowland, Shaun Ross, and Jennifer Lewis.
22. Lovett or Leave It
This weekly podcast is hosted by Jon Lovett, a well-known speechwriter and screenwriter. Each episode features a loose panel discussion about politics in everyday, simple language. This is a live panel podcast with guests from a variety of backgrounds, including journalism, comedy, and politics. Topics discussed include recent news stories, focusing especially on US politics and President Donald Trump's administration.
Some panel guests have included comedians Sarah Silverman, Brett Gelman, and Paul Scheer, screenwriter Wil Wheaton, and journalist, Katie Nolan.
23. Hannibal Buress: Handsome Rambler
Hannibal Buress is a comedian, writer, and actor who is a fan favorite on both the big and small screen. In his successful podcast, which updates once or twice a month, Buress has hosted an eclectic variety of guests ranging from rappers to fellow comedians. Some notable guests have included Neil Brennan, Al Jackson, and Chance the Rapper. The premise of this show revolves around Buress living on the road and sharing his stories and thoughts from the road with his listeners.
24. Judge John Hodgman
This weekly, comedic podcast features host John Hodgman acting as a judge in the courtroom, examining real-life disagreements within a fictional courtroom setting. In each episode, Hodgman listens to and offers judgment on a petty dispute between two call-in guests.
Hodgman's co-host, Jesse Thorn, acts as a “bailiff” who interjects comedic questions and observations throughout the mock trial and interviews the defendants before and after the verdict is announced. Listeners can call in as “expert witnesses” to offer their thoughts regarding the case. Although this podcast is made purely for entertainment purposes, the disputants in each case verbally agree to abide by Hodgman's ruling before the case is presented.
Listeners love the pure entertainment of this podcast. New updates are available every Wednesday.
25. Citation Needed
Citation Needed is a collaborative podcast of comedians who were looking to create an interesting, unique, fun show for listeners. In 2017, Citation Needed was born with the premise of the hosts choosing a subject, reading a Wikipedia article about it, and pretending to be experts. The hosts aim to show how misleading some information on Wikipedia can be while also providing listeners with some information and a laugh. This show comes out with updates every Wednesday.
26. Dear Hank and John
Dear Hank & John is a podcast hosted by Hank and John Green, two brothers who are both authors and who do various projects in the entertainment business. During the show, Hank and John respond to emailed questions that have been sent in by listeners, and offer uncertain advice. They also talk about off-the-wall subjects such as the latest news on Mars, and third-tier English football club AFC Wimbledon.
The podcast is laid out in a standard format, starting with an opening section, which is followed by the main portion of the show, a news segment about Mars and the AFC Wimbledon football club, and finally a discussion about what the brothers learned that day. Updates are available to listeners every Monday, and an exclusive episode has been made every year since 2015 to benefit the annual Project for Awesome fundraising campaign.
27. The Bugle
This satirical news podcast was created by John Oliver and Andy Zaltzman in 2007. The hosts focus on news from around the world, but their primary focus is on news stories in the UK and US. The podcast is currently hosted by Andy Zaltzman and a rotating set of co-hosts, who have included Wil Anderson, Nish Kumar, and Al Murray.
This show updates once a week and offers a funny commentary about the most and least important news stories around the globe. The satire in this series is admired for its wit, originality, and hilarious nature.
A Final Word on Funny Podcasts
As it turns out, laughter is indeed the best medicine. Whatever you’re feeling or going through, good humor can always turn a gloomy day into a happier one.
Each of the funny podcasts we list above has its own style, format, and structure. Nevertheless, they all are good sources of laughter and happiness.
Try listening to an episode or two from each of these 27 funny podcasts so you can figure out which of them can tickle your giggle the most. Once you find the best ones, subscribe to them and listen during your free time.
Actually, you can listen to them even when you’re busy, as this can make your work easier. You may even sneak an episode in while you’re commuting. Find happiness in whatever you do by subscribing to these podcasts. If you're looking for other types of podcasts, you can check out these mindfulness podcasts too.
Finally, one proven way to improve your happiness and life satisfaction is to focus on goals that truly matter. To get started, check out this FREE printable worksheet and a step-by-step process that will help you set effective SMART goals.
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