Key Takeaways:
- The New Yorker has revealed its highly anticipated list of the best podcasts of 2025, curated by critic Sarah Larson.
- This year’s top selections include the musical biography “Fela Kuti: Fear No Man” and the investigative deep-dive “Spotlight: Snitch City.”
- Leon Neyfakh’s “Final Thoughts: Jerry Springer” also made the list, re-examining the talk show host’s complex legacy.
- The chosen podcasts span a diverse range of genres, from true crime and political history to immersive music journalism.
As the year draws to a close, The New Yorker has published its definitive list of 2025’s best podcasts. Critic Sarah Larson’s selections highlight the incredible depth and variety of audio storytelling today, featuring everything from a vibrant musical biography to a gripping investigation into police corruption.
A Musical Masterpiece: ‘Fela Kuti: Fear No Man’
Leading the pack is “Fela Kuti: Fear No Man,” a powerful biographical series from “Radiolab” creator Jad Abumrad. The podcast, which took three years to produce, explores the life of the legendary Nigerian musician and Afrobeat pioneer.
Abumrad and his team traveled the globe, interviewing Fela Kuti’s family, friends, and admirers—including former President Barack Obama and Red Hot Chili Peppers’ bassist Flea. The result is a rich, immersive experience that masterfully weaves together Kuti’s hypnotic music with the story of his political dissent against Nigeria’s oppressive regime. The series is celebrated for being both danceable and, ultimately, profoundly heartbreaking.
Re-examining a Cultural Icon: ‘Final Thoughts: Jerry Springer’
From producer Leon Neyfakh, known for “Think Twice: Michael Jackson,” comes “Final Thoughts: Jerry Springer.” The podcast offers a nuanced look at the man behind the infamous “The Jerry Springer Show.”
Neyfakh traces Springer’s surprising career path, from a promising political thinker and mayor of Cincinnati to the host of one of television’s most exploitative programs. The series uses compelling audio and sharp storytelling to explore how Springer’s professional choices helped pave the way for today’s often-corrosive media landscape, leaving listeners to ponder what could have been.
Uncovering Corruption: ‘Spotlight: Snitch City’
The Boston Globe’s famed Spotlight team, renowned for its investigation into the Catholic Church, delivers another hard-hitting exposé with “Spotlight: Snitch City.” Narrated by reporter Dugan Arnett, the series dives into the murky world of police corruption and confidential informants on the docks of New Bedford, Massachusetts.
The podcast opens with a frantic 911 call from a fishing boat, immediately pulling listeners into a story of cops lying, bullying, and stealing. Through vivid dockside audio and incisive interviews with former informants and police, “Snitch City” reveals the devastating harm caused by secrecy and a lack of oversight.
Image Referance: https://www.newyorker.com/culture/2025-in-review/the-best-podcasts-of-2025