Is there any greater source for learning and being entertained while doing mundane tasks than the podcast? I think not.
Podcasts are easily one of my favorite ways to consume content. Their utility is unrivaled. Driving to work? Podcast. Doing the dishes? Podcast. Planning a heist? Podcast.
I especially like having the ability to pause, rewind, skip, and store hours and hours of entertainment and education right in my pocket. Personally, I use an app called Overcast to download and listen to my weekly shows.
I’ve listened to literally tens of thousands of hours of various podcasts since 2010 so I’ve found some gems along the way. And with more and more music streaming apps catering to this gigantic demand, it’s easier than ever to find a few that interest you. But with today’s convenience and popularity comes choice paralysis and some sub-par quality content out there.
That’s why today I’d like to recommend, rank and review my favorite podcasts related to personal finance and money. Click the colored links in the headers to visit each show’s website and sample the content. You won’t be disappointed.
The 6 Best Personal Finance Podcasts
6. Listen Money Matters
Listen Money Matters is an accessible look into the world of personal finance. While economic trends and market updates may influence what Andrew and Matt talk about on any given episode, their content is more focused around setting your finances on the right path from a planning perspective.
While they haven’t released a new show since April 2020, their content is evergreen enough that it would be well worth your time to look through their back catalog of shows and pick a few you’re interested in based on the subject.
For example, they have episodes about how to structure your overall portfolio, how to invest at various stages of your life, and what to consider when choosing retirement accounts. I even learned how and why to invest in my first REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) through LMM and have been very happy with my experience and returns.
Although their show is on a break at the moment, the website and blog have been updated consistently throughout 2020 and there is a lot of good content there worth your time.
5. Planet Money
My 5th favorite finance podcast is Planet Money. It’s an NPR produced show and comes with all of the high production value and musical interludes one could hope. With 2-3 episodes per week coming in at less than half an hour each, it’s easy to keep up with.
They cover the economy, markets, and the impact of social issues on both. Connecting the dots between these topics is difficult without having a political agenda. They are still an NPR show though, so expect some left-leaning ideals at the most, but nothing egregious or unfounded. You’ll get expert interviews from a wide range of guests and a lot of good, clean journalism.
If you already know you like the NPR content-sphere, this one is a great addition to your weekly roundup. Runner-up NPR financial show goes to Freakonomics. They explore similar topics but sometimes go down more hypothetical roads than Planet Money which can be really interesting.
4. Marketplace
Marketplace is the flagship show by American Public Media and is hosted by Kai Ryssdal, one of the best voices on radio, period. Kai has an impressive amount of experience covering the world of finance. More importantly though, he is relatable and understands the subject well enough to make it understandable by a broad audience.
If you want to learn more about the current state of affairs in government, businesses both local and global, and the economy all mixed up into a daily cocktail, this is the show for you.
Finally, for the market followers like me, I appreciate how Marketplace puts emphasis on U.S. and global stock market movements and trends. You’ll know exactly how the NASDAQ performed today when Kai says, “Let’s do the numbers”, in his classically silky tone.
Marketplace also has sister shows dedicated strictly to news, tech, or culture with the same level of high caliber content and hosts. I can personally vouch for anything by Molly Wood.
3. The Prof G Show
Scott Galloway is a Professor of Marketing at NYU Stearn and a tech entrepreneur that successfully rode the late 90’s tech boom in the U.S. He’s also the host of The Prof G Show.
Scott makes a hot take about every other minute in the opening monologue of his show. He talks fast, he’s unapologetic, and he knows his shit.
He also has enough credibility in the industry to get guests by the name of Eric Schmidt (previous CEO of Google), Sam Harris (neurologist and best-selling author), and Dan Pfeiffer (former senior advisor to President Obama) just to name a few.
Scott’s expertise lies in branding, digital marketing, and trend analysis. He leans left and is on a constant warpath to break down the illusion of meritocracy in America to increase equality. He offers practical advice as well as theoretical concepts throughout his show in topics ranging from stocks, law, tech, and politics.
He ends each show by answering listener voicemails. Because his audience is younger and fiscally savvy, this Q&A is one of the best parts of the show. I’ve learnt a ton by listening to this show and it is highly entertaining.
2. Market Foolery
Chris Hill hosts this daily show aptly named Market Foolery, housed within the family of The Motley Fool, a highly regarded source of news and analysis in the world of finance. Chris rotates guests daily and gets into really complex topics in a digestible way.
I’d recommend this show for anyone that already has a good foundation of investing knowledge and understanding of fundamental financial metrics. They discuss specific stocks, stories from Wall Street, and noteworthy announcements from publicly traded companies.
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This show will definitely increase your financial literacy and in-depth knowledge of markets in general. Getting off-the-cuff opinions of these seasoned investing experts is like being a fly on the wall of a high powered investment firm. And the best part is you don’t need to put on a suit and tie; you can do it while cussing out the car that just cut you off in traffic.
Coming in at about 15 minutes or less per episode, this is a great companion show to include in your weekly or daily rotation of podcasts.
1. Animal Spirits
Coming in at number one for my all-time favorite financial podcast is Animal Spirits.
Aptly named because the term “animal spirits” has long been used to describe the psychological and emotional factors that influence investors during high levels of volatility in the markets.
This is a perfect way to describe the content that Michael Batnick and Ben Carlson bring to light on their show. I have learned more in 6 months listening to this show than I did in the 6 years prior. No surprise considering it was recommended to me by an acquaintance whose job title is Certified Financial Planner.
These are the investment advisors that your investment advisors listen to. Need I say more? No. But I like to hear myself talk so I’ll add just a few more words.
Both of the hosts are Certified Financial Analysts and hold positions at a well-regarded wealth management firm. They’re young too so you can be sure they aren’t giving you outdated advice while not being so young that they haven’t seen enough boom and bust cycles to know what to do during them.
Between the sarcasm of Ben and the no-nonsense, high-speed rebuttals by Michael, these guys are the perfect duo to break down complex financial ideas. I’d say you should be financially literate to understand the concepts they discuss, but even if you aren’t, they make sure you’ll walk away with the right data and the right perspective on topics ranging from homeownership to inflation and even portfolio comparisons with specific examples.
Another reason this is my favorite podcast is that both of these guys author and update their own financial commentary websites. Highly recommend that in addition to listening to their show, you also subscribe to their newsletters. They put out timely content with relevant ideas and the data to back them up.
Here are the links to their websites:
Finally, and most importantly, they don’t pretend to have all the answers. Sometimes knowing that even the professionals don’t have a good answer helps the most. It’s so refreshing in a world where everyone is trying to sell you something.
Checkout the related Instagram:
There you go, my Top 6 Best Financial Podcasts. What podcast is missing?
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Poor. Choices. 
I came here to recommend Animal Spirits but you’re way ahead of me! Agree on Market Foolery as well. Both of those do require a little bit of financial literacy. I’d also recommend some of the evergreen episodes of the Dough Roller podcast with Rob Berger, which have helped explain various specific topics to me throughout my learning experience. I got started on a lot of Paula Pant & J. Money’s pod (Paula is still good on her own but loved the duo), but even before that I was listening to syndicated shows like Clark Howard and Scott Alan Turner as I was kind of “discovering” personal finance. Great list!
That’s too funny about Animal Spirits! Clark Howard knows his stuff for sure too but I’ll have to give the Dough Roller podcast a listen. Thanks for your suggestions and the comment!
I have listened to way too many Planet Money episodes and will never get tired of it. But I haven’t heard of the other ones of the list. I will definitely check out Animal Spirits! If you’re into entrepreneurship, I highly suggest “How I Built This” with Guy Raz.
Isn’t Guy Raz from NPR? I’ll definitely check it out.. thanks for the suggestions!