How to pick a podcast you will actually finish

Podcast apps make it easy to subscribe and easy to ignore. The queue grows, guilt follows and nothing gets listened to. A few filters help.

Match the show to a moment#

Think about when you'll listen. A twenty-minute news summary suits a commute. A long interview suits a walk or a long drive. A narrative series suits ironing or cooking, where you can follow a story. Pick shows that fit real slots in your week.

Try three episodes, not one#

A first episode can be unrepresentative. Listen to a recent one, an older popular one and one in the middle, and judge from all three. If you don't want a fourth, unsubscribe.

Check the format#

Some shows are weekly and open-ended, while others are finite series with a story arc. Finite series are easier to finish, since you know where the end is. Ongoing shows work better if you can skip episodes without losing the thread.

Look at length and pace#

Check the average runtime. A weekly hour-long show is a seven-hour monthly commitment. Most apps let you adjust the speed, and a modest bump, such as 1.2 or 1.25 times, often feels natural for talk.

Be wary of ads and padding#

Some shows are mostly sponsor reads and chat. If the useful part is a few minutes, look for a better one. You can also skip ads in most apps with a skip button.

Keep the list short#

Cap yourself at a handful of active subscriptions. Anything that sits unplayed for a month can go. You can always find it again.

Use search, not only charts#

Chart lists favour whatever is popular. Searching by topic, or following a guest you liked, usually finds better matches. Look for shows that name sources and correct their mistakes.

Pay attention to how you feel#

After an episode, do you feel more informed, entertained or calmer? If it mostly leaves you irritated, that's information too.