17 Great Podcasts For The Spiritually Curious

Time to clear up some space on your cell phones.
Ezra Bailey via Getty Images

If you've always wanted to explore the world's great religious traditions, but can't find time to read the right books, watch the appropriate documentaries, or attend a worship service, here's a solution that you'll definitely have time for: podcasts.

The glorious thing about podcasts is that they let you make use of learning time that often goes to waste -- when you're commuting to work, for example, or doing laundry. Religion podcasts have an uncanny ability to drop you right into the center of an already thriving religious community. They paint a picture of religion in action, giving seekers an insider's look at the culture surrounding a particular faith and what kind of real impact or benefit these beliefs have on people's lives. Basically, everything a seeker wants to know before taking a deep dive into a specific faith.

Here's a list of 17 great religion and spirituality-based podcasts. There's a wide range of beliefs (and unbelief) represented here that will surely challenge you no matter where you are in your faith journey. So clear up some space on your phone immediately and invite these great spiritual traditions into your headspace.

(Descriptions taken from iTunes)

Interfaith Voices
Interfaith Voices / iTunes
"Interfaith Voices is the nation's only public radio show exclusively about religion. We were born just three days after 9/11, when a feisty nun got the idea to host a multi-faith panel on religion and terrorism, live on the radio. The phones rang off the hook, and it became clear that listeners were hungry for informed, respectful dialogue on religion in the public square. We carry on that mission today with our free, weekly podcast...led by that same unstoppable nun-turned-radio host, Maureen Fiedler."

iTunes Link
On Being
Krista Tippett Public Productions / iTunes
"On Being with Krista Tippett takes up the big questions of meaning with scientists and theologians, artists and teachers — some you know and others you'll love to meet. Updated every Thursday, a new discovery about the immensity of our lives."

iTunes Link
BBC Heart and Soul
BBC World Service / iTunes
"Each week, Heart And Soul explores and tries to explain personal experiences of spirituality and faith from around the world."

iTunes Link
Research On Religion
tgill@u.washington.edu / iTunes
"A weekly podcast exploring academic research on religion and featuring top scholars in history, sociology, political science, economics and religious studies."

iTunes Link
Oh No Ross & Carrie
Ross and Carrie / iTunes
"Welcome to Oh No, Ross and Carrie!, the show where we don’t just report on fringe science, spirituality, and claims of the paranormal, but take part ourselves. Follow us as we join religions, undergo alternative treatments, seek out the paranormal, and always find the humor in life’s biggest mysteries. We show up - so you don’t have to. Every month we share a new investigation, along with occasional bonus interviews and updates."

iTunes Link
All Together
The Huffington Post/Panoply
"From the Pope to Patti Smith -- All Together is dedicated to exploring how religion ideas, ethics and spiritual practices inform and shape our personal lives, our communities and our world. Host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush is the Executive Editor of HuffPost Religion, which is America's most widely-read religion website."

iTunes Link
Buddhist Geeks
BuddhistGeeks.com / iTunes
"Buddhist Geeks has been exploring the convergence of Buddhism with emerging technology and our increasingly global culture since 2007."

iTunes Link
Inciting A Riot
Fire Lyte / iTunes
"A look at pagan and spiritual topics alongside discussions of current events, sociology, humor, and sass. Inciting A Riot: Lighting a fire under comfortable thinking."

iTunes Link
Feminist Mormon Housewives Podcast
Feminist Mormon Housewives Podcast / iTunes
"A podcast about feminism, history, mormonism, and life."

iTunes Link
#GoodMuslimBadMuslim
Taz Ahmed
"A monthly podcast featuring Tanzila "Taz" Ahmed and Zahra Noorbakhsh about the good and the bad of the American Muslim female experience. But you know, satirically & disturbingly hilarious."

iTunes Link
Vox Tablet
Vox Tablet / iTunes
"Vox Tablet, named Best Podcast for the 2009 National Magazine Awards for Digital Media, is the weekly podcast of Tablet Magazine, the online Jewish life and culture magazine formerly known as Nextbook. Hosted by Sara Ivry, Vox Tablet brings you conversations with writers, scholars, musicians, and mobsters, as well as reports from all corners of the earth, from a cheesecake factory in the Bronx to a genocide memorial on a hilltop in Rwanda."

iTunes Link
Everyone's Agnostic
Cass Midgley & Bob Pondillo / iTunes
"Cass & Bob interview people you don't know, about a topic no one wants to talk about, using purely speculative terms: God. This podcast is focused on gathering stories of how humans navigate their existence in the face of absurdity, in pursuit of life, love, and laughter."

iTunes Link
Freethought Radio
Freedom From Religion Foundation / iTunes
"Hosted by Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-presidents, Freedom From Religion Foundation. Slightly irreverent views, news, music and interviews."

iTunes Link
The Ask Sri Vishwanath Show
Bhagavad Gita University / iTunes
"In the Ask Sri Vishwanath show you can bring in your questions and Sri Vishwanath will answer them for you live. He is the author of The Secret of Bhagavad Gita and runs the Bhagavad Gita University. Each session runs from 9 to 20 minutes and is packed with the wisdom and secrets of Bhagavad Gita. Simple to absorb easy to implement. You will love these subtle teachings of Bhagavad Gita and want to visit them again and again."

iTunes Link
The Sikh Cast
Sikh Research Institute / iTunes
"A new podcast hosted by the Sikh Research Institute that will feature members of Sikh community to talk about issues relevant to Sikhs around the world."

iTunes Link
A Baha'i Perspective
wog1844@charter.net / iTunes
"A weekly radio broadcast of interviews presenting a Baha'i perspective on life."

iTunes Link
The Liturgists
The Liturgists / iTunes
"Michael Gungor, Science Mike, Lissa Paino, and an ever revolving cast of creators take on topics through the perspectives of science, art, and faith."

iTunes Link

Have we missed any of your favorites? Tell us in the comments below.

Also On HuffPost:

The Phantom Tollbooth, by Norton Juster

26 Books Every 'Spiritual But Not Religious' Seeker Should Read

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