What are the best podcasts to listen to while doing something else in 2026? - help needed

[One-One-Five]

Looking for recommendations of podcasts that work well as background audio for commutes, exercise, cooking, DIY or other tasks where you can listen but not take notes or pause constantly. Not looking for dense educational lectures - more interested in engaging narrative or conversational formats that are enjoyable but do not demand your full attention. What are you currently listening to and what format works best for you

[BigDog]

Revisionist History by Malcolm Gladwell divides opinion but the production quality and narrative structure are excellent for exercise. Some episodes are stronger than others but the best ones are genuinely thought-provoking

[Router53]

My Year in Mensa by The Dollop is still the best episodic comedy podcast available. Two comedians, one of whom has not read the notes, riffing on strange American history. Perfect for running because it makes you laugh out loud and forget you are exercising

[CMPunk88]

No Such Thing as a Fish from the QI researchers is ideal background listening. Short episodes, four interesting facts per episode, ends before you get bored. The conversational format means you can dip in and out without losing the thread

[John]

Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster for cooking. The pretend restaurant format means every episode has the same structure so your brain can track it without attention. Consistently funny and the guest lineup is excellent

[BigDog92]

Football Cliches by Adam Hurrey for commutes during the football season. Extremely specific, extremely funny if you follow football, and short enough that it fits a standard commute window almost exactly