Complete List of Podcasts for Seniors 2023

Welcome to Elder Guru’s rundown of all the podcasts for seniors that are capturing faithful audiences among the over-50 set. Now, where to start … ?

Like it or not, the internet is here to stay. Whether you’ve taken the time and effort to become completely savvy or you’re still struggling with the basics like email, online life has permanently changed everything from banking to shopping to communications and all points in between.

Entertainment, for example, is a biggie. Now you can stream new-release movies. You can call up any song out of a library of millions simply by speaking to the AI-entity Alexa. You can video-conference with friends, colleagues, and family. The fact is, we carry more computing power in our pockets these days than the entire NASA mainframe system at the time of the moon launch.

Remember the ad campaign whose catchphrase was, “There’s an app for that”? It seemed, and still does, that no matter what the interest, no matter how arcane the niche, you could go to the App Store or Google Play and find exactly what you needed to finalize the marriage between your passion and the incredible power of the internet.

Similarly, today the same holds true for episodic listening: “There’s a podcast for that.” Like fishing? Got it. Avid reader? Several podcasts devoted to the literate life. Cars? The roster does justice to the spirit of good ol’ Click and Clack.

But what about podcasts geared specifically toward Americans in their silver years? What are the best podcasts for seniors? You’re in the right place, because in this article we here at Elder Guru present an exhaustive list of podcasts for seniors, complete with clickable links to speed up the process of your finding a new favorite.

What is a Podcast?

If you’re still not sure what exactly a podcast is, here’s a rough definition: it’s a downloadable, stream-able audio program with regularly released episodes, varying in length from a few minutes to over an hour. The cool part is you can start at the very beginning of a podcast (and binge to catch up if you’re so inclined), pick it up with the latest episode, even subscribe to receive a notification at the release of each new episode. Podcasts have been around since the nascent stage of the internet, with Carl Malamud’s “Internet Talk Radio” breaking new ground by offering downloadable content back in 1993.

Ninety-three was just yesterday, right? Well, a lot has happened since then, so settle back and check out the list below, all podcasts that will pique the interest of the over-50 set. Who knows, you might be getting into something that will give you years of enjoyment, entertainment, and information.

If you know of any podcasts for seniors that belong here that we missed, let us know in the comments. This article will be regularly updated to reflect your contributions.

Podcasts for Seniors — Our List

1. Aging in Full Bloom with Lisa Stockdale — Short episodes (usually less than 15 minutes) about senior concerns like memory maintenance, assisted living, and good emotional health can be found here.
2. Aging in Style — Lori Williams hosts this “positive and uplifting podcast with the goal of inspiring people of all ages to live their best life.” She updates regularly and now has over 100 episodes.
3. The Alton Browncast — Everybody knows the renowned TV chef Alton Brown, and now if you have extra time to dabble in cooking, you have this fascinating resource. The chef shares stories, guest interviews, and recipes to keep you engaged.
4. Better Health While Aging — Ranging in senior health topics from Medicare to Covid to staying sharp during those long lonely days, Better Health While Aging is about just that. Hosted by Leslie Kernisan, MD.
5. Camp Codger – A podcast on the golden years that delivers “rocking chair wisdom” to their listeners. It’s “a podcast conceived, developed, and produced by our generation for our generation.”
6. Closing the Savings Gap — This AARP podcast’s hosts match up real women of retirement age with career financial advisors who walk them through the steps they must take to ensure a successful transition out of the work world.
7. Consider This from NPR — This podcast brings you a wrap-up of the day’s major news stories in under 15 minutes, brought to you by the insightful hosts of NPR’s All Things Considered.
8. Criminal — What could have possibly happened during the event that became known as “The Max Headroom Incident”? The answer, and a lot more enthralling instances of true crime, is here in this award-winning “true stories” podcast.
9. The Daily — A podcast that falls under the rubric of the New York Times, The Daily covers important news five days a week, focusing on one newsworthy event each episode for fifteen minutes. Listen to it with your morning coffee.
10. Girl Talk: Women, Aging, and Sexuality — Listen to illuminating interviews conducted by host Marcia Meier on the topic of “love, romance, and sex” for older women who may feel left behind by today’s youth-centric culture.
11. Guided Meditations — Blending Western psychology with Eastern medical practices, this collection of meditations led by founder Tara Brach is a good way to meet the dawn or sign off for the day. Relaxation is important; don’t miss out. 
12. The Handyguys — We’ve all had the experience of someone doing work on our homes that turned out to be shoddy, leaving us to wonder why we didn’t tackle the job ourselves. This podcast aims to arm listeners with the skills to do just about everything when it comes to DIY repairs and upgrades, or at least how to make sure it’s done right by the hired hand.
13. History Unplugged — Are you a history buff? Listen to this podcast to learn and be amazed by things you may not have known about “gruff World War II generals who flew with airmen on bombing raids, a war horse who gained the rank of sergeant, and presidents who gave their best speeches while drunk,” and that’s barely scratching the surface.
14. Homemade — The ultimate podcast for foodies, Homemade features celebrity chef spots, stories about the traditions behind America’s best-loved recipes, and much more about the food we eat and how it’s made. Put on your apron and join the fun.
15. Into America — This offering from MSNBC is an exploration of how Americans’ lives are affected by public policy and government action — or inaction. The pandemic, the protests, the insurrection, it’s all here. Fill in the gaps in your knowledge, and perhaps change your mind.
16. Kiplinger’s Your Money’s Worth — Here we have a weekly series that asks and answers questions on taxes, investing, and retirement in general. A sampling of episode titles includes “Stock Tips for 2021,” “State Taxes On the Middle Class,” and “Making Wise Choices During Open Enrollment.”
17. Living to 100 Club — This podcast is focused on aging successfully, with episode titles like “How Sleep Affects Our Health,” “Smart Women On Fire,” and “The Art of Aging Well.”
18. Lux Radio Theatre — Are you old enough to remember and miss the voice of the legendary John Wayne? He’s one of the many old-time narrators featured in this podcast that recalls the original Lux Radio Theatre, a radio show that aired in the 30s, 40s, and 50s. Films of the era are adapted for audio-only and acted out by the big names of the time. A trip down memory lane.
19. The Moment with Brian Koppelman — Koppelman is a successful screenwriter who has a knack for asking questions you’ve always wanted the answers to. Each episode, he interviews a guest to address the most important decisions in their careers. Personalities like actor Ed Norton and money expert Dave Ramsey abound.
20. New Tricks for Old Dogs – Each episode is about 25 minutes long. The show blends humor, odd news items and an interview with a senior who has created an interesting third act.
21. Not Old – Better — Famed journalist Paul Vogelzang reminds us that it’s never too late to live a life pursuing your passions and wringing success out of your world. Each episode features an interview with an extraordinary human, geared toward listeners over 50 years of age.
22. The Perfect Scam — One of three AARP-produced podcasts, The Perfect Scam delves into various experiences interviewees have had as a result of being scammed, as well as talks with former con men and grifters. If your tech skills still have a lot of room to grow and you’re not sure how to identify phishing and hacking attempts, listen to this.
23. The Peter Attia Drive — Peter Attia is a medical doctor who dives deep in each episode to unearth great advice on physical, emotional, and mental health, all with longevity in mind.
24. Phil In the Blanks — Are you a fan of Dr. Phil? Here’s a podcast where you can listen to “America’s Doctor” interview amazing subjects and apply his famous wisdom on important and sensitive topics.
25. Planet Money — The economy on a macro and micro scale, explained to listeners as if over a pint in a tavern. Some eye-opening insights on the power and nature of your money. 
26. The Relic Radio Show — This gem of a podcast unearths recordings from old-time radio drama, treating you to horror, comedy, science fiction, and more, presented the way you remember, in all its glory.
27. The Retirement Answer Man — Financial planner Roger Whitney mans the helm for this podcast, which boasts an episode count of over 300, and still going strong. Topics range from protecting yourself during a market crash to how and when to use an HSA (health savings account).
28. Science Friday — Also known as “Sci-Fri,” this podcast from WNYC is advertised as “brain fun for curious people,” and it lives up to the moniker, serving up episodes on everything from the flight ability of giant prehistoric birds to how the northern lights work. A good podcast to learn more about the world around us and to stay interested in life in general.
29. Sleep with Me — A staggering number of seniors have reported changes in their sleep patterns as they age, with insomnia plaguing thousands. This podcast combats sleep disorders the old fashioned way: with bedtime stories that are engineered to become progressively more boring as they go, naturally lulling you into the embrace of slumber. Sweet dreams.
30. Specifically for Seniors – This is podcast designed for those in the “Remember when…” generations. The podcaster talks to different celebrities and non-celebrities ranging from comedians, to doctors, to journalists, to photographers, biologists, fishermen, pickle ball champions, and everyone in between. They also have a YouTube channel.
31. Stay Wealthy — This retirement-centric podcast explores the ways that you can maintain your liquidity after leaving the work world. It broke Apple Podcasts Top 50 list in the investment category.
32. Stuff You Missed In History Class — It’s long been bemoaned that mainstream history textbooks leave out a lot of important people, events, and national and worldwide trends. To learn some fascinating examples of what was glossed over, check out this podcast.
33. Take On Today — Offered by AARP, this podcast spotlights neurosurgeon and chief CNN medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta as he discusses myriad aspects of keeping one’s mind sharp as one ages. Unleash the power of your senses, your memory, and your brain.
34. TEDx SHORTS — You may have heard of “TED Talks,” an ongoing series of lectures by some of the world’s top minds and talents. This podcast distills some of that material into ten-minute episodes of some of the most thought-provoking ideas and developments out there. Start your day being amazed.
35. Ten Percent Happier with Dan Harris — Part of aging well is keeping your spirits up. Dan Harris is a journalist who suffered a panic attack on the air. Instead of letting that experience end his career, he discovered meditation and went on to write the bestseller “10% Happier.” In the podcasts, he interviews meditation experts, scientists, and celebrities who tell their stories about epiphanies and internal successes.
36. This American Life — A favorite for 2.2 million listeners every week, this news podcast gravitates toward journalism that focuses on surprising plots, interesting characters, and a whole lot of food for thought. A fine place to start.
37. You Must Remember This — There’s nothing wrong with a little nostalgia. It can set your mind to rest and get you feeling young again. A good podcast for that is this one, which revolves around the heyday of Hollywood, reminding you of the greats of the Golden Age. From James Dean to Marilyn Monroe, all the legends are here.

So there you have it — our exhaustive list of podcasts for seniors. But of course, to reiterate the caveat from above, we are sure that the list will grow quickly as readers leave comments that name other worthy podcast titles. So after you enjoy the podcasts we’ve shown you, do some research of your own and let us know!