The 5 Best Podcasts To Listen To While Relaxing On The Beach

The podcasting industry has been steadily growing over the years, with more content and shows being produced than ever before (per Riverside). Whether you're looking for something to listen to while cooking or hoping a podcast will help you fall asleep, there are so many great audio shows that can provide you with a stellar listening experience.

While we're big fans of a summer beach read, podcasts are also suitable entertainment for beach relaxation. Because they give you the opportunity to just lay back and sunbathe, they are sometimes more preferable to reading. Another great thing about podcasts is that they allow you to multitask, so if you want something to listen to while building sandcastles with your loved ones, then podcast listening is for you.

Whether you're forgoing your beach reading list altogether or just looking for something you can listen to with your traveling partner, there are a variety of audio shows worth checking out while you're at the beach. Ranging from comedic and conversational to thought-provoking and educational, we've assembled a list of the best five!

Comedy podcasts are perfect for beach listening, making "The Receipts" worth checking out. Hosted by Tolani Shoneye, Audrey Indome, and Milena Sanchez, this British podcast explores relationships, pop culture, and sex in an unfiltered, honest fashion.

In addition to their regular content, the hosts also respond to sent-in "receipts" in dedicated episodes, providing viewers with uncensored advice. Listed on Esquire as one of the best comedy podcasts, this show is sure to provide you with a good laugh along with a solid dose of girl talk.

Conversational in style, "Keep It" is a pop culture and politics podcast with an LGBTQIA+ slant, making it a great pick for anyone interested in discussions of topical media and interviews with celebrities. This weekly podcast — brought to listeners by Crooked Media, the same company responsible for "Pod Save America," among other hits — includes Ira Madison III and Louis Virtel as hosts and features a large range of guests, including comedian Nicole Byer, actor Neil Patrick Harris, and singer Rebecca Black.

Great for catching up on all that's happening in pop culture, this is just the sort of podcast to listen to on your beach vacation.

A lighter spin on the true crime genre, "Scam Goddess" is a podcast all about scams, grifts, and frauds. Hosted by Laci Mosley, the titular Scam Goddess, this show features many different elements, including celebrity guest stars, listener stories, and discussions about contemporary and historic scams. For example, the October 10 episode features the titillating story of a woman who not only claimed to be an heiress, but spent a significant amount of time at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago property in Florida. Intrigued? Join the club.

Highlighted on Time Out as one of the best podcasts to listen to in 2022, this comedy show is described as true crime without all the death, making it a great choice for a sunny day at the beach.

"The Memory Palace" is a narrative non-fiction podcast particularly good for listeners looking for short-form content. With each episode ranging from 10 to 25 minutes, Nate DiMeo narrates this show, honing in on a specific event or instance from history in each episode and using audio effects to elevate its storytelling.

While this show is more serious in tone than the previously mentioned, sunbathing on the beach is the perfect time to allow yourself to become enveloped in its entrancing storytelling. Plus, the podcast was a finalist for the 2016 Peabody Award, so you know you'll be embracing some high-quality content while soaking in the sun. 

Created by Sarah Marshall and Michael Hobbes, "You're Wrong About" is another podcast that covers a wide variety of topics. Featured on Yardbarker as one of the best podcasts for well-told stories, this show challenges listeners about what they think they know — the areas of interest vary from specific subjects and events to  persons.

Previously, the show was co-hosted by its two creators but has since shifted to Marshall bringing on guests who are experts in the episode's respective topic. For instance, Marshall was joined by the one and only Jessica Chastain, and the two discussed American evangelist Tammy Faye Bakker ahead of Chastain's film, "The Eyes of Tammy Faye." With how many different events and issues the show tackles, you're sure to find something that piques your personal interest.