By Neia Balao
6:50am PST, Mar 7, 2023
_
What better way to pass the time than by listening to a podcast hosted by your favorite celebrity? From an inside look into their A-list lives to in-depth discussions about politics, art, film, television and literature, celebrity podcasts cover a wide range of compelling topics. We've rounded up our favorites, starting with this one in honor of Jenna Fischer's 49th birthday on March 7, 2023…
"The Office" stars Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey joined forces to create "Office Ladies," a rewatch podcast of their beloved TV comedy series. Each week, the co-stars-turned-besties hit the airwaves to break down an episode of "The Office" and provide exclusive insights that, according to their website, "only two people who were there can tell you." Upbeat, hilarious and incredibly nostalgic, "Office Ladies" is the podcast every die-hard fan needs to hear.
Keep reading for more of the best celebrity-led podcasts…
MORE: Most beloved female characters on 2000s teen dramas
_
Missing "Twilight"? Alice Cullen seems to have foreseen that! Ashley Greene, who portrayed the vampire with the power to see the future, will be reminiscing about the good ol' days of "Twilight" mania with her upcoming podcast, "The Twilight Effect." The actress will co-host with her friend Melanie Howe and dive into behind-the-scenes info. The first of 30 episodes premieres on March 15, 2022. She's already lined up co-stars including Kellan Lutz, Nikki Reed and Peter Facinelli to stop by and reminisce with her.
MORE: Coolest ladies of the 2000s: Where are they now?
_
When "The O.C." debuted in 2003, fans across the nation quickly became invested in the luxurious and dramatic lives of Ryan Atwood and his friends in the Orange County, California, community of Newport Beach. In April 2021, former co-stars Rachel Bilson and Melinda Clarke joined forces to create "Welcome to the OC, B******!" — a podcast that recaps each episode of the series and also hosts guests like "The O.C." alums Peter Gallagher, Chris Carmack and Tate Donovan.
_
Another teen drama of the aughts that had a major fan base? "One Tree Hill," which debuted on The WB in 2003. If you're anything like us, you wished you could've been in the best friendship enjoyed by Haley, Brooke and Peyton, who were played, respectively, by Joy Lenz, Sophia Bush and Hilarie Burton. In June 2021, these lovely and talented ladies reunited to launch "Drama Queens," a podcast on which they chat about each episode of their popular show and dish never-before-heard details about filming them.
_
On July 29, 2020, former first lady Michelle Obama launched her very own podcast, "The Michelle Obama Podcast," exclusively on Spotify. The hour-long episodes feature candid conversations between Michelle and her guests, who've included husband and former President Barack Obama and journalist Michele Norris. "My hope is that this series can be a place to explore meaningful topics together and sort through so many of the questions we're all trying to answer in our own lives," Michelle told Spotify.
_
Jameela Jamil hosts a weekly podcast, "I Weigh with Jameela Jamil," that focuses on having honest conversations that challenge society's perception of self-worth as its related to weight. With guests like Billy Porter, Demi Lovato and Reese Witherspoon, Jameela aims to "celebrate progress, not perfection" and lift up diverse voices.
_
On "Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness," "Queer Eye" cutie Jonathan chats with experts from diverse fields about a variety of topics including xenophobia, gun violence, climate change, self-esteem and pandemics. Every week, listeners are invited to unapologetically get curious about everything and anything imaginable.
_
The "Goop" podcast is hosted by the company's founder, actress Gwyneth Paltrow, and its CCO, Elise Loehnen. Together, they sit down with professionals — from spiritual healers to doctors to CEOs and everyone in between — with the purpose of starting conversations and challenging preexisting notions. While the series might be unconventional at times, it makes for an entertaining and often thought-provoking listen.
_
Model Ashley Graham hosts "Pretty Big Deal," a moving podcast that focuses on beauty, body positivity and the importance of owning who you are. Each week, Ashley sits down with popular celebrities including Kim Kardashian West, Demi Lovato and Sophia Bush and spotlights issues faced by women in a relatable, empowering way.
_
In March 2020, Grammy Award-winning artist-producer FINNEAS and his girlfriend, influencer Claudia Sulewski, launched their podcast, "We Bought a House with Claudia Sulewski and Finneas." The playful hour-long episodes chronicle the couple's stories and experiences living together in Los Angeles. Previous episodes include the story of how they met, the time they cooked with Robert Pattinson and how they celebrated a birthday in coronavirus quarantine.
_
In 2018, Dakota Johnson put a phone number on Instagram and encouraged women to call and share their personal stories of abuse — this podcast is the result of that effort. Hosted by the "50 Shades of Grey" actress, "The Left Ear" spotlights stories from harassment, abuse and assault survivors throughout the world. Confronting and empowering, the series gives listeners the opportunity to hear candid stories from women who've overcome perilous times.
_
"Oprah's SuperSoul Conversations" is hosted by none other than the media mogul herself. With special guests like Dwayne Johnson, Jennifer Lopez and Tracee Ellis Ross, the series aims to provide insight on some of life's most important questions. Informative, moving and incredibly invigorating, Oprah's latest airwaves endeavor was created for the purpose of helping listeners connect more deeply with themselves and the world around them.
_
In an attempt to discover human "truths" in an authentic way, "Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard" explores the messiness of being human. Inspired by the experiences that have shaped his own life, Dax invites a range of guests — academics, politicians and artists — to share their personal stories with the hope of celebrating the ways in which they overcame their struggles. A safe, genuine place for guests to be their most vulnerable selves, this podcast offers poignant lessons we can all learn from.
_
Raise your hand if you were a huge fan of "Community" back in the day! "The Darkest Timeline," a podcast hosted by the show's stars Ken Jeong and Joel McHale, delves into a variety of topics — from details about the hit series to candid discussions about the global health crisis (the podcast debuted during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020). Co-star Alison Brie and icon Whoopi Goldberg have been among the weekly podcast's guests.
_
These "The Bachelor" franchise alums certainly have a lot to talk about! "The Ben and Ashley I Almost Famous Podcast" is hosted by "The Bachelor" season 11 star Ben Higgins and notorious Bachelor Nation crier Ashley Iaconetti. Along with the help of celebrity guests and former franchise contestants, the duo discusses all things love, relationships and latest season of "The Bachelorette."
_
"Anna Faris is Unqualified" is the hilarious celebrity podcast brought to the airwaves by the comedic actress herself. The podcast is typically split into two parts — Anna speaks with a fellow celebrity about hypothetical dating situations before interacting with a listener who will then provide "unqualified" advice about relationships. The series is a breath of fresh share and a good reminder that even A-listers don't always know what's best when it comes to the ever-complicated world of dating.
_
In an effort to explore life through the perspective of people who fascinate him, actor Justin Long launched "Life is Short with Justin Long." On the weekly podcast, Justin gets personal with his guests — from comedians like Tom Green to artists like Josh Groban — about how they derive meaning out of life.
_
Hosted by Alec Baldwin, "Here's the Thing" gives listeners an inside look into the dressing rooms, workspaces and apartments of public figures — from radio personality Ira Glass to comedian Chris Rock to writer-director Noah Baumbach — in an effort to provide insight into what inspires their work. With the help of Alec and his dedicated team, listeners are given the opportunity to better understand people from various walks of life.
_
Former co-stars and real-life besties Zach Braff and Donald Faison host a podcast, "Fake Doctors, Real Friends with Zach and Donald," which revolves around them discussing episodes of their old show "Scrubs." During the weekly podcast, Zach and Donald dive deep into the episode in question to reveal behind-the-scenes tidbits or recounting their favorite memories while filming. They also interact with fans and bring on fellow stars from the show to join in on the discussion.
_
On "RuPaul: What's The Tee with Michelle Visage," the celebrated drag queen and his co-host discuss all things pop culture, beauty and behind the scenes of his Emmy Award-winning reality television series, "RuPaul's Drag Race." Nicki Minaj, Whoopi Goldberg and Normani have been guests on this hilariously candid podcast series.
_
Amy Schumer and her hilarious pals Rachel Feinstein, Bridget Everett and Keith Robinson host "3 Girls, 1 Keith," a podcast that talks about all things pop culture and stand-up comedy. Their website describes the series, which is recorded in Amy's New York City apartment, as "dinner with your besties — if your besties were morally bankrupt." Casual, funny and incredibly juicy, the banter between these four friends is guaranteed to make you feel included in the discussion.
_
"The Daily Show With Trevor Noah: Ears Edition" brings the comedy star's award-winning TV series to the podcast format. From the short and sweet "In Case You Missed It" segments to the longer discussions of topical worldwide issues like the fight against climate change, America's Black mental health crisis, and the importance of mitigating the spread of COVID-19, the "Ears Edition" brings us the same quality content through a different medium.
_
Kate Hudson and brother Oliver Hudson join forces with "Sibling Revelry," a podcast about familial relationships. With the help of fellow celebs who have siblings of their own, like Zooey Deschanel, Amy Schumer and Jimmy Kimmel, the brother-sister series offers an honest exploration of sibling bonds and family dynamics.
_
Hosted by the hilarious late night host, "Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend" is the perfect feel-good podcast. With the help of comedian friends like Whitney Cummings, Judd Apatow, Will Arnett and Keegan-Michael Key, Conan discusses everything from the importance of lifting up fellow comedians to the emotionally taxing nature of performing a roast. It's an absolute delight to listen to, and Conan will have you laughing the whole way through.
_
"Jersey Shore" alum Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi and her makeup artist best friend Joey Camasta joined forces to create "It's Happening with Snooki & Joey," a podcast that dives deep into celebrity gossip, current events and, most important of all, family. It's a playful, upbeat podcast that offers commentary on a variety of topics, but the adorable banter between these besties is reason enough to tune in.
_
"Under The Skin with Russell Brand" questions what's beneath the surface of the people, ideas and histories we are told. With the help of experts in academia, art, literature and pop culture, Russell explores the "ulterior truths" that inform our current understanding of the world around us. Neil deGrasse Tyson, David Lynch and Karamo Brown are among the notable guests who've offered their insights.
_
"NAKED with Catt Sadler" gives listeners a raw, vulnerable look into the lives of some of the world's most captivating women. Journalist Catt Sadler hosts this compelling series that's featured the personal stories of women like Michelle Monaghan, June Diane Raphael and Kate Bosworth. Honest and empowering, "NAKED" celebrates the lived experiences of these influential women.
_
Former rom-com heartthrob Freddie Prinze Jr. and friend Josh Wolf created "Prinze and The Wolf," a podcast series that covers topics like parenting, pop culture, MMA and cooking. Great banter, good laughs and solid commentary, "Prinze and The Wolf" is an easygoing podcast that makes listeners feel like they're in the room with Freddie and Josh.
_
"The Love Bomb with Nico Tortorella" is another podcast that should be on your radar. Hosted by the "Younger" star, the series explores how themes like intimacy, love, relationships and sexual identity influence everyday life. With the help of a guest on each episode, Nico, who identifies as sexually fluid, candidly discusses a range of topics relating to gender, sexuality and LGBTQ visibility.
_
The former "Fear Factor" host and MMA enthusiast's daily podcast, "The Joe Rogan Experience," features long-form, in-depth conversations with guests — from comedians like Hannibal Buress to musicians like Post Malone to MMA fighters like Josh Barnett — that last up to three hours!
