TL;DR
On an Ask HN thread, readers listed podcasts they found notable in 2025, highlighting shows that critique media narratives, explore tech and economics, and cover contemporary politics. Several recommendations clustered around a loose 'Michael Hobbes podcast universe' and long-form business analysis.
What happened
A discussion on Hacker News collected user recommendations for standout podcasts in 2025. Multiple commenters praised work associated with Michael Hobbes, calling out a group of related shows that aim to debunk or scrutinize popular claims and cultural narratives. Specific titles mentioned included If Books Could Kill, Maintenance Phase, and You're Wrong About, with a note that Hobbes left the latter around October 2021. Another linked program where Hobbes has appeared was named and pointed to a Spotify feed. Beyond that cluster, users recommended a mix of long-form and topical shows: Acquired for company deep-dives (recently covering firms such as Coca‑Cola, Trader Joe’s and Alphabet), Dwarkesh’s interview series with an emphasis on AGI topics, Conversations with Tyler for broad, cerebral discussions, Marginal Revolution for economic dialogue, Ben Thompson’s Sharp Tech, and The Morning Meeting for US political coverage presented as neutral and forward-looking.
Why it matters
- Readers are gravitating toward podcasts that interrogate media narratives and commonly cited evidence rather than simply repeating it.
- The recommendations show appetite for both long-form company analysis and topical discussions on economics, technology and politics.
- Identifying recurring hosts and clusters (e.g., Michael Hobbes–linked shows) helps listeners curate content aligned with skeptical, evidence-focused approaches.
Key facts
- Multiple commenters recommended shows tied to Michael Hobbes, described as focusing on debunking or scrutinizing claims.
- Podcasts listed by commenters include If Books Could Kill; Maintenance Phase; You're Wrong About (Hobbes retired from this around Oct 2021).
- A show where Hobbes has appeared was identified as In Bed With The Right and linked to a Spotify page.
- Acquired was recommended for long episodes about companies; recent subjects mentioned were Coca‑Cola, Trader Joe’s and Alphabet.
- Dwarkesh Podcast was described as inquisitive, with much of the discussion related to AGI.
- Conversations with Tyler and The Marginal Revolution Podcast were cited for broad, economics and polymath-style discussions (Tyler Cowen & Alex Tabbarok named as hosts of Marginal Revolution).
- Sharp Tech with Ben Thompson was noted among the list of tech-focused shows.
- The Morning Meeting was characterized as covering US politics with a neutral, forward-looking tone.
- Source of the recommendations is an Ask HN thread on Hacker News published 2025-12-28 (source URL provided in the thread).
What to watch next
- Whether Michael Hobbes expands the slate of shows or makes additional guest appearances — not confirmed in the source.
- Future episode subjects for Acquired and other long-form business podcasts (which could indicate trends in corporate analysis) — not confirmed in the source.
- Any shifts in tone or scope for The Morning Meeting’s US political coverage — not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- Podcast: A serialized or episodic audio program distributed online, often focused on interviews, storytelling or commentary.
- AGI: Artificial General Intelligence; a theoretical form of AI with the ability to understand, learn, and apply intelligence broadly across tasks.
- Media critique: Analysis that examines narratives, evidence, and framing used in journalism and public discourse.
- Long-form podcast: An episode that runs significantly longer than typical news bites, allowing in-depth discussion or storytelling.
Reader FAQ
Which podcasts did the thread recommend?
Commenters mentioned If Books Could Kill; Maintenance Phase; You're Wrong About; In Bed With The Right; Acquired; Dwarkesh Podcast; Conversations with Tyler; The Marginal Revolution Podcast; Sharp Tech with Ben Thompson; and The Morning Meeting.
Is Michael Hobbes still on You're Wrong About?
The thread notes that Hobbes retired from You're Wrong About around October 2021.
Where can I find 'In Bed With The Right'?
The commenter linked the show to a Spotify page in the thread.
Does the thread provide listener numbers or rankings?
Not confirmed in the source.
I really enjoyed the "Michael Hobbes Podcast Universe" this year. He's a reporter who is now making entertaining podcasts debunking claims in the media/zeitgeist. I appreciate that he takes a…
Sources
- Ask HN: Best Podcasts of 2025?
- Our Favorite Books, Shows, and Podcasts of 2025
- MANY OF SOME OF THE BEST PODCAST EPISODES I …
- 7 Book Podcasts to Indulge, Develop or Rekindle a Love of …
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