Best Monsters Of The Midlife Podcasts (2025)

1
616 - Bad Company - Shooting Star 1:41:02

2d ago1:41:02

1:41:02

616 - Bad Company - Shooting Star: Chris, Nick, and Andy break down "Shooting Star" from the 1975 album Straight Shooter by Bad Company.By Pod of Thunder

1
163. The Data Sleuth Taking on Shoddy Science 56:25

12d ago56:25

56:25

Uri Simonsohn is a behavioral science professor who wants to improve standards in his field — so he’s made a sideline of investigating fraudulent academic research. He tells Steve Levitt, who's spent plenty of time rooting out cheaters in other fields, how he does it. SOURCES: Uri Simonsohn, professor of behavioral science at Esade Business School.…

1
"Dating and Dismemberment" - A Monster's Midlife Crisis 52:08

13d ago52:08

52:08

Send us a text What happens when a legendary monster gets burned out from terrorizing teenagers? Monster Slayer Matchmaking takes us into the world of Darla Drake, the infamous Duchess of Death, who's taking a much-needed break from her monster duties at Camp Clear Creek. When we first meet Darla, she's in the depths of an existential crisis, spend…

1
615 - Ozzy Osbourne - Diary of a Madman 1:39:38

16d ago1:39:38

1:39:38

615 - Ozzy Osbourne - Diary of a Madman: Chris, Nick, and Andy break down the title track of Ozzy Osbourne's 1981 album Diary of a Madman.By Pod of Thunder

1
Arne Duncan Says All Kids Deserve a Chance — and Criminals Deserve a Second One (Update) 46:11

19d ago46:11

46:11

Former U.S. Secretary of Education, 3x3 basketball champion, and leader of an anti-gun violence organization are all on Arne’s resume. He’s also Steve’s neighbor. The two talk about teachers caught cheating in Chicago public schools and Steve shares a story he’s never told Arne, about a defining moment in the educator’s life. SOURCES: Arne Duncan, …

1
614 w/ Ben Mollin - The Genitorturers - Jackin' Man 1:59:28

23d ago1:59:28

1:59:28

614 w/ Ben Mollin - The Genitorturers - Jackin' Man: Chris, Nick, and Andy are joined by celebrity hairdresser, musician, endurance athlete, and author of the upcoming book "Deconstructed: Kill the Thing That's Killing You" Ben Mollin to break down "Jackin' Man" from the 1993 album 120 Days of Genitorture by The Genitorturers.…

1
162. Will We Solve the Climate Problem? 57:56

26d ago57:56

57:56

Kate Marvel spends her days playing with climate models, which she says are “like a very expensive version of The Sims.” As a physicist she gets tired of being asked to weigh in on economics, geopolitics, and despair — but she still defends the right of scientists to have strong feelings about the planet. SOURCES: Kate Marvel, climate scientist and…

1
"Filthy Rich Fae" - Fae Mafia Romance in New Orleans 59:38

27d ago59:38

59:38

Send us a text Step into the shadows of New Orleans with us as we unpack Geneva Lee's "Filthy Rich Fae," a supernatural crime drama where the lines between mafia power and fae magic blur into a dangerous, seductive world. When ER nurse Kate Holloway strikes a bargain with the notorious fae crime lord Lachlan Gage to save her brother's soul, she fin…

1
613 w/ Travis Kennedy ft. Chris Jericho - Scorpions - Wind of Change 2:31:01

1M ago2:31:01

2:31:01

613 w/ Travis Kennedy ft. Chris Jericho - Scorpions - Wind of Change: Chris, Nick, Andy, and Chris Jericho are joined by author of The Whyte Python World Tour to discuss the new book and break down "Wind of Change" from the 1990 Scorpions album Crazy World.By Pod of Thunder

1
161. How to Captivate an Audience 48:48

1M ago48:48

48:48

Twenty years ago, before the Freakonomics book tour, Bill McGowan taught Steve Levitt to speak in public. In his new book he tries to teach everyone else. SOURCES: Bill McGowan, founder and C.E.O. of Clarity Media Group. RESOURCES: Speak, Memorably: The Art of Captivating an Audience, by Bill McGowan (2025). "Sheryl Sandberg Gives UC Berkeley Comme…

1
612 - Silverchair - Tomorrow 1:39:22

1M ago1:39:22

1:39:22

612 - Silverchair - Tomorrow: Chris, Nick, and Andy break down "Tomorrow" from the 1995 album Frogstomp by Silvechair.By Pod of Thunder

1
"Captured by the Fae Beast" - Who Saves Who? 59:31

1M ago59:31

59:31

Send us a text What happens when grief meets magic? When a woman on the brink of death is whisked away to the dangerous Fae Court and given a bargain she can't refuse? Monster romance often gets a bad reputation—dismissed as shallow fantasy or even harmful to readers. Our deep dive into Mallory Dunlan's "Captured by the Fae Beast" reveals why these…

1
Annie Duke Thinks You Should Quit (Update) 48:25

2M ago48:25

48:25

Former professional poker player Annie Duke wrote a book about Steve’s favorite subject: quitting. They talk about why quitting is so hard, how to do it sooner, and why we feel shame when we do something that’s good for us. SOURCES: Annie Duke, author and former professional poker player. RESOURCES: Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away, by …

1
611 - N.E.R.D. - She Wants to Move 1:28:57

2M ago1:28:57

1:28:57

611 - N.E.R.D. - She Wants to Move: Chris, Nick, and Andy break down "She Wants to Move" from N.E.R.D.'s 2004 album Fly or Die.By Pod of Thunder

1
160. How to Help Kids Succeed 1:00:09

2M ago1:00:09

1:00:09

Psychologist David Yeager thinks the conventional wisdom for how to motivate young people is all wrong. His model for helping kids cope with stress is required reading at Steve’s new high school. SOURCES: David Yeager, professor of psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. RESOURCES: 10 to 25: The Science of Motivating Young People: A Ground…

1
"Brighter than Scale" - Duty and Heart Collide 59:11

2M ago59:11

59:11

Send us a text What happens when a legendary dragon slayer is sent to kill a dragon in a kingdom where dragons are revered, not feared? And what if that dragon turns out to be connected to the kingdom's mysterious and captivating ruler? These questions lie at the heart of Neon Yang's "Brighter Than Scale, Swifter Than Flame," our Pride Month select…

1
610 - Spinal Tap - Sex Farm 1:45:26

2M ago1:45:26

1:45:26

610 - Spinal Tap - Sex Farm: Chris, Nick, and Andy break down "Sex Farm" from the 1984 album This Is Spinal Tap by Spinal Tap.By Pod of Thunder

1
609 w/ Meltdown - Faith No More - Midlife Crisis 1:56:53

2M ago1:56:53

1:56:53

609 w/ Meltdown - Faith No More - Midlife Crisis: Chris, Nick, and Andy are joined by WRIF radio legend Meltdown to break down "Midlife Crisis" from the 1992 album Angel Dust by Faith No More.By Pod of Thunder

1
159. Robin Wall Kimmerer’s Manifesto for a Gift Economy 57:16

2M ago57:16

57:16

She’s a botanist, a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, and the author of the bestselling Braiding Sweetgrass. In her new book she criticizes the market economy — but she and Steve find a surprising amount of common ground. SOURCES: Robin Wall Kimmerer, botanist and founder and director of the Center for Native Peoples and the Environment. RES…

1
"Dogma" - Faith, Loopholes, and Nostalgia 58:01

2M ago58:01

58:01

Send us a text Our hosts dive deep into this 1999 cult classic, examining how it blends Catholic doctrine with elements of Greek mythology and Jewish mysticism to create a uniquely irreverent yet thoughtful commentary on faith. Is there hints of romance sprinkled into this film? The film follows two fallen angels (Matt Damon and Ben Affleck) who di…

1
608 w/ Chris Jericho & Charlie Parra - Van Halen - Without You 2:49:02

2M ago2:49:02

2:49:02

608 w/ Chris Jericho & Charlie Parra - Van Halen - Without You: Chris, Nick, and Andy are joined by Chris Jericho and Charlie Parra of Kuarantine to break down "Without You" from the 1998 album Van Halen III by Van Halen.By Pod of Thunder

1
Does Death Have to Be a Death Sentence? (Update) 42:22

2M ago42:22

42:22

Palliative physician B.J. Miller asks: Is there a better way to think about dying? And can death be beautiful? SOURCES: B.J. Miller, palliative-care physician and President at Mettle Health. RESOURCES: A Beginner’s Guide to the End: Practical Advice for Living Life and Facing Death, by Shoshana Berger and B.J. Miller and (2019). “After A Freak Acci…

1
607 w/ Randy Makes Candy - Robert Palmer - Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley 1:20:10

3M ago1:20:10

1:20:10

607 w/ Randy Makes Candy - Robert Palmer - Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley: Chris, Nick, and Andy are joined by YouTube confectioner Randy from Randy Makes Candy to break down the title track from the 1974 album Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley by Robert Palmer.By Pod of Thunder

1
158. Why Did Rome Fall — and Are We Next? 55:24

3M ago55:24

55:24

Historian Tom Holland narrowly escaped a career writing vampire novels to become the co-host of the wildly popular podcast The Rest Is History. At Steve’s request, he compares President Trump and Julius Caesar and explains why the culture wars are arguments about Christian theology. SOURCES: Tom Holland, historian and host of The Rest is History. R…

1
"Five Broken Blades" - Five Killers, One Crown, and a Web of Deception 59:23

3M ago59:23

59:23

Send us a text Betrayal has never been so tantalizing as in Maya Corland's "Five Broken Blades," where five deadly assassins must form an uneasy alliance against an immortal tyrant—if they don't kill each other first. When a mysterious summons brings together the most dangerous liars in the land, their mission seems straightforward: assassinate the…

1
606 - John Cougar - Ain't Even Done With the Night 1:32:01

3M ago1:32:01

1:32:01

606 - John Cougar - Ain't Even Done With the Night: Chris, Nick, and Andy break down "Ain't Even Done With the Night" from the 1980 album Nothin' Matters and What If It Did by John Cougar.By Pod of Thunder

1
605 - Aerosmith - My Fist Your Face 1:56:12

3M ago1:56:12

1:56:12

605 - Aerosmith - My Fist Your Face: Chris, Nick, and Andy break down "My Fist Your Face" from the 1985 album Done with Mirrors by Aerosmith.By Pod of Thunder

1
157. The Deadliest Disease in Human History 1:05:19

3M ago1:05:19

1:05:19

John Green returns to the show to talk about tuberculosis — a disease that kills more than a million people a year. Steve has an idea for a new way to get treatment to those in need. SOURCES: John Green, best-selling author and YouTube creator. RESOURCES: Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection, by John Gr…

1
Griefcat - When songwriters dive into romantasy, magic happens 1:11:50

3M ago1:11:50

1:11:50

Send us a text When musical comedy duo Grief Cat wrote a song about fairies getting it on during band practice, they had no idea it would become their biggest hit. But that's exactly what happened when Annie and Louisa's romantasy-inspired jam "Fairies Fucking" connected with readers and listeners who share their passion for paranormal love stories…

1
604 - Survivor - I Can't Hold Back 1:15:40

3M ago1:15:40

1:15:40

604 - Survivor - I Can't Hold Back: Chris, Nick, and Andy break down "I Can't Hold Back" from the 1984 album Vital Signs by Survivor.By Pod of Thunder

1
Abraham Verghese Thinks Medicine Can Do Better (Update) 46:59

3M ago46:59

46:59

Abraham Verghese is a physician and a best-selling author — in that order, he says. He explains the difference between curing and healing, and tells Steve why doctors should spend more time with patients and less with electronic health records. SOURCES: Abraham Verghese, professor of medicine at Stanford University and best-selling novelist. RESOUR…

1
603 w/ Georgia Lunch - Kelly Clarkson - Since U Been Gone 1:57:47

4M ago1:57:47

1:57:47

603 w/ Georgia Lunch - Kelly Clarkson - Since U Been Gone: Chris, Nick, and Andy are joined by 2018 U.S. Air Guitar Champion Georgia Lunch to break down "Since U Been Gone" from the 2004 album Breakaway by Kelly Clarkson.By Pod of Thunder

1
Episode 11 - The NFL Draft and Shedeur Sandars 33:41

4M ago33:41

33:41

Send us a text Its been a while!! We come back to talk about the NFL draft and the situation with Shedeur Sanders. We introduce a new segment of "Bitch of the Week!!". Listen and see who we put up as the inaugural recipient. We also touch on the all female "crewed" Blue Orion space flight. Shocker, we do not think it is the monumental feminist mome…

1
156. A Solution to America’s Gun Problem 59:24

4M ago59:24

59:24

Jens Ludwig has an idea for how to fix America’s gun violence problem — and it starts by rejecting conventional wisdom from both sides of the political aisle. SOURCES: Jens Ludwig, professor of economics at the University of Chicago and director of the University of Chicago Crime Lab. RESOURCES: Unforgiving Places: The Unexpected Origins of America…

1
"Crown of Midnight" - A deadly game of secrets and lies 58:46

4M ago58:46

58:46

Send us a text Unraveling the secrets of Sarah J. Maas's intricate fantasy world, we dive deep into "Crown of Midnight," the pivotal second installment of the Throne of Glass series. Our hosts explore how this book serves as the essential bridge that transforms what seemed like a straightforward assassin tale into an epic fantasy with far-reaching …

1
602 - Dokken - In My Dreams 1:39:33

4M ago1:39:33

1:39:33

602 - Dokken - In My Dreams: Chris, Nick, and Andy break down "In My Dreams" from the 1985 album Under Lock and Key by Dokken.By Pod of Thunder

1
601 - Blue Oyster Cult - E.T.I. (Extra Terrestrial Intelligence) 1:18:00

4M ago1:18:00

1:18:00

601 - Blue Oyster Cult - E.T.I. (Extra Terrestrial Intelligence): Chris, Nick, and Andy break down “E.T.I. (Extra Terrestrial Intelligence)” from the 1976 album Agents of Fortune by Blue Oyster Cult.By Pod of Thunder

1
155. Helping People Die 54:57

4M ago54:57

54:57

Ellen Wiebe is a physician who helps seriously ill patients end their lives in Canada, where assisted suicide is legal. Is death a human right? SOURCES: Ellen Wiebe, clinical professor of medicine at the University of British Columbia. RESOURCES: "The Last Decision by the World’s Leading Thinker on Decisions," by Jason Zweig (The Wall Street Journa…

1
"One Dark Window" - Fever Dreams and Highway Schemes 59:58

4M ago59:58

59:58

Send us a text Magic always has a price—but what if that price is your body, your mind, or even your humanity? Rachel Gillig's "One Dark Window" transports readers into a hauntingly beautiful gothic fantasy where survival means harboring dangerous secrets. In a mist-locked kingdom where magic is treated as a disease to be eradicated, Elspeth Spindl…

1
600 w/ Chris Jericho - Santana ft. Rob Thomas - Smooth 2:09:33

4M ago2:09:33

2:09:33

600 w/ Chris Jericho - Santana ft. Rob Thomas - Smooth: Chris Jericho returns to join Chris, Nick, and Andy for a breakdown of "Smooth ft. Rob Thomas" from the 1999 album Supernatural by Santana.By Pod of Thunder

1
Yul Kwon: “Don't Try to Change Yourself All at Once.” (Update) 44:49

4M ago44:49

44:49

He has been a lawyer, an instructor at the F.B.I. Academy, the owner of a frozen-yogurt chain, and a winner of the TV show Survivor. Today, Kwon works at Google, but things haven’t always come easily for him. Steve Levitt talks to Kwon about his debilitating childhood anxieties, his compulsion to choose the hardest path in life, and how Kwon used g…

1
154. Can Robots Get a Grip? 57:52

5M ago57:52

57:52

Ken Goldberg is at the forefront of robotics — which means he tries to teach machines to do things humans find trivial. SOURCES: Ken Goldberg, professor of industrial engineering and operations research at U.C. Berkeley. RESOURCES: "The Bitter Lesson," by Rich Sutton (UT Austin, 2019). R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots): A Fantastic Melodrama in Th…

1
"Throne of Glass" - Death Camp to King's Champ 59:58

5M ago59:58

59:58

Send us a text When a teenage author asked herself "What if Cinderella was an assassin fleeing the palace?" she couldn't have known she was creating the foundation for one of fantasy's most beloved series. In this anniversary episode, we celebrate our podcast's first year by diving into Throne of Glass, the story of Celaena Sardothien – deadly assa…

1
599 - Pitbull ft. Marc Anthony - Rain Over Me 1:23:52

5M ago1:23:52

1:23:52

599 - Pitbull ft. Marc Anthony - Rain Over Me: Chris, Nick, and Andy break down "Rain Over Me" from the 2011 album Planet Pit by Pitbull.By Pod of Thunder

1
598 - Soundgarden - Rusty Cage 1:32:32

5M ago1:32:32

1:32:32

598 - Soundgarden - Rusty Cage: Chris, Nick, and Andy break down "Rusty Cage" from the 1991 album Badmotorfinger by Soundgarden.By Pod of Thunder

1
153. We’re Not Getting Sicker — We’re Overdiagnosed 1:03:45

5M ago1:03:45

1:03:45

Suzanne O'Sullivan is a neurologist who sees many patients with psychosomatic disorders. Their symptoms may be psychological in origin, but their pain is real and physical — and the way we practice medicine, she argues, is making those and other health problems worse. SOURCES: Suzanne O'Sullivan, neurologist and author of The Age of Diagnosis How O…

1
"Onyx Storm" - Dragons, Lies, and the War Within 59:56

5M ago59:56

59:56

Send us a text When Rebecca Yarros released Onyx Storm, the third installment in her Empyrean series, fans dropped everything to immerse themselves in Violet's continuing journey. Our podcast hosts were no exception – taking time off work, planning reading parties (thwarted by actual storms), and devouring the book in mere hours. The conversation a…

1
597 w/ Chris Jericho & Charlie Parra - Scorpions - Big City Nights (Live) 1:37:37

5M ago1:37:37

1:37:37

597 w/ Chris Jericho & Charlie Parra - Scorpions - Big City Nights (Live): Chris, Nick, and Andy are joined by Chris Jericho and Charlie Parra of Kuarantine to break down "Big City Nights" from the 1985 album World Wide Live by Scorpions.By Pod of Thunder

1
Reading Dostoevsky Behind Bars (Update) 49:22

5M ago49:22

49:22

Reginald Dwayne Betts spent more than eight years in prison. Today he's a Yale Law graduate, a MacArthur Fellow, and a poet. His nonprofit works to build libraries in prisons so that more incarcerated people can find hope. SOURCES: Reginald Dwayne Betts, founder and director of Freedom Reads, award-winning poet, and lawyer. RESOURCES: Doggerel: Poe…

1
596 - Lou Rawls - Bark, Bite (Fight All Night) 1:26:11

5M ago1:26:11

1:26:11

596 - Lou Rawls - Bark, Bite (Fight All Night): Chris, Nick, and Andy break down "Bark, Bite (Fight All Night)" from the 1979 album Let Me Be Good to You by Lou Rawls.By Pod of Thunder

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Monsters Of The Midlife Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide