Podcast Listening Dates: What to Listen To Together

Why Podcasts Work for Long Distance Couples

Podcasts offer a unique middle ground between entertainment and education, passive and active engagement. When you listen to the same podcast, you're creating shared cultural touchstones, learning together, and generating endless conversation topics—all while fitting seamlessly into busy schedules and different time zones.

Unlike movies or TV shows that require simultaneous viewing, podcasts allow asynchronous listening with scheduled discussion. You can listen during your commute, while doing chores, or during a workout, then come together to discuss and connect over what you heard. This flexibility makes podcasts ideal for long distance couples juggling complex schedules.

Research shows that couples who learn new things together report higher relationship satisfaction and stronger bonds. Podcasts provide structured learning experiences across infinite topics, from true crime to philosophy, comedy to science, ensuring you'll never run out of things to explore and discuss together.

Ways to Listen to Podcasts Together

Simultaneous Listening Over Call

Listen to the same podcast episode at the exact same time while on a call.

How it works:

• Both start episode at exact same time (countdown: 3, 2, 1, play!)
• Stay on call but keep voices muted
• Can unmute to make brief comments
• Discuss immediately after finishing

Best for: Short episodes (15-30 min), reactions in real-time
Pros: Shared real-time experience, immediate discussion
Cons: Requires scheduled time, can't multi-task easily

Asynchronous Listening with Scheduled Discussion

Each listen independently, then schedule time to discuss.

How it works:

• Agree on which episode to listen to
• Each listen at your own convenience during the week
• Schedule discussion call (30-60 minutes)
• Share reactions, insights, and questions

Best for: Busy schedules, longer episodes
Pros: Maximum flexibility, can listen while doing other tasks
Cons: Delay between listening and discussing

Listen Together During Other Activities

Turn on podcast during virtual activities you're already doing together.

Examples:

• While cooking dinner "together" on video call
• During virtual workout sessions (lower intensity)
• While both doing household chores
• During morning coffee/evening tea rituals

Best for: Casual listening, comedy or storytelling podcasts
Pros: Combines activities, feels natural and domestic
Cons: May miss details, hard to discuss dense content

Podcast Discussion as Regular Date

Make podcast discussion a structured weekly date night activity.

Format:

• Weekly "Podcast Tuesday" or similar tradition
• Both listen to episode during week
• Video date to discuss over dinner/drinks
• 30-45 minute discussion following prepared questions
• Choose next week's episode together

Best for: Building routine, deeper discussion
Pros: Regular structure, meaningful conversation, anticipation
Cons: Requires commitment, planning ahead

Best Podcasts for Couples by Category

True Crime (Most Popular)

Crime Junkie

• 30-60 minute episodes
• Well-researched, engaging storytelling
• Weekly release schedule
• Great for discussion and theories

My Favorite Murder

• Comedy meets true crime
• Two hosts with great chemistry
• Longer episodes (1-2 hours)
• Funny but respectful

Serial

• Season-long investigations
• Journalistic deep dives
• Compelling narratives
• Perfect for committed listening

Comedy & Entertainment

SmartLess

• Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, Sean Hayes
• Celebrity interviews
• Funny and surprisingly heartfelt
• Hour-long episodes

Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend

• Conan's signature humor
• Celebrity guests
• Insightful and hilarious
• Weekly episodes

How Did This Get Made?

• Comedians discuss bad movies
• Hilarious analysis
• Can watch movie first, then listen
• Perfect for movie-loving couples

Relationships & Self-Improvement

Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel

• Real couples therapy sessions
• Relationship insights
• Sparks deep conversations
• Warning: Can be heavy

The Marriage and Family Therapy Podcast

• Expert relationship advice
• Science-backed insights
• Practical tools
• Great for growing together

Unlocking Us with Brené Brown

• Vulnerability and human connection
• Meaningful conversations
• Personal growth focus
• Inspires deep discussion

Science & Learning

Radiolab

• Science storytelling masterclass
• Incredible sound design
• Makes complex topics accessible
• Sparks fascinating discussions

Stuff You Should Know

• Learn about random topics
• Approachable hosts
• 45-minute episodes
• Endless variety

Science Vs

• Tackles popular claims with science
• Myth-busting
• Well-researched
• Settles friendly debates

History & Culture

Hardcore History with Dan Carlin

• Epic, multi-hour historical deep dives
• Compelling storytelling
• Perfect for long-term listening projects
• New episodes infrequent but worth it

You're Wrong About

• Reexamines misunderstood events and people
• Great research and empathy
• Changes perspectives
• Excellent discussion starter

The History Chicks

• Women's history told engagingly
• Two-part deep dives
• Accessible and educational

Fiction & Storytelling

Welcome to Night Vale

• Fictional town's bizarre community radio
• Surreal humor and horror
• Ongoing narrative
• 20-30 minute episodes

The Truth

• Short fiction stories
• Movie-quality sound design
• Various genres
• Perfect for varied tastes

Homecoming

• Psychological thriller
• Season-long narrative
• Later adapted for TV
• Great for serial listening

Business & Inspiration

How I Built This with Guy Raz

• Founder stories
• Inspirational and practical
• Great for entrepreneurial couples
• Hour-long episodes

WorkLife with Adam Grant

• Organizational psychology
• Better work-life balance
• Evidence-based insights

Specific Interest

Reply All (Tech & Internet Culture)

• Internet mysteries and stories
• Accessible tech discussions
• Entertaining and informative

The Sporkful (Food)

• "Not for foodies, for eaters"
• Cultural food discussions
• Makes you hungry

99% Invisible (Design)

• Design and architecture
• Makes you see world differently
• 20-40 minute episodes

Creating Your Podcast Listening Routine

Weekly Podcast Date Structure

Monday-Thursday: Independent Listening

• Each listen to agreed-upon episode
• Take notes on interesting points
• Mark timestamps of favorite moments
• Jot down discussion questions

Friday Evening: Discussion Date (60 min)

1. Opening (5 min): Initial reactions, overall thoughts
2. Deep Dive (35 min): Discuss specific points, share perspectives
3. Personal Connection (15 min): How does this relate to your lives?
4. Closing (5 min): Choose next week's episode

Selection Strategies

Taking Turns:

• Alternate who chooses each week
• Exposes each other to new interests
• Ensures both feel ownership

Theme Months:

• January: Science podcasts
• February: Love and relationship focused
• March: History
• etc.

Series Commitment:

• Choose serialized podcast
• Work through entire season together
• Creates ongoing narrative
• Built-in weekly structure

Sampling Approach:

• Try different podcast each week
• Discover new favorites together
• Variety keeps things fresh
• Build a library of shows you both love

Discussion Questions and Techniques

Universal Discussion Prompts

Opening Questions:

• "What was your overall reaction?"
• "What surprised you most?"
• "Did this change your perspective on anything?"
• "What's one thing you'll remember from this?"

Deeper Analysis:

• "What assumption did the hosts make that you disagree with?"
• "If you could ask the guest one question, what would it be?"
• "What wasn't discussed that should have been?"
• "How would you have approached this topic differently?"

Personal Application:

• "Does this apply to our relationship in any way?"
• "What can we learn from this?"
• "Have you experienced anything similar?"
• "Would you want to try what they suggested?"

Genre-Specific Questions

True Crime:

• "What do you think really happened?"
• "Do you think justice was served?"
• "What would you have done in that situation?"
• "Were there any red flags people missed?"

Interview/Conversation Podcasts:

• "What was the most interesting thing the guest said?"
• "Do you admire this person? Why or why not?"
• "What would you ask if you interviewed them?"
• "What surprised you about their story?"

Educational/Informational:

• "What's the most important thing you learned?"
• "What fact shocked you?"
• "Does this make you want to learn more about the topic?"
• "How will you use this information?"

Fiction:

• "What do you think happens next?"
• "Which character do you relate to?"
• "What would you do in their situation?"
• "What themes are emerging?"

Taking Notes for Better Discussions

Note-Taking Methods

Timestamp Notes:

• Jot down time stamps of interesting moments
• Easy to reference during discussion
• "At 23:45, when they said..."

Key Points List:

• Bullet point main ideas
• Facts you want to discuss
• Questions that arose
• Personal reactions

Shared Document:

• Google Doc you both can edit
• Add notes while listening
• See each other's reactions before call
• Creates anticipation for discussion

What to Note

• Facts or statistics that surprised you
• Quotes you want to discuss
• Moments that made you laugh
• Arguments you disagreed with
• Connections to your own life
• Questions you have
• Topics to research further

Building Your Podcast Library Together

Discovering New Podcasts

Podcast Discovery Methods:

• Recommendations: Ask friends, follow podcast recommendations on social media
• Awards: Check Webby Awards, Podcast Awards winners
• Charts: Browse top charts in podcast apps
• Related shows: Apps suggest similar podcasts
• Cross-promotion: Podcasts often promote similar shows

Creating Your Shared Podcast List

Maintain shared document with:

• "To Listen" queue: Episodes/series you want to try
• "Currently Listening": Active series you're working through
• "Completed": Episodes/series finished, with ratings
• "Favorites": Best episodes to recommend or re-listen
• "Pass": Tried but didn't enjoy (prevents re-suggesting)

Rating System

Rate each podcast or episode together:

• Overall enjoyment: 1-10 scale
• Discussion value: How much it sparked conversation
• Would recommend: Yes/No
• Would listen to more: If series, continue?
• Favorite moments: Brief notes

Podcast Apps and Technical Setup

Best Podcast Apps

Apple Podcasts (iOS)

• Pre-installed on iPhones
• Simple interface
• Seamless sync across devices
• Free

Spotify

• Available on all platforms
• Many exclusive shows
• Integrates with music
• Can create shared playlists
• Free with ads, Premium $9.99/month

Overcast (iOS)

• Smart speed feature (cuts silence)
• Voice Boost for clarity
• Excellent for commute listening
• Free with optional Premium

Pocket Casts

• Cross-platform
• Beautiful interface
• Excellent organization features
• Free basic, $9.99/year Premium

Google Podcasts

• Android default
• Simple and clean
• Syncs with Google account
• Completely free

Synchronizing for Simultaneous Listening

Method 1: Countdown Start

1. Both load same episode
2. Start with both paused at 0:00
3. Count down together: "3, 2, 1, play!"
4. Both hit play simultaneously

Method 2: Share Screen (Computer)

• One person plays on computer
• Share screen via Zoom/Discord
• Both hear same audio feed
• Perfectly synchronized

Pro Tip: If sync issues occur, note timestamp and "meet up" at next chapter/natural break

Beyond Just Listening

Extended Activities

Research Together:

• Look up facts mentioned in episode
• Read articles about topics covered
• Watch related documentaries or videos
• Create shared bookmark folder

Create Content:

• Write reviews of podcasts together
• Start your own podcast discussion blog/vlog
• Create Instagram stories discussing episodes
• Make podcast recommendation lists for friends

Support Podcasters:

• Leave reviews for shows you love
• Support via Patreon together
• Buy merchandise from favorite shows
• Attend live podcast recordings (when together in person)

Themed Date Nights

Food + Podcast Pairing:

• Listen to food podcast, cook related recipe together
• True crime + comfort food
• Science podcast + "experimental" cooking

Activity + Podcast:

• Listen while both doing same craft/hobby
• Workout together while listening to motivational podcast
• Virtual walk-and-talk while listening to storytelling podcast

Handling Different Preferences

When Tastes Diverge

Compromise Strategies:

• Strictly alternate choices week-to-week
• Each person picks 2 options, other person chooses from those 2
• Find "middle ground" podcasts that blend your interests
• Agree to give each other's choice fair chance (full episode)

Maintain Individual Podcasts Too:

• Not every podcast needs to be shared
• Keep personal podcast interests alive
• Occasionally share particularly good episodes
• Balance is healthy

When One Person Didn't Like It

• Discuss why—great learning opportunity
• Still have discussion (different perspectives valuable)
• Agree not to continue that podcast
• No judgment—tastes differ
• Use as data point for future selections

Special Podcast Projects

The Deep Dive Series

Commit to a long-form podcast series together:

• Serial investigations (Serial, S-Town)
• Hardcore History multi-part series
• Fiction podcasts with ongoing narratives
• Creates weeks or months of shared content
• Like reading a book series together

The Challenge: 52 Podcasts in 52 Weeks

• Commit to one episode per week for a year
• Try different genres each month
• Document your journey
• End-of-year review of favorites

Anniversary or Special Occasion Podcasts

• Listen to relationship-focused podcasts on anniversaries
• True crime on Halloween
• Holiday-themed podcasts in December
• Birthday: birthday person chooses special episode

When Podcasts Lead to Bigger Conversations

Using Podcasts as Conversation Catalysts

Some podcast episodes naturally lead to important relationship discussions:

• Relationship podcasts: "Should we try that communication technique?"
• Financial podcasts: Opens money conversations
• Parenting podcasts: Discusses future family plans
• Philosophy podcasts: Explores values and beliefs
• Travel podcasts: Plans future adventures together

Creating Safe Discussion Space

• Use podcast as starting point, not final word
• "This podcast made me think about..."
• Disagree with respect
• Podcast opinions aren't your opinions (necessarily)
• Can discuss heavy topics with podcast as buffer

Conclusion

Podcast listening dates offer long distance couples a flexible, enriching way to connect intellectually and emotionally. Whether you're laughing together at a comedy podcast, solving a true crime mystery, or discussing complex ideas from an educational series, you're building shared knowledge, creating inside jokes, and strengthening your bond.

The beauty of podcasts is their infinite variety and accessibility. There's literally a podcast for every interest, mood, and moment. They fit into busy lives, work across time zones, and provide structured content that naturally generates meaningful conversation.

Every episode becomes part of your shared cultural vocabulary. References to favorite podcasts become inside jokes. Insights learned together inform your relationship and individual growth. And the simple act of setting aside time to discuss what you've heard demonstrates investment in your intellectual partnership.

So pick your first podcast, press play, and prepare to discover a whole new dimension of your long distance relationship. The conversations waiting on the other side are worth it.

Looking for more ways to learn together? Check out our guides on starting a book club for two, virtual museum tours, and trivia night dates.