Best Adult Puzzle Podcasts (2026)

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Rethinking Treatment Goals in Bipolar Depression and Mixed Episodes 23:20

Play Pause

4d ago23:20

23:20

Bipolar depression and mixed episodes remain among the most difficult—and highest-risk—conditions in psychiatry. Even when mood symptoms improve, many patients continue to experience significant cognitive and functional impairment. On NYU Insights on Psychiatry, Dan Iosifescu, MD, explains why standard treatment approaches so often fall short. Dr. …

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Boundaries, Solved: How to Set (And Keep) Your Boundaries This Year 4:10:55

6d ago4:10:55

4:10:55

This is probably the most comprehensive, no-BS breakdown of boundaries you're going to find anywhere. We cover what boundaries actually are (spoiler: it’s not just telling people to f*ck off), why they matter more than you think, and how your entire life—your relationships, mental health, identity, even career—is quietly shaped by whether or not yo…

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Heavyweight x Search Engine 39:13

11d ago39:13

39:13

As a very special holiday treat, we are sharing a story from one of our favorite podcasts, Heavyweight. Gregor's parents are pushing 90. Gregor wants to move them out of their big Victorian home. But they refuse. So, he's come up with a bold plan. Incognito Mode⁠, our ad-free, no-rerun, bonus episode feed. To learn more about listener data and our …

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Interventional Approaches to Treatment-Resistant Mood Disorders 19:11

11d ago19:11

19:11

Joshua Berman, MD, PhD, discusses how careful evaluation, patient priorities, and risk-benefit tradeoffs guide the use of interventional treatments when conventional approaches fall short. Dr. Berman also explains how tools such as ketamine, TMS, ECT, and neurofeedback can be used strategically—sometimes in sequence or combination—to address differ…

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🎅🏾🎅🏻🎅🏽🎅🏾 'Twas the Niche Before Christmas 6:22

15d ago6:22

6:22

From 2024 (but relevant always)...our favorite Santas read the famous poem, "A Visit from St. Nicholas." Email us! Who are you? What's your niche? What do you like about this show? Find pictures from Leslie’s time with Santas here. Looking to give a tax-deductible gift? Consider giving to this project. More information here. TELL A FRIEND ABOUT US!…

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A Perfectly Average Anomaly 59:04

18d ago59:04

59:04

A man walks into an airport body scanner, and with eerie consistency, the machine flags the exact same part of his body. What could be going on? Search Engine investigates a Bermuda Triangle. Incognito Mode⁠, our ad-free, no-rerun, bonus episode feed. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/priva…

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Complex Cases: The State of Precision Psychiatry 12:56

18d ago12:56

12:56

To kick off Season 4, Charles Marmar, MD, explains how precision psychiatry is reshaping the way clinicians and researchers think about diagnosis, treatment selection, and the underlying biology of psychiatric disorders. This conversation is a overview of where the field stands today—including emerging molecular markers, biologically informed subty…

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🎅🏾 The Santas of Color Coalition & Santa Shed 15:38

19d ago15:38

15:38

A brand new Christmas vignette about one of our favorite characters in the Nicheverse. Thanks to the Nashville Banner for making it happen! Links I told you about: NPR's Morning Edition story The Full Santa 3-Part Series Have feedback or just want to say hi? Email me: [email protected] ABOUT US: Niche to Meet You is anthropological explorat…

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Solved, Answers: Finding Purpose, Failing Better, and the AI Future 1:29:34

23d ago1:29:34

1:29:34

This one’s different. In this special year-end episode, I answer your questions—from the deep stuff about purpose and motivation, to the uncomfortable realities of change, burnout, failure, and dealing with unsupportive family. I also share the behind-the-scenes chaos of building SOLVED this year, what I learned about making massive, meaningful con…

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Unlocked: The State of Search Engine 2025 52:16

25d ago52:16

52:16

As a special, one-time holiday treat, we're sharing something we only usually offer on our premium feed, Incognito Mode. Our annual board meeting! We talk about what shopping a podcast has been like in this environment, our internal stats, and… Yes, Yes, No. Incognito Mode, our ad-free, no-rerun, bonus episode feed. To learn more about listener dat…

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Our Nichest moments of all time. 28:26

1M ago28:26

28:26

The top 5 nic(h)est moments of all time AND a big ol update. Have feedback or just want to say hi? Email us: [email protected] EPISODE NOTES: Hear an update on the future of the show, and listen to Leslie talk about the top 5 nichest moments of all time on the show. Moments taken from: Stick Nation Wild Turkey Conservation Series Santa Seri…

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What's the best phone to do crimes on? (classic) 1:02:46

1M ago1:02:46

1:02:46

For years, the must-have phone for the discerning drug trafficker or hitman was a brand you may not have heard of: AN0M. Reporter Joseph Cox tells us the story of the AN0M phone, its sudden rise and shocking fall, and the shadowy group behind its invention. Joseph's new book: Dark Wire. Incognito Mode, our ad-free, no-rerun, bonus episode feed. To …

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Finding Your Purpose, Solved 4:49:48

1M ago4:49:48

4:49:48

This is the episode I’ve been waiting to make for a long time. Purpose has been at the core of everything I’ve written and done for over a decade—and in this episode, we go all the way down the rabbit hole. From Viktor Frankl surviving Auschwitz to the myth of “finding your one true purpose,” we break down what purpose really is, why you feel lost …

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How to talk (or not talk) politics at family holidays 38:53

1M ago38:53

38:53

This week, in honor of the holiday season — can you, should you change your family’s politics through holiday conversation. If so, how? A conversation with Ezra Klein. ⁠Support Search Engine! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://po…

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Colossus 2 46:31

2M ago46:31

46:31

In part two of our story about Elon Musk’s growing data center empire, we visit the battle between people in Memphis and xAI. And we try to understand a strange, untested assumption at the heart of the AI financing boom. Support Search Engine! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-polic…

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Colossus 1 45:18

2M ago45:18

45:18

Tech billionaires have made an enormous bet on AI, the biggest bet that tech has made on anything in a very long time. Reporter Sruthi Pinnamaneni goes on a journey – from Data Center Alley to the shadow of Colossus – to see what the money’s being spent on, and to learn what happens if things go wrong. Support Search Engine! To learn more about lis…

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Comparing Yourself to Others, Solved 2:08:51

2M ago2:08:51

2:08:51

We all compare ourselves to other people—our friends, coworkers, strangers on the internet—and most of the time, it makes us feel like shit. But why do we keep doing it? In this episode of Solved, we dig into the uncomfortable truth behind social comparison, how it quietly ruins our self-worth, and why most of what we envy in others is a projection…

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An Anthropology of Gooners 47:04

2M ago47:04

47:04

A reporter spends a year diving into a subculture of young men online who unite around their extreme commitment to constant, unadulterated porn consumption. Why are they doing this, what is it doing to them, and what does their existence tell us about the internet we’re all stuck on? The Goon Squad by Daniel Kolitz for Harper’s Magazine Daniel’s Tw…

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How to Make Friends as an Adult 4:44:04

2M ago4:44:04

4:44:04

Friendship is the most important thing nobody talks about. In this episode of The SOLVED Podcast, Drew and I dig into what makes friendships work, why they fall apart, and why so many of us are struggling to build or keep them as we get older. We’re talking loneliness stats, Darwin’s confusion about cooperation, and the deep emotional mechanics beh…

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America vs. China 1:00:15

2M ago1:00:15

1:00:15

People review everything, but they almost never review what it’s like to live in another country. Until now. We interview a writer who’s lived in China, covered China, and has had to choose between life here and there. What are the big misconceptions Americans have about China? How could America learn to build trains and bridges as fast as China do…

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The Rage in the Cage 55:20

3M ago55:20

55:20

Can you tickle your way to victory in an MMA fight? An investigation into a sports scandal with journalist Pablo Torre. See videos mentioned in this episode. Check out Pablo Torre Finds Out on Youtube or Spotify. Support Search Engine! Comment on this episode. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.…

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A Comprehensive Guide to Stoicism (ft. Ryan Holiday) 2:57:39

3M ago2:57:39

2:57:39

What does it actually mean to live like a Stoic? In this wide-ranging conversation with bestselling author and modern Stoicism evangelist Ryan Holiday, we unpack the origins of Stoic philosophy, why it exploded during turbulent times in ancient Greece and Rome, and how its principles—like courage, temperance, justice, and wisdom—still apply in a wo…

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Cocomelon For Adults 50:06

3M ago50:06

50:06

Last week, OpenAI released an app that quickly shot to the #1 spot in Apple's App Store. Sora is like TikTok, except all the videos are AI generated. Is this ... what we're doing now? What's the business case for a fake AI video platform? Check out Casey Newton's newsletter (Platformer) and podcast (Hard Fork) Support Search Engine! To learn more a…

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Talk Easy x Search Engine 1:41:24

3M ago1:41:24

1:41:24

This week, we’re sharing something we loved. An interview with Fresh Air’s Terry Gross about a life made out of conversation. Check out Talk Easy Check out Fresh Air To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices…

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How to Become Resilient 3:32:50

3M ago3:32:50

3:32:50

Resilience isn’t about pretending you’re fine or never feeling pain—it’s about learning how to act in your best interest despite the pain. In this episode of Solved, we dive deep into the science, psychology, and real-life examples of resilience—from Ernest Shackleton’s crew surviving two years stranded in Antarctica to my own slightly insane decis…

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🚖📻 Vintage Car Radio Restoration 20:16

3M ago20:16

20:16

Join us at the local Waffle House to talk about making old things beautiful again. LINKS: Join the Niche List (our monthly newsletter…er, Nicheletter) Have feedback or just want to say hi? Email us: [email protected] EPISODE NOTES: Join us in a Waffle House booth as we meet Rick Blankenship, a masterful vintage car radio restorer. As we sav…

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Is my favorite new TV show this year a ripoff? 50:13

3M ago50:13

50:13

The makers of the medical drama The Pitt have been sued. The allegation: that the show is an unauthorized copy of ER. This week, investigative reporter Nicholas Kulish walks us through the ensuing drama, reads us the possibly damning private emails, and finally helps us decide where inspiration ends and theft begins. Is ‘The Pitt’ Really an ‘ER’ Sp…

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The Obituary 56:23

4M ago56:23

56:23

Not long after Alex’s wife Whitney dies, he looks at her obituary and discovers something strange. A sect of people online has hijacked her story and turned it into a disturbing conspiracy theory. Check out the place Whitney worked, Project: Onward, a non-profit studio for artists with disabilities. (They have very cool & reasonably priced art for …

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🦃 Wild Turkeys, Part 1 [re-air] 50:46

4M ago50:46

50:46

We're bringing turkeys back. Two parts this time. This is the first part. LINKS: Join the Niche List (our monthly newsletter…er, Nicheletter) Have feedback or just want to say hi? Email us: [email protected] While Leslie works on the next Niche, we are bringing back a niche that many of you haven't heard yet. And it's about Wild Turkeys and…

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🦃 Wild Turkeys, Part 2 [re-air] 51:42

4M ago51:42

51:42

We're bringing turkeys back. Two parts this time. This is the second part. LINKS: Join the Niche List (our monthly newsletter…er, Nicheletter) Have feedback or just want to say hi? Email us: [email protected] While Leslie works on the next Niche, we are bringing back a niche that many of you haven't heard yet. And it's about Wild Turkeys an…

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How does a rationalist make a baby? 50:50

4M ago50:50

50:50

A member of an unusual Bay Area community decides to try to have a baby in an unusual way – by putting out a very large prize for anyone who can help her find a mate. How the internet shaped one person’s decision-thinking. Support Search Engine! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-pol…

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How to Let Go of Your Shame 3:47:59

4M ago3:47:59

3:47:59

Chances are, there’s something in your life you feel deeply ashamed about—something you’ve never told anyone, something you can’t even admit to yourself. In this episode, we go deep into the emotion we all experience but almost no one wants to talk about: shame. Where it comes from, why it’s so powerful, how it screws up our lives—and more importan…

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A Dubai Chocolate theory of the internet 42:14

5M ago42:14

42:14

Garbage Day's Ryan Broderick traces the rise of this goopy green chocolate, and explains how Chinese social media is beginning to tug on US culture in unexpected ways. Support Search Engine! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://pod…

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Are microplastics really a problem? 49:37

5M ago49:37

49:37

Our listener Louisa is very annoyed by her sister’s preoccupation with keeping her children away from microplastics. Louisa wonders: are people with microplastics anxiety kind of overdoing it? Search Engine investigates. Support Search Engine! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-polic…

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🐶🏃🏽‍♂️‍➡️🎸🥘⚔️🎅🏼 Every Hobby Has a Story: A Summer Road Trip Radio Special 54:06

5M ago54:06

54:06

Our summer radio special, in partnership with American Public Media LINKS: Join the Niche List (our monthly newsletter…er, Nicheletter) Have feedback or just want to say hi? Email us: [email protected] EPISODE NOTES: We got invited to produce an hourlong radio special for American Public Media, and wanted to share it with you. It’s taken fr…

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How To Finally Let Yourself Be Happy 3:26:23

5M ago3:26:23

3:26:23

Everyone’s obsessed with being happy—but what if that obsession is the very thing making us miserable? In this episode of Solved, Drew and I explore what actually makes us feel good—and why most of us are chasing it in all the wrong ways. We unpack what philosophers like Aristotle and the Buddha got right thousands of years ago—and how modern scien…

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What does it feel like to believe in God? (classic) 1:07:59

6M ago1:07:59

1:07:59

This week, we try to understand an experience that 74% of Americans routinely report having. The first of many conversations (perhaps?). This one, an interview with Zvika Krieger. Comment on the episode Support the show! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your…

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The Cuddly Killer (classic) 54:16

6M ago54:16

54:16

A question that has launched a battle between bird-loving ecologists and ardent, cat-defending activists. What should we do about an invasive species beloved by many Americans -- cats? We hear from people on both sides of the war, and from one person who sits exactly in the middle. Comment on the episode Support the show! To learn more about listen…

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Why'd I take speed for twenty years? - Part 2 (classic) 48:10

6M ago48:10

48:10

In part two of our story about ADHD medications, we approach the question from a different angle. We meet a doctor who spent two decades convinced that her brain does not work correctly, and who struggled to find someone who believed her. Comment on the episode Support the show! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: htt…

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Why'd I take speed for twenty years? - Part 1 (classic) 58:57

6M ago58:57

58:57

One of the millions of millennials given prescription stimulants to treat ADHD decides to quit. And afterwards wonders -- how did these drugs becomes so popular, so fast? This week, the story of amphetamine's birth, life, death, and rebirth in America. (Methylphenidates, too.) Have We Been Thinking About A.D.H.D. All Wrong? by Paul Tough Comment on…

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How to Manage Your Emotions 4:28:43

6M ago4:28:43

4:28:43

What are emotions? Why do we feel anything at all? And more importantly — can we actually get better at feeling? In this episode, Drew and I dive headfirst into what might be the hardest question in all of psychology: what the actual f**k are emotions? We break down the biology, neuroscience, evolution, culture, and even language that shape how we …

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The Psychic Question 53:59

6M ago53:59

53:59

A journalist finds out that many of his vaunted mentors are seeing a psychic. The same psychic. He decides to pay her a visit. Check out the 10% Happier podcast See more of Dan's work at DanHarris.com Support Search Engine! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about y…

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Wait, should I not be drinking airplane coffee? (classic) 52:00

7M ago52:00

52:00

Queer Eye’s Antoni Porowski has heard a disgusting rumor — that the coffee on airplanes is unsafe to drink because the onboard water tanks are only cleaned once a year. We investigate and learn some disgusting lessons along the way. Go to our newsletter to comment on the episode and to see the images referenced in the story. Support the show! To le…