Montanaro’s Christmas Podcast List 2025
Following on from the reading list we shared last week, the team has pulled together some of the podcasts we have most enjoyed over the year.
Thoughtful, entertaining and varied, they make ideal listening for a winter walk or a quieter moment over Christmas.
Investing & markets
The Master Investor Podcast with Wilfred Frost
A discussion focused on conviction investing, innovation and learning from market drawdowns, offering insight into how high-profile managers reflect on risk and long-term thinking. The conversation with Cathie Wood is a strong example, touching on innovation, portfolio concentration and navigating periods of market stress.
Acquired
Long-form episodes that trace how some of the world’s most influential companies were built. The depth of research makes it especially rewarding for listeners interested in business strategy and scale.
BG2Pod with Brad Gerstner and Bill Gurley
Conversations between Brad Gerstner and Bill Gurley on technology, markets and geopolitics. The appeal lies in the combination of experience, judgement and willingness to challenge consensus views.
Compounders
A podcast focused on business quality, long-term value creation and sustainable growth. Particularly well suited to investors who prioritise fundamentals over short-term market noise.
Money Maze
Concise discussions on investing, behavioural finance and market structure. It balances practical insight with broader context, making it easy to return to regularly.
Invest Like the Best with Patrick O’Shaughnessy
Interviews with investors and operators on decision-making, strategy and mental models. Consistently strong for drawing out how successful practitioners actually think.
History & ideas
Rory Stewart – The Long History of Heroism
An exploration of how concepts of heroism have evolved from the ancient world to the present day. Engaging and reflective, it uses history to interrogate modern ideas of leadership, morality and character.
The Reith Lectures – Rutger Bregman
A series examining how relatively small groups have shaped history by challenging prevailing norms. Optimistic in tone, it argues for a “conspiracy of decency” as a counterweight to cynicism and entrenched power.
The Rest Is History
A history podcast that combines rigorous research with clear, engaging storytelling, often cutting through popular myth to focus on evidence and context. Recent highlights include the Nelson: Slaughter in Naples mini-series, which reassesses Admiral Nelson beyond the familiar heroic narrative and explores power, violence and moral ambiguity, and the Jack the Ripper series, an evidence-led examination of one of history’s most notorious unsolved crimes that avoids sensationalism in favour of careful analysis.
Uncharted with Hannah Fry
Short episodes using data to uncover surprising patterns and stories in everyday life. Accessible and entertaining, it is ideal for quick listens without sacrificing substance.
Politics & culture
Strong Message Here
Armando Iannucci and guests analyse political speeches and public statements to expose how language is used to evade meaning. It is both funny and unsettling, sharpening the listener’s ear for rhetorical sleight of hand.
Anatomy of a Cancellation
A detailed exploration of cancel culture centred on the controversy surrounding author Kate Clanchy. The strength of the series lies in its nuance, resisting easy conclusions in favour of careful analysis.
The Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett
A number of standout episodes this year focused on inequality, capitalism and the future of work. Particularly engaging for the way sharply contrasting viewpoints are set against each other in open debate.
Entertainment & sport
The Rest Is Entertainment
Richard Osman and Marina Hyde discuss television, celebrity and popular culture. Sharp and funny, it captures the mood of modern media without taking itself too seriously.
British Scandal
A narrative-driven series charting major scandals from British public life, blending pace with investigative clarity. The Robert Maxwell episodes provide a compelling account of ambition, fraud and excess, and the consequences left in their wake.
Fine Tooning
An informed discussion of animation across film and television, with a strong emphasis on Disney and Pixar. It stands out for combining industry insight with genuine enthusiasm for the craft.
Insight with Chris Van Vliet
Long-form interviews with wrestlers and entertainers reflecting on their careers and personal journeys. The relaxed format often allows for unusually candid conversations.
What’s Your Story? with Steph McMahon
An interview series exploring leadership, resilience and personal development. It is engaging for the way it draws common themes from guests across sport, business and entertainment.
We wish you all a very Happy Christmas!
Featured image licensed from Getty Images.