Before launching his first podcast, Hasan Minhaj was better known as a comedian. His highly praised Patriot Act aimed to explore the modern cultural moment, becoming both “timely and timeless” in Hasan’s own words. His shows have earned him two Peabody awards, cementing him as a storyteller with potential to expand beyond the comedy genre. With his latest project, he has.
Minhaj launched Hasan Minhaj Doesn’t Know in mid-2024, a political interview podcast that enabled him to speak to leading voices in American culture.
The show began with an interview with Senator Elizabeth Warren and has since expanded its scope to other political figures and thought leaders, including Stacey Abrams and Senator Bernie Sanders. The format is a curated exchange where Minhaj is “never deferential but always respectful,” approaching guests with a blend of genuine curiosity and the occasional absurd question.
It’s clear that Minhaj is a podcast fan. In fact, the first show he ever loved was Radiolab. “It was a huge inspiration in creating Patriot Act, because I wanted to try and create a visual comedic version of a Radiolab episode.” You can hear the impact of his favorite comedians and podcasters — John Mulaney, Taylor Tomlinson, Dax Shepard, and 85 South Show — in his interview style.
Photo Credit: Austin Morales
Minhaj’s show is a mixture of cultural satire, celebrity interviews, and an exploration of his guests’ expertise. In the case of Neil DeGrasse Tyson: space. Minhaj asks if wishes he could step away from the media spotlight and go back to the lab. No, his guest replies. He sees it as “a duty.” It’s a fascinating conversation; Neil doesn’t take drugs, and he’s not afraid of artificial general intelligence (AGI). The episode has flavors of shows like the BBC’s The Infinite Monkey Cage mixed with Hasan’s upbeat and frenetic interview style. As for future dream guests, Minhaj thinks big: “Kim Jong Un, Steven Seagal, and Jane Goodall.”
In a recent episode, Minhaj sat down with astrophysicist and fellow podcaster Dr. Neil DeGrasse Tyson to talk about the power of scientific literacy, the Trump administration’s attack on scientific institutions, and the future of AI. Ahead of his episode with DeGrasse Tyson, we asked Minhaj what shows he’s listening to right now.
Hosted by comedians Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, Hasan loves this pop-culture fever dream is a glittering drag show of opinions. It’s smart, campy, and gleefully ruthless. If you’re a fan of Bowen’s skits on SNL, this podcast is a safe bet to perk up a dull afternoon. With guests like Cate Blanchett and Sarah Jessica Parker in tow, Las Culturistas is an audio romp that deserves the hype.
Trevor Noah ditches his desk and leans into longform podcasting for What Now?, a political show. Trevor swaps his usual punchlines for social perspective, sitting down with thinkers, artists, and the occasional statesperson to ask: what happens next? In a time of turbulent politics, the show is thoughtful, even disarming in its approach to cultural issues.
Amy Poehler’s Good Hang is exactly what it says on the tin. No agenda, no spectacle, just the pleasure of two famous people complimenting each other over and over again for up to an hour. In her review, our staff writer Chloe Walker singled out Amy’s episode with Rashida Jones as one of the best. As an example of a comedian taking on the “brosphere” in podcasting, Good Hang is a valiant effort.
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Alice Florence Orr is the Managing Editor of Podcast Review.