A rundown of finance podcasts worth listening to in 2026, and who each one is actually for

TL;DR: Odd Lots is the best all-rounder for understanding markets. Acquired and We Study Billionaires are the easiest entry points if you're new to finance. Exchanges and Capital Allocators are for people already working in the industry. What's The Big Deal? (full disclosure, made by our team at WSP) is worth a listen if you want deal mechanics explained clearly.

What's The Big Deal? is hosted by ex-Ares and ex-Barclays practitioners who break down major M&A, hostile takeovers, IPOs, and private credit deals from an insider, educational angle. The focus is less on what happened in a deal and more on why it was structured that way, which is the part most coverage skips over. A recent episode breaks down SpaceX's reported plans to file for what could be the largest IPO ever, targeting a $1.75 trillion valuation, which is a good example of the kind of live, high-profile deal the show is built around. Good for students, aspiring analysts, and junior bankers, pitched at beginner to intermediate level. Disclosure: this one's made by our team at Wall Street Prep.

Odd Lots (Bloomberg) is Joe Weisenthal and Tracy Alloway going deep on interest rate mechanics, obscure corners of the credit market, and broader market dynamics with expert guests. It manages to be genuinely accessible without dumbing anything down, which is a harder balance to hit than it sounds. Good for students, analysts, macro investors, or really anyone who wants a real understanding of markets rather than just headlines. Best approach is picking a recent episode on whatever topic you're already following.

Exchanges (Goldman Sachs) gives you direct access to Goldman's own economists, analysts, and investment strategists, plus high-profile external guests. Episodes cover global macro outlook, geopolitical risk, equity markets, asset allocation, and emerging industry trends, essentially what's shaping Goldman's own thinking on markets in real time. Intermediate to advanced, more useful once you're already working in the industry. The episode with CEO David Solomon on AI, M&A, and markets is a solid starting point.

Acquired does long deep dives into landmark company histories and deals, covering companies like LVMH, Goldman Sachs, and Berkshire Hathaway. Episodes run three to four hours but are well researched enough to justify the length. Beginner to intermediate level despite the depth, and useful for students, founders, and investors, not just deal professionals. The Berkshire Hathaway and Goldman Sachs episodes are both good entry points since they trace the companies' strategy and evolution over time.

The Deal is more analytical and less narrative than the others on this list, built around M&A news and deal commentary from the editorial team at The Deal publication. Pitched at intermediate to advanced level, and better suited to people who want concise, deal-specific insight rather than broader market discussion, think M&A lawyers, bankers, and corporate development professionals. Best used by picking a recent episode covering a deal in your specific sector.

Dry Powder (BCG) covers private equity strategy, deals, and trends through the lens of Boston Consulting Group's actual work in the industry. It's useful for understanding how PE firms think about value creation, deal sourcing, and portfolio management from a consulting rather than a purely deal-side perspective. Intermediate to advanced, aimed at PE professionals, senior bankers, and MBA students. Start with an episode focused on deal structuring or value creation strategy.

Capital Allocators has Ted Seides interviewing CIOs and allocators about how they actually make investment decisions, which is a perspective most finance media doesn't cover well. This one's advanced and best suited to people already working in investment management or aiming for senior roles there.

We Study Billionaires breaks down what investors like Warren Buffett, Charlie Munger, and Ray Dalio actually do and why, rather than just repeating famous quotes. One of the more approachable options on this list if you're starting from scratch in finance or investing.

Invest Like the Best has long form conversations with top investors and operators on strategy, capital allocation, and deal making. Intermediate to advanced level, and easier to follow if you pick episodes with guests whose firm or strategy you already have some familiarity with going in.

The Real Eisman Playbook is Steve Eisman, who famously shorted collateralized debt obligations and profited from the 2007-2008 housing collapse, a story told in The Big Short, sharing his current market views. He's opinionated and direct. Intermediate level, good for analysts and investors who already have some context, and the introductory episode where he lays out his investment philosophy is the natural starting point.

Curious what people here are actually listening to that didn't make the list.