Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend -- Best Overall Conan Podcast
Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend is the flagship podcast for fans of the former late-night host and it delivers exactly what the title promises: a loosely structured, frequently chaotic interview format that lets Conan's improvisational strengths shine without the constraints of a television format. Producer Sona Movsesian and sidekick Matt Gourley add a genuine dynamic that elevates the show beyond a standard celebrity interview. Episodes range from tightly focused guest conversations to absurd tangents that become the highlight of the week. The back catalog stretches into the hundreds and provides genuine replay value.
Check price on Amazon →The best Conan podcasts ranked by depth of coverage, production quality, and engagement for fans of the classic late-night host, Conan O'Brien, and Conan the Barbarian.
Whether you are a fan of Conan O’Brien’s comedy career, a listener who followed him from Late Night through Conan and beyond, or someone interested in the pulp fiction legacy of Conan the Barbarian, there are quality podcast options for each lane. The shows below stand out for consistency, quality, and replayability.
| Podcast | Host | Best For | Rating |
|—|—|—|—|
| Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend | Conan O’Brien | Comedy and celebrity interviews | 4.9/5 |
| SmartLess | Bateman, Hayes, Arnett | Guest interview comedy | 4.7/5 |
| The Weekly Planet | Mr. Sunday Movies | Barbarian and fantasy film coverage | 4.6/5 |
| Howard Days Podcast | Various | Robert E. Howard lore | 4.5/5 |
| Good One: A Podcast About Jokes | Vulture | Comedy analysis and craft | 4.6/5 |
How we evaluated these
We compare every pick against the field on real specifications, certifications, and aggregated owner reviews. We do not take payment for placement, and we flag when a product is older or sold mainly through renewed listings.
The shortlist
| Pick | Best for | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend -- Best Overall Conan Podcast | Check price | ||
| SmartLess -- Best for High-Profile Guest Comedy | Check price | ||
| The Weekly Planet -- Best for Conan the Barbarian Film Coverage | Check price | ||
| Howard Days Podcast -- Best for Robert E. Howard Lore | Check price | ||
| Good One: A Podcast About Jokes -- Best for Comedy Craft Analysis | Check price |
Each pick, examined
Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend -- Best Overall Conan Podcast
Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend is the flagship podcast for fans of the former late-night host and it delivers exactly what the title promises: a loosely structured, frequently chaotic interview format that lets Conan's improvisational strengths shine without the constraints of a television format. Producer Sona Movsesian and sidekick Matt Gourley add a genuine dynamic that elevates the show beyond a standard celebrity interview. Episodes range from tightly focused guest conversations to absurd tangents that become the highlight of the week. The back catalog stretches into the hundreds and provides genuine replay value.
SmartLess -- Best for High-Profile Guest Comedy
SmartLess, hosted by Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett, uses a surprise guest format where only one host knows who the guest is per episode. While not Conan-specific, it fills the same comedy interview niche and regularly features guests who have appeared on or are associated with the broader late-night comedy world. The chemistry between the three hosts is genuine and the show has maintained its quality over several years. It's a natural recommendation for listeners who have exhausted the Conan back catalog and want a comparable experience.
The Weekly Planet -- Best for Conan the Barbarian Film Coverage
The Weekly Planet from Mr. Sunday Movies regularly covers fantasy and action films including retrospectives on Conan the Barbarian, its sequel, and the broader sword-and-sorcery genre. If you are a fan of the 1982 Arnold Schwarzenegger film or the broader Robert E. Howard universe and want thoughtful if irreverent film analysis, this show covers that ground consistently. The hosts approach older cult films with genuine affection rather than dismissiveness, which makes deep-cut coverage more enjoyable than typical mainstream film podcasts.
Howard Days Podcast -- Best for Robert E. Howard Lore
The Howard Days Podcast is produced around the annual Robert E. Howard Days event in Cross Plains, Texas, and covers the legacy of the author who created Conan the Barbarian, Kull, Solomon Kane, and other pulp fiction characters. It features interviews with scholars, writers, and fans who have deep knowledge of Howard's work and legacy. For anyone interested in the source material rather than the film or game adaptations, this is the most authoritative audio content available. Episodes are less frequent than mainstream shows but the depth per episode is consistently high.
Good One: A Podcast About Jokes -- Best for Comedy Craft Analysis
Good One from Vulture takes a structured approach to analyzing specific jokes and comedic bits, often featuring the comedians who wrote them. For fans of Conan O'Brien who want to understand why his style of comedy works, this show provides the analytical lens to appreciate what makes long-form absurdist comedy effective. It has featured discussions relevant to late-night comedy culture and sketch writing. The show is shorter per episode than interview-format podcasts, which makes it a good complement to longer listens rather than a replacement.
Buying considerations
What to consider
Start by deciding which lane you are in: Conan O'Brien comedy fan, broader comedy and interview listener, or Robert E. Howard and Conan the Barbarian enthusiast. Each lane has a clear best option from the list above. If you are new to podcasts generally, Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend is the most broadly accessible entry point because of its production quality and cultural familiarity. For pulp fiction fans, the Howard Days Podcast rewards patience with genuine depth that you will not find in mainstream entertainment media.
What to consider
For more audio and entertainment recommendations, see our [best comedy movies streaming now](/articles/best-comedy-movies-streaming) and [best audiobook services compared](/articles/best-audiobook-services). For details on how we rank and select shows, visit our [methodology page](/methodology).
Questions answered
Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend is available on all major podcast platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and iHeart Radio. New episodes release on a weekly schedule. The show frequently charts in comedy and interview categories and has a dedicated back catalog of several hundred episodes covering a wide range of celebrity guests and comedic conversations.
Yes, several niche podcasts cover Robert E. Howard's Conan the Barbarian stories, including reads of the original pulp stories, analysis of the films, and discussions of the broader Hyborian Age lore. These shows are typically found on indie podcast networks or through direct host platforms like Podbean and are less mainstream but deeply detailed for dedicated fans.
Tom Reeves has reviewed consumer electronics for over a decade, with a focus on televisions, monitors, laptops, and smart home devices. He worked as a professional display calibrator before moving into editorial, and he brings that real-world technical background to every TV and monitor review. At TheTestedHub, Tom covers display calibration, computer monitors, laptops and 2-in-1s, smart home platforms, home theater setups, and HDR performance.
