Top 10 Poker Podcasts to Improve Your Game and Stay Entertained

Dara O'Kearney and David Lappin podcasting

Listening to a poker podcast is a great way to improve your gameplay, stay relaxed and refreshed while playing poker, and even broaden your understanding of the poker world. There are hundreds of poker podcasts out there, so between strategy, entertainment, reporting on the poker world, and famous players being interviewed, what are the best poker podcasts?

We’ve scoured the streaming platforms and hosting websites to find the 10 best poker podcasts, so from friends and poker rivals discussing their own poker history to the future of the game as we know it today, we’ve got you covered.

10. MANIA Podcast

One of the newest poker podcasts on this list, MANIA Podcast is hosted by Daniel and Amanda Negreanu. The couple discuss their marriage, poker, breaking news, and more with a depth and humor that is both intimate and entertaining.

This podcast feels like an inside look at the life of one of poker’s most famous couples and is a fresh take on the genre.

9. The Poker Coaching Podcast with Jonathan Little

The Poker Coaching Podcast with Johnathan Little

Jonathan Little’s podcast features big guest names, strategy advice, free tips on improving your poker game, and much more. Described as “a mix of in-depth strategy content and inspirational life advice,” the podcast merges other Little endeavors such as Weekly Poker Hand and A Little Coffee.

With hundreds of episodes and guests like Doug Polk, Ethan “Rampage” Yau, and Maria Ho, this podcast is a must-listen.

8. PokerGO Podcast

Hosted by Donnie Peters and Tim Duckworth, the PokerGO Podcast is the home of PokerGO Tour events such as the U.S. Poker Open, Poker Masters, and Super High Roller Bowl. Broadcasting daily from Las Vegas during each year’s WSOP, the podcast provides in-depth coverage of the poker world.
From high-stakes cash games to industry news, guest interviews, and daily WSOP episodes, the PokerGO Podcast has you covered.

7. PokerNews Podcast

The PokerNews Podcast comes out weekly, and since March 2024, it has been broadcast live from Las Vegas. Regular host Chad Holloway is joined by poker players Kyna England and Mike Holtz to discuss and digest the week’s poker news. The podcast has been running in one form or another since 2010 and has previously featured presenters like Kristy Arnett and Sarah Herring.

With over 800 episodes, the PokerNews Podcast is considered an authority in the industry, especially for breaking news and canvassing the opinions of players and fans.

6. Poker Stories by CardPlayer

CardPlayer is one of poker’s most respected news sites. Its podcast has been hugely popular for years, and while others on this list may improve your game, the CardPlayer Poker Stories podcast is likely to keep your love of the game alive. Featuring interviews with well-known poker players and personalities about their experiences at the table, it offers both hilarious and informative anecdotes.

Packed with poker stories from both on and off the felt, some legends featured on the show include mixed game crusher Dylan Weisman, WSOP Main Event winner Greg “Fossilman” Raymer, and Scotty Nguyen, the 1998 world champion known as the “Prince of Poker.”

5. The Tournament Poker Edge Podcast

Clayton Fletcher presents The Tournament Poker Edge Podcast, a podcast that defines itself as the only one focused entirely on tournament strategy from start to finish. From broader topics such as “Three Leaks to Plug in 2025” and “Holiday Optimization,” to episodes dedicated to the specifics of improving your poker game, like playing ace-ten, this podcast has something for everyone.

With a varied list of guests including players like Nikki Limo and Alex Fitzgerald, The Tournament Poker Edge Podcast is an offshoot of the popular poker coaching lab. The podcast has a cult following and boasts impressive longevity.

4. Poker in The Ears

The flagship podcast for PokerStars is presented by Joe “Stapes” Stapleton and James Hartigan, the elite presenting duo behind the hugely successful European Poker Tour and PokerStars Caribbean Adventure events. Poker in the Ears – a fairly amusing play on words – also features a “Challenge Stapes” segment where a superfan takes on Stapleton in a battle for mental supremacy.

While Poker in the Ears often references PokerStars events, it’s not exclusively about its own tournaments. Both Stapes and Hartigan provide solid commentary on the poker industry as a whole. It’s unmissable content, and with many exclusive interviews of Team PokerStars Pros, you’ll often hear something on PITE that you won’t find anywhere else.

3. The Chip Race

An award-winning poker podcast that has run for many years, Dara O’Kearney and David Lappin present a show that often features three or four major guests in every episode. With an offshoot titled The Lock-In that includes just one guest over an extended episode, The Chip Race is a huge deal for poker fans and has won Global Poker Awards after being voted on by their podcast peers across the United States and beyond.

The Chip Race is a superb blend of humor and high-stakes strategy from O’Kearney and Lappin. Sponsored by Unibet, The Chip Race has a big following and continues to grow, with 20 episodes produced in 2024, along with 14 Lock-In videos and 12 strategy videos. They welcomed 86 guests in the past 12 months, so expect even bigger shows in 2025.

2. Thinking Poker

Hosted by Andrew Brokos and Carlos Welch, the Thinking Poker podcast takes a deep dive into a single poker player’s life each week, with some probing questions and sophisticated segues along the way. Featuring players such as Maria Konnikova, Mike McDonald, Patrick “Egption” Tardif, and Eugene Katchalov over the years, Thinking Poker has always been a respected podcast and has been nominated for several awards.

Thinking Poker is a weekly poker podcast, and its in-depth interviews often provoke meaningful discussions around strategy in the game at large.

1. Only Friends

The Only Friends Podcast is one of the most popular out there and focuses on the social side of the game as well as zeroing in on the best tactics to use in specific poker hands. Titled as “a daily variety show within the poker space,” it features Matt Berkey in discussions with fellow professionals and his friends, such as Landon Tice.

Recent guests have included legends such as PGT Championship winner Jeremy Ausmus and WSOP Main Event runner-up Jesse Sylvia, with hundreds of others having shared intimate details of their poker lives on the podcast, reminiscing about the game we all love while discussing topics “only friends” would be comfortable covering.

Conclusion

Whether you’re looking to sharpen your strategy, enjoy lighthearted entertainment, or stay informed about the latest poker news, these ten podcasts offer something for everyone. From insightful interviews with top players to in-depth strategy breakdowns and even a bit of humor, these shows will keep you engaged and inspired at every step of your poker journey. Dive in, subscribe to your favorites, and let these podcasts elevate your love for the game to the next level.

Paul Seaton, an esteemed figure in the poker community with over ten years of experience, has provided live coverage from renowned poker tournaments like the World Series of Poker, European Poker Tour, and World Poker Tour. His involvement goes beyond observation; he has served as the Editor of BLUFF Europe Magazine and Head of Media for partypoker.