But I love them primarily because they help me think more clearly about things I care about. In other words, they’re educational — but in the best way possible. Podcasts are rarely just a dry lecture; rather, they’re a conversation, a story, or an interview.

And instead of turning on the TV and seeing who happens to be speaking at the moment, you get to choose exactly who you want to listen to. That’s a nice feature, but it’s also a responsibility. It’s a responsibility because podcasts “get in your head” in a way that few other forms of media can. The fact that you can hear someone’s voice in your head for an extended period of time (sometimes hours), combined with the regularity of the release (many podcasts come out weekly, and you can “binge-listen” to past episodes), allows podcasts to make a significant impression on their listeners. Indeed, many listeners feel they have a kind of relationship with the podcast host or that they are part of the host’s circle of friends — things that people would rarely say of a news anchor they saw on TV or a musician they listened to on Spotify.

Because podcasts can impact your thinking in such a significant way, choosing which ones to listen to is more than just a matter of topical preference, it’s a matter of discernment. As Christians, we ought to primarily fill our minds with wisdom, listening to speakers who are thoughtful, logical, and knowledgeable about their topic.

However, with such a massive selection of podcasts available to you — over a half a million — it may be tricky to know where to start. So, I’ve compiled a list of five of my favorite podcasts that may be educational and enjoyable for Christian artists. All of these are quality shows with compelling content and ideas — some serious, some humorous, some a mix of both. If you haven’t listened to any or all of these shows yet, open your podcast app and try one during your next commute or road trip. There are a lot of gems hidden in these shows, and if you’re a Christian interested in the arts, it won’t take long before you find something special.

Hosted by Mike Cosper

What it’s about: Cultivated is a show featuring thinkers, writers, entrepreneurs, and artists — each telling their story and describing their sense of calling, talking about how they work, and what they hope their work accomplishes. Basically, it’s an interview-based podcast about faith and work.

Why I love it: At Forefront we talk a lot about excellence. The quality of Cultivated is simply tremendous. Mike Cosper is a strong interviewer; he asks the right questions and follows them up in a logical way. The guests are all interesting people you actually want to hear from. The audio quality is superb, as are the musical interludes (even if the theme song seems a bit out of place at first). Every episode brings you into a conversation about the life of a believer who’s doing great work in their field, but it also digs into the theological, philosophical, and artistic implications along the way. This is a show that knows what it is and delivers every time.

Who it’s for: I can’t think of many thoughtful Christians who wouldn’t like this show. I do think it’s particularly beneficial for Christians interested in the arts, since most of Mike’s guests are artists in one way or another: musicians, writers, etc. If you’re a Christian and an artist, this show needs to be at the top of your “Up Next” feed in your podcast app.

Hosted by Barry Cooper and James Cary

What it’s about: Cooper and Cary Have Words is, as you might expect, a podcast in which Barry Cooper and James Cary converse with each other using words. Their conversations range from culture to theology, books and more. They’ve tackled topics such as whether “Christian movies” are good, whether to tell your kids that Santa is real, whether national pride is a good thing, and whether Jesus is funny. They also feature occasional guests who bring new topics and perspectives to the show.

Why I love it: Don’t let the simple “two guys having a conversation” concept fool you: there is more to this podcast than meets the ear. Barry and James tackle hard questions in such a thoughtful way that you leave satisfied with the result and yet intrigued to ponder more. Their faith in Christ, the varied nature of their career backgrounds, and the fact that they’ve read lots of good books, gives them a wealth of wisdom to pull from as they converse. And since Cooper and Cary both have backgrounds in comedy, you’ll find that serious debate often turns effortlessly into witty banter, in a way that is winsome and hilarious. Oh, and I’m not the only one who loves this podcast: Cooper and Cary pulled a surprise underdog victory at the Premier Digital Awards this year, winning the presumably prestigious title of “Podcast of the Year.”

Who it’s for: Cooper and Cary Have Words is perfect for anyone who likes to think and talk about ideas. Christian artists will enjoy it for the way the topics often tend toward literature, film, and theatre.

Hosted by Ryan O’Neal

What it’s about: Ryan O’Neal, better known as the singer/songwriter behind “Sleeping at Last,” explains how his music takes shape, one song at a time.

Why I love it: In my opinion, Ryan O’Neal is one of the best music artists working today. The music of Sleeping at Last is masterfully written and composed. The lyrics are pure poetry. The songs are rich with meaning and emotionally moving. In this podcast, Ryan takes you behind the songs, revealing how and why each decision was made on the way to the final track. You might expect a podcast like this to get boring — how many times can we listen to the same artist talk about his process? But most artists are not Sleeping at Last. Many of these episodes are long, to be sure, but that’s because Ryan’s process of creation is so complex. Every aspect of the song has a meaning and a purpose, and recognizing that makes the music even more beautiful the next time you listen to it.

Who it’s for: This podcast is a must-listen for anyone who writes or composes music (regardless of faith background). But I don’t think the audience is limited to that. Ryan is a Christian and an artist who is pursuing music with such care and excellence that I think any believer interested in the arts will find this show inspiring (and probably fascinating, too).

Hosted by Andrew Osenga

What it’s about: The Pivot is an interview-based podcast that tells the stories of people who have made a change. It’s a look at how we deal with transition. Andrew focuses on career in his questions, but he also inevitably touches on family, health, God, and more.

Why I love it: On the surface, The Pivot is very similar to Cultivated, which I discussed above. And it may feel redundant to listen to them back-to-back, particularly since they feature some of the same guests. But they have some subtle differences which make them both valuable in unique ways. What I find special about The Pivot is the way Andrew connects in a personal way with his guests. His interviews, rather than a set structure of questions and answers, are much more akin to a conversation between two friends (they’re often exactly this, since Andrew knows many of his guests personally). As an audience we get to listen in on these chats and learn things about the guests that you wouldn’t learn in a more formal interview. They frequently open up about their struggles and motivations in way that makes this podcast both honest and helpful.

Who it’s for: Most of the guests on this show are believers and connected to the music world in some way, so for Christians in music this is a must-listen. But like The Sleeping at Last Podcast above, I think this show is just as beneficial for non-musicians. You’ll get to learn about how people who first did one thing have pivoted to doing another — and as Andrew says, “everybody pivots.” We all find ourselves needing to change course at one time or another, and this podcast allows you to learn how others have done that successfully, trusting God and stepping out in faith to a new pursuit.

Hosted by Ted Kluck, Barnabas Piper, and Ronnie Martin

What it’s about: The Happy Rant is a conversation in which Barnabas Piper (son of John Piper), Ted Kluck, and Ronnie Martin cheerfully (if sardonically) rant about things that don’t matter all that much, and some things that do. They rant about church, culture, sports, the arts, entertainment, and occasional nonsense.

Why I love it: This is admittedly a bit of a dark horse pick compared to the other podcasts on this list. It’s essentially a comedic podcast, as the three hosts frequently discuss weighty topics in a sardonic way. Whether it’s your cup of tea is too much for me to guess, but for me it’s a fun departure from the seriousness of other podcasts I listen to. Barnabas, Ted and Ronnie all have strong theology, so while you’ll often find them joking, they’ll also drop real nuggets of wisdom, revealing a thoughtful core under the shell of irony. Also, as Christians we sometimes have a hard time laughing at ourselves, or critiquing ourselves — and Barnabas, Ted and Ronnie help us do that.

Who it’s for: The Happy Rant is great for Christians who find certain things about the modern church humorous, or who generally find humor in sarcasm. And because the topics often tend toward a discussion of literature, movies, and pop culture, Christians in the arts may find it particularly enjoyable.

I would be remiss not to mention that we at Forefront Festival run our own podcast, called Forefront 360. I felt it would be narcissistic to put it in the list above, but if you’re a Christian in the arts, I think you’ll find it to be a fun discussion of ideas and issues you care about. You can listen/subscribe on iTunes or Google Play.

If you haven’t gotten hooked on podcasts yet, I hope this list has helped to ignite or re-kindle your interest. And if you’re already an avid podcast listener, I hope this has helped you discover something new.

So, which ones did I miss? What’s your favorite podcast for Christians and/or artists? Post it in the comments below!

Forefront is committed to fostering a robust conversation on the intersection of Christian faith and the arts by publishing a wide range of voices and opinions. The views expressed here reflect those of the author.