My dad wrote a porno is really good - I didn’t think I would like it but it’s genuinley laugh out loud funny and it’s presenters very sweet and compelling.
If you are starting from scratch as you say, I recommend starting with a classic, ‘serial’ (season 1 that is - make sure) I think it’s the most downloaded of all time still and in this case the mainstream has it right. Really intresting story, brilliantly produced, fantastic journalism. The story is very compelling though it can feel awakwad talking about it in theses terms as it concerns real people. But you have to check out the first series. The other two it’s up to you - the second is not very good at all and the third is ok but nothing on the brilliance of the first, they are not connected to one another.
If you like that I recommend the show it is a spin off from ‘this American life’ - episodes vary in quality but it’s probably my favourite podcast of all time. Each one has a theme with a variety of different stories - some truely incredible, jaw dropping types but even the most banal on paper are often facisnating because they are so well told. Their journalists dig up some real gold, it’s worth listening to old archive episodes for some of the best - I can point you in that direction and their are lists on their website. And the production and journalistic standards are just as high as serial.
Jon ronson has done some fantastic podcasts that may only be available on audible but are well worth listening to : “the butterfly effect” and especially “the last days of August” - both about the porn industry in different ways. He approaches everything in such a open minded way and so empatheticallty and compassionately and it’s a truly facisnating listen.
A series called “slow burn” did an interesting one on watergate and another intersting one on Monica Lewisnsky - it breaks down each scandal into tiny pieces which helps to get your head around the details and also understand how bat tit crazy both events were.
I could name many more - I realise these are mainly documentary esque as I personally think that telling true stories is the podcast’s greatest strength- but there are plenty more culture / celebrity interview ones I could name that I like. And some quite niche ones for my interests in music, film etc (there are likely to be ones for yours too if you search about)