It's Official: These Are the Most Fascinating New Podcasts to Debut in July 2020

The Michelle Obama Podcast is by far our most anticipated podcast of the summer — and it's finally here! Michelle Obama is enough of a draw as a host to get us to listen to every episode of her new podcast, but kicking it off with her husband (not to mention her mom, brother, and close friends) as the first guest is really going above and beyond.

Listen to The Michelle Obama Podcast now.

Created by Vanity Fair's Lili Anolik and featuring The Rialto Reportcreator Ashley West, this C13Originals podcast series tells the story of Traci Lords, a former porn star who used a fake ID to break into the adult entertainment industry at 15 years old. The series takes a deep dive into the San Fernando Valley and the '80s porn scene, and it's a wildly entertaining ride.

Listen to Once Upon a Time . . . in the Valley now.

Think national parks are safe spaces? Think again. Investigative journalist Delia D'Ambra hosts this 11-part Audiochuck podcast series, which looks into some of the most atrocious murders committed in US national parks, include the July 1983 murder of Frederick Pongrace — a Good Samaritan who picked up a hitchhiker named Scott David Steel and was later discovered dead in Glacier National Park — and the murder spree of drifter Gary Michael Hilton between late 2007 and early 2008.

Listen to Park Predators now.

James Arthur Ray was a self-help motivational speaker with countless devotees — that is, until three of his clients died during one of his New Age retreats and he was convicted of three counts of negligent homicide. Hosted by journalist Matt Stroud, Wondery's Guru: The Dark Side of Enlightenment tells the fascinating story of Ray's rise and fall, with new episodes released every week.

Listen to Guru: The Dark Side of Enlightenment now.

Hosted by the delightful trio of Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett, this hilarious podcast invites celebrity guests to participate on the show each week — though only one of the hosts will know ahead of time who that guest will be. After revealing the surprise guest to the other two hosts and to the audience, what follows is an improvised conversation that often goes in unexpected directions.

Listen to SmartLess now.

Hosted by producer and activist Bridget Todd (who also cohosts Stuff Mom Never Told You), this eye-opening iHeartRadio podcast series explores the women and minority communities behind the rise of the tech industry. The industry may be controlled by tech bros, but Todd proves that marginalized voices are the ones who have shaped the internet from the very beginning.

Listen to There Are No Girls on the Internet now.

This Qcode erotic podcast series stars Demi Moore and her trademark raspy voice as the titular Diana, a corporate executive in a sexless marriage who — by night — secretly hosts a website where real women describe their most intimate sexual fantasies. If you're into audio erotica, then Dirty Diana is a must listen.

Listen to Dirty Diana now.

The Try Wives — who first made their debut on the Try Guys YouTube channel during "Try Wives Wine Time" — have now launched their own weekly podcast series, where BFFs Ariel Fulmer, Becky Habersberger, and Maggie Bustamante discuss everything from female friendships to current events to their own lives. Get ready for these three to become your new besties.

Listen to You Can Sit With Us now.

Hosted by journalist Jake Halpern, this nine-part Pushkin podcast series tells the true story of FBI agent Ned Timmons who, in the '80s, went undercover in an outlaw biker gang. Of course, Timmons never expected that he would become embroiled in a global drug cartel, and this series will make you question everything you thought you knew about the 1989 US invasion of Panama.

Listen to Deep Cover: The Drug Wars now.

On Aug. 16, 2005, 21-year-old Jennifer Cave and her friend, Colton Pitonyak, went out to celebrate Pitonyak's new job in the West Campus area of Austin, TX. Two days later, Cave's body was found at The Orange Tree condo complex near the University of Texas at Austin. This true-crime series from The Drag (which is hosted by journalists Tinu Thomas and Haley Butler) tells the story of what happened to Cave, and it's sure to keep you on the edge of your seat.

Listen to The Orange Tree now.

In this Earwolf comedy series, Full Frontal with Samantha Bee host Samantha Bee chats with a new guest each episode (many of whom work in journalism and media) to discuss current events, the media industry, and how people can try to make 2020 suck less. As you can imagine, it's just as funny and smart as her TV show.

Listen to Full Release With Samantha Bee now.