7 Podcasts That Will Almost Definitely Make You Cry

The one word that comes to mind when describing StoryCorps is human. Whereas other podcasts feature storytellers who are unusual or eccentric in some way, the people from StoryCorps are just like your neighbors, classmates, and co-workers. The thing that makes them extraordinary is how they handle what life throws at them. Each week, a new story focuses on someone's life-changing event of the past or the present. A woman shares what it was like to be pregnant in prison, a brother reminisces about his twin who died in the war, and an airline attendant recounts her memories of 9/11.

Type of cry: Finishing a Chicken Soup For the Soul

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Like any good sports flick, Everything Is Stories will have you rooting for the underdog. Beginning in 2013, three misfit producers travel the nation conducting interviews of the most unlikely and unique characters. Covering everything from banished veterans and physical deformity to dreams of making it in vintage Hollywood, the show gives a voice to the overlooked and underappreciated. Though there are only 20 episodes, each one is eye-opening and demonstrates how real people live outside of the box.

Type of cry: Proud parents at a high school graduation

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Like an empty amusement park or abandoned mall, The Memory Palace finds the (albeit, sometimes tragic) beauty in people or things long since forgotten. The historical podcast is hosted by Nate DiMeo, who has a voice as soothing as a sleep machine. If that doesn't do it for you, most episodes are accompanied by a killer soundtrack. There have been about 100 episodes over the past eight years, but they all have one thing in common: they're haunting, particularly the episodes "Dreamland," "Harriet Quimby," and "The Saddest President." Don't believe me? The show was a finalist for this year's Peabody Award.

Type of cry: Sarah McLachlan's ASPCA commercial

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There are two things that make Snap Judgment captivating: the stories and the music. The combination results in storytelling that is more of a performing art piece, rather than a dull voice coming through your radio. Each week, host Glynn Washington introduces listeners to stories that focus on a common theme. But there's nothing common about the storytellers. Throughout the show's seven seasons, a revolutionary in exile, a survivor of attempted murder, a rabbi, a luchador, and more have given listeners a sneak peek into their lives. Once you join Snap Nation, there's no turning back . . . especially because you won't be able to get the rhythmic beats out of your head.

Type of cry: Seeing Adele in concert

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Each Tuesday, The Moth broadcasts a new episode of true tales, usually from a pair of strangers who are connected only by the topic of their story. What makes The Moth particularly engaging is that each episode is recorded live — unscripted and unfiltered. Just the storyteller, the audience, and open emotions that will leave you raw. "The Best of Times, The Worst of Times" is an especially gut-wrenching episode. While the podcast is fairly new, The Moth was first a radio show that had some of your favorite celebs as guests! Listen to Molly Ringwald, Margaret Cho, Padma Lakshmi, Ethan Hawke, and more tell their personal tales of woe, humor, and heartbreak.

Type of cry: Drunk confessions with your best friend

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If you're in the mood for a can't-catch-your-breath sob fest, This American Life is the podcast for you. Each week, host Ira Glass selects a new topic and reporters across the country share stories they've come across. While the stories range from inspiring and funny to mysterious and scary, there are more than a handful of the 500-plus episodes that bring on the waterworks. For a particularly cathartic cry, check out episodes "In Dog We Trust," "Harper High School," "Our Friend David," and "How to Write a Note."

Type of cry: Nicholas Sparks movie marathon

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A former director of The Moth, Lea Thau is all too familiar with tugging at our heartstrings. Now hosting her own weekly show, Strangers, the Peabody Award winner brings to you the story of two strangers who meet, intertwine, and impact each other's lives. Hear what it was like for a woman to donate her kidney to a stranger or how a couple got married after just one week. Like the two subjects in each episode, you'll find yourself connecting more and more with the strangers you're listening to.

Type of cry: Noticing a beautiful piece of art

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