Up First from NPR

Your Next Great Listen

Are you searching for your next favorite podcast? With an endless queue of options, it can be hard to choose. That’s where Lauren Gonzalez, co-writer of the Pod Club newsletter, can help. The Pod Club newsletter aims to cut through the clutter and help you decipher what’s worth listening to. Sign up for the newsletter here: <a href="http://npr.org/podclub" target="_blank">npr.org/podclub</a>. Podcasts featured in this episode:<a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/09/17/nx-s1-5543523/thriving-after-menopause" target="_blank">It’s Been A Minute: The key to thriving later in life</a><a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/07/30/1269347144/overwhelmed-by-your-smartphone-try-a-boring-phone" target="_blank">Life Kit: Overwhelmed by your smartphone?</a><a href="https://www.kqed.org/podcasts/closealltabs" target="_blank">Close All Tabs from KQED</a><a href="https://one.npr.org/?sharedMediaId=753533555:753533557" target="_blank">Spooked: The Thin Place</a><a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/07/03/1255164467/does-america-need-a-hero" target="_blank">Throughline: Does America Need a Hero?</a><a href="https://www.npr.org/podcasts/fis-1269164039/operation-night-cat" target="_blank">Operation Night Cat from NHPR</a><a href="https://www.marfapublicradio.org/podcast/a-whole-other-country" target="_blank">A Whole Other Country from Marfa Public Radio</a><a href="https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/our-common-nature" target="_blank">Our Common Nature from WNYC</a> To manage podcast ad preferences, review the links below: See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. <a href="https://www.npr.org/about-npr/179878450/privacy-policy">NPR Privacy Policy</a>

NPR's Up First is the news you need to start your day. The three biggest stories of the day, with reporting and analysis from NPR News — in 10 minutes. Available weekdays at 6:30 a.m. ET, with hosts Leila Fadel, Steve Inskeep, Michel Martin and A Martinez. Also available on Saturdays at 9 a.m. ET, with Ayesha Rascoe and Scott Simon. On Sundays, hear a longer exploration behind the headlines with Ayesha Rascoe on "The Sunday Story," available by 8 a.m. ET. Subscribe and listen, then support your local NPR station at donate.npr.org. Support NPR's reporting by subscribing to Up First+ and unlock sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org/upfirst