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Check latest episodes from Wild Card with Rachel Martin podcast

Melinda French Gates

2026/02/05

Melinda French Gates has been through some painful and public transitions — ending her marriage of 27 years, stepping away from the foundation she built with her ex-husband Bill Gates and turning her professional focus to women’s health and social progress. She talks to Rachel about forgiveness, learning to trust, and her ex-husband’s association with Jeffrey Epstein. To listen sponsor-free and support the show, sign up for Wild Card+ at plus.npr.org/wildcard Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Oprah

2026/01/29

Oprah could never just ignore her weight. Everyone else was always talking about it – from tabloids to late-night shows. She talks to Rachel about her weight journey and her new embrace of GLP-1s, the topic of her new book, “Enough,” co-written with Dr. Ania Jastreboff. Oprah also opens up to Rachel about her childhood in Mississippi and the lessons she learned from Maya Angelou and Sidney Poitier.To listen sponsor-free and support the show, sign up for Wild Card+ at plus.npr.org/wildcard Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Jennette McCurdy

2026/01/22

In her early 20s, Jennette McCurdy left her childhood acting career and turned to writing. In both her memoir, “I’m Glad My Mom Died,” and her debut novel, “Half His Age,” she confronts the kinds of abuse and power dynamics she had to navigate long before she was ready. But she tells Rachel she has been able to move past it and find acceptance on the other side. To listen sponsor-free and support the show, sign up for Wild Card+ at plus.npr.org/wildcard Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Tig Notaro

2026/01/15

Tig Notaro knows all about how humor and grief can coexist. She's explored those topics in her stand-up comedy, TV shows, and podcasts. Her latest project is "Come See Me in the Good Light," a documentary about her friend, the poet Andrea Gibson's, who died of cancer last year. She tells Rachel about growing up skiing with gators in Mississippi, and what Andrea taught her about the preciousness of life. To listen sponsor-free and support the show, sign up for Wild Card+ at plus.npr.org/wildcard Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Jonathan Goldstein

2026/01/08

When Jonathan Goldstein sets out to help a guest on his podcast “Heavyweight,” he always hopes he can help them feel unburdened by the end. But it’s often on the path to finding closure for a regret or deep-seated disappointment that the real healing happens. Jonathan shares with Rachel what making the show has taught him and why he believes anyone is capable of change. To listen sponsor-free and support the show, sign up for Wild Card+ at plus.npr.org/wildcard Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

John Green (Encore)

2026/01/01

John Green keeps busy – from authoring blockbuster young adult novels like "The Fault in Our Stars," to running a YouTube empire with his brother Hank, to publishing his latest nonfiction book, "Everything Is Tuberculosis." His projects share one key goal: to make the world "suck less." John talks to Rachel about how he battles despair and why he's unconcerned with the question of God's existence. To listen sponsor-free, access bonus episodes and support the show, sign up for Wild Card+ at plus.npr.org/wildcard Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Ann Patchett (Encore)

2025/12/25

Ann Patchett's 2001 novel Bel Canto was a huge hit. She's continued to have success with her later work, including The Dutch House, which was a Pulitzer Prize finalist. But she recently returned to Bel Canto with a new edition annotated by Patchett herself. She and Rachel talk about why she wanted to critique her own work and they also discuss their shifting ideas of God and feeling comfortable being alone. To listen sponsor-free, access bonus episodes and support the show, sign up for Wild Card+ at plus.npr.org/wildcard Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Kumail Nanjiani

2025/12/18

Kumail Nanjiani is learning to embrace big feelings, he tells Rachel. Kumail’s projects are all about how we feel our way through living, including his new Hulu stand-up special, “Night Thoughts.” Kumail talks to Rachel about learning to embrace fear and failure, his creative partnership with his wife, Emily, and why the world would improve if everyone could eat his grandmother's biryani. To listen sponsor-free and support the show, sign up for Wild Card+ at plus.npr.org/wildcard Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Jamie Lee Curtis

2025/12/11

Jamie Lee Curtis never wanted to be an actor. She tells Rachel, despite having famous show business parents, she originally thought she’d become a police officer. Jamie talks about how she unexpectedly wound up in Hollywood, her fight against unhealthy beauty standards in the industry, and why she thinks of her children’s books as “her best thing.” Jamie Lee Curtis is currently in “Ella McCay.”Take the Wild Card survey: npr.org/wildcardsurveyTo listen sponsor-free and support the show, sign up for Wild Card+ at plus.npr.org/wildcard Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Mel Robbins

2025/12/04

Mel Robbins tells Rachel that she was plagued by anxiety, trauma and “relentless self-hatred” when she was younger. Now she has a bestselling book (“The Let Them Theory”) and a massively successful podcast (“The Mel Robbins Podcast”). Her hope is that she can share the tools that have helped her better herself so that other people can improve their lives. To listen sponsor-free and support the show, sign up for Wild Card+ at plus.npr.org/wildcard Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Jason Reynolds (Update)

2025/11/27

One of Apple’s top 10 podcast episodes of 2025. Jason Reynolds returns for another Wild Card question about the challenge of setting an example for children. He also speaks with Rachel about the value of being a crier and the advice about rest he got from LeVar Burton. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Suleika Jaouad

2025/11/20

Suleika Jaouad has written extensively about what it means to live in the in-between – the space between sick and healthy. She’s dealt on-and-off with cancer since her early 20s. Her latest book, "The Book of Alchemy," provides a guide on sustaining a creative practice through journaling. Suleika tells Rachel about eavesdropping on laughter and what she's learned from the people she's lost.To listen sponsor-free and support the show, sign up for Wild Card+ at plus.npr.org/wildcard Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Malala Yousafzai

2025/11/13

When Malala Yousafzai went to college, the last thing she wanted to talk about was her Nobel Prize or the Taliban attack that put her on the world stage. She just wanted to be a normal college student – taking risks, making friends and going to parties. Malala tells Rachel it’s taken a lot of work to find out who she is beyond any titles or accolades. Her new book, “Finding My Way,” is out now.To listen sponsor-free and support the show, sign up for Wild Card+ at plus.npr.org/wildcard Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Padma Lakshmi

2025/11/06

Padma Lakshmi has always been deeply curious about food, and how it serves as a vehicle for celebrating the cultural diversity of America. In her new book, "Padma's All American," she shares stories and recipes from people she’s encountered all across the U.S. Padma talks to Rachel about the life lessons her grandma taught her through cooking and why life is better in her 50s. To listen sponsor-free and support the show, sign up for Wild Card+ at plus.npr.org/wildcard Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Brandi Carlile

2025/10/30

Brandi Carlile sought out some alone time to work on her newest album, “Returning to Myself,” but she came out of the experience realizing she needed the people around her more than ever. Brandi talks to Rachel about owning different sides of her identity even when they’re at odds with each other and shares her memory time machine trip with Joni Mitchell.To listen sponsor-free and support the show, sign up for Wild Card+ at plus.npr.org/wildcard Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy

Read Wild Card with Rachel Martin podcast reviews

4.7 out of 5

890 reviews

Sellars8658 2026/01/20

My favorite podcast!

Thoughtful and funny, always highly enjoyable!

Hanz-on 2026/01/08

Jonathan Goldstein!

I am a huge fan of Heavyweight and was excited that Rachel had Jonathan on her show today. Their conversation was deep and personal. I especially appr...

MiniCooperChic 2026/01/04

Thursdays are the best because of Wild Card

Thursdays used to be just the day before Friday. Now Thursday is my favorite morning because I know a new episode of Wild Card will be waiting for me...

Stooge1 2025/12/14

Intriguing

I really enjoy the fact that conversations are driven by the “wild cards”. You never know where things will go and you learn so much more about the pe...

Ryan11111111111111111111111111 2025/12/29

Rachel and her body shot shouldn’t be the story

Guests are great and Rachel’s questions are often good but she has fallen into the Trumpian XInstacrap-era category of breathless ‘journalists’ who wa...

SarahMBen 2025/12/23

Please, Rachel Martin, talk less

I don’t know if anyone reads these but if so, please tell Rachel Martin to talk less. The guests can barely get a word in without her saying *somethin...

Chickie0604 2025/11/29

Rachel Martin is a terrific interviewer

I love her curiosity, humor and empathy. She brings out stories from her guests that aren’t heard anywhere else

baileynoel672 2025/12/11

Mel Robbins

Didn’t Mel Robbins get exposed for plagiarism?

shariboston 2025/12/07

Great guests but stop interrupting

I recently discovered this show and was impressed with the extraordinary panel of guests. The questions seem simple but open up so much insight and I ...

Yoga Rachel 2025/11/26

Adore

One of my favorite podcasts and only wish it was even more often. ❤️

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