Podcast Picks
There are so many clever, important voices waiting for you, neatly presented in the podcast form. It’s not all deadly serious, but in the information driven world we live in one of the easiest ways to keep up is through listening. Hopefully in the recommendations below you’ll find something that grabs your attention or something that you feel you have to know more about. And once all that intense listening is over, you can rest your whirring mind with the last one on the list. After this week’s listening I just feel so smug and well-informed. Join me on this modest journey- it’s fun and worthwhile... I promise.
No Such Thing as a Fish
Genre: Comedy
Average duration: 40 minutes
Rating on Apple: ★★★★★ (5.42K ratings)
This is the podcast I never knew I needed. Presented by four researchers for the hit BBC Two show QI (James Harkin, Anna Ptaszynski, Andrew Hunter Murray and Dan Schreiber) each person presents a fact they’ve come across in the last week. The facts are completely original and lead to fantastic, random and sprawling conversations about all kinds of things. From the size of George Elliot’s hands to Icelandic sheep dating, you’ll finish listening with a whole lot of new knowledge. The dynamic between the four presenters is light-hearted and informal, making for brilliant comedic moments. I really didn’t think I’d enjoy it but take it from me and the thousands of No Such Thing as a Fish fans, this is the good stuff.
About Race with Reni Eddo-Lodge
Genre: News & Politics
Average duration: 30-40 minutes
Rating on Apple: ★★★★ ½ (518 ratings)
Reni Eddo-Lodge is an award-winning journalist and author of the highly acclaimed Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race. Following the huge success of her first book comes this podcast, an insightful and important recount of British politics’ relationship with race. The podcast’s simple format and Eddo-Lodge’s direct delivery make for an educational and meditative listening experience as she interviews key figures from anti-racist activism, journalists, musicians and comedians. If you’re not much of a reader, but want to learn more about race, racism and Britain’s race issues this is the place to start. At the end of each episode, you’ll feel informed and propelled to listen to the next instillation. About Race is a prime example of how podcasts can be used to educate as well as entertain.
The Gurls Talk Podcast
Genre: Self-Help
Average duration: 1 hour – 1 hour 20 minutes.
Rating on Apple: ★★★★★ (263 ratings)
You’ll definitely have seen Adwoa Aboah’s face before, she’s an international model who’s graced the cover of Vogue countless times and was voted Model of the Year for models.com in 2017. Now, with her fiercely feminist podcast Gurls Talk, we get a chance to hear her voice. Apart from being fantastically deep, it’s a voice keen to push feminist issues to the forefront of her and her guests’ discourse. Love and sex, gender, business, addiction, sports and social media are just some of the topics on Aboah’s agenda. As Aboah interviews a variety of intelligent and motivated women, there’s a strong emphasis on the importance of sharing and discussing topics that many would have once been disregarded as too taboo.
Today in Focus
Genre: News & Politics
Average duration: 30 minutes
Rating on Apple: ★★★★★ (882 ratings)
Today in Focus is The Guardian’s daily news podcast, but it’s much more than just a news reel. Hosted by Anushka Asthana it provides quick, relevant and absorbing analysis of what’s in the news. Want to know more about Extinction Rebellion’s London protests? In 20 minutes, you’ll have heard expert opinions, interviews from the group’s leader and from the protesters themselves. The podcast is released daily, but despite the huge number of episodes churned out, there’s no skimping on high quality journalism. Clever insights into relevant and important topics, making you more aware of the what’s in the news in no time at all.
Nothing Much Happens
Genre: Alternative Health
Average duration: 20-25 minutes
Rating on Apple: ★★★★★ (93 ratings)
Ooh Alternative Health! Bring it! Are you a level-four vegan like me? Anyway, sorry, these are bedtime stories for adults. Sounds oddly unsettling and weird I know, but they really work. If you’ve ever downloaded the Calm app and used their free trial, it’s the same idea. Short, unremarkable but soothing stories designed to knock you into a deep sleep. Unlike the Calm app, this is all free listening! Perfect for the dreaded witching hour when sleep seems many, many hours away.
Full disclaimer, I’m not a vegan but fully support vegans and think veganism is great. Thanks.
See you soon,
Freya X