10 Podcasts To Make Your Ears Smile
A year ago, like Howard Carter finding the tomb of Tutankhamen, my ears and I were dazzled and amazed when a trawl through a drawer full of junk unearthed an elderly ipod Nano. Surprisingly it still worked, and after I cranked up my tiny brain, pod-things got searched for, found, and then subscribed to, and eventually downloaded and enjoyed.
I had no idea previously how this sub-culture has mushroomed in the years when my nano was awol. There are now podcasts on every subject you can imagine, and with every style of presentation, ranging from panel discussions to stand up, celebrities discussing their taste in clothing, to the bereaved confiding their grief. There are shows about politics, astronomy, music, stand-up comedy, dramas, mental health, and chakras...and let’s not forget the Archers.
So this is how my ears and I like to spend a large part of the day- sucking in all this interesting chat and using it to crowbar my brain open for new thoughts and perspectives.
Aside from Girl on Guy ( which only has the most recent episodes without paid subscription), all these Podcasts are free and available from itunes or acast.
So
...in no particular order..
Ten Podcasts to Make Your Ears Smile
1) Kermode and Mayo’s Film Review http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00lvdrj/episodes/downloads Two middle aged guys bicker like an old married couple, and review all the latest releases. Cult listening, and has just won the Listeners’ Award at the Podcast Awards. An archive of several years worth is available.
2) Dr Paul Christo- Aches and Gains
http://paulchristomd.com/podcasts/
Dr Christo interviews pain sufferers ranging from sports personalities to war vets, to cultural icons ( Maya Angelou, anyone?) about strategies for coping with physical pain. A bulging archive includes topics such as diet, use of opoids, alternative remedies, mindfulness etc.
3) Girl on Guy http://www.girlonguy.net/ Aisha Tyler is just about the coolest lady you can imagine, smart, creative and funny. Her meaty interviews go indepth about issues big and small with celebrities ranging from rock stars to physicists. Quite a lot of ‘effing and jeffin’ so don’t recommend it to your gran.
4) Standard Issue http://standardissuemagazine.com/podcasts/ The sassy magazine aimed at women with attitude has now become a monthly podcast. Here the likes of Dawn French, Victoria Coren- Mitchell and Sarah Millican being VERY rude in front of and audiennce.
5) Dear Sugar Radio http://www.wbur.org/dearsugar/archive Besties and literary pilgrims, Cheryl Strayed and Steve Almond tackle listeners sexual. Emotional and relationship problems, with radical empathy. Recent episodes have tackled problems teenagers have, going no contact with a parent, a bereavement bringing out feelings of jealousy, and the temptations to start an affair. Tonnes in the archive, which is good, as you’ll be hooked!
6)Byrony Gordon’s Mad World https://bryonysmadworld.telegraph.co.uk/
The Telegraph journalist interviews the great and the normal about their mental wellbeing and mental health issues. Check out the pod with Prince Harry.
7) Home Front http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04dv1g4 Weekly omnibus edition of the Radio 4 WW1 drama set 100 years ago. The drama combines the cliffhangers and criminal and marital disasters of a well written soap, with fascinating plotlines about life at home during the war. If you have not yet caught up with the backcatalogue, there are over 3 years available to listen to!
8) You Must Remember This http://www.youmustrememberthispodcast.com/
Karina Longworth’s fascinating trawl through the secrets and lost histories of the first century of cinema. If you love black and white movies, or long to know more about screen idols this is for you. Karina's snappy narrative connects activities on and off screen, with the political and social history of the time. It is one fascinating listen.
9) BBC Ouch Podcast http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02r6yqw/episodes/downloads The BBC’s own programme about disability in podcast form only. Humourous, informative and presented and produced by those at the coal face of illness and /or disability.
10) Great Lives http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qxsb/episodes/downloads The concept is simple: eminent person or celebrity selects a figure from history who they feel had a ‘Great Life’. Together with an expert biographer, and Matthew Parris, they explore the life of the person in this 30 minute gem that never fails to tell you things you don't know.
Feel free to comment on the Podcasts you enjoy the most!
A year ago, like Howard Carter finding the tomb of Tutankhamen, my ears and I were dazzled and amazed when a trawl through a drawer full of junk unearthed an elderly ipod Nano. Surprisingly it still worked, and after I cranked up my tiny brain, pod-things got searched for, found, and then subscribed to, and eventually downloaded and enjoyed.
I had no idea previously how this sub-culture has mushroomed in the years when my nano was awol. There are now podcasts on every subject you can imagine, and with every style of presentation, ranging from panel discussions to stand up, celebrities discussing their taste in clothing, to the bereaved confiding their grief. There are shows about politics, astronomy, music, stand-up comedy, dramas, mental health, and chakras...and let’s not forget the Archers.
So this is how my ears and I like to spend a large part of the day- sucking in all this interesting chat and using it to crowbar my brain open for new thoughts and perspectives.
Aside from Girl on Guy ( which only has the most recent episodes without paid subscription), all these Podcasts are free and available from itunes or acast.
So
...in no particular order..
Ten Podcasts to Make Your Ears Smile
1) Kermode and Mayo’s Film Review http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00lvdrj/episodes/downloads Two middle aged guys bicker like an old married couple, and review all the latest releases. Cult listening, and has just won the Listeners’ Award at the Podcast Awards. An archive of several years worth is available.
2) Dr Paul Christo- Aches and Gains
http://paulchristomd.com/podcasts/
Dr Christo interviews pain sufferers ranging from sports personalities to war vets, to cultural icons ( Maya Angelou, anyone?) about strategies for coping with physical pain. A bulging archive includes topics such as diet, use of opoids, alternative remedies, mindfulness etc.
3) Girl on Guy http://www.girlonguy.net/ Aisha Tyler is just about the coolest lady you can imagine, smart, creative and funny. Her meaty interviews go indepth about issues big and small with celebrities ranging from rock stars to physicists. Quite a lot of ‘effing and jeffin’ so don’t recommend it to your gran.
4) Standard Issue http://standardissuemagazine.com/podcasts/ The sassy magazine aimed at women with attitude has now become a monthly podcast. Here the likes of Dawn French, Victoria Coren- Mitchell and Sarah Millican being VERY rude in front of and audiennce.
5) Dear Sugar Radio http://www.wbur.org/dearsugar/archive Besties and literary pilgrims, Cheryl Strayed and Steve Almond tackle listeners sexual. Emotional and relationship problems, with radical empathy. Recent episodes have tackled problems teenagers have, going no contact with a parent, a bereavement bringing out feelings of jealousy, and the temptations to start an affair. Tonnes in the archive, which is good, as you’ll be hooked!
6)Byrony Gordon’s Mad World https://bryonysmadworld.telegraph.co.uk/
The Telegraph journalist interviews the great and the normal about their mental wellbeing and mental health issues. Check out the pod with Prince Harry.
7) Home Front http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04dv1g4 Weekly omnibus edition of the Radio 4 WW1 drama set 100 years ago. The drama combines the cliffhangers and criminal and marital disasters of a well written soap, with fascinating plotlines about life at home during the war. If you have not yet caught up with the backcatalogue, there are over 3 years available to listen to!
8) You Must Remember This http://www.youmustrememberthispodcast.com/
Karina Longworth’s fascinating trawl through the secrets and lost histories of the first century of cinema. If you love black and white movies, or long to know more about screen idols this is for you. Karina's snappy narrative connects activities on and off screen, with the political and social history of the time. It is one fascinating listen.
9) BBC Ouch Podcast http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02r6yqw/episodes/downloads The BBC’s own programme about disability in podcast form only. Humourous, informative and presented and produced by those at the coal face of illness and /or disability.
10) Great Lives http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qxsb/episodes/downloads The concept is simple: eminent person or celebrity selects a figure from history who they feel had a ‘Great Life’. Together with an expert biographer, and Matthew Parris, they explore the life of the person in this 30 minute gem that never fails to tell you things you don't know.
Feel free to comment on the Podcasts you enjoy the most!
