Table of Contents
Picks of the week
The rest is classified
Widely available, weekly episodes.
The latest addition to the Goalhanger group from The Rest Is… shows that it focuses on espionage. It’s exactly what you’d expect: a witty, information-packed chat between two hosts with a brilliant relationship, specifically CIA analyst-turned-spy novelist David McCloskey and veteran national security journalist Gordon Corera. They’re looking at the Iranian coup of 1953, and it’s a hugely fun story about diplomacy, power games, drunkenness… and a man named Kermit. Alex Duggins
‘It’s the Grinch’s Christmas podcast
Widely available, weekly episodes.
Saturday Night Live comedian James Austin Johnson voices the Christmas-hating green guy in this holiday podcast. It’s a pretty questionable character comedy, elevated by the star guests who join in on the comedic banter. In the first episode, Jon Hamm does a bit of yes-and comedy, with later shows starring the likes of Danny DeVito, Tony Hawk and John Stamos. ADVERTISEMENT
The trapped
Widely available, weekly episodes.
It’s impossible not to be furious and distressed after listening to ITV News’ Daniel Hewitt’s podcast on social housing: there should be an outcry when a woman needs to use an umbrella in her house because the leaks are so bad. Hewitt goes to these hellish spaces and confronts unhelpful politicians. Hannah Verdier
The king of weight
Audible, all episodes now available
This new version of a cross-border crime family story begins with a horrific car accident and goes on to detail corruption, power, and pockets of cash. Harvey Guillén of What We Do in the Shadows is convincing and charming as Picho, the son of one of Mexico’s most notorious money launderers, who tells the story. high voltage
Club Sandwich
Widely available, weekly episodes.
Henry Southan and Jordan Sangha’s new romance captured hearts on last year’s Big Brother, and fans who continued to watch the couple “daahhling” eat at London’s best restaurants on social media will be delighted to know they now have a podcast . It’s loosely based on food, but mostly it’s very entertaining discussions. Hollie Richardson
There’s a podcast for that.
This week, Hannah Verdier choose five of the best podcasts with advice of experts in their field, from private investigators revealing their secrets to financial advice from Britain’s most trusted man.
private eyes
One of the best jobs for a curious person has to be that of a private investigator. And one of the best things about getting that job is listening to private investigators Bari Kroll and Jennifer Rosant reveal the mystery of their jobs. It starts with the episode about disguises, where they answer all the questions their friends have about how they blend in undercover. “Half the battle is getting out of your own head and feeling, ‘I belong here, let me look like it,’” they say about stealing to track down people living double lives. Sometimes that means a quick change into a swimsuit…
Motors and agitators
No one wants to be an expert on Parkinson’s, but this podcast is packed with them, including broadcasting legend Jeremy Paxman and retired high court judge Sir Nicholas Mostyn. The six friends living with the condition meet in a pub to share their experience of pain and challenges with the NHS, as well as moving forward and campaigning for their community. The first few episodes may help people who have recently been diagnosed, but the best thing about this podcast is that it’s not at all gloomy, thanks to all the dynamic, friendly and powerful personalities who sit down to chat.
Where should we start?
Who knows relationships like Esther Perel? He sounds like a therapist should, with his Belgian accent that makes you sit up and listen instinctively, and he addresses all aspects of modern love, from rushing into a closed relationship to finding boundaries and setting them. Listening to her podcast is like eavesdropping on a therapy session, and even if you’ve already made a decision about your relationship, Perel is full of surprises and displays her sometimes unconventional wisdom. It’s a great way to get into other people’s business while pretending to learn about love languages.
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Black History Hobbyist Podcast
King Kurus is your expert host, brilliant storyteller, and Black history buff for this straight-from-the-heart podcast. Throughout Black History Month, it offers short stories of key British figures, presenting their achievements and legacies in two-minute taster episodes: Mary Seacole, Stormzy and Malorie Blackman are all featured. The episodes above go beyond the beaten historical path and veer into proverbs, myths and legends of the African diaspora, and the way Kurus tells them is simply fascinating. There’s no shortage of great history podcasts and this one is something special.
The Martin Lewis Podcast
It’s not worth thinking about what Martin Lewis (pictured above) doesn’t know about the energy price cap or power of attorney. When the good egg of the money world is not bothering the government or getting excited about pension credits on TV, he also fits into this podcast. Even if you’re allergic to managing your cash, Lewis’s clear, enthusiastic advice will permeate your credit card collection. His podcast mixes light and shadow perfectly: one moment he’s holding your hand while you try to get an affordable mortgage deal, and the next he’s asking you what you did with your first pay packet.
Why not try it…?
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If I speak… in which left-wing journalists Ash Sarkar and Moya Lothian-McLean reflect on politics and personal problems from a progressive perspective.
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afropeanA thrilling exploration of Europe’s thriving black diaspora communities, from Brussels to Berlin, from author Johny Pitts.
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The art of decidingJournalist Bruce Whitfield’s guide to making good decisions in our personal and professional lives.
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