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hHave you ever been to Taylor Town? You know it: it’s where the Beatles came from. The one where you can take a ferry across the Mersey, home to the iconic football stadiums Goodison Park and Anfield, the latter of which I believe Taylorpool FC play in? Oh wait, no: it’s Liverpool, right?
Frankly, you could be forgiven for making that mistake, given that the venue has become so excited about Taylor Swift’s upcoming concerts there that they’ve decked the city with “Liverpool Loves Taylor” posters and created an art tour of 11 piano installations tail , thrones and “artisanal seagulls”, as well as rename the entire city after the star.
But is it going too far? When does a musician have too much influence on the world? And Taylor Swift (whisper it)… is she boring? These are the topics that come under the microscope in the Guardian’s latest series of Pop Culture With Chanté Joseph, with Swiftie Elle Hunt delving deeper into the artist. Added this week is a great tale of clubbing in Welsh LGBTQ+ venues, a wild tale of people switched at birth and a look at the sporting heroes of Colin Murray and Elis James. We’ll also give you a rundown of the best podcasts to help you in the coming Euros. And if England isn’t doing as well as expected, we’ve got some advice for you, courtesy of Liverpool’s new de facto mayor: shake it off.
Alex Duggins
Deputy television director
Picks of the week
Everything to play
Wondery+, all episodes will be released on Monday
Just in time for the Euros, Elis James and Colin Murray kick off their sporting heroes podcast with the 20th anniversary of Wayne Rooney’s Euro debut. His fact-filled comments are enthusiastic and empathetic to Rooney’s first appearance as a young man, facing press conferences and tabloids. Come Euro 2004, there will be even more pressure as the nation pins its hopes on the talented 18-year-old. Hannah Verdier
Memories of the dance floor
Widely available, weekly episodes.
Damian Kerlin heads to Wales for a new season of the hidden history of LGBTQ+ clubbing, with evocative tales of smoky pubs and secret bars. The joyous action on the dance floor is expertly contextualised, with Section 28, solidarity with striking miners and the AIDS epidemic among the threads running through the story. high voltage
Come by chance
Widely available, weekly episodes.
Clarence Hynes and Craig Avery were 52 years old when they learned they had both been born at Come By Chance Rural Hospital in Newfoundland on the same day. And when they pieced together more clues, they realized they had been switched at birth. Host Luke Quinton tells the incredible story skillfully, knowing his discovery is just the beginning. high voltage
Caught in the crossfire
Widely available, weekly episodes.
When Anthony Campbell was murdered, he was doing honest work as an apprentice plumber, but was caught up in the shooting of drug dealer Martin “Marlo” Hyland. The murder remains unsolved 20 years later and in the first episode of this new podcast, Campbell’s mother Christine gives her opinion, showing the human cost of mob crimes. high voltage
Doing magic
Widely available, weekly episodes.
“This is what I’ve been looking for my whole life.” “The heavens opened.” “A hell of pleasure.” Just some of the descriptions of the “world’s most famous vibrator,” the 1960s massage tool turned Magic Wand sex toy, on sex nerd Kate Sloan’s podcast. She begins by asking if she lived up to expectations and if she is able to close the orgasm gap. Hollie Richardson
There’s a podcast for that.
This week, Ella Braidwood choose five of the best podcasts for fans who follow the Eurocupfrom The Guardian’s weekly breakdown to a light-hearted commentary
The Athletic FC podcast
Since launching in 2019, The Athletic’s flagship football podcast has delivered consistent high-quality coverage of the men’s game. Hosted by Ayo Akinwolere, the podcast will focus on this summer’s Men’s Euro, with in-depth analysis and match previews. Guests typically include a rotating list of The Athletic’s own journalists, including David Ornstein, Adam Crafton and Matt Slater. Beyond this summer, the podcast primarily follows the Premier League and airs every weekday throughout the season, while also giving a nod to big international news, from Kylian Mbappé joining Real Madrid to the final of the Women’s World Cup.
ESPN FC
ESPN FC has provided a good overview of international men’s soccer highlights since it began airing last year. For Euro 2024, the podcast will examine the matches with its usual thoroughness, having already followed the preparations for the tournament. ESPN’s extensive team of international journalists means it can provide a wealth of expert opinion on each country that has qualified for this year’s tournament. It’s also worth listening to. The Gab and Juls show, hosted by ESPN’s Gabriele Marcotti and Julien Laurens, who appear regularly on ESPN FC; That podcast will also run throughout the tournament, with previous guests including now-Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany and Pierluigi Collina, once considered the best referee in the world.
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Daily football
The BBC’s Football Daily, which will be published seven days a week, will cover the ins and outs of the tournament, from the build-up to the group stages and knockouts. The podcast generally rotates its hosts and guests, with regular hosts including Mark Chapman, Nedum Onuoha, and Steve Crossman. Interviews with leading figures in the game can be expected, with guests earlier this year including former player Theo Walcott and Everton manager Sean Dyche. The podcast covers the best of international men’s football throughout the year, particularly the Premier League, and also publishes Women’s Football Weekly, presented by the Lionesses’ record goalscorer Ellen White and presenter Ben Haines.
soccer walk
For more light-hearted analysis, Football Ramble will span the length of the Euros, combining silliness with in-depth match analysis. Basically, the podcast consists of six mates chatting about football: Marcus Speller, Luke Moore, Pete Donaldson, Vithushan Ehantharajah, Andy Brassell and Jim Campbell. It’s an entertaining listen, with the hosts telling jokes with each other while analyzing the games. There’s bound to be a pro-England bias, along with witty reactions to the tournament’s funniest moments. These presenters have plenty of time for comedy: earlier this year, they jokingly criticized Phil Foden for his goal celebration during the Manchester derby, arguing that his imaginary bow and arrow makes no sense.
Weekly football
The Guardian will cover the tournament with its own Football Weekly podcast, hosted by Max Rushden. Episodes will feature guests from The Guardian’s sports desk, including Barry Glendenning, Nicky Bandini and Archie Rhind-Tutt, and expert analysis from the group stage to the final. Expect match previews, post-game analysis, and tournament predictions. Football Weekly is published throughout the year and analyzes the Premier League season alongside the biggest news from Europe, with another podcast, The Guardian’s Women’s Football Weekly, covering the Women’s Super League and beyond.
Why not try it…?
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