PODCASTS — LISTEN AT YOUR LEISURE

Oprah’s SuperSoul Conversations www.oprah.com

The one-woman phenomenon that is Oprah Winfrey shows no sign at all of stopping or slowing. Right now, the notion of Oprah-for-President doesn’t seem all that far-fetched, or indeed unappealing.

In the meantime, she continues doing what she does best — deep, probing, honest conversations with thinkers, doers and writers, about the meaning of life and the world around us.

These podcasts are her personal selection from the many hours of conversation she has had for her SuperSoul Sundays, distilled into manageable episodes, and because it’s Oprah, her guests are often pretty legendary: Cheryl Strayed, Mariel Hemingway, Jack Canfield, Elizabeth Gilbert, Joe Biden, Ali MacGraw and many more. There is wisdom, encouragement, humour and, being Oprah, plenty of tips on how to be the very best version of yourself. There is a great deal here on gratitude, including a compelling segment by Maya Angelou, and this is proper hardcore gratitude, not the glib easy-listing kind.

The Splendid Table www.splendidtable.org

This is hosted by Francis Lam, food writer, former restaurant cook and culinary school graduate — often accompanied by a broad range of guests and experts — and is an unabashed celebration of all things food, culture and lifestyle.

Episodes move effortlessly between recipe and food suggestions, including road-tests of a range of kitchen implements, through to explorations of different cultures, cuisines and ideas. Interwoven are many of the personal stories that come out of the world of food and restaurants, while listeners can phone in with their own queries and observations, just to keep things lively.