AUDIO SMARTS

With many making their way back to the office, here are the smartest podcasts to keep you company on that commuter trip

PODCASTS

● It was socialite Paris Hilton who famously proclaimed that the only rule is “don’t be boring”.

As one of the world’s most famous “nepotism babies” (the hot term used to describe children who make it because of famous parents), Hilton isn’t known for her astuteness, but on this point, she’s spot on.

So, to get you out of awkward silences at dinner parties, and provide some intellectual fodder as we plod back into the office, we recommend a healthy dose of smart podcasts.

Headline news

If you have 20 minutes to spare, the short-format podcast The Journal is a must-listen. Made by The Wall Street Journal, which has several other fabulous podcasts, this daily offering focuses on top international stories, seen through the lens of money, business and power.

It’s particularly helpful if you are still struggling to get a grasp on who exactly is winning in Ukraine, as well as insight into why the conflict happened, how it is affecting global food and fuel prices, and the role of cryptocurrencies in the war.

Alternatively, The Daily ,a podcast by The New York Times — also shares today’s stories. In recent weeks, this has included a great report on Africa’s response to Covid, and why Central and West Africa have presented relatively low case and death rates. Another top episode is a first-hand telling of being a woman in Afghanistan under Taliban rule.

It’s in the past

The SABC radio news podcast Moments in SA History focuses on prominent people, events and places that shaped local history. These snippets run anything from three to 20 minutes.

For example, an episode entitled “The Soweto uprising: You kill one, you kill all” paints a picture of the tragic mayhem of June 16 1976, told through personal accounts recorded during the Truth & Reconciliation Commission in July 1996.

“Remembering the SS Mendi” narrates the often-forgotten tale of black South Africans recruited to serve as labourers during World War 1, but who perished on the Mendi when it sank.

The series is not all doom and gloom. Its bright spots include an “audio tour” of the Constitutional Court with struggle hero and former Constitutional Court judge Albie Sachs.

He explains the symbolism of the court building, touches on its impressive art collection and shares what the structure and the constitution mean to him.

Pop culture aficionado

When dinner party chatter turns to whether season two of Netflix’s hit costume drama

Bridgerton could have been a tad spicier, it pays to be in the fun loop.

Here’s where to look.

For a smart weekly dive into what you should be streaming or watching on the big screen, and the world of celebrities,

Pop Cultured with theSkimm doesn’t just skim the surface.

Through interviews with experts including journalists, movie critics, activists and academics, it looks closely at stories that have captured our imaginations and how they relate to wider society.

Topics range from a sensitive examination of Kanye West’s widely publicised mental health issues, to what Will Smith’s infamous slap says about where to draw the line in comedy.

It’s the business, baby

There are two business podcasts which illustrate that not only can commerce be sexy, it can help illuminate the world around you.

Perhaps the top of the list is Planet Money, from the US National Public Radio. From stories of how a talking gekko changed the insurance industry, to whether you should be worried about inflation, and how Homer Simpson got the economy all wrong, it’s often riveting.

Another worth listening to is Freakonomics, which uses the lens of economics to describe the world around us.

From topics such as the link between abortion and crime, and whether the crypto crash means the blockchain is over, it never ceases to delight.

For a local take, former FM editor Peter Bruce’s Podcasts From the Edge has become essential listening. Past guests include Covid expert Prof

Shabir Madhi and brilliant economic historian Prof Keith Breckenridge.

Let’s talk about art

Art historian Katy Hessel is host of The Great Women Artists podcast, which tries to speak about art history in an accessible and fun manner while reinserting women back into the canon. Hear what inspires contemporary artists including Zimbabwean Kudzanai-Violet Hwami or Kenyan ceramicist Magdalene Odundo. The Great Women Artists will bolster your contemporary art knowledge and teach you more about trailblazing women artists.