The definitive podcast guide
Christmas – a time of miracles, long train rides home and family members who overstay their welcome. So here are our favourite picks to plug in and zone out to (especially during Nan’s annual quiz about your marital status)
INTO COMEDY? DEAR JOAN & JERICHA
“Agony aunts” Joan and Jericha (played by Julia Davis and Vicki Pepperdine) dole out judgemental, offensive and very much satirical “advice” to explicit questions. Binge-ability The perfect prep for dealing with your extended relatives’ unasked-for opinions. Snotty laughs will occur.
INTO TRUE CRIME? DR DEATH
The true story of Christopher Duntsch, a Texas surgeon with a history of malpractice: 31 of his patients were left seriously injured and two died following surgery performed by him between 2011 and 2013. Binge-ability These 10 episodes are so addictive you may as well forget that it’s Christmas altogether.
WANT TO LEARN NEW THINGS? GETTING CURIOUS
Owner of our hearts and Queer Eye superstar Jonathan Van Ness explores issues of the day, with advice from experts. Sample title: “How Can We Twerk On Climate Change?” Binge-ability Nan’s drunkenly snoring over her turkey, Uncle Simon is spouting bigotry… retreat to your room with JVN and a mince pie.
ON A MENTAL HEALTH JOURNEY? THE HILARIOUS WORLD OF DEPRESSION
Smashes through the stigma of depression by inviting comedians to talk about their experiences of it. Binge-ability Instead of drowning your post-Christmas sorrows in gin, let some upliftingly dark comedy ease you back into reality.
INTO SCANDAL? SWINDLED
The podcast version of all those scandalous investigations you love. The host tells stories of corporate greed and dodgy dealings, from controversial company Herbalife to Anna Delvey’s notorious heiress scandal. Binge-ability So engrossing that you’ll turn full conspiracy theorist. £30 from Aunt Moira? Clearly she’s embezzling…
INTO STORYTELLING? THE MOTH
True stories told to live audiences around the world. Beautiful, captivating and intense – eg “She slowly opened that lid and very carefully she pulled out a real human brain.” Binge-ability Episodes are released weekly and the online archive of stories goes back a decade. Will you even have time to watch Elf?
INTO CURRENT AFFAIRS? THE DAILY
New York Times journalist Michael Barbaro dissects a different news topic for around 30 minutes – from how alleged assaults by Harvey Weinstein were kept secret for so long to “The Making Of Boris Johnson”. Binge-ability A brand-new episode drops every weekday, so this isn’t one for you, commitment-phobes.