20 BEST PODCASTS
From tech to politics to murder mysteries
For a medium that requires enormous effort, is hard to make a living from and appeared to be on its way out a few years ago, the podcast is in spectacular health. Never before have we had such a wealth of audio entertainment to choose from – and all for free.
A list like this is always going to be subjective, but here our staff have picked out 20 genre-spanning podcasts that we think you will enjoy listening to. From advice on how to earn money from a side career, to the grisly details of unsolved murder cases, to a sitcom examining the reintroduction of the death penalty (by referendum, of course), we’ve got both dark and light covered. And an enormous amount of listening material.
We’ll also run through some of the new ways to listen to these shows that you might not have heard of or considered previously. No matter whether you’re on your way to work or resting at home, we’ll reveal how you can enjoy listening to hour upon hour of great entertainment.
REPLY ALL What is it?
A show hosted by P J Vogt and Alex Goldman about internet culture and how it’s changing.
Why should I listen?
Because internet culture is fascinating, and although it sounds niche, the concept encompasses all facets of life. To give you a taste of how diverse this podcast can be, memorable episodes have included one of the presenters letting another hack his smartphone, how a Facebook group mocking office life got taken over by the wrong people, and details of a Reddit community that tries to cultivate voices in your head.
How long and how often?
The episodes are between 30 to 60 minutes long and new ones are released every seven to 14 days.
UNFILTERED WITH JAMES O’BRIEN What is it?
A one-on-one chat delving into the lives and experiences of a public figure, with LBC journalist James O’Brien.
Why should I listen?
Because this isn’t your average celebrity interview. Each show is about an hour long and delves below the surface into the guest’s personal life, while O’Brien’s sensitive yet probing questioning encourages deep reflection on their past and where things could have gone differently. Bill Browder’s story about becoming a thorn in Vladimir Putin’s side (via a spell on the Interpol wanted list) is absolutely fascinating and offers rare insights into just how sinister the Russian state can be.
How long and how often?
Weekly. Each episode is around an hour long, including some post-interview analysis at the end.
HEAVYWEIGHT What is it?
Everyone has a moment in their life where things changed. Jonathan Goldstein takes people back to that moment and tries to fix them in the here and now.
Why should I listen?
Each episode is a self-contained story, with a certain amount of charm to it. Revisiting our own past can be tough, but visiting someone else’s is a pain-free moment of enjoyable voyeurism. For example, we meet the man who lent Moby an album that was sampled a lot on his hit album Play – the one that catapulted him to megastardom. Gregor wants a little acknowledgment – or at least his CDs back – and Goldstein seeks to mediate. And, yes, Moby does make an appearance.
How long and how often?
Heavyweight is broadcast in series and the second series ended in December 2017. We hope it will be back for a third, but for now there are 15 episodes to get your teeth into.
HARDCORE HISTORY What is it?
Dan Carlin’s deep-dive into fascinating pockets of history, from the reign of Genghis Khan to the First World War.
Why should I listen?
If you care about history, it’s absorbing. Dan Carlin doesn’t call himself a professional historian, but a voracious reader of books documenting interesting periods of time. You can definitely tell: each massive episode is packed with facts, quotes and analysis.
How long and how often?
Very and not very. Carlin’s podcasts take a phenomenal amount of research. Each episode is upwards of five hours long, and a series can be six episodes in length. It’s seriously in depth. As such, new episodes appear every few months, making it a nice surprise when it pops up in your feed.
If you want a relatively short taster, The Destroyer of Worlds is a great place to start: a six-hour podcast outlining how Russia and America rationally got themselves into the irrational position of owning enough nukes to destroy the world several times over.
The drama of a car dealership trying to break even doesn’t sound like great radio, but it had us hooked
THIS AMERICAN LIFE What is it?
No “best podcasts” list could be complete without This American Life. A radio institution, the show has been broadcast on public radio in the United States for more than 20 years and was quick to spot the podcast as a format to massively increase its listener base. It’s a show of stories. Each week there’s a theme, and then stories are told on that theme.
Why should I listen?
The stories are almost always fascinating and cast light on topics you may not have thought deeply about before. It’s also very varied, with tales ranging from the tragic to the ridiculous. You may laugh, you may cry – but you’ll always feel something.
There are over 600 episodes archived and dozens of memorable ones. The drama of a car dealership trying to break even, for example, doesn’t sound like great radio, but it had us hooked.
How long and how often?
Every week, and they’re always an hour long.
THE POLITICAL PARTY
What is it? Comedian Matt Forde interviews MPs from across the political spectrum in a podcast that shows a side of politicians you rarely get to see.
Why should I listen?
Forde has a unique way of getting politicians to open up – no matter their political persuasion. Not only does this give a unique insight into life in Westminster, it also reminds you that there’s a human behind the rosette. A human that generally wants to make the world a better place.
Past guests have included rising stars such as Anna Soubry and Stella Creasey, current big beasts such as David Davis and Tim Farron, and a list of grandees that includes Tony Blair, Neil Kinnock, Paddy Ashdown and William Hague.
How long and how often?
There’s usually half an hour of comedy, followed by an hour-long interview. So around 90 minutes. Even if the comedy isn’t to your taste, it’s worth skipping in for the interviews, which take a very different tone. Shows come out on a monthly basis, with a break over summer, when Forde is busy working at the Edinburgh Festival.
OPENING ARGUMENTS What is it? Why should I listen?
Journalist Thomas Smith interviews legal expert Andrew Torrez on the legalese behind the stories in the news.
Unless you have a law degree – and possibly even if you do – the legal nitty-gritty of what’s in the news is easily lost. Although there’s a big disclaimer at the start (“don’t take legal advice from a podcast”), the show offers a legal perspective in plain English about the story behind the story. The episode that brought the show to our attention is titled Stormy Daniels is a legal genius. It’s not a facetious title: the porn star battling Donald Trump over the legality of a “hush agreement” has played a legal blinder, and this is a scandal that could well bring down the president of the United States – although not for the tawdry reasons you might expect...
How long and how often?
Each episode of
Opening Arguments is just over an hour long, and you can expect two per week. That’s a lot of legal chatter.
CAPITAL What is it?
A six-part, semi-improvised sitcom about a civil service trying to implement the will of the people after a hastily arranged referendum. In this case, the death penalty is to be reintroduced to Britain on a majority of 50.9% to 49.1%.
Why should I listen?
Well, first of all, because it’s very funny with excellent performances by the comedians who write and perform it. But more importantly, it gives an insight into the (exaggerated) kind of discussions that must be going on in Whitehall right now as Brexit is implemented in a deeply divided country. If nothing else, it’s a good reminder as to why referendums are a terrible idea.
Listen out for Harry Enfield as the minister in charge of the death penalty, too.
How long and how often?
Half an hour per episode, just like a classic sitcom. The first season is six episodes long, but it’s unclear if there will be more.
CRIMINAL What is it?
A look at real-life criminal investigations – but not as some kind of police drama. This podcast involves interviewing the officers, relatives and even sometimes the perpetrators themselves to get a unique insight into the world of criminal investigations.
Why should I listen?
Because the stories behind the crime and investigation are sometimes more interesting than the facts themselves. They give a fascinating insight into the psychology of the criminals, as well as the sociological issues that get in the way of investigating them. Take the episode Angie, which deals with the brutal killing of a homeless woman from a community that has no interest in talking to the cops. Or the episode American Dream – an interview with a man who got away with a string of thrillseeking bank robberies in the mid-2000s before turning himself in.
How long and how often?
Fortnightly, and anywhere between 15 and 40 minutes.
What is it?
Author and journalist Jon Ronson ( So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed, The Men Who Stare
at Goats and The Psychopath Test) charts the impact of free online porn on the performers, the internet and culture as a whole.
Why should I listen?
It’s a fascinating dive into the laws of unintended consequences and the impact of a whole industry torn apart and rebuilt. It will make you think about the internet very differently – especially the mixed bag of consequences of expecting everything for free. The podcast may be about porn, but its takeaway messages could apply to any number of industries being disrupted by the internet.
Ironically, the podcast – which took over a year to make – was given away free by Audible, although it’s now back at the “regular price” of £23.49 for the 3hr 30 mins series, or “free” with an Audible subscription. However, its exclusivity period with Audible is now complete, and you should be able to download it from wherever you usually get your podcasts from. It’s one of the best pieces of journalism we’ve heard this year.
How long and how often?
The whole series was released in Audible in one go. A second season is planned, but there’s no release date in mind yet.
MISSING RICHARD SIMMONS What is it?
In 2014, the previously outgoing and media-friendly celebrity trainer Richard Simmons retreated from public life without warning, detaching himself from all but a handful of friends and family. Over six episodes, his (former) friend and fitness class member Dan Taberski tries to figure out why, and if he’s okay.
Why should I listen?
Even if you know very little about Richard Simmons, this podcast is both fascinating and oddly touching. From the extracts of Simmons, you can see why so many people are left wondering where he went and why: he touched a lot of lives before disappearing.
How long and how often?
Half an hour and all six episodes are now available for download. Unlike many podcasts, it only works if you listen to each episode sequentially.
Taberski has vowed not to make any more episodes of Missing Richard Simmons unless something truly amazing happens. Without wanting to spoil things, that feels unlikely at this point.
The stories behind the crime and investigation are sometimes more interesting than the facts themselves
SONG EXPLODER What is it?
“Explaining a joke is like dissecting a frog,” said E B White and Katherine S White. “You understand it better, but the frog dies in the process.” Fortunately, dissecting a piece of music works far better, and here artists come on the show to explain how they made a song, and how it layers together to become the piece you listen to at the end.
Why should I listen?
Because it’s rare to hear musicians focusing so intently on their craft, and even songs you know well can hold fascinating secrets. The episodes that will pique your interest will depend on your music taste, but there’s bound to be one or two in the archive to meet your needs.
How long and how often?
Between ten minutes and half an hour, depending on what the artist has to say. You get a handful of episodes every month.
LOVE AND RADIO What is it?
An interview – well, more of a monologue, given the interviewer chips in so rarely – with “intriguing characters who aren’t quite who you think they are when you first meet them”.
Why should I listen?
You will almost certainly never have heard interviews like these before. The people involved aren’t necessarily notable but have had extraordinary experiences that you’re unlikely to see covered in the mainstream media. One episode gives an inside look into the life of internet blackmailers, while A Red Dot features a sex offender explaining his life experiences.
For overall impact, however, it’s difficult to look past The Living Room. We won’t give away anything – even explaining the premise reveals too much – but suffice it to say this is a genuinely sad episode that will make you think about relationships and mortality in a completely different way.
How long and how often?
Usually between 30 minutes and an hour. Episodes have become quite irregular in scheduling – which is understandable given the effort involved in each story.
UNTOLD: THE DANIEL MORGAN MURDER What is it?
A British twist on Serial, the incredibly popular podcast from the makers of This
American Life, which explores potential miscarriages of justice. That’s a glib description, but it certainly has parallels, with interviews and analysis of a 30-yearold unsolved murder.
Why should I listen?
Because it’s a fascinating part of British history that’s little explored, despite attracting a lot of attention at the time. Journalist Peter Jukes looks into a story that not only includes murder, but asks some very real questions about police, media and political corruption.
How long and how often?
Each episode is around half an hour long, but the story has finished for now. A spin-off ten-part series about the Cambridge Analytica scandal is due for release this year.
THE WEST WING WEEKLY What is it?
An audiobook club for The West Wing nerds – not the real West Wing, but the iconic television series from the turn of the century. Each episode from the seven series is pored over individually by The West Wing star Joshua Malina (Will Bailey in the show) and self-confessed Sorkin nerd Hrishikesh Hirway.
Why should I listen?
It’s rich with both behind-the-scenes insight and critical analysis of The West Wing. The best episodes are those that involve interviews with other cast members, in particular Richard Schiff (Toby Ziegler) and Aaron Sorkin (the show’s writer for the first four seasons, who still claims never to have watched the three seasons that were completed without him).
They even managed to dig up a previously unheard interview with the great John Spencer who – spoiler alert – died midway through filming of the final series of the show.
How long and how often?
As the name suggests, there’s a new episode every week. They’re midway through the fourth season at the time of writing. Each episode is around an hour long. The show recommends you watch each episode before they dissect it, as it’s replete with spoilers.
RADIOLAB What is it?
You could pigeonhole Radiolab as a science podcast, but it’s a lot more than that.
Why should I listen? How long and how often?
The hosts are interesting and entertaining, and the topics covered are usually enthralling. Plus, it manages to get its messages across in a way that shows the full potential of podcasts with brilliant use of sound, making it a real trendsetter in the space.
The episode on colours and how we perceive them is a brilliant example of this clever use of sound. How do you explain the differences in a spectrum of colour between what a dog can see and what a human can? With a choir, of course.
Once a week, and usually around an hour or so long. There are shorts in between which are, by their nature, shorter.
It stands apart from the “should have done better there, Clive” level of analysis that you get from regular football shows
THE TOTALLY FOOTBALL SHOW What is it?
A biweekly football podcast that’s expertly presented by the effervescent James Richardson, he of Channel 4’s Football Italia fame. Indeed, he also presents a spin-off show dedicated purely to Italian football in the 1990s.
Why should I listen?
It stands apart from the “should have done better there, Clive” level of analysis that you get from regular football shows. Expert guests include Zonal Marking’s Michael Cox, a phalanx of international football experts, and the podcast’s ultimate owner and chief (half)wit, Iain Macintosh.
It’s a pirate ship of the old Guardian Football Weekly crew, including “Producer Ben” and many of the same guests. If it doesn’t appeal, Football Weekly is still worth subscribing to and The Telegraph’s Total Football Podcast with regular guest Jamie Carragher has many fans.
How long and how often?
Twice a week during the regular season, released every Monday and Thursday. There are extra specials for big events such as cup finals or tournaments such as the recent World Cup. Each show is around an hour long.
FREAKONOMICS RADIO What is it?
If you’ve read any of the Freakonomics books, you’ll know what to expect from this podcast. It’s a sideways look at our established facts, with reference to economic theories. However, sometimes the data teases out unexpected results.
Why should I listen?
If you enjoy having your natural expectations challenged with data as well as anecdotes, this is the podcast for you.
Special mention goes to The Church of
Scionology episode (note: not scientology!), which examines whether businesses really do better when they pass ownership to the children of the founder. Our ultimate pick, though? The
Suicide Paradox, which digs into the numbers involved in people taking their own life.
How long and how often?
Usually 45 minutes to an hour, and you can expect a new episode every week.
THE SIDE HUSTLE SHOW What is it?
A show for grafters looking to make a bit of extra money on the side. Billed as a “daily show for everyone who works a regular job and wants to start an income-earning project on the side,” The Side Hustle Show interviews an individual each week who has managed to successfully set up and sustain a side business.
Why should I listen?
It’s hosted by Chris Guillebeau, The New
York Times bestselling author of The $100 Startup, who pores over people’s ventures: what went right, what went wrong, and how individuals overcame challenges. From a purveyor of “Stoner Culture” emojis to a metal detectorist who gets paid for finding lost jewellery – this show will entertain, amuse and inspire you in equal measure.
How long and how often?
Weekly, with each show lasting between 30 and 45 minutes.
NPR EMBEDDED What is it?
A deep dive look into the stories behind the top-line news, from NPR’s Kelly McEvers.
Why should I listen?
It offers insights from across the pond that we rarely get over here, whether it’s about mass shootings or the inside workings of the Trump White House. We particularly recommend the deep dive on former White House staffer Steve Bannon, and what his brief time making movies in Hollywood reveals about his politics.
How long and how often?
Each episode tends to be between 30 minutes and an hour, but there’s no real release schedule as such. New episodes appear when they’re ready, and that is completely acceptable for something as well researched as this.
It features in-depth interviews with artists and scientists on ideas and concepts you may never have considered before
THE PC PRO PODCAST What is it?
A cheeky addendum, which is why we’ve made our own podcast number 21 in a list of 20 – a bonus Easter egg, if you’ll indulge us. Editor-in-chief Tim Danton and columnists Barry Collins, Darien Graham-Smith and Jon Honeyball deliver their verdict on a fortnight’s worth of tech stories and try and convince you of the merits of the Hot Hardware of the Week.
Why should I listen?
Because no other tech podcast we know of incorporates such direct input from its listeners. The show is broadcast live on mixlr.com/pcpro every other Thursday at 1pm, and there’s a regular clutch of listeners who join in via the chat room. They enrich the show with comments, vote for the Hot Hardware and sling the odd insult at the presenters.
How long and how often?
Each episode lasts for around an hour and it’s once a fortnight, plus occasional specials around events and shows such as CES.