Reviews

Five Podcasts You Can’t Miss

23 June 2016

By Lois

In a time of general gloom and misery, everyone loves a pick-me-up and here are five superb podcasts that will cater to all your podcast needs:

1. ‘This American Life’ – This absolutely has to be top of the list, as it is an absolutely fantastic podcast. Hosted by Ira Glass with contributions from various producers, each episode consists of a number of stories (fiction and non-fiction) based on a chosen theme. Often amusing, always interesting and never cheesy, this is an absolute must-listen for all story lovers or anyone who wants a bit of easy listening or a friendly voice.

2. ‘Serial’ – This is something of a sister show to ‘This American Life’ and is hosted by one of its producers, Sarah Koenig. As ‘one story told week by week’, it provides in-depth analysis of a controversial court case. Series one looks at and analyses the trial and conviction of Adnan Syed for the murder of his girlfriend and series two follows Bowe Bergdahl, a soldier accused of desertion after being kidnapped and held by the Taliban for 5 years. It’s often cited as one of the inspirations for the Netflix hit show ‘Making a Murderer’ and if you liked that, you’ll love this. It’s extremely well balanced and put together, whilst also painting a clear and informative picture. All in all, absolutely fascinating.

3. ‘Lore’ – This podcast brings you a different ‘truth behind the legend’ in delightful 20 minute episodes and is hosted by Aaron Mahnke, whose gentle delivery combined with the music chosen creates an atmosphere of ‘cosy gathering round the fire for a story’ that works perfectly with the engaging and fascinating stories being told.

4. ‘Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History’ – very much for anyone who loves history and/or stories, it’s unquestionably a marathon and not a sprint. Each episode stands at around four hours, sometimes three, and is very much as it says in the title – hardcore. Nonetheless, it’s absolutely superbly made, and when broken down into reasonable chunks it makes for very easy listening, as Carlin speaks with a passion that can only be described as infectious and the stories are always worth the time dedicated to them, with in-depth looks at context and background that never feel rambling or boring.  If you’re interested in history, don’t miss this.

5. ‘The Comedian’s Comedian’ – This is fascinating for comedy fans everywhere, as Stuart Goldsmith interviews at length all of your favourite comedians in either a studio environment or with a live audience. They discuss all manner of things from the process behind their writing to how much of their own personality goes into their stage persona. It’s remarkable to see another more intimate side to the comedians we know and love, and certainly if you’re interested in writing (especially comedy), it’s a great help in seeing how professionals work within the business. It’s not perfect in places, but if you can sift through and find a comedian you love it’s really worth a listen.

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