Podcasts I’m listening to in late 2024
Update: Laura Hilliger, Alan Levine, James Ravenscroft, John Johnston, JR Dingwall, and Aaron Davis have now also shared their favourite listens!
A few days ago, Bryan Alexander published a post about the podcasts he's listening to regularly at the moment. I thought I'd do similarly. He talks about listening to podcasts "in multitasking situations where my hands are busy and [he] can’t read or watch a video." I tend to only listen to them in three specific situations:
- While running (outside/treadmill)
- While washing up ("doing the dishes" in North American lingo)
- While driving
The last of these is quite rare, as it's not often I'm in the car by myself! I don't tend to inflict my listening choices on the rest of my family 🙂
I use Google Home devices and my Polestar 2's infotainment system is Android-based, so it's easiest for me to use Spotify for podcasts in those two environments. While running, though, I tend to use AntennaPod.
While I subscribe to a lot of podcasts and listen to the occasional one-off episode from the stream presented by AntennaPod, these are my top five at the moment. I listen to most episodes. Hardcore History and Hardcore History: Addendum would be top of this list, but there haven't been many episodes this year!
- The Rest is Politics — Alastair Campbell (former Downing Street Director of Communications and Strategy for New Labour) and Rory Stewart (former Tory MP and Cabinet Minister) discuss the latest political developments in the UK and around the world.
- No Such Thing as a Fish — QI researchers Dan Schreiber, James Harkin, Anna Ptaszynski and Andrew Hunter Murray share the most bizarre, extraordinary and hilarious facts they’ve discovered over the last seven days.
- The Art of Manliness — Host Brett McKay is a fantastic interviewer, talks with fascinating guests, and mixes modern and ancient wisdom.
- The Rest is Football — Former professional footballers and Match of the Day presenters and pundits Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards give their opinions on the latest football-related stories.
- The Rest is Classified — Insider accounts of notable moments in spying history with hosts Gordon Corera (former BBC Security Correspondent) and David McCloskey (ex-CIA analyst and spy novelist). So new that I've had to link to the Financial Times review!
The podcasts from which I'm most likely to listen to one-off episodes are:
- 99% Invisible — Roman Mars and team produce high-quality episodes about the unnoticed architecture and design that shape our world. I absolutely loved Towers of Silence for helping change my worldview.
- The Adam Buxton Podcast — English comedian Adam Buxton interviews friends and celebrities. Often hilarious, sometimes moving. I enjoyed the episode with Sam Campbell, especially the bit towards the end.
- The Adventure Podcast — Filmmaker Matt Pycroft engages in long-form conversations with individuals at the forefront of exploration and adventure. I'd recommend the episode with Guy Grieve.
- Feel Better, Live More — Doctor and author Rangan Chatterjee dispenses fantastic advice relating to physical and mental health. I found the episode about transforming your summer especially useful.
- The Mid-Point — Broadcaster Gabby Logan talks to well-known individuals about what it means to be middle-aged. The episode with one of her best friends, Lisa Snowden was incredible.
- Worklife with Adam Grant The organisational psychologist takes you inside the minds of some of the world’s most unusual professionals to discover the keys to a better work life. The episode with Trevor Noah on context is gold dust.
This is a small selection from the 130 podcasts to which I subscribe. I can't listen to them all! But if there was one other I'd encourage you to listen to, it's this one (even though we haven't recorded one for a few months!)
I'd love to know which podcasts YOU would recommend 🎧
Image: Zarak Khan