From Strong Songs to This American Life: Podcasts for your lockdown listening list
Life in lockdown is giving many people a chance to dip their toe into the wonderful world of podcasts. Here are 10 of the best that will give you a dose of real life without leaving home.
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Before coronavirus — hereon known as BC — globally, more than 110 million people tuned into a podcast at least once a month.
After the pandemic, who knows how many more have signed up to this particular form of home entertainment?
Podcasts are the new must-listen-to radio serials of the 1930s and 40s — and there are a staggering amount to choose from.
At last count in June 2019 (Nielsen statistics) there were about 750,000 individual podcasts listeners can plug into.
If you’re a newbie to the podcast world, it can be overwhelming trying to choose which one to listen to.
As a devout member of the Pod Squad, I’ve hand-picked my top 10 for you, a sort of starter pack to sample during hibernation, beginning with one that is a global institution, This American Life, hosted by Ira Glass.
There’s a podcast for just about everything. It’s a smorgasbord. But my favourites are those that explore real-life stories. They put you there, in that moment, yet somehow, also offer a profound level of escapism. And in these confusing and complex times we could all use a little bit of that.
THIS AMERICAN LIFE
Going strong since 1995, you don’t have to be American to enjoy this weekly, one-hour delight.
With the highly likeable (and cartoonishly voiced) Ira Glass as your guide, this podcast explores a different theme each week in three “Acts”, or three real-life different takes on the same theme.
The beauty of this format is that each tale, usually recounted by its real-life players, is wildly different and can be hilarious, poignant, devastatingly sad or just ridiculous.
In one episode you might hear, for example, the tale of a real-life runaway bride, the oldest lifesaver in the world and a bank heist gone horribly wrong.
It’s entertainment for all ages (it comes with warnings about sensitive material), both sexes and all nationalities, and anyone who loves life with all of its quirks.
MORTIFIED
In need of a laugh, the sort of belly chuckle you used to enjoy BC?
This is the podcast I turn to when it all gets too much.
Real-life tales of mortification, shame, high school diaries and hopeless crushes, it reminds us, as its tag line says, that “we are freaks, are fragile and we all survived”.
Listen to the latest episode 186 “Smells Like Team Spirit” to really lift your own.
STRONG SONGS
One for music tragics.
A deep dive into some of the world’s most beloved songs by host Kirk Hamilton, who takes a famous song, breaks it down musically and explains why we love it so much, from the instruments used, the melody and the arrangement.
Hamilton’s voice is so lovely, it’s an instrument in itself.
Listen to the episode on The Beach Boys’ God Only Knows for the perfect introduction. It’s also a musical education in itself.
YOU MUST REMEMBER THIS
Hooray for Hollywood and all the behind-the-scenes scandals and stories that at times prove far more entertaining than the ones we see on the screen.
Hosted by the velvet-voiced Karina Longworth, this is pure escapism with a huge backlog of episodes to explore.
THE MOTH
I love The Moth, it’s similar to This American Life but it feels a little less polished, as people all over the world recount — without notes and live on stage — periods in their lives that affected them profoundly one way or another.
This is humanity at its rawest and probably the podcast we need right now to remind us we are all in this together.
HOW TO FAIL
Ever felt like giving up? Missed out on that big opportunity? Feel like the world’s biggest loser?
Then listen to this podcast and hear how some of the biggest names blew their chances.
It’s edifying to hear the likes of Phoebe Waller Bridge (left) chat about not-so-brilliant moments.
SERIAL
You’ve probably heard of the true-crime podcast by now, it’s a genre that has spawned hundreds of podcasts, but if you’re new to this style of real-life storytelling, then this is the original that spawned all others.
This one follows the case of Adnan Syed, accused of murdering his ex-girlfriend, Hae Min Lee.
OUTSIDE PODCAST
Can’t get outside? Then let this one take you all over the world, in eclectic stories about what happens in the great outdoors.
It also answers some curly questions like is it ever OK to jump off a chairlift or what to do if you’re bitten by a deadly snake in the middle of nowhere.
DESERT ISLAND DISCS
An oldie (it’s been a radio program on the BBC since 1942!), I’ve included this one for its musical content and array of guests. The format has never changed, it’s a bit naff and that’s its charm.
Each week, a “castaway” (told you it was naff) is asked to choose eight songs, a book and a luxury item they’d take to a desert island.
The most recent guest is science whiz Brian Cox, and previous ones include the late Princess Margaret.
CHAT 10 LOOKS 3
Long for the days when you and a friend would sit around over coffee or a wine and chat about books and music and family and life and things you have seen or heard lately? Then join journalists Annabel Crabb and Leigh Sales in this cosy chatfest that feels like you are in the room with them.
Originally published as From Strong Songs to This American Life: Podcasts for your lockdown listening list
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