Podcast recommendations

Here is a selection of our favourite podcasts – a great way to inform, entertain and get us thinking.

Podcasts:

  • All in the mind (BBC Radio 4)  Presented by Claudia Hammond this programme explores the limits and potential of the human mind.
  • Books to live by with Mariella Frostrup (Hear about the books that have shaped the lives of globally celebrated movers and shakers, as Mariella visits them in their homes, hotels and dressing rooms to find out why their reading matters.)
  • Costing the earth (28 minute episodes) Fresh ideas from the sharpest minds working toward a cleaner, greener planet. Ideal for Geography, ESS, Science  and Global Citizenship.
  • Economics – 50 things that made the modern economy (10 minute episodes) by Tim Harford (ranging from the Gutenberg Press to Chess algorithms, blockchain and the humble pencil)
  • Intelligence Squared  and How I found my voice How I Found My Voice is the podcast that explores how some of the world’s greatest artists and thinkers became such compelling – and unique – communicators.
  • More or Less (30 mins) Harford explains – and sometimes debunks – the numbers and statistics used in political debate, the news and everyday life.
  • Desert Island Discs
  • The Economist podcasts
  • The Penguin Podcast  A bi-weekly author interview which invites authors to explore their literary lives through some of the objects that have inspired their work. Here is Alex Wheatle talking about his latest YA book ‘Cane Warriors’ and how comics were an important escape for him as he grew up lonely and isolated in a children’s home.
  • Open Book (BBC Radio 4) This podcast features Open Book and A Good Read. Open Book talks to authors about their work. In A Good Read Harriett Gilbert discusses favourite books.
  • History Hit podcasts hosted by Dan Snow
  • Active History podcasts
  • In our Time (BBC Radio 4) one hour podcasts on History, Religion, Philosophy, Culture and Science. You can browse the subject categories in the archive of programmes.
  • The Life Scientific Professor Jim Al-Khalili talks to leading scientists about their life and work, finding out what inspires and motivates them and asking what their discoveries might do for us in the future
  • The Long View Jonathan Freedland presents the series in which stories from the past are compared with current events.
  • Music – Radio 3 music related podcasts index here
  • Open Book Programme looking at new fiction and non-fiction books, talking to authors and publishers and unearthing lost classics.
  • Michael Rosen’s Word of Mouth Fascinating and fun series exploring the world of words and the ways in which we use them
  • Rethink
  • Philosophize This
  • Philosophy Bites
  • US Politics –  When Katty met Carlos (BBC World Service) How is America reshaping its future? In this coproduction from the BBC and Ozy, Katty Kay and Carlos Watson share fresh perspectives on America and the world.
  • The Moral Maze  (BBC Radio 4) Combative, provocative and engaging live debate examining the moral issues behind one of the week’s news stories. #moralmaze
  • Nature – Nature’s Voice (RSPB) Bringing you features, interviews and news of birds and wildlife, from back gardens to the Sumatran rainforest.
  • PsychCrunch (podcasts from the British Psychological Society)
  • RadioLab Investigating a strange world. Radiolab has been telling some of the most engrossing stories in science since 2002.
  • Rethink (BC Radio 4) How the world should change after the coronavirus pandemic. Leading thinkers from across the globe give us their route maps to a better tomorrow on subjects ranging from jobs to wealth and travel to leadership, nature to the Olympics.
  • Sport – Talk Sport podcast series on black footballers ‘Coming in from the Cold’   The history of black footballers in England with insights from current and former players and managers. Our contributors were influenced by those first trailblazers in the English game, and then became pioneers themselves, who broke down barriers whilst playing professionally for English clubs and for England
  • Test Match Special podcast for cricket fans
  • Peter Crouch podcast Peter Crouch, Tom Fordyce and Chris Stark are back with their guide on how to be a professional footballer. Episodes include insight on everything from dressing rooms, transfers, keeping on the good side of your manager and where to sit on the team bus – plus your footballer confessions.
  • Pound for pound boxing podcast
  • The eggchasers podcast (Rugby)
  • Science – The curious cases of Rutherford and Fry and The Infinite Monkey Cage
  • The Conversation weekly podcast  The world explained by experts
  • Witness History (BBC World Service)
  • The Radio 3 Documentary (44 minutes) In-depth documentaries which explore a different aspect of history, science, philosophy, film, visual arts and literature.
  • Monocle: The Urbanist With an influential audience of city mayors, urban planners and architects, this is Monocle’s guide to making better cities, be it new technology, state-of-the-art subways or compact apartments. Nominee in the Smartest Podcast category of the 2019 British Podcast awards.
  • Encyclopedia Womannica In just 5 minutes a day, learn about different incredible women from throughout history. 
  • The Simplicity Parenting Podcast with Kim John Payne (recommended by Mrs Lynch)
  • TED Talks on health

Here’s a recent article from the i newspaper listing 50 greatest podcasts in categories from literature to sport and films and including some of our favourites.