Podcasts we’re plugging into
April 28, 2020
3 min read
A quick team poll confirms it, podcasts are one of our favourite ways to while away an hour – and actually learn something into the bargain. Here are the shows we’ve been downloading for laughs, learning, relaxation and more.
How I Built This
Q: Ever wondered how one of the world’s top selling ice cream brands, founded by school friends Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield in the 1970s, got started? Clue: think cookie dough. Or about the origins of a certain photo-based social media platform? Hosted by Guy Raz of National Public Radio (US), How I Built This unravels the intriguing stories behind some of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs, all of whom had to start somewhere. If you’re sitting on a good idea, this’ll inspire you to make it happen.
The High Low
What we love about The High Low, hosted by journalists Dolly Alderton and Pandora Sykes, is just how much we learn. Loads. The show’s title is inspired by Tina Brown, the British ex-editor of Vanity Fair who coined the term ‘high low journalism’ in the 80s to describe the mix of gossip (low) and intelligent cultural comment (high) that would ultimately become the magazine’s USP. It’s a concept Dolly and Pandora have run with – in any one week expect to hear their innermost thoughts on the widest possible subject matters, from motherhood to Eurovision, and feel extremely entertained, and positively more informed, afterwards.
Desert Island Discs
It would be remiss of us not to include the Radio 4 classic, us being island-dwellers and all. We’re regular streamers of Kirsty Young’s Desert Island Discs, taken from the weekly radio slot which casts away well-known individuals (celebrities, musicians, sportspeople etc) on a fictional desert island and asks them to nominate the songs, book and a luxury item they’d take with them. Not to be confused with Desert Island Dishes, the food-inspired version hosted by Margie Broadhead (which is equally worth a listen).
Happy Mum, Happy Baby
There’s no doubt about it – parenting can be tough. However it’s always reassuring to be reminded that this is true for everyone, no matter who you are. In Giovanna Fletcher’s warming, humorous podcast, following on from her bestselling book of the same name, she sits down to a series of frank conversations with other high-profile mums (and dads) on every aspect of parenthood – the good, the bad and the sticky. And with guests such as The Duchess of Cambridge on board, it’s good to know that even royals are making it up as they go along!
You're Dead To Me
Don’t let the name put you off! Whether you’re a budding history buff, or just looking for something new to learn, Radio 4 podcast You’re Dead To Me is certainly worth a listen. Hosted by public historian, author and consultant to the hit children’s series Horrible Histories, Greg Jenner brings together the best historians and your favourite comedians to learn and laugh about the past. Don’t worry if history class at school wasn’t your thing – every topic, from Boudica to Blackbeard, starts at the very beginning.
Happy Place
If you’re taking the decision to prioritise self-care and wellbeing right now, then the Happy Place podcast is the show for you. Hosted by none other than the lovely Fearne Cotton, the episodes are the ideal tonic for when you’re feeling a little frazzled, with inspiring celebrity guests and experts sharing their success stories, personal struggles and wellbeing advice. Honest, uplifting and relatable, it’s a guaranteed mood-booster.
Table Manners with Jessie Ware
Come for the food, stay for the conversation. A mother-daughter production, Jessie Ware invites a new celebrity each week for a chat around the dinner table, while her mum cooks them a delicious meal to share. Musicians, actors, DJs, journalists; the variety of guests that drop by mean you’ll never find two episodes the same (and there are nine seasons to plough through, so you can try), but the warm tone and the foodie focus remain consistent throughout.
Stay safe, and remember...
We're in this together
Love, the Liz Earle Beauty team x