Podcasts 2020 guide: The best podcasts you should be listening to RIGHT NOW
THERE ARE thousands of podcasts out there - from crime to politics - so many it can even become a little overwhelming when trying to find a new one. So which are the best podcasts out there right now?
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For many, finding the best podcast can very much depend on your mood. Are you in the mood to listen to a true crime case being laid out for you, or do you want to laugh along to some jokes? Or are you interested in some celebrity goings-on, or the latest from Parliament? Here is a round up of some of our favourite podcasts.
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Politics
There is a huge number of politics podcasts out there, all with different viewpoints about the direction in which we should be going as a country.
Of course, the Daily Express’ Brexit: The Final Countdown is available and often features guests with important names in the Brexit game.
The Spectator magazine also presents a daily, and sometimes more than daily podcast, Coffee House Shots, which are snippets of politics news as the ever more dramatic days unfold.
For those who want to delve deep into what is going on in politics - and who may also want some of those jargon-y terms to be explained, there is also Talking Politics, hosted by Cambridge University professor David Runciman.
That podcast hosts a range of guests from comedians to philosophers - and of course politicians - and also explains some of the important things which are important to know when entering a political debate.
Finally, BBC’s Brexitcast sees BBC journalists tackle the goings-on in Westminster, giving their views on what is going on and how it can be changed.
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News
From royals to foreign news, there is plenty going on to give you the latest updates in what is going on in the UK and the rest of the world.
One way to do so is through the podcast, and there is a plethora to choose from which tackle issues in a long-form way, or give you small tidbits to get your teeth into.
One is Radio 4’s Beyond Today, a half an hour-or-so podcast which delves into one topic from the news, with recent topics including the future of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and the tensions between the USA and Iran.
For royal obsessives, there is also the Daily Mirror’s Pod Save the Queen, which gives insights into the current Royal set-up while also looking over how things have changed since the days of Princess Diana.
For those looking for a lighter approach to news, there is The High Low, which aims to mix current affairs and the “high” news with more trivial, lighter topics from pop culture, i.e. “the low.”
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Lifestyle and wellbeing
Lifestyle podcasts are really becoming favourites, with podcasts speaking of spirituality, dieting and exercise and fashion zooming off into the stratosphere.
The Happiness Lab is one of these, where Dr Laurie Santos, a professor at Yale University, takes you through the latest scientific research about happiness, giving advice and ideas about what could truly make your life better.
The Bon Appetit Foodcast, on the other hand, focuses on another important aspect of life: food.
They give you everything from step-by-step recipes to myth-busting guides which help you learn some basic food lessons.
BBC’s Fearne Cotton has also released a podcast called Happy Place, where she talks about what happiness means to her, interviewing people to share their life lessons.
Finally, Table Manners with Jessie Ware sees the singer and her mother Lenny cook a meal for their celebrity guest (and there are some real celebrities) as they question them about their lives as well as food.
Comedy
There are loads of comedy podcasts out there, so this definitely depends on your style.
My Dad Wrote a Porno has been sweeping the world - though it is currently on hiatus while the hosts tour the world with a live show - and features a man reading his dad’s pornography story to his two friends who delight in teasing it.
The Frank Skinner Show is also a great choice if you like a radio podcast, as the best bits of his show with comedian Alun Cochrane and journo Emily Dean are spliced together.
For those who enjoy the musings of some slightly odd yet hilarious middle-aged men, Athletico Mince is Bob Mortimer and Andy Dawson’s football podcast - though football philistines will feel right at home.
For those who love the idea of fusing comedy and crime, there is Drunk Women Solving Crime, which sees three comedy gems and a guest dissect a true crime case - after ingesting quite a bit of prosecco.
TV, film and showbiz
Once again, there are far too many to choose from in this category, making it even more enjoyable to pick the best ones.
Of course, there is the award-winning Kermode and Mayo’s Film podcast, AKA Wittertainment, which is another spliced-together version of film critic Mark Kermode and DJ Simon Mayo’s Radio 5 show, making sure they always say Hello to Jason Isaacs.
There are also a huge number of interview podcasts, where such as the Adam Buxton Podcast and Richard Herring’s Leicester Square Theatre Podcast, where the hosts interview interesting individuals.
These technically straddle the comedy section, as Herring delivers a short stand-up routine before getting his guests on, while Buxton uses fun jingles to break up the conversations.
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Crime
True crime is a major genre in the podcast world, and there are a few which need immediate downloading.
One is They Walk Among Us, presented by a husband and wife team who cover some big cases, sometimes even pairing their podcast with dramatisations of those crimes, such as their recent episodes based on the true events which inspired ITV’s A Confession.
There is also Sword and Scale, which uncovers the dark side of humanity and human nature, focusing on some of the most terribly brutal crimes out there.
There is also Criminal, which focuses on less brutal crimes and instead considers the stories of the people who have done wrong, the victims, or even those who find themselves caught in the middle.
And, for those who want a lighter crime podcast, there is always Drunk Women Solving Crime.
Despite these being the best podcasts to pick up today, there are thousands more so one way to pick a new favourite is to let your app make some suggestions.
