Presenters recommend their favourite podcasts and speak to the people who make them.
The Last Podcast Radio Hour
It's BBC Radio 4 Extra's final Podcast Radio Hour so Laura Grimshaw, Amanda Litherland and Chris Pearson look back at some of the best co-hosts, podcasts and interview guests.
With contributions from regular co-hosts Scott Bryan, Jon Holmes, Isy Suttie, Jessica Fostekew, Shivani Dave, Ella Watts, Ellie Gibson, Greg Cochrane, Imriel Morgan, Jake Yapp, Roshan Roberts, Chrystal Genesis and Salena Godden.
Plus archive interviews with Nicola Coughlan and Camilla Whitehill, Alan Cumming, Suzannah Lipscomb, Steve Coogan, Lemn Sissay, Susannah Constantine, David Dimbleby and Neil Gaiman - and many more.
11/4/2022 • 1 hour, 27 seconds
Fascinating Podcasts about Fungi
Wes Butters and his Producer, Kerry present a few of the best podcasts on fungi.
Dr. Gordon Walker talks about the role of social media in sharing high quality information about fungi, Dr. Merlin Sheldrake tells us about the importance of amateurs in the field of Mycology - and the Podcast Producer, Katharine Kerr reveals the things that she learned about "zombie-ants" whilst creating a podcast in association with The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Along the way, we'll hear clips from podcasts including...
Cultures For Health
The Mushroom Revival podcast
Fascinated By Fungi
StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson
Unherd
The Bioneers: Revolution From The Heart Of Nature
The Mushroom Hour
Unearthed: Mysteries From An Unseen World
10/28/2022 • 58 minutes, 13 seconds
End of the World Audio Drama
Chris Pearson and Ella Watts recommend apocalypse audio fiction.
Jenny Turner Hall talks Marvel's Wastelanders: Wolverine, and discusses the pressures of working on a Marvel property, as well as the stakes that come from writing stories starring young characters.
Plus Kc Wayland discusses We're Alive: Descendants - the latest iteration in the We're Alive universe, which brings to a close a story that began in 2009. We'll hear how Kc's military background influenced writing the show, and ask how has the podcast audio fiction landscape changed in the last thirteen years.
And we'll recommend:
- The Last Station
- This American Wasteland
- No Place but the Water
- The Program Audio Series
- Hello From The Hallowoods
- Out of the Ashes
- Spaceships
- The Liminal Lands
10/21/2022 • 1 hour, 19 seconds
New listening for October
Chris Pearson and Scott Bryan suggest new listening for October.
Tubsey and Hyder, Bafta winners, join us to talk about their first steps into podcasting. Why did they want to start "The World According to Tubsey and Hyder" - and what do they love about working with each other?
Plus we'll hear new conversation, documentary, and drama podcasts, including clips from:
Carolina Herrera presents Walk Tall
Restless Natives
Fear Of Missing Out
Crosshairs
The Tower
Weight of Sand
Beneath Our Feet
10/7/2022 • 56 minutes, 17 seconds
Children's Podcasts with Chrystal Genesis
Chris Pearson and Chrystal Genesis with podcasts for young ears.
Molly Bloom discusses the debate show Smash Boom Best, and tells us why it's important to introduce children to debating at an early age.
And Rebecca Sheir talks about her global storytelling podcast Circle Round, which introduces children to stories from around the world.
Plus we'll hear clips from
But Why?
Kids Law
Million Bazillion
CBeebies Radio Podcast
The Story Seeds Podcast
9/16/2022 • 59 minutes
BBC Sounds Audio Lab
Podcast Radio Hour showcases new podcasts from the 2022 Class of BBC Sounds Audio Lab, and meets the six audio creatives who have bought their innovative ideas to BBC Sounds.
Talia Randall discusses the urban nature series 'Blossom Trees and Burnt-Out Cars'
Hamza Salmi talks about the series profiling someone described as 'the Forrest Gump of black power in the UK' - 'Who Was Michael X?'
Adam Zmith takes us back to the early 20th century for a reality that didn't quite happen 'The Film We Can't See'
Hanna Adan curates a sonic museum tour- 'The Museum of Bad Vibes'
Tomi Dixon discusses the series charting the life stories of influential Britons of colour, 'Colouring In Britain'.
And Jade Scott presses play on an audio mixtape contemplating the messier aspects of human experience, 'The Reset'
Plus the BBC Sounds Audio Lab Commissioning Executive Khaliq Meer reflects on the programme as a whole, and discusses what's next for Audio Lab.
9/2/2022 • 59 minutes, 21 seconds
Health and Wellbeing with Isy Suttie
Laura Grimshaw and Isy Suttie present podcasts on living with chronic illnesses, with a focus on bladder and bowel issues, periods and endometriosis, migraines and joint and back pain, and chronic fatigue, ME, and fibromyalgia.
8/18/2022 • 1 hour, 12 seconds
Gaming Podcasts with Ellie Gibson
The video game journalist and co-host of the Scummy Mummies podcast Ellie Gibson joins Chris Pearson for gaming podcast picks.
Lauren Kaye discusses her podcast 'She Plays Games', which aims to showcase and highlight women working behind the scenes in video game development.
Plus, we'll hear clips from
Safe Space
History Respawned
The Back Page
Sound of Gaming
The Psychology of Video Games Podcast
The Knowledge Project - episode interviewing Jane McGonigal
Game Till Five
Not Your Mama's Gamer
8/12/2022 • 57 minutes, 43 seconds
Bitesize Listening
Shivani Dave joins Chris Pearson to recommend a selection of bitesize podcasts. Arielle Free tells us about her short documentary series, The Rise and Fall of T in the Park.
Plus we hear clips from
Mercury: A Broadcast Of Hope
Poem-a-Day
Nipe Story
Probably True
Anthems
My Life in the Mosh of Ghosts
Sliced Bread
Short & Curly
5 Minutes On
The Savvy Psychologist's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Mental Health
If you have recommendations, do send us an email to PodcastRadioHour@BBC.co.uk
8/5/2022 • 57 minutes, 52 seconds
British Podcast Awards
Laura Grimshaw and Jon Holmes present highlights and winners from this year's British Podcast Awards.
The British Podcast Awards ceremony takes place on Saturday 23rd July at Kennington Park in London. There are 30 awards being presented including Best New, Best Comedy, Best Current Affairs, Best Fiction, the Climate Award, and the Rising Star Award. Plus one of the winners will be crowned Podcast of the Year 2022. For Podcast Radio Hour, we will chat to the winners, hosts and judges at the ceremony to bring the awards to you.
7/28/2022 • 1 hour, 1 minute, 13 seconds
Creativity with Shaun Keaveny
Laura Grimshaw and Shaun Keaveny present podcasts on the theme of creativity - or lack of it. Featuring artists, writers, musicians and actors discussing what inspires them, and where and when creativity hits - and how often the creative process can feel like wading through treacle on balsawood stilts.
Shaun and Laura are joined by the actor Russell Tovey and the gallarist Robert Diament to discuss their podcast Talk Art - and taking inspiration from pretty things; by the actors Amrita Acharia and Sagar Radia to talk about their podcast Rule Not The Exception about perseverance and giving a platform to underrepresented voices; and by Claire Waite Brown who talks about her podcast Creativity Found about finding - or re-finding - creative outlets later in life.
7/21/2022 • 59 minutes, 36 seconds
New listens for July
Chris Pearson and Scott Bryan recommend new podcast listening for July.
We're joined by Nick Grimshaw and Angela Hartnett OBE to talk about their new podcast, Dish. The two discuss their love of hosting, and we'll hear about what Nick's learned from cooking by watching the Michelin-star chef at work.
Plus we'll hear clips from:
Different with Nicky Campbell
The New Conspiracist
Westminster Insider Podcast
All About Sound
Hot Money
Last Night Out
Welcome To The Neighbourhood
NonCensored
Newts!
The Music and Meditation Podcast
7/8/2022 • 58 minutes, 13 seconds
Women's Football Podcasts
To mark the start of the Women's Euros on the 6th July, Laura Grimshaw and Eilidh Barbour round up the best in Women's Football Podcasts.
6/30/2022 • 59 minutes, 50 seconds
International Women's Podcast Festival
Laura Grimshaw and Roshan Roberts present highlights from the International Women's Podcast Festival.
6/23/2022 • 59 minutes, 52 seconds
TV Podcasts
Chris Pearson and Scott Bryan with TV podcasts.
Sirin Kale discusses Unreal: A Critical History of Reality TV, the Radio 4 podcast she presents alongside Pandora Sykes. We'll hear how the series aims to investigate the huge world of Reality TV, and how they convinced guests to discuss some problematic elements of the shows.
Plus we'll recommend
Companion podcasts
Taskmaster: The People’s Podcast
The Wire at 20
Hypothetical: The Podcast
TV Reviews
The Pilot TV Podcast
The Radio Times Podcast
Shrine of Telly
Kermode and Mayo’s Take
Interviews
Comfort Eating with Grace Dent - Big Zuu
MY TV Years with Mel Giedroyc - Adjoa Andoh
The Noughties - Black on TV - Joceyln Jee Esien and Tolly T
The Proper Class Podcast - Vicky McClure
Episode by Episode podcasts
Keeping Up Appearances: The Luxury Podcast
Buffering The Vampire Slayer
Parks and Recollection
The Always Sunny Podcast
Inside Inside No. 9
Talking Derry Girls
We'd love to hear your recommendations for TV podcasts you enjoy - so do send us an email to podcastradiohour@bbc.co.uk
6/17/2022 • 59 minutes, 21 seconds
The Podcast Show 2022
Laura Grimshaw and Chris Pearson present a special edition from The Podcast Show 2022. We’ll be joined by a panel of podcasting guests including Nicky Birch from BBC Sounds, James Cridland - the editor of Podnews, and the hosts of the hilarious and honest BBC Sounds podcast Brown Girls Do It Too Poppy Jay and Rubina Pubani.
6/2/2022 • 59 minutes, 52 seconds
Science Fiction Audio Drama
Chris Pearson and Ella Watts recommend Sci-Fi Audio Drama.
We hear from the creator of 'Midnight Burger' Joe Fisher, who discusses why a dimension-hopping, time travelling diner is the perfect setting for a hopeful, human story.
Plus long time friends Jonathan Williams and Alan Mandel discuss 'Red Valley', and offer advice on just how to develop ideas with your friends. Plus - what is the difference between cryonics and cryogenics?
And we'll hear clips from
Chaika
RogueMaker
Breathing Space, Fading Frontier
Sayer
Apollyon
The Transposition of Chloë Brontë
5/27/2022 • 57 minutes, 56 seconds
Science Stories
Chris Pearson and science nerd Rick Edwards recommend factual science listening.
The space journalist Sarah Cruddas discusses her series "Where's My Jetpack?" She'll tell us about the links between science fiction and fact, and we'll hear whether she would want to visit Mars.
Plus, we'll hear clips from:
The Vulnerable Scientist
Small Screen Science
You Are Not So Smart
The Animal Behaviour Podcast
The Happiness Lab
The Curious Cases of Rutherford and Fry
Invisibilia
Why Aren’t You A Doctor Yet?
In Defense Of Plants
5/20/2022 • 58 minutes, 58 seconds
New listening for May
Chris Pearson and Scott Bryan suggest new podcast listens for May.
Charlie Craggs tells us about making her acting debut in Doctor Who: Redacted,. We'll hear about how it feels to join the Doctor Who family, and the importance of trans representation in the show.
Plus, more great new listening for May, with extracts from:
Radioman
Lusus
Queer Spaces: Behind The Scene
Lady Killers with Lucy Worsley
Time & Again
Betwixt the Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society
The Line of Fire
NearlyWeds
5/13/2022 • 57 minutes, 57 seconds
Machynlleth Comedy Festival
Laura Grimshaw and Jake Yapp present a selection of comedy podcasts from the Machynlleth Comedy Festival.
Helen Bauer and Andrew White chat about Trusty Hogs, Nina Conti and Shenoah Allen introduce us to Richard and Greta, Gareth Gwynn and Esyllt Sears invite us into The Xennial Dome, and Matthew Crosby, Ben Clark and Tom Parry discuss Pappy's Flatshare Slamdown.
5/5/2022 • 1 hour, 39 seconds
Music Documentaries and Conversations
Chris Pearson and Chrystal Genesis recommend podcasts exploring music, and telling stories of fascinating musicians.
Marlon Bishop from Futuro Studios tells us about two music documentaries: Anything for Selena and LOUD: The History of Reggaeton.
Plus, we'll hear clips from
The Messenger
Switched On Pop
Bent By Nature
Resident Advisor: Source Material
Soul Music
AfroPop Worldwide
Maed in India
The Record Store Day Podcast with Paul Myers
Louder Than A Riot
The Bridge
4/29/2022 • 58 minutes, 20 seconds
Earth Day 2022
To mark Earth Day 2022, Laura Grimshaw and Greg Cochrane present a collection of podcasts about the environment and climate change.
We speak to the environmental activist Danny Kennedy about his new podcast series that he co-hosts with the Academy Award-winning actor Cate Blanchett – Climate of Change. And we’ll be joined by Amy Westervelt from the Critical Frequency Podcast Network to talk about their range of climate-focussed podcasts: Drilled, Rigged, Damages, Inherited, Hot Take
Plus, short bursts of
Earth Day Live!
The Last Movie Ever Made
Islands on Alert
TIL Climate from MIT
BBC Radio 4's Costing The Earth
Produced for BBC Radio 4 Extra by Laura Grimshaw.
4/21/2022 • 1 hour, 49 seconds
New For April
Scott Bryan, Laura Grimshaw and Chris Pearson round up new listening for April.
Dragon's Den star Deborah Meaden talks to us about her new podcast, The Big Green Money Show. We'll hear why businesses need to be held to account about their environmental efforts, and Deborah tells us about her eco-efforts in her own home.
Margaret Cabourn-Smith talks about Crushed by Margaret Cabourn-Smith - and we hear about the cathartic power of discussing unrequited love.
And India Rakusen talks 28ish days later, the taboo-busting new podcast that attempts to unpack the menstrual cycle in 28 episodes.
Plus we'll hear clips from
Frame of Mind
Eureka!
Putin
Let's Get Frank
Rabbiting On
4/8/2022 • 57 minutes, 54 seconds
April Fools
Laura Grimshaw and Chris Pearson invite the Radio 4 Extra Comedy Club presenters to share their favourite funny podcasts.
Featuring:
Jessica Fostekew on Wheel of Misfortune
Arthur Smith on My Time Capsule
Rob Deering on Films To Be Buried With
Isy Suttie on Cuddle Club
Lou Conran on Joan & Jericha
Harriet Kemsley on The Year Is...
Paul Garner on I Can't Believe It's Not Buddha
Angela Barnes on Crash Bang Wallop
Athena Kugblenu on The Receipts Podcast
Iain Lee on Clinton Baptiste's All-New Paranormal Podcast
Jon Holmes on The Jordan B Peterson Podcast with guest Jimmy Carr
Laura Lexx on The Complete Guide To Everything
Sarah Campbell on Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Jake Yapp on The Problem with Jon Stewart
3/31/2022 • 58 minutes, 53 seconds
Podcast Radio Hour Comedy Club Mashup
Laura Grimshaw invites Radio 4 Extra's Comedy Club presenters to share their podcast recommendations.
Featuring:
Arthur Smith on Fake Heiress
Athena Kugblenu on Have You Heard George’s Podcast?
Jon Holmes on Wild Things: Siegfried & Roy
Isy Suttie on Chameleon: Wild Boys
Angela Barnes on Easy German
Harriet Kemsley on Whenever It Kicks with Jesse Ware
Rob Deering on Griefcast with Cariad Lloyd
Jake Yapp on Where Should We Begin? with Ester Perel
Jessica Fostekew on Maintenance Phase
Iain Lee on Nothing is Real
Paul Garner on A-Ha: Ranking Highs and Lows
Lou Conran on Casefile
Sarah Campbell on You Must Remember This: The Manson Family
Laura Lexx on Criminal with Phoebe Judge
3/25/2022 • 1 hour, 20 seconds
Mourn The Dead and Fight Like Hell For The Living
Laura Grimshaw and Salena Godden present podcasts about death, grief and celebrating life. And we hope by sharing these podcasts there may be some comfort to be found - or some amazing practical advice to be acted upon.
Featured podcasts:
Griefcast with Cariad Lloyd
BBC Radio 5 Live's How Do You Cope? With Elis & John
On The Marie Curie Couch
Grief Kind from Sue Ryder Care
Dying Matters from Hospice UK
Doing Death
Six Months or Less
Queer Death Stories
The Death Studies Podcast
Suffocate City
Dead Honest
You're Going To Die
3/18/2022 • 1 hour, 9 seconds
Myths, Legends and Fairy Tales in Audio Drama
Chris Pearson and Ella Watts with myth, legend, and fairy tale audio drama.
Aaron Mankhe and Lauren Shippen discuss their supernatural drama Bridgewater, and we hear how they Aaron's folklore background combined with Lauren's drama writing.
Plus Lory Martinez tells us about the global mythology series Cultureverse, which sensitively explores myths from across the world.
And we'll hear clips from
Hi Nay
Mabinogi: Lost Legends and Dark Magic
Fey Hollow: The Fairytale Murders
Feminist Fairytales
Rogue Runners
Live From Mount Olympus
The Anansi Chronicles
3/11/2022 • 1 hour, 25 seconds
New Listening for March
Laura Grimshaw and Scott Bryan round up the best new releases for March.
The BBC's Specialist Disinformation and Social Media Reporter Marianna Spring, and series producer Ant Adeane tell us about their new BBC Radio 4 podcast Death By Conspiracy? and Kate Moryoussef joins us to discuss The ADHD Women's Wellbeing Podcast.
Laura and Jon Holmes speak to Nigel Planer about his new scripted comedy podcast Nicholas Craig: I, An Actor, A Podcast which he stars in alongside Anthony Head and co-wrote with Christopher Douglas.
Plus bursts of:
Richard & Greta starring Nina Conti and Shenoah Allen
Dua Lipa At Your Service
Shaun Keaveny's Creative Cul-de-Sac
The Process from Somerset House
3/4/2022 • 1 hour, 34 seconds
LGBTQ+ History
Chris Pearson and The Log Books Podcast producer Shivani Dave with listening for LGBTQ+ History Month.
Matthew and Brendan discuss their LGBT+ Mental Health podcast Bottoming, and talk about how the podcast originated as free therapy.
Selly Thiam, host of AfroQueer, talks about how her podcast has found a wider audience since the beginning of the pandemic, and the surprising ways that the podcast has been shared to new listeners.
Plus we'll hear extracts from:
Queer Serial
Prejudice and Pride
The LGBT Sport Podcast
The SG Boys
Making Gay History
If you have podcast recommendations for us, our email address is podcastradiohour@bbc.co.uk
2/25/2022 • 59 minutes, 47 seconds
Adoption
Laura Grimshaw and Jon Holmes present a selection of podcasts on the subject of adoption.
As Jon himself is adopted, we delve into podcasts from comedians, performers and entertainers to explore whether there is a link between performance and adoption. We speak to Twayna Mayne about her podcast Loco Parentis and her Radio 4 series Black Woman, to Mark Steel about his audiobook Who Do I Think I Am?, and to Lemn Sissay about the importance of adoption and his Radio 4 series Origin Stories.
We also feature expert advice and personal stories the podcasts #YouCanAdopt, Truth Be Told from Adopt Cymru, Adoption, Fostering and Tea from The New Family Social, and BBC Radio 4's The Adoption.
2/18/2022 • 1 hour, 48 seconds
Writing and Books
Laura Grimshaw and Isy Suttie present an aural library of podcasts about writing and books for your delectation.
We speak to Laura Shavin about The Offcuts Drawer - the podcast where successful writers share the contents of their bottom drawer – the bits of writing they never finished, had rejected or they just like to hold on to for nostalgic reasons, which are finally brought to life on stage. We're joined by Robin Ince to discuss Bookshambles with Robin Ince and Josie Long, the podcast where books are the springboard into ludicrous and always passionate conversations about anything and everything. And we chat to Jess Phillips MP about her podcast Yours Sincerely about the power of letter writing.
We listen into podcasts on the writing process, devour a selection of podcasts presenting the best in author interviews, and we flick through the best book recommendation podcasts including:
Script Apart
The Writing Life
The Penguin Podcast
Fun Kids Book Worms
Radio 4's Book Club
Red Hot Chilli Writers
Turn Up For The Books from BBC Arts
Radio 4's Open Book and A Good Read
Literary Friction
2/11/2022 • 1 hour, 19 seconds
New Listening for February
Chris Pearson and Scott Bryan suggest listens for February.
Helena Merriman talks about her new diagnosis based series Room 5, and how for her the audio medium is perfect for encouraging empathy in listeners.
Moya Lothian-Mclean talks about her series Human Resources, investigating the British relationship with the Atlantic slave trade, and why she wants the subject talked about beyond history lessons.
Plus broadcasting legend Scott Mills discusses Radio 1's Pop 101, his new series taking us through the history of Pop music, in a hundred and one objects.
And we'll hear clips from:
Feast is Feast with Big Zuu
Go Love Yourself
British Scandal: Coughing Major
Panic Room
Stars In Your Ears
2/4/2022 • 59 minutes, 21 seconds
Running Podcasts
From nervous beginners to seasoned marathon runners, Laura Grimshaw and Moy McGowan present a selection of running podcasts to inspire you to get out there.
Tina Muir – the elite athlete turned podcaster – joins us to talk about her podcasts Running for Real and Running Realised about the glorious freedoms, spiritual epiphanies and harsh realities of running.
And we speak to the running comedians Rob Deering and Paul Tonkinson about their long running running podcast Running Commentary where they talk about running whilst running.
We also hear speedy bursts of:
Couch to 5k
Free Weekly Timed
Rob Deering's Running Tracks Radio Hour
Running is BS
A Runner's Life with Marcus Brown
The Sunday Plodcast
RunPod with Jenni Falconer
The Women's Running Podcast
Runner's World UK Podcast
1/28/2022 • 1 hour, 5 seconds
New Year, New Start
Chris Pearson and Chrystal Genesis pick out podcasts which discuss fresh starts, in the fields of work, health and relationships.
Ian Coss tells us about 'Forever Is A Long Time', a podcast that examines the marriages and divorces within his own family.
Plus we'll hear clips from
Working
Switch Pivot or Quit
How I Built This with Guy Raz
SelfHealers Soundboard
Stacey Dooley's Fresh Starts
Lesley Jane Seymour's Reinvent Yourself
Food Heaven Podcast
Life Kit: How to divest from diet culture
Just One Thing with Michael Mosley
1/21/2022 • 57 minutes, 43 seconds
What's new for January?
Chris Pearson and Scott Bryan suggest new listening for January. The writer Marian Keyes and the comedian Tara Flynn discuss their new advice-giving podcast, 'Now You're Asking'.
Plus we'll hear extracts from:
Cover Story: Power Trip
Harsh Reality: The Story of Miriam Rivera
Wild Things: Siegfried & Roy
Radio 1's Pop 101
Oti Mabuse's Dancing Legends
My Family, Mental Illness and Me
Weird Walk with Charlie Cooper
1/14/2022 • 57 minutes, 34 seconds
Tips for new podcasters
Chris Pearson and Laura Grimshaw invite podcasters to offer up tips and advice on podcasting.
Leanne Alie joins us from BBC Sounds Audio Lab, and discusses her independent podcast Coiled.
The producer Charlie Dinkin and the stand up comedian Olga Koch talk comedy podcasts, and the value of collaboration.
BBC Brexitcast creator Dino Sofos talks about the pressures of making daily podcasts, and his new production company Persephonica.
Plus, broadcasters from the BBC and beyond offer their advice, with contributions from:
Bad People's Dr Julia Shaw
Teach Me A Lesson's, Greg James and Bella Mackie
Audio Freqs and Vegan Life Podcast presenter Jake Yapp
If You Dont Know's Roshan Roberts and De-Graft Mensah
BBC Sounds Podcast Producer Ella Watts
The Battersea Poltergeist and Uncanny host Danny Robins
BBC Ouch's Keiligh Baker
The Skewer producer Jon Holmes
Wheel Of Misfortune host Alison Spittle,
The Moon Under Water presenters John Robins and Robin Allender
Whistle Through The Shamrocks writers Nicola Coughlan and Camilla Whitehill,
Tony Bellew Is Angry presenter Tony Bellew
Scott Bryan and Hayley Campbell from Must Watch Podcast
Podcast Radio Hour creator Amanda Litherland
Director and Sound Designer Dirk Maggs.
1/7/2022 • 59 minutes, 52 seconds
Best of Podcast Radio Hour 2021
Laura Grimshaw and Chris Pearson take a look back at some of the Podcast Radio Hour highlights and best guests of 2021.
Featuring:
Nicola Coughlan and Camilla Whitehill from Whistle Through The Shamrocks
Pandora Sykes from Pieces of Britney
Repeat Beat Poet from Lunar Poetry Podcast
Danny Robins from The Battersea Poltergeist and Uncanny
Karen Rice from Stolen Goodbyes
Justin Rowlatt - the BBC's Environment Editor and presenter of A Pyrotechnic History of Humanity
Caro Mincks from Seen and Not Heard
Nicky Campbell from One of the Family
Benbrick from Have You Heard George's Podcast?
Tom Price from My Mate Bought A Toaster
And guest presenters Jessica Fostekew, Jon Holmes, Scott Bryan, Shivani Dave, Salena Godden, Isy Suttie, Greg Cochrane and Ella Watts.
12/31/2021 • 59 minutes, 28 seconds
Comedy for Christmas
Chris Pearson and Laura Grimshaw recommend comedy podcasts to entertain you over Christmas.
We'll hear clips from
Trusty Hogs
Wheel of Misfortune
Evil Genius with Russell Kane
Why is Harriet Crying
Desert Island Dicks
Stars In Your Ears
Songs In The Key Of Laugh
The Horne Section Podcast
Daddy Look At Me
A Lovely Time
Cuddle Club
The Sink
Poppy Hilstead Has Entered The Chat
SeanceCast
St Elwick's Neighbourhood Association Newsletter Podcast
SoundHeap
If you have a podcast you want to recommend to us, our email address is podcastradiohour@bbc.co.uk
12/24/2021 • 59 minutes, 6 seconds
Happy Golden Days of Yore
Laura Grimshaw and Jake Yapp present a collection of podcasts that bring history to life.
We speak to bona fide academic historian Professor Suzannah Lipscomb about her podcast that looks at the most fascinating periods in history - Not Just The Tudors.
We’ll also be joined by history podcast producing magnate Natt Tapley to discuss what's the point of history? And we chat to self-confessed history nerds Angela Barnes and John O’Farrell about their fun conversation podcast We Are History.
We also hear bursts of:
Future Imperfect with Jason Kingsley
The Unfiltered History Tour from VICE World News
Revisionist History with Malcolm Gladwell
Human Resources with Moya Lothian McLean
The Retrospectors with Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina and Arion McNicoll
Date Fight with Natt Tapley and Jake Yapp
History Film Club with Alex von Tunzelmann and Hannah Grieg
Homeschool History with Greg Jenner
Horrible Histories from CBBC
You're Dead To Me also with Greg Jenner
12/17/2021 • 1 hour, 1 second
What's New For December?
Chris Pearson and Scott Bryan present the best new podcasts for December.
Alexi Mostrous, host of Sweet Bobby, discusses his investigative crime podcast, which tells a remarkable story of catfishing and coercive control.
Plus, we'll hear clips from
Paul McCartney: Inside The Songs
Not Another Love Song
Power: Hugh Hefner
Doomsday Watch
The Long Time Academy
Sickbabe
Coiled
Tipsy Tourism
Behind The Desk: The Story of Late Night
Get Birding
12/10/2021 • 58 minutes, 24 seconds
Pet Sounds
Laura Grimshaw and Chris Pearson present podcasts all about pets. Whether you're #TeamCat or #TeamDog - or even #TeamFerret- we have some lovely listening on the love of our pets.
We speak to broadcasting legend Nicky Campbell about his gorgeous podcast One of the Family. And EastEnders actor Emma Barton joins us to talk about The Petcast from The Blue Cross.
We also feature tasty morsels of:
BBC Radio London's Dogs and the City
BBC Radio 4's My Cat, The Judge
The Purrrcast
Classic FM's Paws and Claws with Bill Turnbull
Animal People with Supervet Noel Fitzpatrick
The Aquarium Guys
Reptile n Chill
Coffee with the Chicken Ladies
The Pet Pod with Dr Zara Boland
BBC Radio Ulster's Alright, Pet?
11/26/2021 • 1 hour, 36 seconds
We're Going Down The Pub
Chris Pearson and Laura Grimshaw listen in to podcasts about pub culture. From cocktails to quizzing, beer to board games, conversation to crisps, we're pubbing in podcast form.
John Robins and Robin Allender discuss their dream pub podcast, The Moon Under Water.
Plus presenter Jaega Wise, and producer Lucy Taylor, take us behind the scenes on Radio 4's The Food Programme.
We'll also hear extracts from:
The London History Podcast
Lasties
Brewing After Hours
Pub Quiz
Try Dry
A Woman's Brew
The Mixology Talk
Desert Island Crisps
The Walkers Switch
11/19/2021 • 58 minutes, 45 seconds
What's New for November?
Laura Grimshaw and Scott Bryan present the best new podcasts for November.
We are joined by the star of Derry Girls and Bridgerton, Nicola Coughlan and her writing partner Camilla Whitehill to discuss their new comedy podcast Whistle Through The Shamrocks.
And we feature snippets of:
Car Crash by Eddie Robson
This Is Gay from Kirk Flash
Am I Normal with Mona Chalabi
The Flipside with Paris Lees
Bed of Lies from The Telegraph
We Were Always Here with Marc Thompson
The Log Books with Tash Walker, Adam Zmith and Shivani Dave
A Grown Up Guide To Planet Earth with Professor Christopher Jackson
Jon Ronson: Things Fell Apart
11/12/2021 • 1 hour, 31 seconds
Sustainability
Laura Grimshaw and Greg Cochrane look at podcasts about sustainability - packed with good advice on how to save the planet.
We are joined by the BBC's Chief Environment Editor Justin Rowlatt to talk about BBC Radio 4's A Pyrotechnic History of Humanity and the wider challenge of reporting on the Climate Crisis.
We also speak to Tom Heap and Anne-Marie Bullock about BBC Radio 4's 39 Ways To Save The Planet and to Jack Marley about The Climate Fight: The World's Biggest Negotiation, a new podcast from The Conversation.
We also hear hopeful ideas and practical advice from:
The Climate Question from BBC World Service
To A Lesser Degree from The Economist
Climate Fringe Stories from Stop Climate Chaos Scotland
Use It Up from Delicious Australia
Wardrobe Crisis from Vogue Australia
Green on the Go from Holiday Extras
Fully Charged
Inherited from Critical Frequency
11/5/2021 • 1 hour, 6 seconds
The Halloween Spook-tacular
Chris Pearson and Shivani Dave recommend listening in time for Halloween.
Danny Robins and producer Simon Barnard discuss their new BBC Sounds series Uncanny. We'll hear about how they found real people who could discuss their own paranormal experiences. Plus, how do the two look back on their award winning Battersea Poltergeist series?
Plus we'll have some terrifying drama recommendations, and some sillier Halloween listening.
With clips from:
Uncanny
Children of the Stones
The Battersea Poltergeist
Within the Wires
13 Days of Halloween
Dos: After You
Less is Morgue
Phil Wang Hates Horror
SeanceCast
Monstrous Agonies
10/29/2021 • 58 minutes, 32 seconds
Audio Drama spin-offs
Chris Pearson and Ella Watts recommend audio fiction podcasts, which are re-making, adapting, or spinning off from other stories.
Dirk Maggs joins us to discuss Audible's The Sandman: Act 2, as well as his venerable career in adapting other works for audio.
Plus Realm Productions on Orphan Black: The Next Chapter. Senior producer Marco Palmieri and head of Audience Development Tara Sonin tell us about the pressures of continuing the television show in podcast form.
And we'll hear extracts from
Marvel's Wolverine
Team B: A War Robots Story
Rebel Robin: Surviving Hawkins
Children of the Stones
The Phenomenon
10/22/2021 • 59 minutes, 7 seconds
Long Running Podcasts
Laura Grimshaw and Jessica Fostekew look at long-running podcasts. That's podcasts that have been going a long time, not podcasts about running. Not exclusively anyway. Podcasts that have been around for a while with loads of episodes to dive into.
We speak to Ellie Gibson and Helen Thorn from the Scummy Mummies podcast, which has been running for eight years. And we speak to Tom Price from My Mate Bought a Toaster about those embarrassing, impulsive, or long-forgotten internet purchases.
And we feature snippets of these podcasts which have racked up over 5000 episodes between them!
The Guilty Feminist
Fortunately with Fi and Jane
Running Commentary
The High Performance Podcast
My Time Capsule
Dane Baptiste Questions Everything
Desert Island Discs
The Three Track Podcast
James Acaster's Perfect Sounds
Off Menu
Hoovering
Food Psych
10/14/2021 • 59 minutes, 53 seconds
New Listening for October
Laura Grimshaw and Scott Bryan recommend new listening for October.
We talk fashion with Kiri Pritchard-McLean and her new podcast Who Are You Wearing? Tim Harford offers up some Cautionary Tales. And Margaret Cabourn-Smith tells us all about her embarrassing crushes in the name of her new podcast Crushed by Margaret Cabourn-Smith.
We also feature snippets of:
The Proper Class Podcast
Whose Stories?
As The Season Turns
My Favourite Takeaway with Tom Craine and Cimran Shah
Bad Cops from the World Service
Breaking Breakfast - the story of Chris Evans' Radio 1 Breakfast Show
The Xennial Dome with Gareth Gwynn and Esyllt Sears
Shaun Keaveny's new podcasts The Line Up and Rockanory
10/7/2021 • 59 minutes, 57 seconds
Poetry Podcasts
Laura Grimshaw and Salena Godden present a selection of poetry podcasts.
We speak to Chris Gregory from Alternative Stories and Fake Realities about bringing words to life, and to Repeat Beat Poet from The Lunar Poetry Podcast about infusing poetry with meaning and messages.
We also listen in to:
Poetry Unbound
The New Yorker Poetry Podcast
The Poetry Exchange
Arji's Poetry Pickle Jar
The Slowdown with Ada Limon
Frank Skinner's Poetry Podcast
Roaring 20s Radio
Poetry Extra
The Verb
9/30/2021 • 1 hour, 22 seconds
Best of Guests
Laura Grimshaw and Chris Pearson revisit some of their favourite Podcast Radio Hour Interviews.
We'll hear interviews with:
Evanna Lynch, from The Chickpeeps
Grace Dent, Gabriela Jones and Leah Green from Comfort Eating
Penny Green, presenter of The Knepp Wildland Podcast
Laura Lexx and Will Duggan, hosts of National Treasures
Ken Bruce and his producer Phil McGarvey, talking Popmaster
The Taskmaster Podcast presenter Ed Gamble
Bryony Gordon, from Bryony Gordon's Mad World
Athena Kugblenu presenter of Keeping Athena Company
Madeleine Baran, host of America Public Media's podcast In The Dark
Jesse Lawson and Lynette Norah, from VENT Documentaries.
9/24/2021 • 59 minutes, 36 seconds
Lots of Love
Laura Grimshaw and Isy Suttie look at podcasts about love. Families, pets, friends, grief, misguided crushes, fandom, sex and relationships - love in lots of forms is in here.
Alix Walker and Lisa Smosarski talk about their podcast Love Letter to My Friend, and Karen Rice from Stolen Goodbyes discusses love, loss and grief.
Also featuring these loved-up podcasts:
Cuddle Club
Shagged Married Annoyed
You'll Do
Coupledom
I Wish I Was An Only Child
Some Families
Petcast
Love Stories with Dolly Alderton
Crushed with Margaret Cabourn Smith
Produced by Laura Grimshaw for BBC Radio 4 Extra in September 2021
9/16/2021 • 1 hour, 25 seconds
What's New for September + Ladies Who London
Chris Pearson and Scott Bryan suggest new listening for September.
We'll speak to the hosts of Ladies Who London, a podcast hosted by two London tour guides which aims to highlight hidden parts of London's history.
Plus we'll hear clips from:
Stories of our Times- The Legacy of Penrhyn Castle
Short History Of
Tipsy Tourism
On The Outside
BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast - Histories and Mysteries of the Countryside
The Wild with Chris Morgan
Bees in a Pod with Rob Beckett
Atlantic… A Scottish Story
The Grand Scheme - Snatching Sinatra
Finding Q: My Journey into QAnon
Conversations with Annalisa Barbieri
Lecker: A Food Podcast- Kitchens
9/3/2021 • 59 minutes, 17 seconds
Summer Scrapbook Two
Podcast Radio Hour presents postcards from producers, presenters, comedians and friends recommending some great listens for the Summer.
FEATURING:
Alan Cumming on You're Wrong About and The History of Literature
Moy McGowan on Shrine of Duty
Chrystal Genesis on From Root To Vine
Scott Bryan on Pieces of Britney
Athena Kugblenu on Cane Warriors
Iain Lee on Nothing Is Real
Jessica Fostekew on Sara Pascoe's Sex, Power, Money
Harriet Kemsley on Joan & Jericha
Tom Sandars on This Classical Life
Chris Aldridge on Elis and John
Dan Mersh on Alan Partridge: From The Oasthouse
Toby Hadoke on Something Rhymes With Purple
Nick Briggs on Frank Skinner's Poetry Podcast
Anna Smith on Grounded with Louis Theroux
Helen O'Hara on The Thrilling Adventure Hour
Alex Riley on Mastertapes
Steve Urquhart on Decode
Tim Harford on 99% Invisible
Isy Suttie on St Elwick's Neighbourhood Association Newsletter
Laura Lexx on Trivia Warfare and Complete Guide To Everything
Laura Grimshaw on The Things We Do For Love
Chris Pearson on The Birthday Girls' House Party
8/26/2021 • 59 minutes, 34 seconds
What's New for August?
Chris Pearson and Scott Bryan suggest new listening for August.
Pandora Sykes talks about Radio 4's new podcast Pieces of Britney, and discusses what Britney's story can teach us about society as a whole.
Plus Martin Zaltz Austwick discusses his new podcast Neutrinowtach, a podcast that, via coding wizardry, automatically releases a newly generated episode every day.
And we'll hear clips from
Sideways
Have You Heard George’s Podcast
Building Queertopia
A Thorough Examination with Drs Chris and Xand
A Life More Wild
She Said, They Said
The Town That Knew Too Much
Very Modern Quests
8/13/2021 • 59 minutes, 37 seconds
Summer Scrapbook
As part of 4 Extra's Summer Season, Podcast Radio Hour presents postcards from producers, presenters, comedians and friends recommending some great listens for the Summer.
Featuring:
Alan Cumming on Bad Gays
Arthur Smith on Desert Island Discs
Athena Kugblenu on Have You Heard George's Podcast?
Jake Yapp on The Adventure Zone
Alan Smith on Political Thinking
Andrew Peach on Who? Weekly
Tina Ritchie (and Nicky Campbell) on One Of The Family
Ken Bruce on The Archers
Toby Hadoke on A Wheezing and Groaning Sound
Natalie Haynes on Robin & Josie's Bookshambles
Daljit Nagra on Frank Skinner's Poetry Podcast
David Miles on Countrystride
Kathy Clugston on You Must Remember This
Lou Conran on Drunk Women Solving Crime
Jon Holmes on Brain Cigar
Laura Grimshaw on Cold Case Crime Cuts
Chris Pearson on The Aunty Donna Podcast
Amanda Litherland on The Beef and Dairy Network
8/5/2021 • 59 minutes, 35 seconds
Pandemic recovery podcasts
Chrystal Genesis and Chris Pearson recommend podcasts that tell the stories of industries, communities and people who are trying to get life back on track as Covid restrictions are being lifted.
Chris Tunstall, host of The Mixology Talk podcast discusses how his craft cocktail podcast has changed across the pandemic.
Plus we'll hear extracts from:
Pubs, Pints, People
The Food Institute Podcast
BBC OS Conversations
Make Change Happen
Thomson Reuters Institute Market Insights Podcast
COVID MATTERS
Social Distance
Chasing Life
Up First
The Cut
7/30/2021 • 56 minutes, 25 seconds
Religion in Audio Drama
Chris Pearson and Ella Watts recommend drama podcasts exploring religion.
Jon Ware and Muna Hussen from The Silt Verses talk about their fantasy series, a folk-horror podcast following two figures' pilgrimage through a world of human sacrifice and strange deities.
And Caro Mincks, creator of 'Seen and Not Heard', talks about how Judaism influenced the writing of their semi-autobiographical series, which sees a young woman adapting to deafness.
Plus we recommend:
Desperado
Chain of Being
Midst
Forgive Me!
Gospels of the Flood
Unwell
Under Pressure
7/23/2021 • 56 minutes, 30 seconds
British Podcast Awards 2021
After last weekend's British Podcast Awards, Chris Pearson and Laura Grimshaw run through the winners.
Matt Hill and Matt Deegan, the awards organisers and co-founders, discuss putting the awards together. We'll hear about the long process to whittle down over 1500 entries to the eventual winners, and they tell us what it meant to bring together some of Britain's top podcasters after last year's virtual event.
VENT Documentaries took home three awards- Smartest Podcast, Best Documentary and the prestigious Podcast of the Year. Senior Producer Jesse Lawson tell us how the producers gave young people a platform to explore ideas and topics of their choosing. Plus Lynette Norah, host of the award winning VENT Documentaries episode 'Problem Kids', tells us about her relationship with podcasting.
7/15/2021 • 1 hour, 28 seconds
What's New For July?
Laura Grimshaw and Scott Bryan look at the best new releases.
Grace Dent and the producers Leah Green and Gabriela Jones discuss their new podcast Comfort Eating, Alan Cumming talks about 'Hot White Heist' and we dip into:
Which? Investigates with Greg Foot
We Can Be Heroes with Glyn Fussell
Tan France's Queer Icons
Building Queertopia with Chelcee Grimes and Shane Jenek
Constantly Evolving with Eve
THAT Podcast
Conflict of Interest from The Imperial War Museum
If It Bleeds It Leads with Emilia Fox and Professor David Wilson
Cheat! with Alzo Slade
Hashtag Trashbag with Dotty
7/8/2021 • 59 minutes, 33 seconds
Chocolate
Natalie Haynes and Moy McGowan savour some chocolate podcasts. They discover how music can alter the taste of chocolate… and why the humble midge plays a vital part in the growing the bean that becomes your favourite bar! And they hear from Dame Cacao herself, the podcaster Max Gandy who is dedicated to crafting a sustainable and delicious world by changing the way we eat & understand chocolate.
We'll also hear mouth-watering chunks of:
You're Dead to Me
The Food Programme
Well Tempered
The Slow Melt
Chocolate on the Road
The BBC Good Food Podcast With Tom Kerridge
7/1/2021 • 1 hour, 5 seconds
2021 (So Far) In Review
Chris Pearson, Laura Grimshaw and Greg Cochrane take a look at the podcast year so far.
Sam Shetabi joins us from Acast to look back on the trends of 2021 in podcast.
Tim Harford and Sandra Kanthal from Radio 4's 'How To Vaccinate The World' reflect on their podcast and it's influence on vaccine reporting in 2021.
Plus James Cator from Spotify looks ahead to what listeners might expect going forward.
Plus we'll hear snippets of
Call Me Mother
Stolen Goodbyes
Human Resources
Frank Film Club with Maisie Williams
Masala Podcast
6/25/2021 • 59 minutes, 14 seconds
What's new for June?
Chris Pearson and Scott Bryan recommend new releases for June.
Alan Cumming joins us to talk about his new series, Alan Cumming's Shelves, in which Alan is inspired to interview guests by the trinkets in his house.
Plus Greg Jenner discusses his podcast series "A Somewhat Complete History Of Sitting Down", which looks at the role of sitting throughout history.
We'll also hear extracts from:
Cross Words with Ian Smith
Behind The Desk: The Story of Late Night
Human Resources
The Retrospectors
What The Denmark
Finding Natasha
Sound Heap
Multi Story
Limelight: The System
6/11/2021 • 58 minutes, 55 seconds
Detective Stories
Chris Pearson and Caroline Crampton go on the hunt for detective listening.
Award-winning investigative reporter Madeleine Baran talks to us about her show In The Dark, and tell us how to her, the least interesting part of reporting on criminal activity is the crime itself.
Plus, we'll hear how the Victoriocity writers Jen and Chris Sugden were influenced by early detectives when creating their story set in 1887.
We'll also hear about:
The Tuesday Night Mystery Club
Meddling Adults
Up The Creek
Murder, We Spoke
Veronica Mars Investigations
Detective Trapp
Chicano Squad
The Casebook of Max & Ivan
Dead Drunk Detective
The Amelia Project
The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio
6/4/2021 • 59 minutes, 22 seconds
Sound Design
Laura Grimshaw and Jon Holmes immerse themselves in the world of sound design.
Benbrick, the producer, composer and sound designer behind 'Have You Heard George's Podcast?' and 'Kim Noble's Futile Attempts' talks to us about his influences, tech, and process.
We go behind the scenes of The Skewer with Jon and his sound designer Tony Churnside to find out how The Skewer twists itself into the week's news.
And we speak to Madeleine and Hugh from the sound landscape podcast Radio Lento.
We also listen in to:
Twenty Thousand Hertz on ASMR
Sound Matters on Synaesthesia,
Radio 3’s Slow Radio and their Sounds of the Earth
Tone Benders on field recording in the deserts of Namibia
Radio 4's The Lovecraft Investigations
5/27/2021 • 1 hour, 28 seconds
Mental Health Podcasts
Laura Grimshaw and Chris Pearson showcase podcasts discussing mental health, to mark Mental Health Awareness Week.
Claudia Hammond discusses the new series of All In The Mind, the world's longest running programme discussing the latest research around Mental Health.
Laura speaks to Giles Paley-Phillips and Jim Daly, whose programme 'Blank Podcast' unpacks the moment when people's lives aren't going to plan.
Chris meets Bryony Gordon, host of Bryony Gordon's Mad World. Bryony tells us how she selects guests, from Hunter Biden to Stacey Solomon, and we hear why asking "how are you?" can be more than just small talk.
Plus we'll hear clips from
All In The Mind
How Do You Cope? ...with Elis & John
BBC Ouch - The Cabin Fever Podcast
The Joe Wicks Podcast
Conversations Against Living Miserably
Making Paddy Happy
Mental
Talk Club - 'Open Up Not Man Up'
All In Due Time
A Sonic Hug
Life, Interrupted with Simon Thomas
5/13/2021 • 1 hour, 58 seconds
What's new for May?
Laura Grimshaw and Scott Bryan round up the best new podcasts.
Laurence Owen and Lindsay Sharman present their epic new musical The Ballad of Anne and Mary
Jon Holmes talks us through the stupidly funny spoof true crime podcast Cold Case Crime Cuts
Kat Hooker and Emma Jones talk about their brilliantly honest and important podcast The Dead Parent Club
And we feature clips from:
The new BBC Sounds podcast The Lazarus Heist with Jean Lee and Geoff White
Life Changing with Jane Garvey from Radio 4
British Scandal with Matt Forde and Alice Levine
The Moon Under Water with John Robins
Shon Faye's Call Me Mother
5/6/2021 • 59 minutes, 59 seconds
The UK Tour
Chris Pearson and Laura Grimshaw embark on a UK podcast tour.
Laura Lexx and Will Duggan talk to us about their show 'National Treasures', which goes on a day out of the UK's various attractions.
And Kathryn Morrison talks to us about her podcast 'My Special Place', in which BBC Local Radio invite figures like Miles Jupp and Julie Hesmondhalgh to explore the sensations and memories attached to a favourite location.
Plus, we hear clips from:
Wild For Scotland
Scotland Outdoors
Ne Lass CAN
Speak Up Sunderland
Countrystride
A Little Slice of Cumbria
From A Lancashire Lass
Out Of Our League - Bury FC
Museums’n’that
Leeds Echoes
Dear Me with Katy Wix and Adam Drake
Stomping Grounds
Mark Steel’s In Town
Best Of Belfast
Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful
Ladies of Liverpool
This Foul Earth
Smart Welsh People
BrumHour
Back To Earth
Alan Carr's Life's A Beach
Cotswolds People
The Stubborn Light of Things
The So SO Show
The Brighton and Hove Food and Drink Show
This City
4/29/2021 • 1 hour, 36 seconds
Movie Magic
Radio 1's Film Critic Ali Plumb joins Chris Pearson to recommend the best movie-based listening.
We have guests across the world of film podcasting, including Al Horner, Sam Clements, Anna Smith, and Josh Horowitz.
Plus, we'll go behind the scenes on two long-running film podcasts - The Empire Film Podcast, and BBC Radio 5 Live's Kermode and Mayo's Film Review.
Podcasts featured this week:
Script Apart
90 Minutes or Less Film Fest
Girls on Film
Happy Sad Confused
Empire Film Podcast
Bah Humbug
Kermode and Mayo's Film Review
Happier in Hollywood
The A24 Podcast
Director's Cut - a DGA Podcast
4/23/2021 • 1 hour, 45 seconds
Literary Listening
Amanda Litherland and Greg Cochrane recommend reading podcasts, plus Rosie Wilby talks about adapting The Breakup Monologues from a podcast into a book.
Recommended podcasts this week:
Broccoli Book Club
Radio 4's Book Club
Mean Book Club
Football Book Club
Bestsellers
You're Booked
What Should I Read Next
Radio 4's Open Book
In Writing With Hattie Crissell
I Should Be Writing
Writing Excuses
Book Off!
4/15/2021 • 1 hour, 20 seconds
The Sound of Spring
Chris Pearson and Amanda Litherland recommend podcasts exploring British wildlife.
Dr Mya Rose Craig aka Birdgirl talks about the benefits of nature and birdwatching in both the city and the countryside, with her podcast Get Birding.
Ecologist Penny Green chats about the Knepp Wildland Podcast - sharing stories from the rewilding estate in West Sussex.
Recommended podcasts this week:
Tweet of the Day
30 Animals That Made Us Smarter
Wildflower Half Hour
Get Birding
The Science Of Birds
99% Invisible
The Casual Birder
Knepp Wildland Podcast
The Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation: hands-on conservation.
Lancashire Wildlife Trust Podcast
Nature’s A Hoot
4/8/2021 • 1 hour, 4 seconds
BBC Audio Drama Awards 2021
Amanda Litherland and Ella Watts sample the shortlisted and winning podcasts from this year's BBC Audio Drama Awards.
Alison Hindell, BBC Radio 4's Commissioning Editor for Drama joins to discuss the history of the awards, and to share her thoughts on great audio drama.
And we hear Jeffrey Nils Gardner and Eleanor Hyde, producers of Unwell: A Midwest Gothic Mystery - the winning entry in the category of Best Podcast or Online Audio Drama.
Podcasts recommended this week:
Children Of The Stones (BBC Radio 4)
Fake Heiress (BBC Radio 4)
The Sink (BBC Sounds)
Tribulation (Audible)
Murmurs (BBC Sounds)
Unwell: A Midwest Gothic Mystery (HartLife NFP)
Seancecast (Hat Trick)
Passenger List (Radiotopia)
Recommended radio dramas - The Voyage Of The St Louis, Magnitsky The Musical, Eight Point Nine Nine, The Grey Man and Other Lost Legends, The Kubrick Test, Cigarettes and Chocolate, Under Milk Wood, The Diary of Samuel Pepys, The Cazalets
Find out more about the BBC Audio Drama Awards here:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/48H1z30d4WLLz345v4BddQ1/audio-drama-awards-2021-the-finalists
4/1/2021 • 59 minutes, 25 seconds
Podcasts To Play Along With
Laura Grimshaw and Chris Pearson pick out the best podcasts you can play along with, chock full of quizzes, panel shows and trivia. With special guests Ed Gamble from the Taskmaster podcast, husband-and-wife-quizzers Lucy Porter and Justin Edwards from Plenty Questions, and we go behind the scenes of Radio 2's Popmaster.
Podcasts featured this week:
Popmaster
Radio 4 Quiz
Quiz Chat Repeat
Plenty Questions
Fingers on Buzzers
Famous For 15 Quid
The Birthday Game
Taskmaster The Podcast
Escape This Podcast
3/26/2021 • 59 minutes, 46 seconds
Fashion and Beauty
Amanda Litherland and Imriel Morgan recommend fashion and beauty podcasts that open up personal conversations about identity.
The fashion guru Susannah Constantine joins to chat about her series My Wardrobe Malfunction, where conversations about clothes lead to much more emotional discussions.
And hair and beauty entrepreneur Jamelia Donaldson discusses her podcast She's Obsessed.
Recommended shows this week:
On Reflection Beauty with Funmi Fetto
Breaking Beauty
The Beauty Brains
Snatched Edges Podcast
Articles of Interest
Beauty Fix with Naomi Shimada
Layers
3/19/2021 • 1 hour, 18 seconds
International Funny Women's Day
For International Women's Day, Laura Grimshaw and Julia Raeside recommend the best podcasts from funny women.
Isy Suttie overshares about The Things We Do For Love, that delightful sausage Amy Gledhill will be showing us A Lovely Time, we'll be offering Athena Kugblenu some adult conversation now she has two children in Keeping Athena Company, the excellent stand-up comedian Jen Ives will be chatting about her new podcast Peak Trans, and we’ll discuss creeps with Margo and Sonia from the What A Creep podcast.
We’ll also hear smashing snippets from the Wheel of Misfortune with Fern Brady & Alison Spittle and special guest Kemah Bob, The Birthday Girls House Party is Magazine and Wine themed with Sara Barron, Lou Conran and Sally Ann Hayward have a drink with Sarah Millican on Spit or Swallow, Risky Boys with Saima Ferdows, Ruby Carr and Alice-India, and Beth Morrey’s guest on the delightfully graphic One Torn Every Minute is Sophie Ellis-Bextor.
We have definitely delivered on loads of really excellent funny women.
3/12/2021 • 59 minutes, 34 seconds
New Listening
Amanda Litherland and Scott Bryan review new podcast releases.
Psychologist Kimberley Wilson and Dr Xand van Tulleken discuss Made Of Stronger Stuff, a Radio 4 podcast about the human body.
Recommended podcasts:
Get Birding
New Scientist Escape Pod
The Bias Diagnosis
Sideways
Reverberate
Welcome To Your Fantasy
Welcome To Spooktown
Money Moves With Toni Tone
Life Hacks - Lockdown Wellbeing
3/5/2021 • 1 hour, 9 seconds
Hope and Happiness
The whole Podcast Radio Hour team - Amanda Litherland, Chris Pearson, Moy McGowan and Laura Grimshaw - come together to share the podcasts that give them hope, happiness and inspiration.
Laura speaks to comedian Charlie George and anthropologist Mary-Ann Ochota about Happiness and How To Get It, an Audible Original series where they test out happiness tips designed by experts.
Moy recommends The Jane Goodall Hopecast, where the world reknowned primatologist and anthropologist speaks to individuals who are helping to create a better world.
Chris speaks to Alex Melia about Our Voices In The NHS, a podcast celebrating healthcare workers and their inspirational stories.
And we read out some listeners suggestions of podcasts that bring them hope and happiness:
The Horne Section Podcast
Nobody Panic
Rob Beckett and Josh Widdicombe's Lockdown Parenting Hell
39 Ways To Save The World
Whiterabbitpresents - How To Be Hopeful
Seize Your Adventure
The Offcuts Drawer
Creative Sauce with Andi Osho
email the team with your suggestions - podcastradiohour@bbc.co.uk
2/26/2021 • 59 minutes, 55 seconds
Parental Guidance
Mum-to-be Amanda Litherland is joined by Chrystal Genesis, host of Stance Podcast and mother of two, to recommend great parenting podcasts.
As well as series which support parents and caregivers with some much needed laughter and conversation, they suggest shows which discuss all forms of family relationships and consider our own childhoods, whether we have children ourselves or not.
Also, Marvyn Harrison, founder of Dope Black Dads, joins to talk about the success of his podcast and community groups. Dope Black Dads encourages men to open up about their feelings around fatherhood, supporting constructive conversations that celebrate black fathers worldwide.
Recommended podcasts:
The Motherkind Podcast
One Bad Mother
The Juggling Act (The Telegraph)
Parentland (BBC World Service)
Dope Black Dads
Dad In Progress
The Likely Dads (Radio 4)
Parenting For Liberation
The Survival Guide (Black Ballad)
The Brown Baby Podcast
Some Families
Parenting Beyond Discipline
Want to suggest a podcast? Contact the team podcastradiohour@bbc.co.uk
2/19/2021 • 59 minutes, 54 seconds
Podcast Musicals
It's curtain up for podcast musicals!
Amanda Litherland and Ella Watts showcase their favourite tuneful listens, with a selection of comedy and drama.
Jeff Luppino-Esposito, Brett Ryback and Matt Sav, the creators of last year's hit musical In Strange Woods discuss producing a multi cast production with all musicians and actors at home.
And Rye Dorsey, Zachary Goldberg and Sabeen Shalwani join to talk about Childish: A Podcast Musical - a series inspired by the work of Childish Gambino. They discuss how they created the show whilst finishing their undergraduate degrees.
Recommended podcasts this week:
Wait Wait, Don't Kill Me (part of Secrets, Crimes and Audiotape)
36 Questions
In Strange Woods
The Fall Of The House Of Sunshine
Childish: A Podcast Musical
CrossBread: A Comedy Musical
The Ballad of Anne And Mary
Magnitsky The Musical
2/12/2021 • 59 minutes, 15 seconds
Vegan Podcasts
To beat a post-Veganuary slump, Laura Grimshaw and Jake Yapp discuss the best vegan podcasts – and talk a lot about food. Yes, it’s an hour about veganism but we promise it’ll be interesting and fun and you’ll find out about lots of delicious things to eat.
They will be joined by Evanna Lynch (better known to Harry Potter fans as Luna Lovegood) from the Chickpeeps Podcast to discuss her go-to easy and tasty vegan meals. The film director Kevin Smith and his daughter Harley Quinn Smith from the Vegan Abattoir Podcast battle the myths around veganism. We get food advice from the host of Vegan Food & Living Magazine’s Simply Vegan podcast, Holly Johnson. We’ll have a round up of some of the best vegan discussion podcasts including an episode of Plant Proof with the psychologist Melanie Joy, boozy chat with vegan husband and wife celeb team Richard Marx and Daisy Fuentes, and an episode of Monique Koch’s Brown Vegan Podcast about the difference between being vegan and being plant-based. And, in the interests of balance, we have a chat with Benjamin Partridge from The Beef & Dairy Network.
2/5/2021 • 59 minutes, 36 seconds
Wonders from Down Under
Chris Pearson and Caitlin Benedict showcase Australian podcasts. We have recommendations highlighting indigenous voices, podcasts made by Australian voices overseas, and listening perfect for homesick Aussies.
Daniel Browning tells us about his language podcast Word Up.
Plus Matt Parker and Bec Hill discuss mathematics podcast A Problem Squared.
Podcasts featured:
Tiddas 4 Tiddas
Word Up
The Thin Black Line
Pretty For An Aboriginal
A Problem Squared
Science VS
The Aunty Donna Podcast
Stuff The British Stole
Boonta Vista
The Signal
1/29/2021 • 59 minutes, 9 seconds
New releases for January - Nikesh Shukla on Brown Baby
Amanda Litherland and Scott Bryan recommend some of the best new listening.
Firstly, some comedy and entertainment shows to keep you laughing through lockdown:
The Brian Butterfield Pod Pod Podcast
Congrats On The New
My Life In Tv
Keep It!
Nikesh Shukla joins to dicuss his new series Brown Baby - conversations about raising children with joy in uncertain times.
And recommendations of more conversational podcasts and engrossing documentary series:
Relatively
The BBC Countryfile Magazine Podcast
I'm Not A Monster (BBC Sounds)
Into The Grey Zone (Sky News)
The Missing (Podimo)
The Cipher (BBC Sounds)
contact the team and suggest your favourites: podcastradiohour@bbc.co.uk
1/22/2021 • 1 hour, 17 seconds
Evergreen podcasts
We often hear about the best new podcasts - but what about those that have been around for a while?
This week Amanda Litherland and Imriel Morgan recommend evergreen podcasts - shows which have been well established, but you might not have got around to listening to yet.
Firstly, some series which you can hear in their entirety:
Bronzeville
Capital
Fight Night (iHeartRadio)
Edith Bowman tells Podcast Radio Hour about her movie music podcast Soundtracking, which boasts over 200 episodes. Each week she speaks to guests from the world of film about the emotion evoked by the score.
She'll tell us how she's bagged interviews with Bruce Springsteen, Terence Blanchard and many more musical icons, but there's one composer in particular who has eluded her so far...
Other suggestions of great long running series include:
The Comb (BBC World Service)
Reply All (Gimlet)
Scene On Radio - season 4 The Land That Never Has Been Yet
The Anthill (The Conversation)
Nancy (WNYC)
email your recommendations to podcastradiohour@bbc.co.uk
1/15/2021 • 58 minutes, 32 seconds
Positive Podcasts for 2021
Amanda Litherland and Greg Cochrane recommend inspirational listening to start the year.
Firstly, a pick of 2020's best - timeless series which are well worth getting stuck into.
Hana Walker-Brown, executive producer at Broccoli content joins to discuss the hit show Anthems - each episode containing positive personal philosophies.
Also recommended from 2020:
The Golden House (Ross Sutherland)
Rabbit Hole (New York Times)
Vent Documentaries (VICE and Brent Council)
The Log Books (Tash Walker, Adam Zmith and Shivani Dave)
The Sink (BBC Sounds)
Then a look forward to building a brighter, better 2021 with some podcasts that offer hope for the future.
Jon Richardson and the Futurenauts (Ed Gillespie and Mark Stevenson) join to discuss their show which focuses on changes we can make to create a better world.
Also:
How To Vaccinate The World (BBC Radio 4)
Brave New Planet (Pushkin)
Armchair Adventures (Made By Mortals & Hearts and Minds)
1/1/2021 • 1 hour, 28 seconds
Podcast Radi-ho ho ho Hour
Amanda Litherland and Chris Pearson host a festive Podcast Radio Hour jam-packed full of great listens.
We've invited some of our friends from BBC Sounds to suggest podcasts they'd give as a Christmas gift.
And we'll also be showcasing some seasonal listening from festive BBC Podcasts of years past.
In this episode:
James Acaster, host of James Acaster’s Perfect Sounds. recommends The Three Track Podcast, Hip Hop Saved My Life, Wheel of Misfortune, and The Guilty Feminist.
Sofie Hagen and Dr Julia Shaw, hosts of Bad People, recommend Maintenance Phase and I'm not a Monster
Greg Jenner, host of You're Dead to Me and Homeschool History, recommends Rule of Three
Elis James and John Robins, hosts of Elis James and John Robins on BBC Radio 5 Live, The Isolation Tapes and How Do You Cope?
John recommends Matt Forde's The Political Party, whilst Elis recommends Americast
Vanel and Sindy, hosts of Go Ask Your Mother, recommend Mogul and Scarlett Moffatt Wants to Believe
Plus we've festive selections from
Short Cuts
Profile
The Food Programme
The Why Factor
You're Dead to Me
Tweet of the Day
12/25/2020 • 59 minutes, 32 seconds
December New Listens and Christmas Specials
The holidays are almost here and Amanda Litherland and Scott Bryan have recommendations of the best new listening for December - Christmas themed or otherwise.
Firstly, some great new series:
How I Found My Voice (Intelligence Squared)
Fashioned (Audible)
Strippers In The Attic
Life Of The Party With Jodie Harsh
In Strange Woods (Atypical Artists)
Former MP and Deputy Leader of the Labour Party Tom Watson joins us to discuss his new interview show Persons Of Interest. What lead him from politics to podcasting?
And a round up of some favourite Christmas specials:
The Santa Daily (FunKids)
My Dad Wrote A Porno
Table Manners With Jessie Ware - Dolly Parton
Bah Humbug: A Christmas Movie Podcast with Helen O'Hara
Macabre London - Abhorrent Advent Calendar
12/18/2020 • 57 minutes, 56 seconds
Winter Warmers - Cosy Audio Fiction
Amanda Litherland and Ella Watts recommend a selection of cosy audio fiction series to warm the winter nights.
Faith McQuinn discusses writing her romantic comedy series Margaritas and Donuts.
More recommended audio rom coms:
-Fan Wars: The Empire Claps Back
-Me and AU
-Greenhouse
-Deck The Halls (With Matrimony!)
Then Gabriel Urbina and Sarah Shachat discuss creating the fantasy anthology series Unseen. We hear an extract from episode 2 - Into The Dark.
More recommended fantasy/sci fi:
-Flyest Fables
-Open World
-Inn Between
-This Planet Needs A Name
12/11/2020 • 59 minutes, 21 seconds
History & You're Wrong About
Amanda Litherland and Caroline Crampton recommend the best podcasts about the past, from some of the most popular history shows to more niche focused series.
Sarah Marshall and Michael Hobbes join to discuss their hit show You're Wrong About - a podcast that reconsiders people or events that have been miscast in public imagination.
Recommended podcasts this week:
We Are History
You're Dead To Me
The Dollop
You're Wrong About
The Rest Is History
Giants of History
History Extra
The Constant: A History of Getting Things Wrong
Uncivil
Irish History Podcast
Driving the Green Book
The Last Archive
12/4/2020 • 57 minutes, 52 seconds
Trees & Forests: Podcasts for National Tree Week
Verity Sharp and Moy McGowan recommend their favourite tree podcasts.
And Adam Shaw talks about his podcast, Woodland Walks.
Recommended listening which links science and the sacred, the practical and the magical properties of trees.
Featured Podcasts:
Forest 404
Branch Out
Tree's A Crowd
Emergence Magazine Podcast
Woodland Walks
Farmerama
The Urban Forestry Radio Show & Podcast
Go Wild
BatChat
Living Beeing
Botanical Mind
Tree Lady Talks
This programme was first broadcast in November 2020, on the eve of the UK's National Tree Week.
11/27/2020 • 1 hour, 19 seconds
New listens for November + quizzing with Miquita Oliver
Amanda Litherland and Scott Bryan recommend newly released podcasts from the worlds of comedy and documentaries.
Plus Miquita Oliver talks about Quiz Chat repeat, a new daily quiz podcast.
Featured Podcasts:
The Sink
Poppy Hillstead Has Entered The Chat
Harry Hill's Noise
Dear Joan and Jericha
The Orgasm Cult
Quiz Chat Repeat (with Miquita Oliver)
VENT Documentaries
Intrigue: Mayday
The Mentor
Bed Of Lies
The Lock In with Jeremy Paxman
The Rest is History
11/20/2020 • 59 minutes, 1 second
A buffet of food podcasts
Chris Pearson and Amanda Litherland tuck into a buffet of food podcasts.
For starters: a selection of food documentaries, including a chat with Simon Tulett, one of the producers on 'The Food Chain' from the BBC World service.
And for main course: food conversations, from panel programmes to interviews. We hear from Suzy Chase, presenter of 'Cookery By The Book'.
Then finishing off for dessert, a quick taster of some food comedy podcasts.
Featured podcasts:
Eat Drink Asia Podcast
Gastropod
The Food Programme
The Slow Melt
The Food Chain
Home Cooking
The Kitchen Cabinet
Lecker
Toasted Sister
The Chickpeeps
Hoovering
Off Menu
Lunchwatch with Johnny White Really-Really
Table Manners with Jessie Ware
Out To Lunch with Jay Rayner
11/13/2020 • 58 minutes, 45 seconds
Podcasts for the planet
Amanda Litherland and Greg Cochrane recommend climate focused podcasts to inform and inspire.
From tips on greener living to interviews with leading activists in the environmental movement, this week we highlight listening that encourages a brighter tomorrow.
We speak to the team at 'Outrage and Optimism': Tom Rivett-Carnac, Paul Dickenson, and Christiana Figueres. Christiana is the former Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, and was the lead negotiator on the Paris climate agreement.
Recommended podcasts this week:
How To Save A Planet
So Hot Right Now
What Planet Are We On?
Who Cares Wins, with Lily Cole
Outrage And Optimism
Ted Talks Daily
Operation Earth
Drilled
How They Made Us Doubt Everything
11/6/2020 • 59 minutes, 8 seconds
Podcasts that go bump in the night
Amanda Litherland and Ella Watts showcase supernatural scares - podcasts perfect for Halloween listening.
Jeffrey Nils Gardner and Eleanor Hyde discuss their gothic horror series Unwell, set in an American boarding house with some unusual residents.
And we speak to Cassandra Tse, creator of Apocalypse Songs, a supernatural thriller set in a New Zealand radio station.
Plus Ella has a whole host of recommendations from around the world of audio fiction, perfect for whatever level of Halloween heebie-jeebies you're hunting.
Recommended Podcasts:
Unwell, a Midwestern Gothic Mystery
The Magnus Archives
Old Gods of Appalachia
Mirrors podcast from Zoom Doom stories
The White Vault
Mabel
Apocalypse Songs
Children of the Stones
10/30/2020 • 58 minutes, 22 seconds
Audio Art and Found Sound
Amanda Litherland and Caroline Crampton delve into the world of soundscapes, audio art and found sound podcasts - recommending the most relaxing and intriguing series they can find.
We speak to Eleanor McDowall, the producer behind 'Field Recordings', an international collection of ambient recording from locations around the world.
And Michelle Macklem talks about the podcast 'Constellations', which offers sound artists a platform to experiment in. We hear an extract from Phoebe Wang's piece 'Isn't it lovely?'.
Other podcast recommendations include:
Cities and Memory
Field Trips
The Stubborn Light of Things
Random Tape
Walking
Songbirding
The Radio Birdsong podcast
10/22/2020 • 59 minutes
Press Play - video games and children's podcasts
Amanda Litherland is joined by Chrystal Genesis to present a goody bag full of podcast recommendations.
First - great children's podcasts:
Tai Asks Why (CBC)
The Week Junior
Eleanor Amplified (WHYY)
Peace Out - Meditation for Kids
Kyla Slaven, producer of ABC's Short and Curly joins to discuss the philosophy show for kids.
And then we celebrate glorious video games and some of the best podcasts to stay up to date and entertained:
Women Of Marvel (episode Women of Video Game Journalism Revisited)
How Did This Get Played
Sound of Gaming (BBC Radio 3)
Triple Click (Maximum Fun)
Girls On Games
You can suggest your favourite podcast, or get in touch with the team by emailing podcastradiohour@bbc.co.uk
10/15/2020 • 59 minutes, 31 seconds
New releases for Autumn, wellbeing tips with Dr Chatterjee and raving with Chris Warburton
Amanda Litherland and Scott Bryan recommend great podcasts and meet the people who make them.
This week Dr Chatterjee talks "Feel Better. Live More.", a health podcast focussing on intimate, authentic conversations.
Amanda and Scott recommend other great conversational listens.
Then we're focusing on documentaries - and Chris Warburton discusses Ecstasy: The Battle of Rave, a documentary drama blend focussing on rave culture.
Featured Podcasts This Week:
Feel Better, Live More
Great Scot
David Tennant Does A Podcast With
Mid Point With Gabby Logan
Who Am I This Time? with David Morrissey
Ecstasy: The Battle of Rave
The Fault Line – Blair Bush and Iraq
Coming In From The Cold
Twenty Twenty
The Secret Life of Teachers
French and Saunders Titting About
10/8/2020 • 58 minutes, 33 seconds
Sporting stories and a visit to the Socially Distant Sports Bar
Chris Pearson and Amanda Litherland tackle sports podcasts.
This week, Stef Garrero, Elis James and Mike Bubbins discuss their lockdown sports podcast The Socially Distant Sports Bar podcast.
Then Adrian Koenigsberg joins us from New York to discuss her podcast Quell Party which celebrates and showcases women and non-binary people in Skateboarding.
Plus recommended listens from the world of Sports, including:
Don't Tell Me The Score
The Game Changers
Gladiator: Aaron Hernandez and Football Inc.
All-American: Tiger Woods
Death Of A Sports Star
30 for 30
HORSE
The Tennis Podcast
10/2/2020 • 59 minutes, 50 seconds
US Politics Special - featuring Emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel
Amanda Litherland is joined by the podcaster and journalist Greg Cochrane to recommend podcasts to keep up to date with the US Election and understand some of the history that's made the country what it is today.
Also Jon Sopel and Emily Maitlis discuss making the BBC's Americast - how is reporting for the podcast different to radio or TV broadcasting? And are there fans of the podcast on both sides of the Atlantic?
Podcasts mentioned this week:
Slate's Political Gabfest
FiveThirtyEight Politics
KCRW's Left Right and Center
Pod Save America
Joe Rogan Experience
Americast
CBC's Party Lines (Party In The USA mini series)
Women Belong In The House
The Brown Girls Guide To Politics
Presidential
More Perfect
1619
9/24/2020 • 1 hour, 2 minutes, 30 seconds
Pens, Pipe Organs and Portable Toilets - Niche Podcasts
Amanda Litherland and Becca Bryers explore niche podcasts from around the world.
From pipe organs to portable toilets, there's a podcast out there about almost everything, and in this week's Podcast Radio Hour Amanda and Becca explore a wealth of listens.
Myke Hurley from Relay FM joins to talk about "The Pen Addict", a stationery podcast with more than 400 epiodes.
Then Helen Wilkinson and Caroline Somos from "Love to Sew" discuss their craft podcast, which covers a range of topics from linen to social justice sewing.
Plus recommendations including:
The Ships Log
Get Flushed
People Movers
Unearthed: Mysteries from an unseen world
QueenPod
Desert Island Discworld
Come Ogre Here
Song By Song
E20 Podcast
The Thing About That: A Modern Woman's Guide to Getting Married
Purrcast
Lunchwatch with Johnny White Really Really
Hot Pipes
9/17/2020 • 57 minutes, 13 seconds
Innovative storytelling with Cathy Fitzgerald and Ross Sutherland
Amanda Litherland speaks to two innovative audio makers.
Ross Sutherland reveals some of the thinking behind his puzzling new fiction podcast 'The Golden House' - a mini series from Imaginary Advice stuffed full of codes and secrets.
Later, the award winning documentary producer Cathy Fitzgerland discusses her latest project 'Witness' in association with Amnesty International - a podcast which skilfully tells sensitive stories from some of the world's darkest places. Cathy also speaks about how she came to work in audio, and shares her advice on creating great listening, such as Life On Lockdown for Radio 4.
Then Podcast Radio Hour producer Chris Pearson joins Amanda to go through a few of your recommendations for innovative podcasts, including Giant, The Friendship File Podcast, and Totalus Rankium.
9/10/2020 • 58 minutes, 46 seconds
Steve Coogan on Alan Partridge's return to audio
It's been 29 years since the character of Alan Partridge made his debut in the Radio 4 satirical radio show On The Hour. Since then Steve Coogan's inept Norfolk broadcaster has seen huge success with various TV shows and even a feature film, Alpha Papa.
This week Alan makes a return to audio with a brand new podcast 'From The Oasthouse' - available to download from Audible.
Steve Coogan chats to Amanda Litherland about the benefits of making comedy that's for ears only, and shares some of the secrets behind Alan Partridge's 30 year success.
Later, Amanda is joined by the writer and critic Scott Bryan to recommend more of the latest new listens, including:
Poppy Hillstead Has Entered The Chat
Futile Attempts At Surviving Tomorrow - (Kim Noble and Novel)
My Year In Mensa (Jamie Loftus)
The Bomb (BBC World Service)
Media Tribe (Shaunagh Connaire)
On Things We Left Behind (Acast)
Book Off (Joe Haddow)
The Two Shot Podcast (Craig Parkinson)
Chasing Charlie (Freemantle Australia)
First broadcast in September 2020.
9/3/2020 • 58 minutes, 1 second
Listener Week
This week Amanda Litherland is joined by producer Chris Pearson to hear a variety of podcast recommendations sent in by listeners.
We hear voice notes and emails recommending:
Just The Zoo Of Us
The Countryside Hour (BBC Radio Norfolk)
The Ballad of Billy Balls
The History of English
Floating
The Stoop
Constellation Prize
Small Doses
Decoder Ring Theatre
Plus, listener Blossom joins to talk about her wellness podcast Tea with HB.
8/27/2020 • 58 minutes, 27 seconds
Glorious game shows - and Avery Trufelman on The Cut
Amanda Litherland is joined by Caroline Crampton (podcaster - Shedunnit, writer - HotPod newsletter) to recommend great podcasts and speak to creators.
Firstly, a round up of some addictive new listening:
Nice White Parents (New York Times, Serial)
You're Wrong About
The Comb (BBC World Service)
Bad People (BBC Sounds)
The culture podcast The Cut from New York Magazine has recently relaunched with a new host - Avery Trufelman. Avery joins to discuss what's in store for the new podcast, and what she's learned from her years as a producer and reporter at 99% Invisible.
Caroline chooses some superb game show podcasts to keep you entertained:
Triviality
Make My Day with Josh Gondelman
Punch Up The Jam
Got It
Smash Boom Best
and comedians Fern Brady and Alison Spittle discuss their new game show for BBC Sounds - Wheel of Misfortune - where they turn tragedy into comedy.
8/20/2020 • 59 minutes, 49 seconds
Holidays In Your Headphones
Staying at home this summer? No problem!
Amanda Litherland and Chrystal Genesis suggest podcasts that let you visit museums, art galleries and the great outdoors all over the world - from the comfort of your headphones.
And there's something to keep the little ones entertained too! CBeebies star Maddie Moate discusses her new podcast Maddie's Sound Explorers - and chats about the rise of family friendly podcasts.
Recommended this week:
The National Trust Podcast
Women Who Travel - Conde Nast Traveler
Black Women Travel Podcast
The Armchair Explorer
Maddie's Sound Explorers
Art Matters Podcast - Art UK
The Lonely Palette
Simon Schama - The Great Gallery Tours - Radio 4 and BBC Sounds
Bow Down: Women In Art - Frieze
Dialogues: The David Zwirner Podcast
8/13/2020 • 58 minutes, 42 seconds
Anti-racist activism, bingeworthy documentaries and other new listens.
Amanda Litherland and Scott Bryan recommend great new podcasts and speak to creators.
Firstly, some bingeworthy documentary and real life podcasts:
The Town That Didn't Stare (Nick Hilton & Podot)
Rabbit Hole (The New York Times)
Real Dictators (Noiser)
The Reality of Reality TV with Fleur East (Planet Radio)
We hear from Shade podcast creator Lou Mensah about her series of discussions around creativity and anti-racism.
And a selection of other notable new listens:
The Joe Wicks Podcast (BBC Sounds)
When Someone Great Is Gone (Izzy Lee-Poulton and Transmission Roundhouse)
The Harrowing (Storyglass)
Crossbread (ABC)
7/30/2020 • 57 minutes, 33 seconds
British Podcast Award Winners 2020
Following on from this week's British Podcast Awards ceremony, Amanda Litherland speaks to some of this year's winners.
Firstly, the awards co-creator Matt Deegan takes up behind the scenes at the virtual ceremony, which involved 19 outside broadcasts.
Then we hear from the team behind Best New Podcast, The Log Books. Tash Walker, Adam Smith and Shivani Dave discuss how they used the archive logs of Switchboard - the LGBTQ+ helpline, to tell stories from the community in the 70s and 80s.
Helena Merriman, creator of Best Radio Podcast and Moment Of The Year winner Tunnel 29, gives tips on successful storytelling.
And we speak to Podcast of the Year and Best Sex & Relationships podcast - Brown Girls Do It Too.
Presenters Poppy Begum and Rubina Pabani, and producer Rayhan Rahman talk about how their podcast has opened up conversations around sex in the British-Asian community.
7/16/2020 • 58 minutes, 15 seconds
Neil Gaiman and Audio Fiction
Neil Gaiman speaks to Amanda Litherland and Ella Watts about the new audio adaptation of his DC comic book series The Sandman, out next week on Audible. Neil discusses his love of audio fiction, and the Radio 4 dramas and comedies that have inspired him since childhood.
Also, David Devereux from Tin Can Audio discusses his new podcast The Dungeon Economic Model.
And Kaitlin Statz and Travis Vengroff from Fool & Scholar Productions offer tips on crafting adventures in your headphones.
7/8/2020 • 1 hour, 1 minute, 50 seconds
Movie nostalgia and podcasts without borders
Take your seats for a showcase of movie podcasts.
Suchandrika Chakrabarti joins Amanda Litherland to talk about the podcasts that have caught their attention this week, from bees to media giants.
Plus Isabelle Roughol talks about her new project Borderline.
Featuring:
Oh Hello, the p'dcast
Land of the Giants
Living Beeing
Obsessed With... I May Destroy You
You Must Remember This
Scriptnotes
Black Men Can't Jump (in Hollywood)
Unspooled
The Next Picture Show
7/2/2020 • 59 minutes, 28 seconds
Podcasting in 2020: a half-time report
Greg Cochrane joins Amanda Litherland to offer a half time report into podcasting in 2020.
Which episodes have particularly captured listener's attentions? What are the trends? How is podcasting adapting to new challenges as a business, and as an art form?
Also, there's no getting away from talking about the effects the pandemic has had. Adam Fleming reflects on the challenges of reporting the last few months' news on The Coronavirus Newscast, and shares details on what's next for the podcast.
Renay Richardson, CEO of Broccoli content discusses the Equality In Audio pact, an initiative to improve representation in the audio industry.
And what can independent podcasts do to encourage a sense of community amongst listeners? What services exist to help them financially? We hear from Riley and Milo, two of the hosts of Trashfuture, about how the membership platform Patreon has helped their podcast thrive.
Plus Amanda and Greg pick out a few of 2020's most engaging and impactful episodes
Featuring:
1Xtra Talks Special - George Floyd and Black Lives Matter
Wind of Change
Happy Mum Happy Baby - The Duchess of Cambridge on the early years
Reply All - The Case of the Missing Hit
Grounded, with Louis Theroux - Miriam Margolyes
6/25/2020 • 1 hour, 1 second
Pride podcasts and Refugee week
Amanda Litherland and Scott Bryan recommend great podcasts and speak to their creators.
First, a selection of new series:
Boom/Bust: The Rise and Fall of HQ Trivia (The Ringer)
Nut Jobs (Audible)
The Stubborn Light of Things (Melissa Harrison)
Changes with Annie Mac
Her Spirit Podcasts
And as we are in the middle of Pride month, some recommended LGBTQ+ listening from:
Pride And Joy (BBC Sounds)
Anthems - Pride (Broccoli Content)
I'm Grand Mam
Growing Up With Galdem
Then we speak to podcaster and refugee Abdulwahab Tahan about his new series Integrate That, launched as part of UK Refugee Week. We hear how the podcast tells stories with refugee voices front and centre.
And continuing our review of some of this year's nominations for the British Podcast Awards, we hear who is nominated in the Best Entertainment category:
George Ezra & Friends
Help I Sexted My Boss
No Country For Young Women
Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster
Sam Walker's Desert Diaries
Something Rhymes with Purple
6/18/2020 • 57 minutes, 27 seconds
Let's Go Outside
Recorded outside in a London park (socially distanced!) Amanda Litherland and Chrystal Genesis recommend some great podcasts and speak to creators.
Firstly, following on from the Black Lives Matter protests happening across the world, a selection of podcasts to help you learn about the history of race and racism, and actions you can take now. Including Scene On Radio series 2 Seeing White, About Race with Reni Eddo-Lodge and NPR's Code Switch.
Also suggestions of nature podcasts which discuss environmental activism and encourage positive change. Including Costing The Earth, Mothers of Invention, Black Nature Narrative, Outrage and Optimism, and So Hot Right Now.
And what is a branded podcast?
More and more companies are not just buying advertising, but commissioning entire podcast series to spread the word about their brand.
We hear from Radio Wolfgang's Holly Aquilina and Elle Scott, the team behind last year's award winning 'Selfridges Hot Air' to find out why companies are investing in this medium, and what goes into creating a successful series.
We also hear the 2020 British Podcast Award nominations for Best Branded podcast; #QueerAF, DeepMind: The Podcast, Meet Me At The Museum, On the Marie Curie Couch, The Penguin Podcast, and The Rough Guide to Everywhere.
You can contact the show at podcastradiohour@bbc.co.uk
6/4/2020 • 55 minutes, 48 seconds
Podcasting in the pandemic - with The Archers, Deborah Frances-White and more
How have podcasts changed under current circumstances?
Amanda Litherland speaks to cast and crew from The Archers about their new format - we hear from Sunny Ormonde (Lilian Bellamy) and producer Jessica Bunch.
Deborah Frances-White discusses how The Guilty Feminist has adapted and continued despite live audience recordings being impossible for the time being.
And a variety of Podcast Radio Hour listeners reveal how the situation has affected their podcast production, both positively and negatively.
We hear from Soho Bites, Centuries of Sound, Alternative Stories and Fake Realities, Creative Cuppa, In Writing with Hattie Crisell, Wooden Overcoats, and The Hardy Report.
5/28/2020 • 57 minutes, 28 seconds
Super short series, Jacob Hawley, and other new releases
Amanda Litherland and Caroline Crampton recommend super short podcasts. And Jacob Hawley chats about his latest series for BBC Sounds, 'Jacob Hawley's Job Centre'.
Recommended this week
Short series to learn something:
The World According to Sound
50 Things That Changed The Modern Economy
The Story Behind
On This Day In Esoteric Political History
Short fiction/story series:
Listen, Rinse, Repeat
Chompers
The Roommate From Hell
Havisham Kills Time
Sam Walker's Desert Island Diaries
Short thoughtful podcasts:
10 Things That Scare Me
Now For Tomorrow
The Rob Auton Daily Podcast
The Slowdown
New Podcasts:
Jacob Hawley's Job Centre
The Missionary
Swipe Left Swipe Left
You can contact the show by emailing podcastradiohour@bbc.co.uk
5/21/2020 • 1 hour, 4 seconds
Eurovision, Prison, and Parenting
Amanda Litherland and Greg Cochrane recommend a selection of podcasts, including great new releases, podcasts for new parents and podcasts celebrating Eurovision.
Recommended this week:
James Acaster's Perfect Sounds (BBC Sounds)
Dom Joly's Earworm (Audible)
Prison Bag (Falling Tree)
Son of a Hitman (Spotify)
True Spies (Cup & Nuzzle)
Over The Road (Radiotopia)
Parenting Podcasts:
Crib Notes
Nappy Days
Rob Beckett and Josh Widdicombe's Lockdown Parenting Hell
Eurovision/European Podcasts:
Vision Again
Second Cherry
The Nordic Podcast
Britalian
5/14/2020 • 58 minutes, 2 seconds
Interviews to inspire
Amanda Litherland revisits the Podcast Radio Hour archive to see what budding podcasters can learn from some of her most inspirational guests:
Ira Glass talks about the beginnings of This American Life.
Dame Kelly Holmes discusses the challenge of moving from interviewee to interviewer.
Clare Balding highlights the importance of getting a great idea on its feet.
Jay Rayner talks about the joy of conversation over a good meal.
George The Poet reveals how he combined disciplines to create the award winning Have You Heard George's Podcast.
Jessie Ware and her mum Lennie talk about the much loved Table Manners.
David Dimbleby shows how it's never too late to start your own series
And Stephen Fry expresses his love for podcasts as a unique medium to feed our curiosity.
5/7/2020 • 58 minutes, 17 seconds
Lockdown Learning
Amanda Litherland and Scott Bryan suggest podcasts for lockdown learning -
our selection of fact filled suggestions cam help with home schooling, or swotting up for a virtual quiz!
Deborah James from the BBC Bitesize podcasts tells us about all the brilliant teaching resources available on tv, radio and online.
Recommended listens:
Home School History with Greg Jenner
Frank Skinner's Poetry Podcast
The Allusionist
Something Rhymes With Purple
Radiolab for Kids
99% Invisible
David Walliams' Marvellous Musical Podcast
The Listening Service
Song Exploder
Everything Under The Sun
Radio Nonsense
Sarah and Duck (CBeebies)
Also, we suggest some great new series which have launched during the last few weeks, recorded remotely:
Grounded with Louis Theroux
Locked Together from Audible
Out For Lunch/ In For Lunch With Jay Rayner
Culture Call from the Financial Times
And a couple of TV companion podcasts
Final Answer
Obsessed with Normal People
4/30/2020 • 53 minutes, 29 seconds
British Indie Comedy Drama Podcasts
Amanda Litherland and Ella Watts recommend a selection of independently produced comedy drama podcasts, to make you laugh during lockdown.
Featuring whole episodes and extracts from:
Quid Pro Euro (Felix Trench)
Marscorp (Definitely Human)
The Unseen Hour (James Carney)
North West Footwear Database (Tim Foley)
4/23/2020 • 1 hour, 56 seconds
Top 10 New Podcasts of 2019
Another chance to hear Amanda Litherland and critic Greg Cochrane pick their top ten favourite new podcasts of 2019. Including:
Dolly Parton's America
The Missing Cryptoqueen - presenter Jamie Bartlett and Georgia Catt chat to Podcast Radio Hour about the making of the series.
Slow Burn Series 3
The Sun King
Hunting Warhead
Murderabilia
The Next Episode - editor Dino Sofos chats about this new news podcast aimed at a younger audience.
Giant
Pleasure Studies
You're Dead To Me
4/16/2020 • 56 minutes, 35 seconds
Easter Celebration in Isolation
For Easter Weekend, Podcast Radio Hour considers religious podcasts and how they are helping communities come together remotely during the coronavirus crisis.
BBC Religion and Ethics journalist Sophia Smith Galer suggests some of her favourites, including:
Keeping It 101
Unorthodox
Interfaithish
Catholic Stuff You Should Know
Elizabeth Oldfield from the religion and society think tank Theos speaks to Amanda Litherland about their podcast series The Sacred
You can hear Sophia's series on Religion In The Digital Age for the BBC World Service by searching for Heart and Soul on BBC Sounds.
And Amanda recommends a few other podcasts to keep you informed and entertained over the weekend:
The Walkers Switch
Bitch Bitch Bitch - Radio 2
99% Invisible - episode 397 Wipe Out
Make A Difference - BBC Local Radio
If you'd like to suggest any podcasts you can email podcastradiohour@bbc.co.uk
Happy Easter!
4/9/2020 • 57 minutes, 14 seconds
Podcasts To Stay Home With
Amanda Litherland and Greg Cochrane recommend podcasts to keep you entertained at home, including:
United Zingdom (BBC Sounds)
How To Build A Healthy City (Financial Times)
You'll Do (BBC Radio 4)
Gossipmongers (Acast)
The Last Bohemians (Kate Hutchinson)
Then the journalist Sue Mitchell joins Amanda down the line to discuss Radio 4's Girl Taken, an investigative series where Sue and former soldier Rob Lawrie search for the truth in the case of a missing refugee child.
And Greg recommends some of the latest new music releases, including:
Lifers, Ed Gamble's new podcast for Spotify
Rivals, from iHeartRadio
and Daughters of Reykjavik The Podcast.
As always you can contact Amanda on podcastradiohour@bbc.co.uk
Stay safe and happy listening!
4/2/2020 • 59 minutes, 15 seconds
Positive Distraction Podcasts
Amanda Litherland and Scott Bryan recommend podcasts to distract your mind away from the news.
This week we focus on series which are nothing to do with the virus, but if you do want the latest updates in podcast form then subscribe to The Coronavirus Newscast on BBC Sounds.
We also recommend Stories Of Our Times as another good news podcast.
Right now we all need distractions more than ever, here's what we suggest this week:
The John Dredge Nothing To Do With Anything Show
The Immaculate Deception
Anthems by Broccoli Content
The Space Programme - Fun Kids Radio
Dr Kevin Fong chats about the new series of 13 Minutes To The Moon from the BBC World Service
We also suggest some podcasts which might help with virus related anxiety:
Field Recordings
The Happiness Lab with Dr Laurie Santos
Feel Better Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee
Get Sleepy
And if that's not enough to be getting on with, finally Scott suggests some great tv box sets to binge on too.
3/27/2020 • 56 minutes, 16 seconds
Tough Talking
Podcasts can be a vital tool in exploring tough topics, this week Amanda Litherland is joined by Chrystal Genesis to recommend great series which tackle issues such as addiction and recovery.
We hear from Melissa Rice and Jade Wye, hosts of BBC Radio 5 Live's Hooked: The Unexpected Addicts, a series which only began a year ago after winning the Rachel Bland New Podcast Award, and has now won the Broadcasting Press Guild award for Radio Programme Of The Year.
Dave from Dopey podcast dials in from New York to tell us how his podcast helps thousands of recovering addicts and their loved ones around the world.
We also hear excerpts from BBC Sounds' Jacob Hawley on Drugs, and Wondery's Dying For Sex.
3/20/2020 • 54 minutes, 15 seconds
The Art of Storytelling
Amanda Litherland and Becca Bryers recommend great storytelling podcasts from the UK. Includes interviews with Ross Sutherland (Imaginary Advice) and Eleanor McDowall (Short Cuts).
Also featuring BBC's Mortem, Fake Heiress, and Dan Leone's Podcast Meander.
3/13/2020 • 58 minutes, 12 seconds
The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy special
Anne-Marie Luff and Rachel Wheeley kick off Radio 4 Extra's cosmic weekend to celebrate the 42nd Anniversary of 'The Hitchhikers Guide to The Galaxy'; blasting through space to find stellar sci-fi audio-fiction podcasts.
We also recommend Beware of the Leopard, the complete podcast compendium to Douglas Adams' creation, and speak to it's creator Mark Steadman.
Podcast recommendations include:
We Fix Space Junk
The Strange Case of Starship Iris
Diary of a Space Archivist
3/6/2020 • 1 hour, 2 minutes, 23 seconds
New Podcasts for March
Amanda Litherland and Scott Bryan recommend top podcasts to listen to this month. Includes a chat with Luke Doran and James Ward from The Boring Talks about their new series.
Also recommended:
Americast
Happy Mum Happy Baby
You're Dead To Me
We Need To Talk About The British Empire
In Writing with Hattie Crisell
Dogcast with Clare Balding
Edge of England
2/28/2020 • 57 minutes, 15 seconds
TV Companion Podcasts
Amanda Litherland and Suchandrika Chakrabarti explore the rising success of TV companion podcasts.
They speak to podcasters Helen Zaltzman and Jenny Owen Youngs about their podcast Veronica Mars Investigations, which recaps the 00s teen show. Why are there still so many fans eager to hear discussion about it?
And Lily Ames, Head of Production at Chalk and Blade chats about their series Obsessed With... made for BBC Sounds. Each series of the podcast focuses on a hit BBC show, like Line of Duty, Peaky Blinders or Killing Eve. How can podcasts give viewers a glimpse behind the scenes on their favorite programme?
Amanda and Suchandrika also recommend a few of their favourite TV companion series: The Chernobyl Podcast, Inside Inside No 9 and The Good Place: The Podcast.
2/21/2020 • 58 minutes, 54 seconds
Local Podcasts For Local People
Amanda Litherland and Greg Cochrane travel to Shaftesbury to recommend podcasts celebrating local areas, with series from around the UK and beyond.
They meet Keri Jones who makes This Is Alfred, a podcast about the Dorset town, and on the way listen to other series including Speak Up Sunderland, Buddy's Buddies, Gibraltar Stories and Soho Then.
2/14/2020 • 59 minutes, 53 seconds
Classical music podcasts with Tom Service
Tom Service of 'The Listening Service' and producer Clara Nissen pick some favourite classical music podcasts, including 'Aria Code', 'Case Notes' and 'This Classical Life'.
2/7/2020 • 54 minutes, 50 seconds
New Podcasts For February
Amanda Litherland and Scott Bryan recommend great listens for February.
They chat to Clara Amfo about her new series 'This City', and Steve Bland discusses the Rachael Bland New Podcast Award from BBC 5Live.
Other recommended series:
Your Broccoli Weekly
Early Work with Rhys James
Stephen Fry's 7 Deadly Sins
Cheerful Book Club
Chasing Cosby
We Are History
In Search of Black History with Bonnie Greer
Scene On Radio
1/31/2020 • 57 minutes, 44 seconds
Be Kind To Your Mind with Caroline Crampton
Amanda Litherland and Caroline Crampton recommend self improvement podcasts, and chat to Where Is My Mind's Niall Breslin and Forever 35's Doree Shafrir.
Also featuring Caught Off Guard with Patricia Bright and Thirst Aid Kit.
1/24/2020 • 1 hour, 6 seconds
Talking food with Chrystal Genesis
Amanda Litherland and Chrystal Genesis recommend podcasts telling the stories behind food.
Including Dinner For One, The Racist Sandwich Podcast, The Food Chain, All Hail Kale and The Splendid Table.
1/17/2020 • 1 hour, 2 minutes, 24 seconds
New podcasts for January - with Clare Balding
Amanda Litherland and Scott Bryan recommend the best new podcasts out this month, including a chat with Clare Balding about her new show 'Dogcast'.
Also recommended:
The Rob Auton Daily Podcast
The Bugle Presents The Last Post With Alice Fraser
Talking To Actors with Anna Mann
CliMates
How Did We Get Here?
Money 101
Blood Ties
Obsessed with... Dracula
1/10/2020 • 1 hour, 2 minutes, 48 seconds
British Audio Fiction with Ella Watts
Amanda Litherland and Ella Watts recommend some great British audio fiction. Featuring We Fix Space Junk, Victoriocity and Murmurs. Also David K Barnes discusses Wooden Overcoats.
1/3/2020 • 59 minutes, 13 seconds
O Come All Ye Podcasts
Amanda Litherland presents a festive selection of podcasts to get you through the holidays.
Featuring Christmas specials from: You're Dead To Me, Box Of Delights, Shedunnit, Multi Story, Hooked: The Unexpected Addicts, No Country For Young Women, Girl Chaat, Do The Right Thing and Date Fight
12/20/2019 • 59 minutes, 57 seconds
100 Podcast Radio Hours!
Podcast Radio Hour is celebrating it's 100th episode!
Amanda Litherland shares 10 things she has learned about podcasting. Includes chats with Ira Glass and Stephen Fry.
12/13/2019 • 55 minutes, 32 seconds
New Podcasts For December
Amanda Litherland and Scott Bryan recommend this month's best new podcasts, including a chat with David Dimbleby about his series 'The Sun King' - an in-depth study of Rupert Murdoch and his empire.
Also featuring:
Deep Down and Desi: But Where Are You Really From?
Max and Ivan: Fugitives
Mystery On The Rocks
The Bank Robber Diaries
Hunting Warhead
The Crown Official Podcast
Cautionary Tales
In This Place: Gaychester
The Log Books
So Lucky With Dawn O'Porter
Off The Record with Alistair Bunkell
On The Marie Curie Couch
The Political Party with Matt Forde
12/6/2019 • 1 hour, 2 minutes, 12 seconds
What makes a great live podcast?
Amanda Litherland is joined by Suchandrika Chakrabarti (Freelance Pod) to discuss podcast live events. How can you create a great show? How is it different to a normal recording?
Podcasters Monty Onanuga and Sadia Azmat (No Country For Young Women) and Ben Partridge (Beef and Dairy Network) discuss adapting their shows for the stage.
Promoter Ollie Catchpole (WAVE Festivals) gives his insights into the audience experience, and gives advice for podcasters who want to take their show to a live venue for the first time.
11/29/2019 • 53 minutes, 27 seconds
No Such Thing As Elis and John
Amanda Litherland and Luke Jones chat to the hosts of two popular podcasts.
First, a fun fact filled conversation with Anna Ptaszynski and Dan Schreiber from No Such Thing As A Fish - the weekly podcast from the makers of QI.
Then the comedians and best friends Elis James and John Robins chat about their 5Live show and their new series How Do You Cope... With Elis and John - conversations with inspirational people about the challenges they have faced.
11/22/2019 • 57 minutes, 7 seconds
George The Poet Special
Amanda Litherland chats to George The Poet about his audio inspirations. Featuring clips from Have You Heard George's Podcast and his Radio 4 special. From November 2019.
11/15/2019 • 55 minutes, 41 seconds
Comedy Podcasts with Jake Yapp
Laura Grimshaw and Jake Yapp discuss new comedy podcasts. This week, Jake and Laura chat to Dave Cribb and Kiri Pritchard-Mclean from the Amusical Podcast at the Aberystwyth Comedy Festival. They also talk to Julia Raeside about her TV memories podcast Box of Delights, and to Tom Neenan about his new BBC Sounds podcast, Tom Neenan is Not All Men.
11/8/2019 • 1 hour, 25 seconds
New for November with Scott Bryan
Amanda Litherland and Scott Bryan recommend the best new podcasts for November.
Also, Radiolab's Jad Abumrad chats about his new series Dolly Parton's America.
To Make You Laugh:
Daddy Look At Me, Heavy Pencil, Second Best: A DnD Adventure, Sue Perkins: An Hour Or So With.
To Keep You Informed:
Hooked: The Unexpected Addicts, Rachel Botsman's Trust Issues, Polarised
To Keep You Up At Night:
Dolly Parton's America, Tunnel 29, Tell It: Random Men Pay My Bills, Homeless Bodies And Other Stories From The Wellcome Collection.
To Make You Feel Good:
Power Hour, Midnight Chats
11/1/2019 • 1 hour, 6 minutes, 42 seconds
Get Happy with Chrystal Genesis
How do you measure happiness? Could you be happier?
This week Amanda Litherland is joined by Chrystal Genesis to recommend podcasts that make you feel better, including:
-A comic look at self help in By The Book
-Understanding what our feelings are telling us, with Philippa Perry in Fearne Cotton's Happy Place
-Why silver medalists are nowhere near as happy as bronze medallists! Dr Laurie Santos speaks to Podcast Radio Hour about The Happiness Lab, where she shares insight into psychological studies on the science of happiness, and shares some practical, easy tips on how to make your life better every day.
-How everything is 'figure-out-able' in an excerpt from Happier with Gretchen Rubin
-And how fake productivity might be getting you down, from Ten Percent Happier with Dan Harris.
10/24/2019 • 55 minutes, 28 seconds
Dungeons and Dragoncasts? More audio fiction with Ella Watts
Why are four-hour-long Dungeons and Dragons podcasts so popular?
Amanda Litherland and Ella Watts explore Actual Play podcasts - where people play board games (often DnD) in real time. Episodes are often multiple hours in length, with some shows reaching 100+ episodes per season. This format has seen huge success, with the most popular series boasting millions of fans all over the world, selling out huge arena live shows, and even inspiring graphic novels and animated adaptations.
Podcast Radio Hour speaks to stars from two of the most popular series - Critical Role's Marisha Ray, and The Adventure Zone's Travis McElroy. What are the challenges of delivering such a complex, improvised show, week after week?
And just what is it about these super long form podcasts that makes them so appealing to fans? Ella is a self-proclaimed 'Critter', as is Radio 4 & 4Extra Assistant Producer Chris Pearson, who joins to discuss his experience in the Critical Role fan community, and to answer Amanda's most important question - where do you find the time?!
10/17/2019 • 54 minutes, 27 seconds
Music Podcasts with Phil Taggart
Radio 1 DJ Phil Taggart joins Ali Gardiner for a rapid rundown of music podcasts.
There will be podcasts about musicians, featuring musicians and music-lovers, as well as musical soundscapes that really enhance the speech.
The pick of the podcasts will include Digging Deep with Robert Plant, Stay Free: The Story Of The Clash, Pops! The Louis Armstrong Story, and an entertaining roundtable show from the BBC, Blood On The Tracks.
We’ll hear from BBC 6 Music's Matt Everitt, Rob Fitzpatrick at Spotify, as well as Axel Kacoutié, a poet, composer and the sound designer of the Guardian's Today in Focus podcast. He shares a few insights into creative possibilities waiting for podcasters in music libraries.
10/10/2019 • 1 hour, 18 seconds
New Releases For October - With Scott Bryan
Amanda Litherland and Scott Bryan recommend the best podcasts out this month.
To Make You Laugh:
You're Dead To Me
The Birthday Game
Ru Paul's Drag Race
Dear Joan And Jericha
To Keep You Up At Night:
The Missing Crypto Queen
Passenger List
Murderabilia
To Make You Feel Good:
The Breakup Monologues
MusicPlus
Modern Birth
To Keep You Informed:
The Documentary Podcast - Detours (BBC World Service)
You're Booked
10/3/2019 • 58 minutes, 38 seconds
Around The World with Chrystal Genesis - Africa
Amanda Litherland and Chrystal Genesis recommend some great podcasts made on the African continent.
Including Sound Africa's true crime series They Killed Dulcie, Afroqueer, Not Your African Cliché and Afropop Worldwide.
9/26/2019 • 53 minutes, 36 seconds
Plant podcasts with Frances Tophill
From September 2019. Frances Tophill of Gardeners' World and producer Clara Nissen get out into the garden to dig up some fascinating - and surprising - podcasts about plants. Plus, Charlotte Petts on her award-winning show 'Growing Wild', and Jane Perrone on her indoor gardening podcast 'On the Ledge'.
9/19/2019 • 57 minutes, 45 seconds
Behind the Scenes: Beyond Today
Presenters recommend their favourite podcasts. Amanda Litherland speaks to editor John Shields and producer Seren Jones about how the Beyond Today podcast is made.
9/12/2019 • 57 minutes, 44 seconds
New releases for September - with Scott Bryan
Amanda Litherland and Scott Bryan recommend the best recently released and upcoming podcasts:
To Make You Laugh:
The Gemma Collins Podcast, London Actually, Brown Girls Do It Too
To Keep You Informed:
The Bellingcat Podcast, DeepMind: The Podcast, Obsessed With... Peaky Blinders
To Keep You Up At Night:
Unheard: The Fred And Rose West Tapes, Unravel, Hag
To Make You Feel Good:
Birth Stories With Clemmie Hooper, Things I Told My Daughter, The Hang With Gregory Porter
9/5/2019 • 1 hour, 1 minute, 35 seconds
Podcasting around the UK - with Becca Bryers
Amanda Litherland visits Becca Bryers in Leicester to recommend listens from all corners of the UK.
Featuring:
Cornwall Woman
Scotland Outdoors
Weird Norfolk
Breaking Bread
Best Of Belfast
8/29/2019 • 56 minutes, 45 seconds
Bank Holiday Fiesta!
Need some podcast recommendations for the long weekend? Look no further - the BBC's finest podcasters recommend some of their favourite listens to Amanda Litherland.
Brexitcast's Chris Mason begins, recommending RadioMoments - Conversations, a podcast by David Lloyd which tells the life stories of some influential people in radio. He also recommends Media Masters and 13 Minutes To The Moon.
Amanda chats to Fi Glover and Jane Garvey about Fortunately, before they suggest some of their own favourite downloads: The Archers, Talking Politics, The Times Red Box, For The Many, The High Low, The Teachers Pet and Murder In The Graveyard.
Caitlin Benedict, host of NB: My Non Binary Life recommends Gender Reveal, Someone Knows Something and Uncover.
And Linda Adey from The Next Episode asks - Have You Heard George's Podcast? She also suggests The Receipts, The Sista Collective and Ear Hustle.
8/22/2019 • 55 minutes, 18 seconds
How to Start a Podcast - with Renay Richardson
Have you ever been listening to a podcast and thought "I'd love to do this!"? Well now is the time to start. This week is full of essential tips and advice for podcasters both beginner and advanced.
Amanda Litherland is joined by Renay Richardson from Broccoli Content, who has produced podcasts including the award winning About Race With Reni Eddo Lodge. Renay discusses how she started in the industry and what she has learned working in audio.
They chat to James Cator, Head of Podcast Partnerships at Spotify UK, to find out what it takes to get noticed, and how best to engage with your audience.
Tolani Shoneye aka Tolly T from The Receipts shares her story of how her podcast came about, and discusses why it has been so successful.
And Rachel Simpson from the Commissioning Team at BBC Sounds shares some of her top tips for starting and developing a hit podcast.
If you have any podcasts that you think we should hear about then get in touch by emailing podcastradiohour@bbc.co.uk
8/15/2019 • 57 minutes, 21 seconds
Taking it outside with Nell Frizzell
The journalist Nell Frizzell and producer Luke Doran take a walk to talk about outdoor podcasts.
The featured podcasts are;
'Folk On Foot', in which Matthew Bannister talks to the singer and writer Karine Polwart around Fala Moor. We then interview Matthew Bannister about the 'Folk On Foot' podcast, whilst walking through Hampstead Heath.
'The Wild', a podcast from KUOW in Seattle, in which the ecologist Chris Morgan goes on 'The Hunt To Find Just One Square Inch Of Silence', which takes him deep in to the Hoh rainforest. Chris then answers questions about the podcast, and tells us how he may have created a proto-podcast when he was younger, and it was all about red squirrels.
'Walking', a podcast with no talking, just walking, made by the writer Jon Mooallem.
First broadcast BBC Radio 4 Extra in August 2019.
8/8/2019 • 1 hour, 3 minutes, 38 seconds
New releases for August with Scott Bryan
Amanda Litherland and Scott Bryan recommend the best new podcasts to listen to this month.
Featuring: The Pivot, Talk Tech To Me, Where Is My Mind, From The Heart with Floella Benjamin, After, Women Like Us, Comedy Club 4 Kids Radio Nonsense, Giles Coren Has No Idea, and Set Meals.
8/1/2019 • 1 hour, 57 seconds
Liverpool with Caroline Crampton
Amanda Litherland and Caroline Crampton are in Liverpool sampling some of the city's best podcasts.
They speak to Neil Atkinson from The Anfield Wrap, a podcast that tells the story of supporting Liverpool FC from the heart of the city. Non-football fans worry not - Amanda and Caroline don't know anything about the sport either! But the story of this podcast's success is one we can all learn from.
They produce up to 14 podcasts per week as well as video and written content, some of which is for their paid subscribers. While football is the main focus, the shows are rooted in the life and culture of the city. They discuss how this inclusive and authentic approach has made the podcast a resounding hit.
Also featured are Beatles City and Sodajerker On Songwriting.
Beatles City is the podcast that brings you the story of the band that shook the world from the place where it all began. Listen to memories of The Beatles’ early days told in the voices of the people who were there, from members of the Quarrymen to the band’s school friends, and other guests who have a unique insight into the band.
Sodajerker is a songwriting team from Liverpool, founded by co-writers Simon Barber and Brian O’Connor. Their podcast Sodajerker On Songwriting features in depth interviews with some of the world’s most successful songwriters, such as Alicia Keys, Nile Rodgers and Paul Simon. We'll hear from their episode with Sir Paul McCartney, and chat to Simon and Brian about how they have managed to book such incredible guests.
7/25/2019 • 54 minutes, 49 seconds
Moon podcasts with Chrystal Genesis
Amanda Litherland and Chrystal Genesis recommend podcasts to celebrate 50 years since man first landed on the moon, and learn all about it.
13 Minutes To The Moon is a podcast from the BBC World Service, presented by Kevin Fong. The full story of the people who made Apollo 11 happen and prevented it from going badly wrong.
Gravity Assist is a podcast made by NASA. In season 3 we join Jim Green, NASA’s chief scientist, to dive into the Moon’s history and mysteries, as well as NASA’s plans to send astronauts there by 2024.
Moonrise investigates the origin story behind America’s decision to go to the moon. It's a podcast from The Washington Post, presented by Lillian Cunnigham. Amanda and Chrystal chat to Lillian about the making of the series.
To The Moon And Beyond is a five-part podcast series from The Conversation. Through interviews with academic experts around the world science journalist Miriam Frankel and space scientist Martin Archer explore the past 50 years of space exploration and what the 50 years ahead have in store. This featured clip explores what going to the moon meant for humanity, and asks why people believe in the conspiracy theory that the landing was faked.
This American Life episode 670 - Beware The Jabberwock also delves into the world of conspiracy theorists.
Radio 4's The Life Scientific is a great place to hear more brilliant science stories. Amanda and Chrystal recommend for starters the episodes on Helen Sharman, Professor Monica Grady, and Maggie Aderin-Pocock.
7/18/2019 • 1 hour, 36 seconds
Sophie Black: The Longest Shortest Time, Everything Under The Sun
Made for 4 Extra. Hosts Anne-Marie Luff and Sophie Black share their favourite family-focused podcasts.
We review The Longest Shortest Time and speak to its host Andrea Silenzi. Plus we hear some of the kids’ podcast Everything Under The Sun and talk to its creator Molly Oldfield.
7/11/2019 • 59 minutes, 11 seconds
New releases for July - with Scott Bryan
Amanda Litherland is joined by Scott Bryan to recommend a wide selection of new podcasts for July. Featuring an interview with Jacob Hawley. Made for 4 Extra.
7/5/2019 • 57 minutes, 41 seconds
LGBTQ+ representation in audio fiction
Podcast consultant Ella Watts joins Amanda Litherland to discuss the representation of LGBTQ+ relationships in audio fiction.
They speak to Jeffrey Cranor, one of the co-creators of Welcome To Night Vale.
Also featuring:
Ars Paradoxica, and a conversation with creator Mischa Stanton.
The Penumbra Podcast
Love and Luck
6/27/2019 • 1 hour, 1 minute, 1 second
Arts, culture and global perspectives with Chrystal Genesis
Amanda Litherland is joined by journalist and curator Chrystal Genesis from the award winning arts and culture podcast Stance.
They recommend podcasts with diverse, global perspectives: Coming Out Stories, Tell Them I Am and Historically Black.
Coming Out Stories is hosted Emma Goswell and will take you to one the most important moments in many people’s lives.
It will perch you on sofas in suburban sitting rooms, stand you in front of officials' desks, put you at the centre of a crowd in a noisy classroom, everywhere where these conversations have happened. A podcast by What Goes On Media.
Tell Them I Am is about the small moments that define who we are and who we are not. The stories are universal. The voices are all Muslim. Host Misha Euceph opens a window into the lives of Tan France, Alia Shawkat, Ramy Youssef, Reza Aslan, Mercedes Iman Diamond and others.
It is a production of Southern California Public Radio.
Historically Black
Objects hold history. They're evocative of stories stamped in time. As part of The Washington Post's coverage of the Smithsonian's new National Museum of African American History and Culture, people submitted dozens of objects that make up their own lived experiences of black history, creating a "people's museum" of personal objects, family photos and more. The Historically Black podcast brings those objects and their stories to life through interviews, archival sound and music. A podcast from APM Reports, a production of Minnesota Public Radio.
6/20/2019 • 59 minutes, 16 seconds
Sexuality and gender with A Gay And A Non Gay
Amanda Litherland is joined by James Barr and Dan Hudson (A Gay And A Non Gay) to recommend podcasts discussing sexuality and gender. Bryan Safi from Throwing Shade is interviewed.
Also featuring: The Gender Knot and Qmunnity.
6/13/2019 • 58 minutes, 42 seconds
Scott Bryan: Out To Lunch With Jay Rayner, Duvet Days, RunPod
The writer, journalist and tv critic Scott Bryan joins Amanda Litherland to recommend great podcasts.
Jay Rayner discusses his podcast Out To Lunch:
One of the world's top food critics lunches big names in a restaurant of his choosing. Crackling anecdotes and blistering chat, lubricated by killer cooking. A podcast produced by Somethin’ Else / Jay Rayner.
Abby Hollick chats about the second series of BBC Sounds' Duvet Days, where she gets into bed with musicians and artists for frank under-the-cover chats. The new series launches with the singer and songwriter Emeli Sandé.
Also featuring RunPod with Jenni Falconer -the weekly run club you can join simply by listening. Jenni Falconer welcomes special guests who share that passion for running. A podcast produced by Global Media.
6/6/2019 • 59 minutes, 40 seconds
No Planet B and Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend
Laura Grimshaw and Jake Yapp recommend podcasts and chat to the creators. This week, Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend and No Planet B. Jake and Laura chat to Sona Movsesian and Matt Gourley from Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend, and to Gemma Arrowsmith, the creator/writer/presenter of No Planet B.
6/4/2019 • 59 minutes, 33 seconds
British Podcast Awards 2019
Amanda Litherland discusses the British Podcast Awards 2019.
She is joined by chair of judges, The Observer's radio critic Miranda Sawyer, alongside award co-founders Matt Hill and Matt Deegan.
George The Poet was the stand out winner of the night, taking home five gold awards including Podcast Of The Year for his show 'Have You Heard George's Podcast'. Amanda speaks to George and his podcast partner Benbrick at their studio in North London.
5/23/2019 • 59 minutes, 34 seconds
Rowan Slaney: Bird, What We Do In The Winter, Roam Schooled, Planet Puffin
Rowan Slaney joins Amanda Litherland to recommend some great podcasts: Bird, What We Do In The Winter and Roam Schooled.
Also, new BBC podcast Planet Puffin.
5/16/2019 • 59 minutes, 7 seconds
Audio Fiction with Ella Watts
Ella Watts joins Amanda Litherland to dive into the rich world of audio fiction. Featuring US podcast The Bright Sessions, UK series The Magnus Archives and BBC Sounds' Forest 404. Also featuring conversations with creators Lauren Shippen, Becky Ripley and Rusty Quill CEO Alexander J Newall.
The Bright Sessions is a science fiction podcast that follows a group of therapy patients. But these are not your typical patients - each has a unique supernatural ability. The show documents their struggles and discoveries as well as the motivations of their mysterious therapist, Dr. Bright.
The show is written and directed by Lauren Shippen.
Set in the 24th Century in a world where forests have been erased from history, Forest 404 is an immersive sci-fi thriller starring Pearl Mackie, Tanya Moodie and Pippa Haywood – with original music by Bonobo. The series is accompanied by a series of talks and soundscapes which further explore questions and themes of technology, nature and climate change.
The Magnus Archives is a podcast by Rusty Quill. It is an ongoing long-form anthology details the supernatural cases under investigation by the Magnus Institute and its archivists and boasts a dedicated cult following in addition to multiple award nominations. The series has more than 125 episodes in its catalogue and releases a new episode every week.
The show is written and performed by Jonathan Sims (along with guest actors) and directed by Alexander J Newall.
5/9/2019 • 1 hour, 2 minutes, 6 seconds
How I Found My Voice and Texting Keith Olbermann
Amanda Litherland speaks to Samira Ahmed and producer Farah Jassat about How I Found My Voice, and to Ros Atkins and Eli Sessions about Texting Keith Olbermann.
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. This Intelligence Squared podcast goes behind the celebrity to understand the journeys and inspirations that led to this moment - from writing a childhood diary to that life-changing concert or finding the courage to speak up. Hosted by Samira Ahmed, guests include Rose McGowan, Adam Buxton, Philip Pullman, Katherine Ryan and Benjamin Zephaniah. Produced by Farah Jassat.
Texting Keith Olbermann:
One night in 2016, BBC News anchor Ros Atkins was retweeted by the legendary American broadcaster Keith Olbermann. The comment? “Thank God you’re back."
Two years on, despite having never met, Keith and Ros were texting each other almost every day. Keith would send pictures of his dogs, the view from his Manhattan penthouse or the oysters that he was eating. He'd also send details of his latest ratings and thoughts on Ros's show. He even sponsored the match ball at the tiny football club at the end of Ros's road in London.
In Texting Keith Olbermann, Ros Atkins asks Keith what everyone was asking him: why is he doing it? And as Ros's wife realises he's texting Keith more than anyone apart from her, she has the same question for him. Two parallel conversations play out, as we hear funny, fascinating and sometimes awkward explorations of fame, money, death threats, being a TV anchor, and the backstories to some of the most notorious moments of Keith's career. We also find out what happens to this unconventional friendship when they meet in person.
5/2/2019 • 59 minutes, 25 seconds
Caroline Crampton: The Lonely Palette and Flash Forward
Amanda Litherland is joined by Caroline Crampton to recommend great podcasts.
This week, they recommend two independent podcasts and speak to their creators.
The Lonely Palette is an art history podcast by Tamar Avishai. In each episode Tamar focuses on one work of art and looks into the movement, the social context, the anecdotes, and anything and everything else that will make it as exciting to you as it is to her.
Flash Forward is a podcast about the future by Rose Eveleth. Each episode takes on a possible (or not so possible) future scenario — everything from the existence of artificial wombs, to what would happen if space pirates dragged a second moon to Earth.
4/25/2019 • 1 hour, 39 seconds
Lynsey Hipgrave: That Peter Crouch Podcast and The Offside Rule
The sports broadcaster Lynsey Hipgrave joins presenter Stuart Ross to discuss their favourite football podcasts and talk to the people behind them.
This week they chat to Tom Fordyce about ‘That Peter Crouch Podcast’, Kait Borsay and Hayley McQueen from ‘The Offside Rule’ and pay a visit to Bromley FC to hear about ‘Ravens Weekly’
4/18/2019 • 56 minutes, 7 seconds
Daily podcasts with Luke Jones
Amanda Litherland and Luke Jones recommend some of the best daily news podcasts from the UK. Including Today In Focus from The Guardian and The Intelligence from The Economist.
Also featuring a chat with Brexitcast producer Dino Sofos.
4/11/2019 • 1 hour, 9 minutes, 4 seconds
Indie podcasts with Renay Richardson
Made for 4 Extra. Amanda Litherland is joined by Renay Richardson to recommend some of the UK's best indie podcasts - The Casual Birder, Lecker, Freelance Pod and Why Are You Not A Doctor Yet.
4/4/2019 • 1 hour, 27 seconds
A History Of Podcasts
Made for 4 Extra. In a special bonus episode of Podcast Radio Hour, Amanda Litherland explores podcasting throughout history. With contributions from eminent historians Pirla Loof and Sef Waken.
Discover how a podcast inspired the Peasants' Revolt of 1381, why King Henry VIII launched his interview series, and hear an early advert recorded by Charles Dickens, recently uncovered from the BBC archive.
Written and presented by Amanda Litherland for BBC Radio 4 Extra.
3/31/2019 • 13 minutes, 29 seconds
Dame Kelly Holmes and NB
This week Amanda Litherland recommends two brilliant new podcasts.
Firstly, Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes discusses her new series 'What Do I Do?'
Having experienced her own difficulties with depression and self-harm, in this podcast Kelly sets out to discover how other people cope, talking to TV personalities, writers, comedians, journalists and more about their mental health. Including Davina McCall, Eddie Izzard, Alastair Campbell and Munroe Bergdorf.
After that Caitlin Benedict and Amrou Al-Kadhi join Amanda to talk about their BBC series 'NB'.
You might have heard the term non-binary. This is how it feels. Join Caitlin and Amrou as they ask the big questions about gender and identity.
3/29/2019 • 58 minutes, 41 seconds
Deborah Frances-White: Inside the Comedian and Fingers on Buzzers
Made for 4 Extra. Amanda Litherland is joined by Deborah Frances-White to recommend Inside the Comedian with David Reed, and Fingers on Buzzers with Lucy Porter and Jenny Ryan.
3/22/2019 • 59 minutes, 20 seconds
Alex Lowe: Brian & Roger and I am the EggPod
The actor and comedian Alex Lowe joins presenter Stuart Ross to discuss their favourite downloads and talk to the people behind them.
This week they chat to Alex’s occasional comedy partner Dan Skinner – famous for playing Angelos Epithemiou - about his latest podcast Brian & Roger, Chris Shaw from I am the EggPod, and encounter the spoof supernatural in Clinton Baptiste's Paranormal Podcast.
3/15/2019 • 1 hour, 32 seconds
International Women's Day
Renay and Amanda recommend great podcasts led by women. Otegha Uwagba joins them to discuss In Good Company. Plus, How To Own The Room, Julie, The Slowdown, and The Last Bohemians.
3/8/2019 • 56 minutes, 56 seconds
David McGuire: 'Personal Best' and 'Finding Drago'
Amanda Litherland and David McGuire recommend some comedy podcasts: 'Finding Drago' and 'Personal Best'.
3/1/2019 • 54 minutes, 52 seconds
Movie Podcasts with Rhianna Dhillon
The Oscars are almost upon us, so Amanda Litherland and Rhianna Dhillon recommend the best movie podcasts. Features 'Skip To The End', 'Girls on Film' and 'Little Gold Men'.
2/22/2019 • 58 minutes, 52 seconds
Podcast Pioneers: Ira Glass and Alex Blumberg
This week Amanda Litherland is joined by David McGuire to chat to two giants of the podcast world - Ira Glass (NPR, This American Life) and Alex Blumberg (co-founder and CEO Gimlet)
Featuring a sample of Without Fail - where Alex Blumberg hosts candid conversations with people who have done hard things: what worked, what didn't and why. In this featured episode he chats to Ira Glass about his origins in podcasting.
Then, both Ira and Alex speak to Podcast Radio Hour separately about their experiences in the industry.
2/15/2019 • 57 minutes, 31 seconds
Jess Fostekew: All Hail Kale and Adulting
Made for 4 Extra. Amanda Litherland and Jess Fostekew with two podcasts that look at the science behind health and nutrition, 'All Hail Kale' and 'Adulting'.
2/8/2019 • 57 minutes, 31 seconds
Drama podcasts with Rowan Slaney
Amanda Litherland and Rowan Slaney recommend some great drama podcasts. This week, The Discovery Adventures and The Case Of Charles Dexter Ward
2/1/2019 • 59 minutes, 45 seconds
Luke Jones: Song Exploder and Honey and Co: The Food Talks
Amanda Litherland and Luke Jones recommend some great podcasts and chat to their creators.
This week, Song Exploder and Honey and Co: The Food Talks.
1/25/2019 • 57 minutes, 36 seconds
Deborah Frances-White: 'Best Pick' and 'How To Fail'
Podcast Radio Hour is 1 year old!
To celebrate Amanda is joined by PRH's first ever guest Deborah Frances-White to recommend more of her favourite podcasts and chat to their creators.
Featuring Best Pick - a podcast where Tom Salinsky, John Dorney, and Jessica Regan watch discuss every Academy Award Best Picture winner in no particular order.
Also How To Fail With Elizabeth Day, a podcast that celebrates the things that haven't gone right. Every week, a new interviewee explores what their failures taught them.
1/18/2019 • 58 minutes, 44 seconds
Jake Yapp
Laura Grimshaw and Jake Yapp recommend the best podcasts and chat to Jason Hazeley & Joel Morris from Rule of Three, and David Sidorov from The Onion about A Very Fatal Murder.
1/11/2019 • 1 hour, 43 seconds
Renay Richardson: Scene On Radio and The Last Days Of August
Amanda Litherland and Renay Richardson recommend podcasts and chat to the creators. This week, Scene On Radio with John Biewen and Jon Ronson's new series The Last Days Of August.
1/4/2019 • 1 hour, 1 minute, 48 seconds
Pick of the Pods 2018
Amanda Litherland presents a roundup of the best podcasts and guests featured on Podcast Radio Hour this year.
Hear about Jessie Ware’s most disastrous dinner parties, why Ed Miliband thinks podcasts can change the world, and find out why Stephen Fry loves listening so much.
12/28/2018 • 59 minutes, 41 seconds
Christmas Special
Amanda Litherland presents a Christmas special of Podcast Radio Hour, with seasonal episode recommendations. Including a history of holiday music in Pitch and stories of awkward Christmas eve sleeping arrangements in The Boring Talks.
Also regular guests such as Cariad Lloyd, Olly Mann and Luke Jones will suggest the best podcasts for festive situations –chopping sprouts, long winter drives, surviving the boredom of Crimbo Limbo and more.
12/21/2018 • 56 minutes, 59 seconds
Cariad Lloyd: Superego and The Complete Woman
Made for 4 Extra. Amanda Litherland and her guest Cariad Lloyd recommend comedy podcasts. This week, improvised comedy from LA in SuperEgo, and The Complete Woman.
12/14/2018 • 57 minutes, 37 seconds
Olly Mann: The Comedian's Comedian and Getting Better Acquainted
Amanda Litherland and Olly Mann recommend the best podcasts, including The Comedian's Comedian and Getting Better Acquainted.
12/7/2018 • 56 minutes, 50 seconds
Scottish Podcasts
Amanda Litherland travels to Scotland to recommend the best podcasts. Featuring true crime series The Doorstep Murder, and Podlitical, politics from a Scottish perspective. Also, an immersive audio version of Macbeth, recorded on location at Glamis Castle.
11/30/2018 • 59 minutes, 4 seconds
Luke Jones: Articles of Interest and Neon
Amanda Litherland and Luke Jones (BBC Radio 4 iPM) recommend podcasts that sneak history into your ears.
Firstly, 'Articles of Interest', a mini series from Radiotopia's 99% Invisible about what we wear. Amanda chats to host Avery Trufelman about how the series was made.
Then, 'Neon', a podcast which fuses history and pop culture. Luke and Amanda discover how the video game Fortnite can teach us about a surprising amount of history. They also chat with producer Dan Morelle about 'Neon's development and other history podcast recommendations. .
Produced and presented by Amanda Litherland
Co-presented by Luke Jones
11/23/2018 • 1 hour, 3 minutes, 17 seconds
David McGuire: 'Multi Story' and 'Burn Your Passport'
This week's best podcast recommendations include 'Multi Story' from BBC Local Radio, and comic tales of disastrous travel in 'Burn Your Passport'.
11/16/2018 • 58 minutes, 31 seconds
Annabel Port: 'The Teacher's Pet' and 'Drunk Women Solving Crime'
Made for 4 Extra. Annabel Port joins Amanda Litherland to recommend some of the best crime podcasts: 'The Teacher's Pet' and 'Drunk Women Solving Crime'.
11/9/2018 • 1 hour, 10 seconds
BBC Sounds Launch
Made for 4 Extra. Amanda Litherland discovers the best podcasts at the BBC Sounds launch.
11/2/2018 • 1 hour, 2 minutes, 22 seconds
Alex Lowe: 'Podcast From the Past' and 'The Big Travel Podcast'
Made for 4 Extra. Alex Lowe - aka Barry from Watford - and Stuart Ross share their favourite podcasts, including 'The Angelos and Barry Show', 'Podcast from the Past' and 'The Big Travel Podcast'.
10/25/2018 • 57 minutes, 55 seconds
Geoff Lloyd, Richard Herring and Stephen Fry
Geoff Lloyd joins Amanda Litherland to recommend the best podcasts. They chat to Richard Herring about his long-running podcast, 'Richard Herring's Leicester Square Theatre Podcast'.
Also, Stephen Fry joins Amanda for an exclusive interview. They discuss his latest podcast, 'Victorian Secrets', which offers a surprising new perspective on the era.
10/18/2018 • 1 hour, 5 minutes, 24 seconds
Rowan Slaney: 'Capital' and 'Everything Is Alive'
Made for 4 Extra. Amanda Litherland is joined by Rowan Slaney to recommend two improvised comedy podcasts - 'Capital' and 'Everything Is Alive'.
10/11/2018 • 56 minutes, 47 seconds
Cariad Lloyd: 'Dear Joan and Jericha' and 'Where Should We Begin?'
Made for 4 Extra. Amanda Litherland and Cariad Lloyd recommend advice podcasts, featuring 'Where Should We Begin?' with Esther Perel and 'Dear Joan and Jericha'.
10/4/2018 • 59 minutes, 4 seconds
BBC Music Day
Made for 4 Extra. It's BBC Music Day and Amanda and Luke recommend some of the best podcasts about music including Pitch, Classical Fix and Young Musician.
9/27/2018 • 59 minutes, 6 seconds
Jon Ronson and Podcast Festivals
Made for 4 Extra. Amanda Litherland visits both the London Podcast Festival and the Audible Spoken Worlds Festival where she chats to Jon Ronson about The Butterfly Effect.
9/20/2018 • 59 minutes, 10 seconds
Jess Fostekew: Desert Island Dishes and Food Psych
Made for 4 Extra. Amanda Litherland is joined by Jess Fostekew to recommend the best food podcasts
9/13/2018 • 56 minutes, 26 seconds
David McGuire: Two Shot and How To Be A Girl
Made for 4 Extra. Amanda Litherland is joined by David McGuire to recommend the best podcasts.
9/6/2018 • 1 hour, 1 minute, 30 seconds
Rowan Slaney: Daughter
Made for 4 Extra. Rowan Slaney joins Amanda Litherland to recommend the best podcasts. Including Daughter, the untold stories of the podcast host's mother.
8/30/2018 • 52 minutes, 39 seconds
Luke Jones: Slow Burn and Caliphate
Made for 4 Extra. Luke Jones joins Amanda Litherland to recommend political podcasts. Including Slow Burn, an in depth look at the Clinton impeachment, and Caliphate, which examines ISIS.
8/23/2018 • 58 minutes, 47 seconds
Simon O'Hagan: Backlisted and Freedom, Books, Flowers & The Moon
Made for 4 Extra. Host Amanda Litherland is joined by Simon O'Hagan who picks his favourite literary podcasts: Backlisted and Freedom, Books, Flowers and the Moon from the TLS.
8/17/2018 • 58 minutes, 12 seconds
Emma Gannon: Nobody Panic and The Poetry Exchange
Made for 4 Extra. Emma Gannon joins Amanda Litherland to recommend favourite podcasts. Including Nobody Panic and The Poetry Exchange.
8/9/2018 • 58 minutes, 19 seconds
Olly Mann: The Political Party and Hidden Mickeys
Made for 4 Extra. Olly Mann joins Amanda Litherland to recommend favourite podcasts. Features the Political Party with Matt Forde and Hidden Mickeys featuring Natalie Palamides and Carrie Poppy.
8/2/2018 • 58 minutes, 1 second
David McGuire: Swipe Left Swipe Left and Love + Radio
Made for 4 Extra. David McGuire joins Amanda Litherland to recommend favourite podcasts, including Swipe Left Swipe Left, and Love + Radio.
7/26/2018 • 1 hour, 3 minutes
Daljit Nagra: The Poetry Koan and The Paris Review
Poet Daljit Nagra and Sarah Wade recommend favourite podcasts. Daljit chooses The Poetry Koan in which a guest prescribes a poem to make you feel better. A poem to have to hand in an existential First Aid Kit. They chat to its host, Steve Wasserman.
And The Paris Review podcast. The revered quarterly literary journal now has a podcast drawing on a treasure trove of interviews, readings and manuscripts from an archive stretching back 64 years.
If you would like to recommend a podcast , please email your suggestion to: podcastradiohour@bbc.co.uk.
7/24/2018 • 57 minutes, 14 seconds
Jessica Fostekew: Self Renovators and Ctrl Alt Delete
Made for 4 Extra. Jessica Fostekew joins Amanda Litherland to recommend her favourite podcasts, including Self Renovators and Ctrl Alt Delete.
7/11/2018 • 58 minutes, 41 seconds
Cariad Lloyd: The Bear Pack and Fact Up
Cariad Lloyd and Amanda Litherland recommend favourite improvised comedy podcasts. Featuring improvised radio plays from The Bear Pack, and an interview with Steen Raskopoulos. Also character comedy in Fact Up.
7/5/2018 • 58 minutes, 19 seconds
Luke Jones: The Daily and Brexitcast
Made for 4 Extra. Luke Jones and Amanda Litherland recommend favourite news podcasts. Featuring Brexitcast, The Daily from the New York Times, and an interview with Michael Barbaro.
6/28/2018 • 58 minutes, 17 seconds
Deborah Frances-White: Grownupland and the Three Track Podcast
Made for 4 Extra. Deborah Frances-White joins Amanda Litherland to recommend her favourite podcasts, including Grownupland and the Three Track Podcast.
6/21/2018 • 58 minutes, 44 seconds
Luke Jones: Table Manners with Jessie Ware, Hoovering
Luke Jones and Amanda Litherland recommend their favourite podcasts.
Their first pick is Table Manners with Jessie Ware, after which they interview the singer along with Lennie, her mum and co-host.
Also featured is Hoovering, a podcast about eating with comedian Jessica Fostekew.
6/14/2018 • 57 minutes, 8 seconds
Mark Billingham: Two Crime Writers and a Microphone, and The Story Collider
Radio 4Extra explores the world of podcasts and finds the best on offer.
Each week a guest presenter will recommend one or two podcasts from the BBC and beyond. From some of the most popular series, to lesser-known hidden gems, they will feature their favourite finds and speak with the people who make them.
This week Peter McHugh is joined by the creator of Detective Inspector Tom Thorne, the crime writer Mark Billingham, and host of the A Stab In the Dark podcast. They'll be listening to the Two Writers and a Microphone podcast, chatting to its hosts Luca Veste and Steve Cavanagh. And will also be catching up with The Story Collider podcast, true, personal stories about science, and talking to its artistic director, Erin Barker.
6/8/2018 • 59 minutes, 35 seconds
British Podcast Award Winners, pt 2
Made for 4 Extra. Amanda Litherland presents highlights from 2018's British Podcast Awards, featuring interviews with winners.
5/31/2018 • 59 minutes, 14 seconds
British Podcast Awards, pt 1
Made for 4 Extra. Amanda Litherland presents highlights from 2018's British Podcast Awards, featuring interviews with winners.
5/24/2018 • 54 minutes, 16 seconds
Dolly Alderton: 'Here's The Thing' and 'Ear Hustle'
Dolly Alderton and Amanda Litherland recommend some of their favourite podcasts.
They chat to the actor Alec Baldwin about his podcast Here's the Thing, conversations with artists, policy makers and performers about what makes them tick.
They also listen to Ear Hustle - stories of life inside prison, shared and produced by those living it.
5/17/2018 • 57 minutes, 55 seconds
Angela Barnes: 'DumTeeDum' and 'The West Wing Weekly'
Sarah Wade is joined by Angela Barnes to recommend some favourite podcasts. The theme this week is Fan Club podcasts featuring 'DumTeeDum' and a chat with Lucy Freeman and 'The West Wing Weekly' podcast, based around the popular television series which ended in 2006.
5/14/2018 • 58 minutes, 39 seconds
Rhianna Dhillon: 'The Modern Mann' and 'Love Stories'
Amanda Litherland and Rhianna Dhillon recommend the best podcasts. They listen to 'The Modern Mann' and chat to host Olly Mann. Also featuring 'Love Stories' with Dolly Alderton.
5/3/2018 • 58 minutes, 53 seconds
Danny Robins: 'Atlanta Monster' and 'Death In Ice Valley'
Amanda Litherland is joined by Danny Robins to recommend their favourite podcasts. This week they listen to two true crime series, Death In Ice Valley and Atlanta Monster. Also featuring an interview with Atlanta Monster host Payne Lindsey.
4/26/2018 • 58 minutes, 51 seconds
Simon O'Hagan: 'Everyone Else' and 'The Tip Off'
Amanda Litherland is joined by Simon O'Hagan from the Radio Times to recommend some favourite podcasts.
Featuring investigative journalism podcast The Tip Off and photographic podcast Everyone Else, produced by Eva Krysiak who comes in for a chat.
4/19/2018 • 57 minutes, 49 seconds
Sofie Hagen
BBC Radio 4 Extra explores the world of podcasts and finds the best on offer from the BBC and beyond. From some of the most popular series, to lesser-known hidden gems.
Sarah Wade and her guest Danish comedian and podcaster Sofie Hagen listen to Wanna Be and Haunted - both UK podcasts.
And they talk to Imriel Morgan - co-founder of the ShoutOut network - an online platform that caters for people from diverse backgrounds - and the creator of the Wanna Be podcast.
4/13/2018 • 58 minutes, 57 seconds
Cariad Lloyd
Made for 4 Extra. Amanda Litherland and Cariad Lloyd recommend their favourite podcasts. Features 'Adrift', 'Made of Human' and a chat with Sofie Hagen.
4/5/2018 • 58 minutes, 13 seconds
David McGuire
Amanda Litherland and David McGuire recommend their favourite podcasts. Includes 'Reply All' and a chat with presenter Alex Goldman. Also new BBC Radio 1 comedy series Kench, featuring Ben Partridge.
3/29/2018 • 57 minutes, 48 seconds
Cariad Lloyd
BBC Radio 4 Extra explores the world of podcasts and finds the best on offer from the BBC and beyond. From some of the most popular series to lesser-known hidden gems.
Sarah Wade and her guest: comedian, actress and podcaster Cariad Lloyd listen in to 'Standard Issue' from the UK and 'Heavyweight' from the USA.
3/23/2018 • 53 minutes, 37 seconds
Ben Hunte
Radio 4 Extra explores the world of podcasts and finds the best on offer.
Each week, Amanda Litherland and a guest presenter recommend one or two podcasts from the BBC and beyond. From some of the most popular series, to lesser-known hidden gems, they feature their favourite finds and speak with the people who make them.
This week's guest is presenter, Ben Hunte.
Podcasts featured: Stance, and a chat with its presenters Heta Fell and Chrystal Genesis - and activist DeRay McKesson talks about his podcast Pod Save The People.
3/16/2018 • 58 minutes, 13 seconds
Geoff Lloyd
Radio 4 Extra explores the world of podcasts and finds the best on offer.
Each week, Amanda Litherland and a guest presenter recommend one or two podcasts from the BBC and beyond. From some of the most popular series, to lesser-known hidden gems, they feature their favourite finds and speak with the people who make them.
This week's guest is broadcaster and podcaster, Geoff Lloyd.
Featuring new BBC podcast Unpopped, and the duo chat to Scroobius Pip about his podcast, Distraction Pieces.
3/9/2018 • 58 minutes, 30 seconds
Josie Long
Radio 4 Extra explores the world of podcasts and finds the best on offer.
Each week, Amanda Litherland and a guest presenter will recommend one or two podcasts from the BBC and beyond. From some of the most popular series, to lesser-known hidden gems, they will feature their favourite finds and speak with the people who make them.
This week Amanda is joined by Josie Long. They will listen to Maeve in America, stories of immigration to the USA presented by Maeve Higgins.
They'll also hear an episode of Reasons To Be Cheerful, with hosts Ed Miliband and Geoff Lloyd - who are among the nominees for the first ever podcast category at the Broadcasting Press Guild Awards 2018 - due to be held at London's Theatre Royal Drury Lane on March 16th.
3/2/2018 • 59 minutes, 58 seconds
Anna Sale
Radio 4 Extra explores the world of podcasts and finds the best on offer.
Each week, Amanda Litherland and a guest presenter recommend one or two podcasts from the BBC and beyond. From some of the most popular series, to lesser-known hidden gems, they feature their favourite finds and speak with the people who make them.
This week's guest, Anna Sale, host of WNYC's Death Sex and Money, beams in from sunny California for an all-American episode including Death Sex and Money and NPR's Rough Translation.
2/23/2018 • 59 minutes, 52 seconds
Ben Hunte
Radio 4 Extra explores the world of podcasts and finds the best on offer.
Each week, Amanda Litherland and a guest presenter recommend one or two podcasts from the BBC and beyond. From some of the most popular series, to lesser-known hidden gems, they will feature their favourite finds and speak with the people who make them.
Amanda and this week's guest, journalist Ben Hunte, listen to some LGBT-themed podcasts including Nancy and Homo Sapiens.
With Homo Sapiens hosts Will Young and Chris Sweeney.
2/16/2018 • 57 minutes, 25 seconds
Deborah Frances-White
Made for 4 Extra. Deborah Frances-White joins Amanda Litherland to introduce some of her favourite podcasts. Features 'Guilt and Shame' and new BBC podcast series 'Boring Talks'.
2/9/2018 • 54 minutes, 47 seconds
Rob Deering
Made for 4 Extra. Amanda Litherland and her guest Rob Deering recommend their favourite podcasts. Features 'Running Commentary', 'Revisionist History' and 'That Was Then'.
2/2/2018 • 59 minutes, 46 seconds
Josie Long
Made for 4 Extra. Amanda Litherland and her guest Josie Long recommend their favourite podcasts, featuring 'The Beef And Dairy Network', 'My Dad Wrote A Porno' and 'Short Cuts'.
1/26/2018 • 1 hour, 3 minutes, 1 second
Deborah Frances-White
Made for 4 Extra. Amanda Litherland and guest Deborah Frances-White recommend two of their favourite podcasts, 'Rumble Strip' and Cariad Lloyd's 'Griefcast'.
1/19/2018 • 59 minutes, 24 seconds
Welcome to Podcast Radio Hour
Amanda Litherland introduces you to Podcast Radio Hour, where guests recommend their favourite podcasts.