Picks of the week
Run, Rose, Run
A podcast touched by the hand of Dolly Parton is a beautiful thing. What Spotify are calling their “first Bookcast” features audio excerpts of the novel the singer has co-authored with writer James Patterson, weaving in songs from the accompanying album she’s written to go with it. Parton also takes one of the voice acting parts – a young country singer who has “big dreams and faded jeans” – delivering her role with delight. Each episode runs between four and 14 minutes; a perfect daily serving of soapy escapism. Hannah Verdier
Devils in the Dark
Helen Anderson and Danni Howard put a fun twist on the true-crime genre, sharing their relatable reactions to gruesome real-life tales – from outrage to confusion and even bursts of laughter. Serial killer Ed Gein is first on the menu, and the hosts aren’t afraid to wince at details such as 12 severed heads and gloves made from human flesh. HV
Ukrainecast
Launched on 24 February – the same day Putin invaded Ukraine – BBC journalists Victoria Derbyshire and Gabriel Gatehouse have been recording daily episodes, offering updates, first-hand accounts, expert analysis and, perhaps most importantly, an empathetic but knowledgable handling on reporting a war that is hard to track. They also welcome listeners to share questions they want unpacking. Hollie Richardson
Into the Mix
Art, culture and activism come together in Ben & Jerry’s podcast about “joy and justice”. Ashley C Ford’s first guest is John Legend, whose views are the perfect antidote to his gentle music. He’s refreshingly outspoken about whether it’s worth putting people in jail – and why he thinks prisoners should have the vote. HV
Elis James and John Robins return with a new raft of guests talking about how they’ve come through difficult times. The Rev Richard Coles’s episode is a gift as he offers his candid thoughts on death and grief after losing his husband David, and how even the thought of eternal life doesn’t offer the comfort he needs. HV
Producer pick: Endless Thread – Space Heist (Or, How to Steal a Planet)
Chosen by Danielle Stephens
I recently got back into the habit of listening to WBUR’s Endless Thread, and their episode about a scientific war over who found a dwarf planet back in the early 2000’s, was a helpful reminder to why I enjoy zoning out of my day-to-day activities and listening to this podcast.
The argument between an American and a Spanish team of astronomers, over who should receive praise for the discovery of Haumea as it drifted millions of miles away in the solar system feels like the scientific version of a true crime podcast. However, in speaking to a person on either side of the story, the investigation turns philosophical and certainly had me thinking about the way the scientific world should operate, especially when working on something that could help the whole planet.
The main draw to this podcast though is the absolute genius of the sound design. Whoever works on the scoring and sound effects clearly has enough time to play and it truly shows, giving you an iteration of space sound design, you’ll never have heard the likes of before. Another internet-based quandary brought to the fore.
Talking points
Ever worry that you’re too invested in your relationship with the host of your favourite podcast? Try listening without headphones. After a UCLA scientist realised she felt strangely connected to This American Life host Ira Glass, she launched a study which found that you develop much more intimacy with podcast hosts when you listen in-ear rather than via speakers. The reason? You feel closer to the voices when they sound like they’re coming from inside your head. So presumably we’ve all come to subconsciously believe that we have a tiny Ira Glass living inside our brains – the plot of a podcast drama we’d love to listen to (via speakers, obviously).
Why not try: Dirty Mother Pukka | My TV Years
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