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 ...
Feb 11, 2022•1 hr
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 thr...
Feb 04, 2022•59 min
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 the...
Jan 28, 2022•1 hr
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 O...
Jan 21, 2022•58 min
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
Jan 14, 2022•58 min
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, ...
Jan 07, 2022•1 hr
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 H...
Dec 31, 2021•59 min
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 t...
Dec 24, 2021•59 min
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 als...
Dec 17, 2021•1 hr
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
Dec 10, 2021•58 min
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...
Nov 26, 2021•1 hr 1 min
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 Mi...
Nov 19, 2021•59 min
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, ...
Nov 12, 2021•1 hr 1 min
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 ...
Nov 05, 2021•1 hr
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 Polter...
Oct 29, 2021•59 min
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 M...
Oct 22, 2021•59 min
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...
Oct 14, 2021•1 hr
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...
Oct 07, 2021•1 hr
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...
Sep 30, 2021•1 hr
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 presen...
Sep 24, 2021•1 hr
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 Alder...
Sep 16, 2021•1 hr
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 St...
Sep 03, 2021•59 min
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 C...
Aug 26, 2021•1 hr
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 X...
Aug 13, 2021•1 hr
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 G...
Aug 05, 2021•1 hr
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...
Jul 30, 2021•56 min
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 Fo...
Jul 23, 2021•57 min
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 ...
Jul 15, 2021•1 hr
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 ...
Jul 08, 2021•1 hr
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 ...
Jul 01, 2021•1 hr
