It seems like ancient history now, but my first mini iPod Shuffle was my savior. It needed quite a bit of attention on a weekly basis. I had to attach it to my 'big' computer and upload newly released podcasts which would give me, hopefully, five days worth of listening time while commuting to a grim job that gave me little joy. Laughing to myself while commuting made a bit more bearable. Sadly Russell Brand and Jonothan Ross have both since been sacked from the BBC podcast department never to return! Never mind, there are many many more.
Technology has moved on. A handy app on my smartphone automatically deals with my listening pleasure by automatically updating the podcasts I subscribe to. It suggests others I might also enjoy. It even starts playing previously recorded ones I may have missed from two years ago once I've exhausted the most recent.
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During this time of social isolation, they have become more important to me. To have their familiar voices speaking (I imagine to me) is very calming and makes me feel more connected to the outside world. At the moment many of these podcasts, as they are based in the UK, are still being recorded while in lockdown mode so there are many references about back bedrooms and kitchen tables because they are not in their usual professional studio setting.
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These are the podcasts I enjoy - you might too?
Kermode and Mayo's Film Review
BBC Radio 5 Live Kermode and Mayo's Film Review- updated every Friday and my regular Saturday morning listening. As well as reviewing the latest releases and interviewing actors and directors, I enjoy the banter between Mark and Simon. I am a long time listener and dedicated member of the church of wittertainment and get all the in-jokes. Hello to Jason Isaacs.
The Frank Skinner Show
The Frank Skinner Show on Absolute Radio - Frank gets star billing but he is actually with Emily Dean and Alun Cochrane who bounce the banter off each other. Frank Skinner is a very talented stand-up comedian and has been for many years. Look on YouTube to find his stand up, it's excellent - not for the faint-hearted. He tones it down a lot for the radio with delightfully warm anecdotes about family life with Alun and Emily keeping it all flowing.
Frank Skinner - analysis of his 'Jealousy' sketch. Here is a taste of Frank explaining his stand-up.
Walking the Dog with Emily Dean from The Times
Walking the Dog with Emily Dean This is literally Emily going for a dog walk with various interesting people and chatting along the route. Emily obviously truly loves her own dog, Raymond, who often features. Guests have included Martin and Shirley Kemp, Emily Maitlis and the Rev. Richard Coles. Emily has recently written a best seller called 'Everyone Died so I Got a Dog'. It explains her experience of the grief she has had in her life - yet it's funny at the same time. I find her so friendly and warm towards her guest dog walkers she manages to always get them talking about genuine human experiences.
Word of Mouth presented by Michael Rosen
BBC Radio 4 Word of Mouth Michael has very clever linguists on the podcast who can explain the way the English language works and he himself, former children's poet laureate, is a clever wordsmith. He invites experts who talk about language which can be how storytelling works to how we use language to talk about sexuality to joke-telling to advertising brands and what makes them memorable.
Biscuit Names - Word of Mouth 28 mins If you ever wanted to know why bourbon is called a bourbon or why a custard cream is called a custard cream this is the podcast for you.
At the time of writing Michael is very poorly. I keep reading occasional updates on twitter about his condition. I hope he recovers soon and is able to leave the hospital.
The Guilty Feminist with Deborah Francis White
The Guilty Feminist This is recorded live with an audience. Deborah presents this as an on-stage show with a variety of guests, often singers or comedians. It is entertaining, funny with serious bits. She always begins the podcast with some confessions about how she is trying her best to be a feminist but has in some way lapsed over the past week. Her guests also contribute to the confessions beginning each confession with the phrase "I'm a feminist but..."
I’m a feminist but… one time I went on a women’s rights march, and I popped into a department store to use the loo, and I got distracted trying out face cream. And when I came out the march was gone.
Listening to this podcast has introduced me to many interesting people. The latest is a folk singer - Grace Petrie. Since lockdown in the UK Grace and her friend have recorded one song per day following A-Z of the alphabet and put all the songs on Instagram. She's great.
This is a link to Grace singing Black Tie - a catchy, yet politically charged ditty.
Grace Petrie- Black Tie (official Video)
Fortunately with Jane Garvey and Fi Glover
With hundreds of years of experience in broadcasting between them, these two stalwarts of Woman's Hour literally have a catch-up and incidentally invite interesting guests. Their podcast is usually recorded in the piazza just outside Broadcasting House and it feels like/sounds like they are chatting over a coffee and saying hello (or please can you keep your voice down) to people walking past. Topics have included scientist Adam Rutherford's discussion of the relationship between science and ideas of race and genealogy to Jane's admission that she doesn't understand how to copy and paste!
Table Manners
Table Manners with Jessie Ware and her mum Lennie Jessie and Lennie invite celebrities to their home in West London and feed them delicious food. It's a podcast so we just have to believe it's delicious. The interest in the podcast and particularly Lennie's recipes has resulted in a cookbook. Recently their guests have included David Schwimmer, Riz Ahmed, Dua Lipa, London Hughes and Rick Astley. They have 3.5 million following! Always fun and always funny - a bit sweary. Their final question to each guest is "Do you think you have good table manners?" followed by "Is there a particular table manner you feel particularly strongly about?" Example - "Yes, people who blow their nose on the napkin and put it on the plate for the server to clear away".
The Guardian interview with Jessie and Lennie Ware - mother and daughter presenters of Table Manners
Off Menu with James Acaster and Ed Gamble
See my last blog post about this one
My Dad Wrote a Porno - where James Cooper reads aloud chapters from his dad's book 'Belinda Blinked' to his mates Alice Levine and Jamie Morton.
So much has been written about this podcast and it has become incredibly popular since they first decided to record James reading the cringingly awful chapters of the book from his kitchen. This podcast will cause debilitating moments of doubled up laughter in public places if you listen to it through your earphones while on public transport. It will cause people to stare and look at you as if they are deciding to call an ambulance or have you ejected from the bus.
The author, AKA Rocky Flintstone, has very little knowledge of actual sex and is particularly sketchy on human anatomy. He has even less knowledge of grammar and punctuation. This is why it entertains vast amounts of followers from all over the world. It is the innocence of Rocky and the mortified embarrassment of James that keeps us all wanting - for the next episode. If you have never listened then start with Series 1 and work your way through. Hilarious!
Other podcasts worth a mention.
Mary Portas - Work Like a Woman
How to Fail with Elizabeth Day
Please explore at your will.
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