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Podcasts

Date
18 Sep 2020

Author
Jonathan Ward

Podcasts, the best bits of radio, cut out and presented to you in a form you can listen to anywhere at anytime.

Podcasts, the best bits of radio, cut out and presented to you in a form you can listen to anywhere at anytime.

2020 has been a funny old year so far and if, like us, you feel like your world has shrunk to your four walls and your Zoom account, you will be on the lookout for a much needed breather.

If you feel you have completed the majority of what Netflix has to offer and you are in need of a little screen break, then we recommend listening to a podcast or two. Podcasts are great for delving into whilst you are working from home, cooking up a storm (yes, we have made countless banana loaf cakes too) or going for a socially-distanced walk. In these crazy times there is nothing better than putting in your headphones and tuning out the world.

Listening to podcasts

We are truly spoilt when it comes to entertainment, particularly podcasts. There are literally thousands to choose from, however, to save you countless hours of scrolling, we have rounded up a selection of our favourites to share with you. Some of them you may have heard of and others might not be so familiar. We have included podcasts covering a number of topics, including business, comedy and technology. Each one is guaranteed to grant you some much-needed escapism during these wild times.

Here are a few of the podcasts we are loving right now…

  1. Reply All – Do you ever get so engrossed in a story, you totally forget your surroundings? We’ll take some of that, please, courtesy of Reply All. A podcast about the internet, that is actually an unfailingly original exploration of modern life and how to survive it. Despite the name, Reply All isn’t a podcast about technology; it is a podcast that tells beautiful, painfully human stories which happen to include bits of technology. Launched in 2014 and hosted by PJ Vogt and Alex Goldman, this podcast is the second podcast to be developed by Gimlet Media. Each episode varies in format, with some recurring segments, including “Yes, Yes, No”, in which Vogt and Goldman explain internet trivia to Alex Blumberg, co-founder of Gimlet Media, with occasional help from outside guests. In March this year they released an episode entitled “The Case of the Missing Hit” to wide acclaim, The Guardian called it “perhaps the best-ever episode of any podcast” and “an incredibly emotive piece of storytelling”. So, we recommend that episode as a starting point to get you hooked.
  2. Online Marketing Made Easy with Amy Porterfield – Amy Porterfield is a bestselling author, social media expert and online entrepreneur, whose podcast includes mini-marketing masterclasses and step-by-step guides. Each episode is designed to help you take immediate action on the most important strategies for starting, scaling and automating your online business. Amy’s specialty is getting into the online trenches with you. This podcast is packed with valuable information whilst remaining to be an easy listen.
  3. No Such Thing As A Fish – A weekly podcast from the team of researchers behind the BBC panel show QI: No Such Thing as a Fish is the series to help you up your dinner party conversation. Each week hosts Dan, James, Anna and Andy bring their favourite facts they have uncovered from the previous seven days. Did you know that Greta Thunberg’s middle name is Tintin? Or that in Japan you can buy left-handed chopsticks? Well, if you listened to this podcast you would know.
  4. Ctrl Alt Delete – This is a career podcast like no other, funny and honest. Ctrl Alt Delete brings a much needed female perspective to the internet. As the former social media editor of British Glamour, Emma Gannon draws on her own online experiences to discuss the world of work and online presence with her high profile guests. If you are worried about how employable you will be in five years, worry not: From dealing with trolls, to baring your soul on social media, this series has never been more relevant for emerging women in the workplace.
  5. Developer Tea – This one is for all you developers out there. Developer Tea exists to “help driven developers connect to their ultimate purpose and excel at their work so that they can positively impact the people they influence”. Developer Tea is crafted to be just long enough for your daily tea break. The hosts of Developer Tea discuss higher level topics related to programming and theory rather than the code itself; think productivity, gratitude, and cognitive bias. Episodes are released a few times per week and generally range from 5-15 minutes. It is also worth noting that the creators of the show hope you will take the topics from the podcast and continue the conversation, either online or in person with your peers.
  6. RHLSTP – RHLSTP (Richard Herring’s Leicester Square Theatre Podcast) is an awarding-winning series in which comedian Richard Herring (The Podfather – The Guardian) chats with some of the biggest names in comedy and entertainment. Stephen Fry, Eddie Izzard, David Mitchell and Brian Blessed are amongst the many stars to have been interviewed across the 200+ episodes.
  7. Hello Internet – Hello Internet is hosted by YouTube creators Brady Haran and CGP Grey who talk about Youtube, life, work plus much more.
  8. Sh*gged, Married, Annoyed – They may have a lovely little boy, an award-winning podcast and more free mayonnaise than you care to imagine, but Chris and Rosie Ramsey still find plenty to “beef” with each other about in their weekly episodes of Sh*gged, Married, Annoyed. From the bizarre to the relatable, the Geordie pair always find something to argue about – and honestly, who else can say they haven’t had a little tiff about stacking the dishwasher too? One thing we can guarantee though, is that you will be in hysterics all the way through each episode.
  9. We Hate Movies – We Hate Movies is an irreverent look at films which were trashy or flopped but which still seem to have a following. Eighties movies & music lovers will enjoy listening to the WHM presenters and guests dissect a favourite movie in an amusing and silly way as if having a discussion whilst hanging at a friend’s house. An entertaining listen rather than a learning experience.
  10. Shop Talk – The Shop Talk Show is hosted by Dave Rupert and Chris Coyier and calls itself an internet radio show about the internet. Featuring some great interviews with people working in web development it offers some informative content on the various web development topics.
  11. 99% Invisible – For design nerds, architecture buffs, art lovers, and anyone who’s ever looked at an aspect of their world and said, “How does that work?” – this podcast has the answer. Shining a light on often overlooked elements of design which surround us on a daily basis, 99% Invisible explains the complexities that go into designing everyday objects and structures we often take for granted. From the origin of curb cuts to automating chilli harvests, this podcast sees Roman Mars weave intricate and fascinating narratives around the process of design and its far-reaching influence.
  12. How I Built This – Ever wondered how some of the world’s biggest brands got their start? From Five Guys to Instagram, How I Built This gives listeners a chance to hear the stories behind very successful businesses. Speaking to a different creator in each episode, hear original stories told by the people who lived that story themselves. Through childhood anecdotes, humble beginnings and often unprecedented growth, this podcast peels back some of the mystique surrounding business success, exploring the highs and lows of innovators along the way. Whether you are an entrepreneur looking for advice or simply want to hear the fascinating context behind some of the world’s best loved brands, you’re in for a treat.
making podcasts

Bonus

Back of the Grid – One of our team members here at Reach has their own podcast. Back of the Grid allows you to stay up to date on the world of F1 and Motorsport, with race round ups, news, controversies and chat, hosted by our very own Thomas King alongside Chris Evans and Stu Greenwood. With the F1 season now in full swing now is a great time to tune in!

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