11 Podcasts To Listen To This Month
The Battersea Poltergeist
Only three episodes in so far, this is the true story of one of Britain’s strangest hauntings, re-investigated and told through a thrilling blend of drama and documentary. 63 Wycliffe Road was just an ordinary terraced house in Battersea, and home to the Hitchings family. That is, until January 1956, when strange things started happening there – think banging in the walls and noises so loud it prompted the neighbours to complain. As these instances grew stranger – would you be freaked out if you saw a teenage girl levitating above her bed? – the more it was assumed the house was being haunted by a poltergeist.
Episode Highlight: Interview with a Ghost
The third instalment of this new podcast is our favourite so far. Host Danny Robbins explores the possible links between the Battersea case and the Enfield Poltergeist, a famous alleged haunting from 1977. He also meets two reporters who covered the case at the time, one of whom claims to have been attacked by the poltergeist. You’ll also hear more from the real-life Shirley Hitchings as, back in 1956, teenage Shirley appears to communicate with Donald the Poltergeist, and her story becomes front page news.
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Chanel Connects
A new series as part of the Parisian couture house’s already popular 3.55 podcast, Chanel Connects sees industry titans from the world of fashion, art and film sit down to discuss the future of culture. Bringing together creative minds for eight intimate conversations on subjects like portraiture, heroines, risk and untold fashion stories, the podcasts are both compelling and comprehensive, and include cameos from the likes of British Vogue editor-in-chief Edward Enninful, Tilda Swinton, Pharrell Williams and Keira Knightley.
Episode Highlight: Keira Knightley, Lulu Wang & Diane Solway: The New Heroines
Keira Knightley and filmmaker Lulu Wang sit down for a conversation, led by writer Diane Solway. They talk about growing up on set, the need for strong women on both sides of the camera, and much more – in fact, it’s in this revealing episode that Knightley explains why she installed a ‘no-nudity’ clause into her contracts after giving birth to her first child, and why she’s done filming sex scenes for male directors.
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Going For Goal
To help us stay accountable to those New Year health and wellness goals, we’ve started tuning into this popular podcast – which features interviews and tips from some of the biggest names in fitness. Whether you want to know about using resistance bands or improve your fertility, the team – led by host Roisín Dervish-O’Kane – rarely leave any stone unturned. If that’s not enough, you’ll also be able to hear what your favourite healthy celebrities do to look, feel and function at their best.
Episode Highlight: Michelle Keegan on Past Fitness Fails and How She Found Healthy
This episode sees Women’s Health editor-in-chief Claire Sanderson and actress Michelle Keegan talk about how she found her groove with fitness and food, and she shares her current workout formula. Michelle also opens up about when she was training harder, but definitely not smarter and how the past year forced her to shift her outlook when it comes to maintaining her relationships with friends and family. Oh, and there’s are some pretty good snack tips, as well.
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Guest List With Jake Lambert
This new podcast sees comedian Jake Lambert – you might know him from his Twitter pseudonym @LittleLostLad – sit down with his favourite fellow comedians to discuss their dream dinner party guests. But there's a twist – they can only pick three: one alive, one dead, one fictional.
Episode Highlight: Rosie Jones
This new show is only three episodes in so far, but the latest is definitely our favourite so far. In it, Rosie Jones shares and explains her three fantasy dinner party guests – but chat quickly turns to private investigators, films, Lara Croft, and a very interesting discussion about Disney characters.
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How It Happened
In Trump’s Last Stand, the first series of How It Happened, national political reporter Jonathan Swan reveals the inside story of Donald Trump’s last few months in office – starting with his Covid-19 recovery and ending with the unforgettable insurrection at the Capitol. Throughout the episodes, Swan forces the audience to answer the question, how much damage can a sitting president do in a day or a week or two months? New episodes land every Monday.
Episode Highlight: Trump’s Last Stand Part 1: Where It Starts
If you’re going to crack on with this podcast, it has to be from the beginning. In part one, Swan draws a direct line from President Trump's Election Night speech, in which he falsely declared victory, to the insurrection on the Capitol on 6th January. But the story really starts in early October, as Trump is recovering from Covid-19 and struggling to turn around a flailing campaign.
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Ian Wright’s Everyday People
Anyone who saw Ian Wright discuss his new podcast on the latest series of The Graham Norton Show will know he’s on a journey of discovery, searching for those positive role models that walk among us. Proving real-life champions come in all shapes and sizes, from all walks of life, this podcast captures him meeting and learning from these inspirational, everyday people. Getting to the heart of how they’ve changed the world for the better and why they do the things they do, you’ll get to hear personal stories of hope and resilience that will move and inspire you, make you laugh and bring you to tears.
Episode Highlight: Introducing... Ian Wright's Everyday People
Okay, so new episodes aren’t due to land until mid-February, but sources on the ground say Ian will meet Major Chris Brannigan, a doting father-of-three who took on an impossible 700-mile barefoot walk, raising funds to create a pioneering treatment for his daughter. He’ll also chat to Munira Mahmoud, a survivor of Grenfell Tower who has been preparing home cooked meals for families struggling to put food on the table during the pandemic. He’s also invited Andy Hider on the podcast, a mum of three from Bristol who fostered over 150 children for three decades – a feat that eventually saw her recognised with an MBE for services to children.
First episode available on 23rd February.
Stripped Back Sport with Kirsty Gallacher
In her new podcast, Stripped Back Sport, television presenter and personality Kirsty Gallacher sits down for an open discussion with some of the greatest sports stars of our time – delving into the high and low moments of their careers, as well as their personal life and the sides to sport that have never been discussed before.
Episode Highlight: Dame Kelly Holmes
Undoubtedly one of the most successful British athletes of all time, Dame Kelly Holmes specialised in the 800 metres and 1,500 metres events and won a gold medal for both distances at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. Over recent years, she’s been very open about her mental health struggles and is now a motivational speaker.
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Mental – The Podcast to Destigmatise Mental Health
In these difficult times, when people from all areas of life are struggling to stay on top of their mental health, we’ve found tuning into the episodes from this award-winning podcast helpful. Whether it’s feeling isolated working from home or what it’s actually like to catch Covid, through to leaving abusive relationships and coping with loss of identity – hosts Bobby Temps and Danielle Hogan delve into a different topic each week and learn how to better manage it. You’ll also better understand different conditions from first-hand experience, with inspiring guests and surprising statistics thrown in along the way.
Episode Highlight: Working From Home
We can probably all agree the novelty of working from home has long worn off. With little separation between our working life and our personal life, many of us are struggling to switch off and prioritise our own wellbeing. In this episode, Emma Mainoo explores the impact of working from home on our mental health and shares her fascinating insights on loneliness and how different workplaces are encouraging connection around more than just work.
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Stuck For Ideas
Staying inspired within four walls and little social interaction during a pandemic can be difficult – enter Stuck For Ideas, the podcast designed to inspire and uplift creative minds. Hosts and best friends Erin and Alice tap into the minds of everyone from Netflix producers and Vogue writers to human rights activists and fashion photographers, asking them their go-to methods for rediscovering inspiration. And now, it’s back for season two…
Episode Highlight: Anna Winger – Creator of Unorthodox
The co-writer and producer of the hit Netflix series Unorthodox – a mesmerising insight into the Hasidic Jewish community in Williamsburg, New York – Anna Winger joins the podcast to discuss how she’s managed to create not one, but several successful television shows. Before this, Anna created another sensation – Deutschland 83, 86 and 89 – set in a divided Germany at the peak of the Cold War, and she’s also the author of 2008 novel This Must be the Place.
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The Apology Line
If you could call a number and say you’re sorry, and no one would know… what would you apologise for? For 15 years, you used to be able to call a number in Manhattan and do just that. This is the story of the line, and the man at the other end who became consumed by his own creation. He was known as ‘Mr Apology’, but he soon realised he couldn’t just listen. He had to do something, even if it meant risking everything. From Wondery, the same podcast team behind Dr Death and The Shrink Next Door, comes this six-party story about empathy, deception and obsession.
Episode Highlight: Who’s Sorry Now?
In the inaugural episode of this new show, host Melissa Bridge reveals she has only had a premonition twice in her life: one was on the day in 1981 that she met Mr Apology. As posters for the Apology Line appear all over New York City, callers start to leave messages that confess their deepest secrets and darkest fears, leading Mr Apology to realise he will have to do more than just sit back and listen.
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The Travel Diaries
In this weekly interview series, entertainment and travel journalist Holly Rubenstein chats to a special guest about the travel experiences that have shaped their lives and their adventures around the world.
Expect to be transported through the eight key chapters of their life's travel diaries, from their earliest childhood travel memory and the first place they fell in love with, to their all-time favourite destination, their hidden gem recommendation and what’s at the top of their bucket list. Perfect wanderlust to inspire your future plans.
Episode Highlight: Poppy Delevigne – Long Haul
Supermodel and actress Poppy Delevingne makes her podcast debut on this episode, which was originally recorded in March last year. One of fashion’s most recognisable names, Poppy has been the face of Louis Vuitton and Burberry, the muse for designer Matthew Williamson, and the brand ambassador of Chanel. But as you’ll hear in this episode, it was acting that was Poppy’s first love. Recorded at Poppy’s west London home in a rare moment when she was back in the UK, listeners will hear travelling is not only an integral part of her career, but she’s also got the travel bug, too. From Argentina to Antarctica, Japan to Positano, this is a glimpse into her glamorous life.
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