13 Podcasts To Listen To This Month

Guru: The Dark Side Of Enlightenment

When we face challenges in life, we seek answers from people we believe can help us. When tragedy strikes an exclusive retreat with a self-help superstar, many people are left to wonder: how far is too far? At one time, James Arthur Ray was an Oprah-endorsed self-help teacher who achieved fame, fortune, and significant influence with his followers. But it didn’t take long for some to question his unorthodox methods and attempt to stop him. From Wondery – the makers of Dirty John, Dr Death, and The Shrink Next Door – this is a story about the dark side of wellness, or more specifically, enlightenment. Hosted by journalist Matt Stroud, new episodes are released weekly.

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The Screenster Podcast

Taking a closer look at the film and television world through the lens of industry insiders, The Screenster Podcast sees host and actress Georgie Grier talk to her guests about their careers, the highs and lows of this business and all the good stuff on our screens – past and present. From the woman who designed the costumes for Friends during its entire ten-year run, to intimacy co-ordinator Ita O'Brien, whose work on Normal People and I May Destroy You has drawn serious praise, Georgie takes an under-the-bonnet look at an industry which continues to fascinate.

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Doing It Right

To tie in with the release of Pandora Sykes’ collection of essays How Do We Know We’re Doing It Right? the journalist and podcast host has launched a new show. Each week, Pandora interviews an expert in their field about their life, work and the trivialities, myths and anxieties of modern life. A show that combines the big and the little things – because a good life is made up of both – the first episode sees television presenter Joe Lycett sit down to discuss consumer activism, parking tickets, his Bafta nomination and why comedy should "punch up" not down, while the second sees Pandora joined by educator and disability advocate Sinéad Burke. An eye-opening listen.

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Stories Of 29

It’s a question most of us are bound to face at some point in our lives: what age stands out to you as the year that you grew and evolved the most? In this podcast, join host Pixie Lott as she talks to actors, musicians and fashion icons about the age that they deem their most memorable. Whether it's unforgettable challenges or life-changing achievements, guests will share their stories of truth. From great loves and big moves, leaps of faith to career-souring choices, listen to some incredible life lessons from the likes of model Coco Rocha and photographer Rankin.

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Is This Working?

A podcast discussing the messy parts of work, co-hosted by Anna Codrea-Rado and Tiffany Philippou, we’re loving the lockdown-related turn this show has taken for its newly launched third season. From Zoom fatigue to coping with redundancy – not to mention an interesting interview with fellow podcast host Pandora Sykes on finding happiness at work – there’s plenty on the agenda, as well as a rich back catalogue of past episodes dealing with issues like asking for pay rises, being a better boss and building your own career. Our highlight? We loved the episode with blogger Anna Newton, aka The Anna Edit.

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The Michelle Obama Podcast

Fresh off the back of Michelle Obama's Netflix documentary Becoming, the first episode of the former First Lady's new podcast has now dropped exclusively on Spotify. The first project to come out of Spotify's deal with the Obamas' own production company, nine episodes will be released in weekly instalments. Featuring deep conversations between Mrs Obama and her loved ones – family, friends, and colleagues – the show looks at the relationships we all have in our lives, and how they make us who we are. For the first episode, who better to join the former FLOTUS than her husband and ex-US president, Barack Obama? Listen as the two powerhouses have an open – and at times, frank – conversation about what positive change means today.

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No Country For Young Women

For those looking to better understand their privilege or unconscious bias, we can’t recommend this podcast highly enough. Back for a fourth season, guests including Such A Fun Age author Kiley Reid and Little Mix’s Jade Thirlwell join hosts Sadia Azmat and Monty Onanuga as they discuss important, racially-charged issues – from going vegan while still embracing your individual culture, to recategorizing dance music to make it more inclusive.

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Origins, With James Andrew Miller

Join award-winning journalist and bestselling author James Andrew Miller as he uncovers the beginnings of some of the biggest success stories in television, movies, sports, music and business. Experience all the unpredictable moments, pivotal junctures, and strokes of luck that turn great ideas into formidable realities – as told by the insiders who were there. We loved Miller’s deep dive into Sex & The City – which aired back in 2018 – but the show has now returned for a similar, short-run series, this time looking at the 2000 smash hit film Almost Famous. Broken down into six addictive parts, the last instalment sees Miller joined by the original cast to celebrate the film’s 20th anniversary.

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Secrets Of The Side Hustle

This well-loved podcast is finally back for a third season, featuring more conversations with inspiring female founders about their career stories. Spanning industries from art and activism to tech and fitness, each week business owners discuss the practicalities of starting a brand from scratch, as well as sharing helpful advice for anyone hoping to do the same. So far, new episodes have featured broadcaster and founder of supper club Hoste Laura Jackson, and Rixo creative chiefs Henrietta Rix and Orlagh McCloskey. We can’t wait to see what else the show has in store for this series.

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The Joe Wicks Podcast

Riding high as the nation’s favourite lockdown PE teacher, fitness guru Joe Wicks has released his new podcast via the BBC. Only four episodes in, the guest line up has been stellar: Fearne Cotton, Gordon Ramsay, Louis Theroux and David Harewood have all joined Joe to reveal their secrets to physical and mental happiness. Described as “sunshine in a podcast”, listeners won’t be able to resist Joe’s mix of infectious enthusiasm and endearing sensitivity.

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When Someone Great Is Gone

Shown through the first-hand experiences of host Izzy Lee-Poulton and her guests, this is a podcast about the relationship between grief and creativity, and how we express ourselves when we lose someone we love. Suitably apt for the times we find ourselves living in, the show explores multiple themes around what it means to lose someone you care about, including rituals, the relationship between community and grief, and its effect on mental health. The best news? With the first season only six episodes long, it’s one to digest in your own time and at your own pace.

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Spinning Plates

Spinning Plates sees pop singer Sophie Ellis Bexter speak to busy working women, who also happen to be mothers, about how they make it work. Between seven studio albums and five sons, Bexter herself is no stranger to the art of multitasking. But while being a mother can be amazing, it can also be hard to find time for yourself and your own ambitions.To see how other people achieve balance, she chats to a host of inspirational women, including Fearne Cotton and author Candice Braithwaite.

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Painkiller

If you've paid any attention to the news in the last couple of years, you'll be aware of the opioid crisis which currently threatens to engulf America's youth. But did you know that in 2019, fentanyl killed more people in a single year than any other drug in modern history? Join VICE News reporter Keegan Hamilton each week as he tracks the third wave of this unique drug crisis, as part of this brand new series which has just landed on Spotify. Gripping.

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