International Podcast Day (30th September) is an annual event dedicated to celebrating and promoting podcasts around the world. It provides a platform for podcast enthusiasts, creators, and listeners to come together, share their passion for podcasting, and discover new shows and resources. As avid podcast listeners ourselves, we thought we’d share our teams top podcast recommendations.
David’s Podcast Recommendations
David, Chief Copywriter
My favourite podcast is also linked to my favourite TV programme. For me, The Sopranos is the greatest show of all time by a mile. Over the years it has become something of an obsession to me. Two of the stars – Michael Imperioli and Steve Schirripa – created the Talking Sopranos podcast during the first lockdown, and with 90 episodes there’s plenty to keep the listener interested.
Number two on my list is Who the Hell is Hamish?. This is an Australian true crime story about a serial confidence trickster called Hamish McLaren, or Hamish Watson, or any one of a dozen other names. He managed to defraud millions of dollars from a range of victims before his 2017 arrest and his subsequent 16-year jail sentence. It’s amazing what people can get away with sometimes.
Finally, I’m a big football fan, especially of Arsenal FC, and among the many podcasts in this field is Handbrake Off. I should point out, though, that like many fickle individuals I only listen if the team won over the weekend. If they lost, the last thing I’d want to hear is a post mortem about what went wrong. When they win, though, the podcast is always enjoyable.
Lilla’s Podcast Recommendation
Lilla, Digital Marketing Manager
It’s really hard for me to only suggest three podcasts. I listen to so many different types, from True Crime and Fandom podcasts to gripping Fiction, but I will try!
As a really big Harry Potter fan, one of the first podcasts I ever listened to was Potterless. The premise of the show is the host, Mike Schubert, decides to finally read the Harry Potter books for the first time ever as an adult. The series starts off with his perceptions of the series, the fact that he considers them children’s books and his distaste for the fantasy genre as a whole. Each week he is joined by different Harry Potter fanatics as they work through the books chapter by chapter. Poking fun at plot holes, make painfully incorrect predictions, and bask in the sassiness of the characters.
My second recommendation is the fiction podcast Case 63. Dr. Eliza Knight, a psychiatrist based in New York (portrayed by Academy Award winner Julianne Moore), embarks on the treatment of a patient identified as Case 63 (played by Emmy nominee Oscar Isaac). This patient intriguingly asserts to have originated from the year 2062. What initially appears as routine therapeutic sessions soon evolves into a narrative that challenges the limits of what can be considered conceivable and authentic.
And finally, my favourite genre of podcasts, True Crime. It was really hard to pick just one, but the stand out to me is season 1 of To Live and Die in L.A. In February 2018, an aspiring actress mysteriously disappeared from her residence in Hollywood. The family sought the assistance of renowned Rolling Stone journalist Neil Strauss to uncover the truth who documented his findings as he investigated what happened to the missing actress. This podcast is gripping and at times even stranger than fiction.
James’s Podcast Recommendation
James, Content Director
I am a massive podcast fan and can talk for hours about the resurgence of this simple yet evocative content format. Despite the world moving toward advanced AI, interactive user-generated, and augmented reality content, there is still room for the good old wireless.
– Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett.
Steven Bartlett might one day be taking the chair of the late, great Michael Parkinson. In Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett, he has worked to create a show that tackles at times difficult subject matter but always with a keen and warm tone of sympathy and interest. His interviews are always extremely inciteful and well-informed. His guests are at ease and talking freely within moments of sitting down.
– The Trawl
The Trawl is my absolute go-to for political review right now. The two women behind it, Marina Purkiss and Jemma Forte, are irreverent, intelligent, well-informed and downright hilarious. They pull together an informal show that is very upfront about all the shenanigans going on in government and calling out all the wrongdoers.
‘The Lovecraft Investigations’
I re-listen to The Lovecraft Investigations, written and directed by Julian Simpson, on a regular basis and I’ll be heartbroken when they finally drop off BBC Sounds. It is a standout joy of literary adaptation with a blend of chilling mystery and investigation. With great voice acting and a wonderfully ambient soundscape, it is a compelling audio drama that stands out within the mystery drama genre. But it’s creepy – you have been warned!
Charlotte’s Podcast Recommendations
Charlotte, Social Media Executive
I also found it very hard to narrow down my podcast choices, so here are my top recommendations that I managed to whittle down!
I am a massive fan of The Office US, and this podcast is the perfect deep-dive into each episode for all you superfans out there. Hosted by Jenna Fischer (Pam Beesly) and Angela Kinsey (Angela Martin) along with a whole host of special guests (cast and crew), this is an easy listen if you want something chilled on in the background, but still interesting enough to make your ears prick up!
– Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster
This is a really great podcast if you need an easy laugh. The hosts, Ed Gamble and James Acaster, were already two comedians that I really liked. Their star-studded guests (including Daisy May Cooper, Dara Ó Briain and Louis Theroux to name but a few) really make it all the more hilarious. This has been a frequent comfort listen when I’ve needed a quick pick-me-up. It’s like having a laugh with your friends with the sort of hypothetical food-related questions that inevitably come up once in a while. Perhaps don’t listen if you’re hungry though…
Talk Twenties is a recent discovery of mine, but a very welcome one! This is essentially a guide to navigating all aspects of your twenties. From money management and body confidence to relationships and grief – all the things that twenty-somethings wish they had been taught in school! This is a great one if you’re feeling a bit lost or bewildered in your early adulthood and need a hand getting it all figured out.
And a couple of music podcasts for good measure: What Is Music? A Music Podcast About Music and A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs. I am a huge music fan and these are both great listens for anyone into music (specifically rock fans) and those who enjoy deep discussions around their favourite tunes.
Honourable mention to Diary of a CEO also!
Aneela’s Podcast Feature List
While the rest of us have been busy listening to podcasts, our very own Aneela Rose has been busy featuring on them! See the impressive list below to hear Aneela talk on a wide range of topics, including PR, Parenting and Powerlifting!
Aneela imparts her wisdom regarding the core principles of PR and marketing communications and their advantageous applications for manufacturers. She further explores the dynamic changes in the PR landscape within the digital era. She imparts valuable guidance on cultivating brand recognition and trustworthiness.
Aneela joins Lulu Minns as they delve into the connection between physical strength and its impact on business prowess. They discuss how women can harness this strength to elevate their performance and capabilities.
In this episode Aneela shares her secrets on balancing family life, the leadership of a thriving PR agency, and her role as a formidable force in Team GB powerlifting.
The episode covers a wide range of subjects, including powerlifting, Aneela’s PR background, the definition of PR, the importance of storytelling in PR, the role of copywriting, PR in the marketing mix, PR in digital marketing, delivering value to PR customers, the digital vs. print debate in PR, and the implementation of PR strategies.
Aneela talks about her journey through a transformative shift as she embraced a growth mindset. This transformation profoundly impacted both her professional and personal life.
Aneela shares insights into the significance of failure, strategies for building strength, and the determination required to reach ambitious goals.
