Recommendation Engine: In case you missed it

Welcome to this week's Recommendation Engine from Podcast Rex, rounding up the week in podcast reviews. Get this in an email each week by signing up to be a supporter of Podcast Rex from £3.99.

Apple Podcasts New & Noteworthy:

• Mortal Sin
• Real Dictators
• Hot Money: The New Narcos
• My Fugitive Dad
• Dr Death

Spotify New & 🔥

• Ami Charlize’s Private Story
• The Rest Is Entertainment
• Antics with Ash
• Springleaf
• Whale Hunting

Fiona Sturges in the FT

• Heavyweight - “A big-hearted, delightfully oddball series that, for me, remains one of the all-time great podcasts. It’s about human longing and reckoning with the past, told with warmth and wit by its host-cum-intermediary Jonathan Goldstein.”

James Marriott listed his top podcasts of 2023 in the Times, including

• The Rest Is Entertainment - “Full of curious insights and angles.”
• Uncharted with Hannah Fry - “She goes to some brilliantly unexpected places.”
• The Coldest Case in Laramie - “A superior true crime podcast.”

Miranda Sawyer in the Observer

• Think Twice - “Somehow, Think Twice manages to tackle these difficult topics without being judgmental.”
• Courtroom Drama - “Courtroom Drama takes various real-life trials and sort of recreates them and sort of analyses them.”

The Guardian’s Hear Here column recommends

• Uncovering Roots - “Gives a voice to lesser-known people whose stories need to be heard.”
• Mortal Sin - “A knotty tale involving lies, deception, odd prophecies and a preacher’s highly active sex life.”
• I Feel Love Connie - “Drag Race fans will want to plug into drag legend Love Connie’s podcast.”

Highlights from the Radio Times

• Where Are You Going? - “Brief encounters on the streets.”
• McCartney: A Life in Lyrics - “A treat.”
• Buried - “Journalists Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor unearth a scandal.”
• Young Again - “Lived up to all expectations.”

Scott Bryan in Great British Podcasts

• Hot Money: The New Narcos - “Crime is a business.”
• You’re Wrong About ADHD - “There’s a lot to discuss.”
• Widowed AF - “There’s an emphasis that no experience is the same.”
• One Direction: A Fan Story - “Why did this band resonate more than others?”

In PodPod’s Earworms column:

• Chris Hawkins, How to DJ: Three Bean Salad - “An hour of really creative, funny waffle.”
• Connor Dowling, FadCamp: Hollywood Wolfpack - “A behind-the-scenes look into the careers of working pros in Hollywood.”
• Faye Lawrence, Freelance: Reign - “THE best lineup of wall-to-wall A-lister guests.”
• Amber Miller, Content is Queen: Get Birding - “A good listen to calm yourself down.”
• Ryan Rummery, Spotify: Feel Better, Live More - “Provides the facts but highlights the importance of context over rigid rules.”

That’s all for us this week - and this year! Recommendation Engine will return in the first week of January. If you’re looking for new podcasts for the new year, now is the best time to sign up to support Podcast Rex and receive the Recommendation Engine to your inbox each week.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from everyone at Podcast Rex! 🎄🎉