And welcome to the first of a two part special article containing my favourite podcasts of 2024. Just click on the highlighted names below to listen to them.
Have a Happy Christmas.
MY PODCAST OF THE YEAR
The Rest is Entertainment - Richard Osman and Marina Hyde’s podcast unpacking the entertainment industry has been essential listening over the course of the last year, simply because they both explain why things are happening as well as what is happening. One of the (many) highlights of the last year was when Hyde reviewed the Phillip Schofield Channel 5 Cast Away documentary, and referred to it as a “picnic of narcissism.”
2024 POCAST PICKS
How to Write a Book - If 2025 is the year that you plan to write a book, look no further than this excellent twelve part series. Put together by Elizabeth Day, you’ll hear tips and insights from three different perspectives throughout your publishing journey: literary agent Nelle Andrew, publisher Sharmaine Lovegrove and bestselling novelist Sara Collins.
Who Owns the Clyde? - A three-part documentary looking at the history of River Clyde and the city of Glasgow, asking why some areas adjacent to the river have seen areas of redevelopment and regeneration, whilst other areas are vacant and empty.
As the series delves into Scottish history and industrial decline, it will make you think about the history of where you live and how it ended up being the way that it is today.
Undercover: The Spycops - A series that looks at how Mark Kennedy, an undercover police officer, infiltrated a network of climate activists for seven years and had intimate relationships with members without revealing his real identity. This sensitively handled series looks at the emotional consequences of being lied to for years and the ethics of such police work.
The Quilt - Tash Walker and Andy Zmith, behind award-winning LGBTQ+ series The Log Books, have a new series that explore queer stories all across the UK, specifically away from the bright lights of Manchester, London and Brighton.
A partnership with the museum Queer Britain, recent episodes look at the reality of growing up trans in the North East of England, the fascinating history of Glasgow’s lesbian bars and a community quilt that amplifies trans joy.
Rylan: How to be in the Spotlight - A podcast where celebrities talk about the reality of being in the public eye could have risked being out of touch or falling into a moan fest, making you wonder why these celebrities have decided to be famous in the first place.
Yet this series is fascinating because Rylan asks the right questions. The guests are an eclectic mix and it covers a range of interesting topics, from classism to homophobia, to the consequences of viral fame.
Fur & Loathing - Nicky Woolf is behind this compelling and truly bizarre story about how an American convention full of furries (people who dress up in anthropomorphic animal costumes) ended up becoming the location for one of the largest chemical attacks in modern American history, with 19 people hospitalised.
Woolf looks at why the attack happened, who could have been responsible and why the attack wasn’t taken seriously by the media.
Legend: The Joni Mitchell Story - A fantastically made series lifting the lid on the life and impact of the acclaimed singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell and how she became one of the world’s most respected artists. You don’t need to be an existing admirer of her work to get stuck into the story.
Sidetracked with Annie and Nick - On the face of it this is a weekly roundup of music news by Nick Grimshaw and Annie Macmanus, but it is actually something more. Their friendship dates back years and is infectious to listen to, whilst the conversations often go off script making it an entertaining listen.
Kermode and Mayo’s Take - Starting a new podcast away from the BBC is not easy, but Mark Kermode and Simon Mayo’s film review show feels firmly settled in the podcast world, whilst still retaining the spark of what made it so good in the first place.
