Exciting New Political Podcast: More Than Just “Dad”

This week’s picks

your mom’s kitchen
Audible, new episodes every week starting Wednesday
In this warm and nostalgic celebrity interview series, host Michelle Norris asks guests how the kitchen you grew up in has shaped who you are today. In the first of the new episodes, Matthew McConaughey and his wife Camila Alves-McConaughey talk about learning how to tell anecdotes, their grandpa’s wood stove, and how ice cream helps calm arguments. Reminiscing about recognition. That’s a fascinating listen. Alexi Duggins

law and disorder
Wide range of weekly episodes available
Former High Court judge Nicholas Mostyn, human rights activist Helena Kennedy and former attorney general Charlie Falconer have said their podcasts are “painfully serious and respectful, where everyone can disagree respectfully.” “It won’t become a show,” he promises. And they say this, ruminating on President Trump and the widening gulf between their professions and politicians. Hannah Verdier

unleash the future
Wide range of weekly episodes available
Wise and foul-mouthed climate scientist Chris Turney offers a cure for Earth-induced existential dread and speaks to those who are doing more than doom-scrolling to make a difference. Maggie “Billie Eilish’s mother” Baird is our first guest and points out that one day a week without meat and dairy can make a big difference. HV

patient 11
Wide range of weekly episodes available
This stunning and daring four-part series tells the story of former British youth swimmer Alexis Quinn, who escaped psychiatric treatment to make accusations of widespread sexual assault. This is alarming, given both her story and the year-and-a-half-long investigation into sexual abuse in British mental health units that it sparked. advertisement

Guns and Wands: Official Companion Podcast
Wide range of weekly episodes available
Alfie Packham and Caroline McEvoy are the hosts of the companion podcast to Game of Thrones meets Peaky Blinders, The Gun and Wand. Of course, the show doesn’t actually exist. That hasn’t stopped the discussion about The Naked Wizard and linguist Dr. Brian Spleen’s lessons on creating mysterious new languages. HV

There’s a podcast for that

this week, Hannah Verdier Our picks for the 5 best podcasts on health and wellnessfrom soothing sounds to calming the tired mind to debunking the myths surrounding health and wellness trends.

slow radio
If you find yourself exhausted from not being outside all day, put down your phone and let Slow Radio soothe you. There’s something oddly hypnotic about hearing the dawn chorus three times in a row, even if it involves crazy tweets that sound like angry birds. If you’re not a fan of nature, other meditative sounds are also available in the 30-minute episodes, so you can also delve deeper into chiming clocks or discover the sounds that transmitters hear at night. This is the wellness podcast you never knew you needed, but once you listen to it, you’ll look forward to your daily break.

Scotty: Self-help
If you’re really struggling with your mental health, it can be a little overwhelming to be bombarded with positive mantras. So Scotty (above), cabaret artist, activist, and all-around brilliant egg, has the antidote you need. In his “Amateur Guide to Staying Alive,” he doesn’t tell you to meditate, move more, or write a bullet journal, but he does say that he has tried to keep himself sane over the years. Let’s talk about everything. This podcast has a warm and intimate feel, with Scotty appearing as the friend you need when you’re walking in the rain. He’s always been like that, but sometimes he wonders why on earth he does it.

Zoe’s Science and Nutrition
Zoe’s research is leading a revolution in health and nutrition, powered by ongoing research, and this podcast is the perfect place to stay up to date with the latest news. We have episodes dedicated to many of the big food questions that make the headlines, including dairy, snacking, protein, nuts, and more. Find the latest research on gut health, artificial sweeteners, and ultra-processed foods, all with an evidence-based perspective from scientists. When you’re surrounded by diet advice that ranges from low-carb to keto to fasting, it’s nice to hear a fresh, balanced approach.

maintenance phase
In a world full of Instagram influencers, almond moms, and leg days, Michael Hobbs and Aubrey Gordon are a breath of fresh air, debunking the ‘science’ behind health and wellness fads . Many questions are being discussed. Why do I have to walk 10,000 steps a day? How do you navigate a doctor’s weigh-in when you don’t want to step on the scale? And do French women really not gain weight? For these two, there are no superstitions, old statistics or “everything I ate in a day” videos, just laugh-out-loud humor and common sense that run through every episode.

How do you deal with it?with ellis and john
Hosts Ellis James and John Robbins are so open about their mental health day-to-day that their guests can’t help but join in. In this series, James Cracknell, Katie Piper and Jordan Gray talk about what they’ve had to overcome in their lives. Each episode begins with the hosts checking in with each other (“How’s your shame?”), with plenty of time for warmth and conversation. Particularly moving are the scenes in which Robbins opens up about her struggle with alcohol, admitting that “I couldn’t go anywhere because I was like that,” and how she began her recovery.

Why not try it…

• Apparently it’s dripped into the ear! brain leak It brings together Jackseptic Eye (Sean McLaughlin) and Ethan Nestor for a funny and unconventional deep dive inside their heads, right down to the slimy parts.

• What happens when you marry someone whose partner has already committed a crime?Package deals you didn’t ask for Shit!i married twins.

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