This week’s picks
Peppa Pig Play-Along Podcast
All episodes available now on Audible
The Pig Queen has been an icon to toddlers around the world for 20 years, so it’s about time she entered the world of podcasting. Kids and their parents can enjoy together as Peppa Pig explores big emotions, long drives, and what to do when you’re not tired at bedtime. From the creator of hits like Peace and Harmony, it’s packed with catchy tunes and, of course, some digging into Daddy Pig. Hannah Verdier
Hysterical
Wondery+, weekly episodes
When a group of girls at an upstate New York school started experiencing convulsions, tremors, and other mysterious symptoms, doctors were baffled. Was it all in their imagination? Or was social media to blame? Now Dan Taberski (Missing Richard Simmons) is investigating the outbreak, which he’s dubbing “mass hysteria,” to uncover links to other unexplained occurrences. HV
Pop Culture Debate Club
BBC Sounds, weekly episodes
If you still miss Call Your Girlfriend, Aminatou Saw’s show puts two pop culture fans head-to-head in a fun debate about important issues. Would you rather spend time with the cast of New Girl or Community? Which is the better sports movie, Space Jam or D2: The Mighty Ducks? Saw has the final say. HV
Coatbridge: The disappearance of Moira Anderson
All episodes available now on Audible
In 1957, 11-year-old Moira Anderson disappeared during a snowstorm in Coatbridge, a small town near Glasgow. Journalist Rachel Rebes helps Moira’s old neighbour Sandra Brown share her memories. What begins as grief for a missing schoolmate unravels as Brown worries about her own father and discovers a cycle of abuse. HV
The Master: An Indictment Against Neil Gaiman
Tortoise, all episodes now available
The four-part series reveals the facts that two women have alleged sexual abuse against the author, juxtaposing the accusers’ testimonies, Gaiman’s denials, and conflicting accounts of events (based on consensual relationships) to create a confusing and sometimes difficult story to listen to. Alexi Duggins
There is a podcast
this week, Amar Kalia select The 5 Best Poetry PodcastsFrom exploring classic works to the creative secrets of contemporary authors
Poetry exchange
The easiest way to become familiar with poetry is to listen to it read aloud, analyzed, and explained. Interesting people reading poetry This show does just that, as artists and writers share their favorite poems and briefly discuss their emotional resonance. If you want to dig a little deeper, you can also try this fascinating podcast, where hosts Fiona Bennett and Michael Shaffer first ask their guests to share a meaningful poem, then delve into the poem’s personal meaning and importance to the reader. Hear everyone from actors Brian Cox and Andrew Scott to poet Sarina Godden talk about the power of poetry in everyday life.
commonplace
In this long-running series, author Rachel Zucker not only talks about the magic of poetry itself but also interviews poets about their craft and how their everyday encounters influence their creativity. In conversations that can last more than two hours, Zucker offers insight into life and how to navigate it, asking questions about everything from writers’ morning routines to how much sleep they get. Among the poets interviewed are former US presidential candidate Eileen Myles, best-selling author Maggie Nelson, and US Poet Laureate Ada Limon. Perfect for a long journey or a lazy morning, Zucker’s passion for art in all its forms is captivating.
A mouthful of air
For an in-depth analysis of a university lecture, check out poet Mark McGuinness’ series, “A Mouthful of Air.” Weaving together interviews with contemporary poets about their work and original explorations of classics such as Chaucer, Emily Dickinson, and D.H. Lawrence, McGuinness doesn’t shy away from textual analysis but rather walks his audience through concepts and teases out myriad meanings from the pages. For a more comprehensive analysis, check out The Poetry Foundation’s Poetry Talk The podcast is also rigorous with roundtable discussions between a group of scholars and writers analyzing classic works and forgotten greats.
Poems that fell off the shelf
Focusing on contemporary poetry, this Poetry Foundation series is packed with amazing work by living authors you’ve probably never heard of. Striking the perfect balance of analysis and freewheeling conversation about a writer’s life and inspiration, host Helena De Groot’s episodes include everything from interviews with authors to in-depth reviews of new anthologies to tributes to recently deceased poets. With over 100 episodes to choose from, recommended primers include translator Emily Drumsta’s look at the rhythm of different languages, Hawaiian poet No’u Revilla’s importance of place in one’s work, and Mahogany L Browne’s attempted censorship of the children’s book “Woke: A Young Poet’s Call to Justice.”
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Slow down
With each episode only five minutes long, The Slowdown has created a genre of its own across 1000 episodes. Combining ASMR relaxation with poetry lessons, the show features a daily reading of a new work by host and poet Major Jackson, accompanied by a brief introduction to the subject. Jackson strays from Western staples to take a broader look at world literature. Read in his soothing baritone, the episodes are incredibly relaxing and meditative, but thankfully, they’re so short they can easily be replayed for fresh insights.
Please try…
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From Jameela Jamil to former News of the World editor Andy Coulson, Rylan Clark’s new BBC podcast has some seriously interesting guests. How to get noticed.
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The Economist’s new series boom! It examines how the Baby Boomer generation has influenced politics, including the current U.S. presidential election.
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With England taking part in the Euro 2024 final this weekend, now’s the perfect time to listen to the Guardian’s Football Weekly podcast, which is turning into Football Daily for the duration of the tournament.
Source: www.theguardian.com
