Podcasts. Admittedly, Team Tribe was a little late to the party but now we are obsessed. Going on a walk – portable coffee cup in hand, preferred podcast in ear – has become one of our favourite morning rituals.
In 2020, the variety of podcasts on offer is seemingly endless. Whether you want to stay up to date with the latest news, LEL (lough extremely loud) before work, find courage in another’s inspiring journey or listen to an exchange between your favourite artists, we are spoilt for choice.
During the challenging times of lockdown, self-isolation and quarantine buddies; uncertainty over work and finances – the bloody lot – a podcast can offer everything from in-ear company to escapism for the mind, bringing you comfort or challenging your thoughts. Here, we share some of our favourite podcasts to tune into in 2020 and beyond…
In Conversation With…
Fresh off the mic, The 1975 frontman Matty Healy hosts this brand new podcast series for The Face as part of the band’s magazine takeover. Delving into the minds and creative processes of some of the greatest musicians and producer to grace our planet, the inimitable Stevie Nicks was his first guest – setting the bar high from the off.
Brian Eno and Bobby Gillespie, two of Healy’s own musical idols, are also amongst the impressive line-up. It’s stating the obvious that hyper-intellectual songwriter Healy is a music buff, but as a pop-rock star in his own right he connects to his guests on a whole other level. Our verdict: fascinating conversations for music lovers of all ages.
Listen to it here: theface.com/audio
Happy Place
A well-established voice of British radio, tuning into Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place podcast feels like reconnecting with an old friend. In charge of her own production, the former BBC presenter explores the themes that interest her the most – with topics diving into mental health, personal growth, and everyday challenges we all have to deal with.
As an added bonus, Fearne opens her star-studded black book of celebrity contacts and the impressive roster of Happy Place guests includes Hollywood icon Jada Pinkett-Smith, musician George Ezra, Game of Thrones star Lena Heady, the infamously dark-humoured comedian and writer Ricky Gervais, and best-selling Eat, Pray, Love author Elizabeth Gilbert to name just a few.
Listen to it here: officialfearnecotton.com/happy-place-podcast
The Pikes Podcast
Calling all Ibiza lovers! If you want to get your lockdown fix of the White Isle, you cannot miss The Pikes Podcast. Laden with the cult hotel’s favourite collaborators and guests, learn about the colourful history and quirky tales surrounding the iconic abode and its many famous patrons.
Tune into a chat between Freddie’s Suite regulars DJ Harvey and Artwork, or listen in on Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh (a key speaker at the annual Pikes Literary Festival) discussing ‘writing wrongs’.
Listen to it here: pikesibiza.com/podcast
Table Manners With Jessie Ware
British singer Jessie Ware may often be described as ‘underrated’ in the music industry, but she’s a big hitter in the world of podcasts. Starring Jessie and her mother Lennie Ware as hosts, Table Manners delves into the eating habits and dirty foodie secrets of the songwriter’s musical peers such as John Legend, Dua Lipa and Ed Sheeran.
Other notable gourmet guests who have sat down for dinner with Jessie and her mum include Friends star David Schwimmer, inimitable UK actress Zawe Ashton, The Body Coach Joe Wicks and many more. Find out what your favourite stars would choose as a ‘last supper’ and what bizarre culinary concoctions (Chow Mein with mayonnaise, anyone?) they eat behind closed doors.
There is also plenty of recipe inspiration from Jessie and Lennie, who usually whip up a three-course meal for their guests – however, due to the special circumstances of the Covid-19 pandemic house visits have been put on hold. The mother and daughter duo’s podcast has been so well received, they have even published a Table Manners cookbook.
Listen to it here: www.play.acast.com/s/tablemanners
How To Fail With Elizabeth Day
In a world where most people prefer to present themselves as ‘living their best lives’ via carefully curated social media profiles, how refreshing is it to open up about the things that don’t go so well? As the title suggests, podcaster Elizabeth Day and her guests discuss what they perceive to be their three biggest failures in a refreshingly candid and honest manner.
Day’s varied spectrum of guests includes talent such as the super-talented actress, writer and producer Phoebe Waller-Bridge, best-selling Irish author Marian Keyes and – her latest scoop – Normal People star and the current ‘talk of TV town’ Daisy Edgar-Jones.
From imposter syndrome at work to childhood trauma, grief to relationship issues, no subject is off the record. As well as reassuring us that we all face similar fears and challenges on this mortal coil, it is fascinating to realise that even those who appear at the top of their game battle their own insecurities and regrets.
Listen to it here: elizabethdayonline.co.uk/podcast
Drunk Women Solving Crime
We have to thank one of our friends for getting us onto this – quite literally – intoxicating listen! True crime and strong liqueur (as well as the odd wine) make for a thrilling combination when the comedic trio of Taylor Glenn, Hannah George and Catie Wilkins sits down to solve murder mysteries with razor-sharp wit and inappropriate humour.
With the help of their guests, a tipple or two and a lot of cackling, no crime is too bizarre to be unravelled. Drink-swigging honorary detectives who have joined the comediennes include London Hughes, Katherine Ryan and family bloggers Scummy Mummies to name just a few.
Listen to it here: www.drunkwomensolvingcrime.com
Saturn Returns with Caggie
You might remember Caggie Dunlop from Made In Chelsea, but her Saturn Returns podcast focuses on more mature subjects than SW1 gossip.
The podcast is named after an astrological phenomenon that occurs several times throughout each of our lifetimes when the planet has circuited the solar system and arrives back in the same place on the chart where it was at your birth. With the effects of your first ‘Saturn return’ beginning to impact you between the ages of 27 – 29, astrologically speaking it signifies the beginning of a new stage in your life; one of more maturity and authenticity.
In this vein, Caggie says she wants to share a more truthful and accurate version of herself on the podcast than her portrayal on the docusoap. In conversation with guests like fellow podcasters Elizabeth Day and Ruby Warrington, she discusses topics such as being ‘sober curious’ and the fear of failure. Listening to Saturn Returns with Caggie is a bit like having a chat with your spiritually-minded pals who are into self-empowerment and personal growth – but without being preachy.
Listen to it here: podcasts.apple.com/saturn-returns-with-caggie
Calmer You
Chloe Brotheridge is a London-based hypnotherapist and author who specialises in helping people suffering from anxiety and low self-esteem. Having struggled with mental health issues like panic attacks and constant worrying herself, she works from a place of understanding and compassion.
On the Calmer You podcast, she talks about empowering topics such as self love, emotional resilience and building confidence. Chloe also invites a range of guest experts to help her dig deep into a wide variety of subjects, ranging from how to heal the body with your mind, dealing with stress and anxiety at work, become more confident around money, and many more.
There are also special episodes dedicated to Coronavirus-related topics such as handling your fears around the Covid-19 pandemic or tips for working from home.
Listen to it here: calmer-you.com/podcast
My Dad Wrote A Porno
An all-time classic and cult hit, My Dad Wrote A Porno is a British podcast hosted by Jamie Morton, James Cooper and Alice Levine. The inspiration behind the series is toe-curling yet genius. Faced with the nightmarish discovery that his father has written an amateur erotic novel, instead of trying to avoid EVER finding out its content Jamie Morton invited two of his best friends to read out each chapter and dissect it.
As if the incredibly high cringe-factor of discovering that your parent has sexual thoughts wasn’t enough, the author’s way with words – his pen name is ‘Rocky Flintstone’, which is almost too perfect to be true – and the bizarre scenarios he dreams up for the characters of his Belinda Blinked series make this podcast comedy gold.
In fact, the series has become so successful that the My Dad Wrote A Porno crew recorded a comedy special for HBO, and there has been talk of a movie adaptation. With five completed series available for download, fans are eagerly anticipating the next episodes. Just be warned before you listen: while My Dad Wrote A Porno can be funny as hell, at other times you might want to be sick in your mouth.
Listen to it here: play.acast.com/mydadwroteaporno
Credit: Feature image via Marshall Headphones.
