Podcasts cut out the noise of the world.
They take you into a whole new place where all that exists is the sounds in your ears as the words fill your head.
These podcasts are pure escapism. No politics, no anger, no fear, only joy and pleasure.
Some of this are fresh out of the pack and some are classic and thoroughly enjoyable episodes from the vaults.
First up, ‘The Truth’…
‘The Truth’ is wonderful fiction. Original and intriguing stories from Radiotopia (US Podcast network that also produces ‘Mortified’, people reading excerpts from their diaries, ‘Ear Hustle’, stories direct from America’s prisons and ‘The Allusionist’, very popular show hosted by podcast legend Helen Zaltzman (see Answer Me This below).
Episode to start:
Lucky Penny – Told with humour and heart, a son tries to make contact with his dad, who’s deteriorating in the throes of dementia. He makes new connections and discoveries, and as he says goodbye to his father, he is granted a long-awaited wish.
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Now, bear with me on this next one, it’s an absolute dream and you’ll be able to say ‘I heard it first’ as it’s fresh off the podcast ‘shelf’.
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‘Over The Road’ is a brand new series from Radiotopia and ‘gives voice to the trials and triumphs of America’s long haul truckers’. 🚛
Unless you’re a trucker, this couldn’t be further away from our average lives. You don’t need to know your Four-Wheelers from your Bull Haulers to enjoy the stories that ‘Long Haul Paul’ and his dulcet tones bring us from those long, lonesome roads with nothing but taillights for miles.
🚚 Ease in gently with ‘Channel One-Nine #1’: What are CB Handles? Come on, you know you’ve always wanted one. 🚛 Krrchh krchhh come in Rubby Ducky , only 7 mins.
Or jump right in with a full episode, ‘Why We Drive’ Episode 2 featuring ‘Lady Trucker’ Kenyette Godhigh-Bell ‘They didn’t think I would make it coz I didn’t look like what you think a trucker would look like.’
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Now for some home-grown talent, podcast legends Oli Mann and Helen Zaltzman’s ‘Answer Me This’.
Helen and Oli host one of the longest running and most successful independently produced podcasts having been running since January 2007.
Literally dip into any episode however if you’re a completist then beware, there are a lot of episodes to get through.
The next two recommendations are from Gimlet Media. If you’re interested in the inner-workings of what it’s like to set up a podcast production company then also check out Start Up and follow the inception and creation of the Gimlet network itself. But also before you go down that rabbit hole please check out…
Mystery Show
Starlee Kline, one of the best names and voices in podcasting, solves life’s that can’t be solved by a quick and easy Google. Whether it’s the mystery of who owns a detailed belt buckle with a toaster on it that was found on the street many years ago, or why someone would have the car reg ILUV 911 – it’s not what you think.
Take ‘Source Code’ for example. Our intrepid investigator is asked by a friend to solve a mystery that’s been driving him crazy due to the thousands of differing opinions held on the subject online “How old is Jake Gyllenhaal?”
There is no conclusive evidence to be sure, it’s up to Starlee to get to the bottom of this mystery once and for all.
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Reply All
A podcast about the internet hosted by two guys who’s infectious laughter won’t fail to crack a smile.
#158 The Case of The Missing Hit This is one of the best episodes of any podcast I’ve heard in a long time. So good I laid back on my bed and listened without any other distractions with a HUGE smile across my face.
‘A man in California is haunted by the memory of a pop song from his youth. He can remember the lyrics and the melody. But the song itself has vanished, completely scrubbed from the internet. Listen as they start to create this song from this guy’s memory whilst speaking to some of the biggest names in the music industry to find someone, anyone who remembers this song.
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Desert Island Discs
A classic staple for any podcast fan but we wanted to draw particular attention to the latest episode featuring Chris Riddel, illustrator, author and political cartoonist. “I do think of drawing as a verb, rather than a noun. I never feel when I draw that the end result is the important thing, it’s the doing, the activity of drawing, I don’t think I’ll ever stop.” Creative inspiration for anyone we think.
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So, grab your headphones, sit back, turn off notifications on your phone and let the pods look after you.
And whilst we’re taking your mind off… you know what, it would be amiss for us to not mention ‘5 Dinner Conversations Other Than…’
Did anyone see where that elephant went? I’m sure it was in the room just now.
