Podcasts/Audible books to distract me from the hell that is running

[Nopetryagain]

Starting C25k tomorrow having done it a few years ago. I never got the running bug but it did get me in shape. However I need to distract myself from the fact I am running and listening to music doesn’t cut it!! I need to get totally immersed in something.

To get through the runs last time I listen to podcasts/radio shows but am struggling to find inspiration so am asking for recommendations please. I would love to get hooked/obsessed on a series so I can’t wait for my next run rather than dread it!

I am a bit bored of the interview format podcasts (though I love Jay Raynors Out to Lunch) and not massively keen on crime ones (Serial was exceptional though).

I enjoy/enjoyed Wind of Change, Passenger List, Kitchen Cabinet, You’re Dead to Me, Ear Hustle, Tunnel 29 and Evil Genius.

Topics that generally interest me are food, film and history but happy to deviate from those.

I have Audible so any recommendations welcome there too- maybe a book with lots of cliffhanger chapters so I feel motivated to run to find out what happens!

Would love to hear your recommendations please.

Dark History is really interesting and she talks about lots of historical topics that aren't traditionally covered in schools.

That sounds right up my street, thank you!

Bob Mortimer's audio book. I've just finished it and will listen to it again. He's like a big mug of hot chocolate.

@Nopetryagain

That sounds right up my street, thank you!

You might also like The Strange & Unusual Podcast - it's a mix of spooky stories (ideal for this time of year!) and interesting historical bits. She did a few episodes on the Victorian approach to death and grieving and all the complex etiquette surrounding it which I found really fascinating.

Eddmr oh I loved it!! Felt like a hug to my ears

Harlequin thank you, sounds perfect

@Nopetryagain

Harlequin thank you, sounds perfect

My pleasure 🥰

Stuff you should know

You Must Remember This for a bit of film and history

I like Adam Buxton and Louis Theroux (and podcasts where they're together are great fun), but doesn't pass your interview test.

I enjoyed ^One More Croissant for the Road" recently — a food writer cycling through France and stopping off in various places. Lots of nice information about French cooking.

Thanks I like Louis Theroux so will definitely give that a go. One more croissant sounds great!

Something was Wrong - especially Season 9.

Added Something was Wrong to the list thank you.

If you liked Tunnel 29 what about Mayday and The Ratline? Also from Intrigue.

And I know you are not a fan of true crime but Paradise from BBC Five Live is amazing, like Serial it is an exception. I don’t normally do true crime but loved both of those.
Wondery’s Dying for Sex and British Scandal are also good.
And if you are in the mood for something bizarre Finding Drago is hilarious.

@Eddmr

Bob Mortimer's audio book. I've just finished it and will listen to it again. He's like a big mug of hot chocolate.

That sounds perfect.

My favourite podcasts when I run:

Crime Analyst - criminal behaviour analyst Laura Richards, starts out with a deep dive of the murders committed by Peter Sutcliffe (she refuses to refer to him by his nickname as she says it puts too much focus on the perpetrator rather than on the victims). She moves on to other cases and discuss in great detail coercive control and domestic abuse.

Real Crime Profile - again Laura Richards but this time with ex-FBI agent Jim Clemente. They go into great detail around dozens of high profile cases, but not just murders. They cover the murders of Nicole Brown-Simpson and Ron Goldman (OJ Simpson); the murder of Meredith Kercher; the abduction of Madeleine McCann; the murder of Reeva Steenkamp (Oscar Pistorius); and the cases around Bill Cosby, Woody Allen, Jeffrey Epstein, Michael Jackson, to name just a few. Fascinating to listen to how they analyse the psychology of criminals and the tell tale signs they look for in cases.

On a lighter note, there’s also Parenting Hell with Josh Widdecombe and Rob Beckett which never fails to make me laugh.

How To Fail with Elizabeth Day - she interviews a variety of people to talk about their own perceived failures in their lives. Very thought provoking.

Sorry, just seen you didn’t want interviews, so maybe ignore How To Fail!

I didn’t realise Tunnel 29 was part of Intrigue, will check those out!

These all sound brilliant and I will definitely give How to Fail a go, interviews aren’t totally off limits I just think lots of them are done badly but happy to listen to ones done well.

I am actually looking forward to running!!