Podcasts that are making you smarter

[LaRevolution]

What are your recs for enjoyable podcasts that you feel are also a good use of time, i.e. you're genuinely learning and absorbing interesting and useful info? (I know "useful" is all relative)

Not The Rest Is History, I find it annoying...also anything narrated by Melvyn Bragg I generally avoid.

I don't mind American as long as it's not bros talking about crypto etc.

This is a really interesting historical look at trade. I know that might sound dull but it's not. Short episodes as well.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/b09lsns0?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile

Basically what I really love is someone quietly and calmly talking, for quite a long time, about something quite complicated. Either book level complicated for a series of multi hour episodes, or sort of "LRB featured essay" complicated for 2-3 hours. I love the Reith lectures - would go for those but much more in depth as my ideal podcast.

I don't want 20 minute episodes, I don't want any shouting or blaring noises. I don't want too much chat. I don't want advice, true crime, grisly stuff, or clapter-type commentary. I don't want it made palatable with some kind of media gimmick. I don't want production! I just want a clever person to talk to me about something they know well, for quite a long time so they can really explain it. When I find this, it really feels special - podcasting giving me a gift, access to something I couldn't have otherwise.

Love David Sedaris!

Sorry though, how is Linekar affiliated to Rest Is...is it his production company?

So many interesting-sounding recs on here, thank you so much everyone!

I agree with PPs that ads generally seem to be getting worse in podcasts - you can at least skip forward 10 secs on Pocketcast, which is what I generally use to listen.

I also like the idea of an all-day podcast radio station - night give the World Service a go.

A PP mentioned You're Wrong About...I've enjoyed that in the past but depending on the subject I have to be in the right mood for it - it doesn't always call to me 😁

Stuff You Should Know - I think that was one I started a loooong time ago but I didn't give it much of a chance. I listened to what I thought would be fancying episodes (I think it was Satanic Panic and maybe Witch Trials) but they were disappointing and I gave up quite quickly.

@LaRevolution Gary Linekar owns “Goalhanger” (‘twas his nickname as a footballer apparently) who are a podcast production company and all of “The Rest is…” podcasts are in their stable.

Again, not wholly educational, but Sentimental Garbage is a great take on 'women's' culture - started as a book podcast but has branched out to wider culture. It's intelligent and funny.

LOVE

• Empire (tho William's family do feature in almost every season!)
• through line
• noble blood
• Hidden brain
• the coming storm and will be wild (white male Brits)
• you're wrong about, tho agree with pp about their bias
• the trial of Lucy letby is good on the legal system as is..
• history on trial and
• toxic the Britney spears story
• Newtons law
• Ladykillers
• secrets of the medieval world
• autism's first child
• believe in magic

I need to try not just the Tudors by the look of this thread...

I don't know how I didn't know this, thank you!

I’m really enjoying this, thanks for the recommendation!

@Pollyanna87 how strange, I literally read an article yesterday about Heligoland, having never heard of it before!

Old Timey Podcast. They do shorter one off episodes and also in depth deep dive series into the most random things that are really important but also very unknown!

I’m glad you’re enjoying it, I rave about it whenever I can! It’s just such a high-quality investigation.

Am now on ep 5 of dangerous memories and it’s very good.

Just binged Dangerous Minds doing the ironing (there was a lot of it!) - very interesting! Thanks for the rec.