To find podcasts excruciatingly dull?

[everythingisginandroses]

Just that, really. Am I just listening to the wrong ones? I have tried podcasts about stuff I am interested in (books, fashion, popular culture) but within minutes I am thinking "Why am I listening to these people? I am not learning anything here, what is the point?"

I don't think I have a terrible attention span (I have to listen to people for a living, or is that part of my problem?) Full disclosure: there may be an element of class prejudice in some of my reactions. I have just tried an apparently popular podcast by two writers whose essays I generally enjoy, but there's something about their effortless assurance that people will want to listen to their commentaries that I just find really off-putting...

I should just move on and accept that podcasts are not for me, right?

Are you talking about The High Low in your OP? I hated that when I tried it.

With how many podcasts are out there there has to be something for everyone, the difficulty is just finding one that works for you.

My favourite is Table Manners with Jessie Ware. Singer Jessie invites celebrities to her house and she and her mum cook for them. It's hilarious at times and interesting to learn about the guests.

Others I enjoy are:
Phone a Friend - discussions on mental health (good balance between serious and light hearted) by George Ezra and his friend Ollie
Stuff You Should Know - each episode takes a random topic, the hosts both read about it and then talk about what they found. I don't listen to every episode, just the ones that interest me. They have thousands of episodes so there's bound to be something you're interested in.
All Killa No Filla - true crime, focusing on a different serial killer each episode

There are a lot I've tried and ditched but these are the ones I've carried on with.

Thank you for all your suggestions everyone. I was conscious that I was probably making a gross generalisation, so fair enough to those that have pointed this out. Yes, I was talking about The High Low

I used to listen to a lot of Radio 4 but I do prefer music these days. Still, I will check out some of the recommendations from here and the R4 podcast roundup

@everythingisginandroses
I challenge you to listen to Malcolm Gladwell's 'revisionist history' and not learn anything.

It's just a genre of entertainment.

Would you say "I find books excruciatingly dull" or cinema, or theatre, or TV? There are dull and boring podcasts just as there are dull and boring movies, TV programmes or books.

Personally I have found some great ones and listen when I'm out walking. Some of the drama ones are very good indeed.

Unlike a lot of people on here I actually think it's fine to have forms of media you don't much enjoy. I do enjoy listening to podcasts but have never really got on with videos that are primarily people speaking as form of information - I have never seen a documentary that I wouldn't rather have read as a book/article with accompanying illustrations, I hate it when newspapers use videos on their websites to convey information that (in my view) should have been an article, I can't even begin to understand why people watch videos of strangers talking on YouTube or Instagram. I just don't find it an enjoyable or engaging way to take in content, I think because I'm always aware I could read the same information so much faster and, unlike podcasts and the radio, if I have to watch I can't do something else at the same time.

Loads of people say they don't like reading or theatre performance in general, by the way, to all the people saying no one would say that - they just aren't on/wouldn't admit it on Mumsnet.

I’ve only just discovered audio books. Amazing.

I listen to a lot of true crime podcasts , always interesting and also even though it sounds boring tv series rewatches I put them on while I'm cleaning and it passes the time

Season 1 of 'Serial' by Sarah Koenig set the bar so high a few years' ago that nothing since compares!

@everythingisginandroses I recommend more independent podcasts. I'll not recommend specific ones as it might be way out of what you are interested in! But the ones which are either just produced by an individual or small team or perhaps ones which come from production companies such as gimlet or max fun. Rather than the BBC or from a major newspaper. Personally I think some of those podcast are ok but definitely my faves are the more independent ones. (I know that sounds a bit hipster!) but I think this so where podcastimg started then the bigger producers got in on it so they just feel much more like radio shows
Which is fine I listen to a lot of radio 4. Bit6the beat ones I think are ones you really connect to either because you feel the hosts are like you. So for me things like she's all fat, no country for young women and standard issue
Or they're just really interesting in an accessible way. For me they would be things like you're wrong about, reply all and anything from Mike Duncan. But that's my interests and identity so they work for me. I feel if you could find some which you connect with in the same way you'd like them more and that is probably getting away from bigger producers.

@TellingBone but what I mean is you are saying you'd rather read about a thing than listen to a podcast about it. But you can't read while also doing something else. Which is why podcasts are so popular. The time you spend cleaning for example can be enhanced with a podcast using it as learning or entertainment time. But you can't just not clean and sit down and read. So it's not an either or thing. Just feels like you don't quite get the role podcasts are fulfilling.

You just need to find your genre - i hate the ones that are self indulgent chat.

I like investigative journalism (but not murder). Can recommend the following
The Dropout
Fake Heiress
Crypto queen
The Dream
Also really enjoyed 13 minutes to the moon seasons 1&2.

I agree. I need to have the visual to accompany the narrative. I have never liked the radio either. In my mind, why listen to a programme when you can watch something on TV?!!

I listen to the Casefiles true crime podcast sometimes before bed, though it sometimes gives me nightmares

A podcast is just a radio show or conversation not experienced live or in the flesh. I only listen to one but find it both hilarious and informative based on the fact its about content I'm majorly interested in. For me its just content related.

I don't like cooking shows so don't watch them or listen to any on the radio and in line with that I wouldn't listen to a cooking podcast

Shows we're all different. I'm not that keen on TV, and get bored watching YouTube type videos. I like reading best, but listen to podcasts when I am driving or crafting.
I particularly like desert Island discs, political shows and interviews. Not keen on shagged, married annoyed and stuff like that. I find it self indulgent, but I do like David Tennant and Adam Buxton for a bit of humour.

I love podcasts!

Don't really understand why you would say you don't like them - unless you just don't like listening to stuff full stop. There are so many out there to choose from!

I've never listened to a podcast and dont intend to anytime soon. I find the BBC's desperate promotion of them cringeworthy.

I really love them, great while I’m cleaning or on the treadmill at the gym. I listen to a lot on BBC Sounds, also like true crime; Sword & Scale, Criminal.

@ShirleyPhallus

I only get real enjoyment out of podcasts if I’m doing something anyway, like going for a walk or doing the washing up

I find there is A LOT of filler which is mostly the presenter patting themselves on the back about how clever and funny they are when I just want them to get on with talking about the subject

Crime junkies is good

This. Apart from crime podcasts, not my thing

I'm just discovering them. My Dad wrote a porno had me laughing through couch25k.
Secret world of slimming clubs funny too

Try fictional ones? What sort of "stories" do you like?

Homecoming was so popular got turned into a TV series.

One I love is The Truth - short stories often with a twist.

I don't listen to many but love the Louis Theoroux lockdown ones. Oddly, the Crypto Queen ones did seem to be full of filler to me. Which is annoying as want to listen to them all.

I've never listened to a podcast and dont intend to anytime soon. I find the BBC's desperate promotion of them cringeworthy.

These kind of comments always make me think 'Why would you want to be like that?'

I love finding out about new podcasts. I've recently enjoyed Behind the Bastards. Although it's quite American-centric it means I've found out a lot about American history and culture that I didn't know about.
I don't tend to do comedy ones, I prefer stuff where I learn something or a bit of true crime. S Town was great, so was the one about the mustered woman in Cork and the Radio 5 one about the people thrown off a boat in South America? (Terrible with remembering titles as you can see!)
What puts me off some immediately is that awful formulaic delivery style, I listened to an Australian one (May have been Lore) and it almost sounded like a puss take of itself. I lasted about two episodes before switching off.

I feel like I’m finding loads of new podcasts to try from this thread!
I would like to submit if you’re a parent and into comedy, try Lockdown Parenting Hell by Rob Beckett and Josh Widicombe

Lore is definitely American, Aaron Mahnke. It's gone off the boil since the first twenty or so but I think his delivery, attention to detail, music and measured tone is almost hypnotic.