Tell me the best podcasts for comedy, being relaxed, food, travel,, current affairs but not in a depressing way??

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Ive just discovered how to work or what to do for podcasts, I have little pair of portable headphones that connect with the phone (Im not very tech savvy) so now would be able to listen to podcasts that I keep hearing people talk about podcasts (not quite sure what the difference is between that and just a radio programme?)

But anyway I like comedy and food and travel but also would be interested in podcasts to support miindfulness and anxiety or supporting my brain to focus on things?
Or making me more knowledable about the world but not in a depressing way because for some time now I have tried to actively avoid the news so often am unaware of things in the modern world.

If you like comedy and food then give "Off Menu" a try.

It's Ed Gamble and James Acaster and it's been going for some time so you'd have loads of episodes to listen to.

Grace Dent also does a podcast called Comfort Eating which is loosely food based - she has a different guest every week. The Dave Myers one is great.....also the Shirley Ballas one.

I love the Bugle. Comedians talking about the news. The News Quiz on BBC is the same vibe (and presenter). There are a lot of nice easy going comedies on the BBC (you can access through your podcast app or free through the BBC sounds app). I like just a minute and you’re dead to me.

I love The rest is entertainment with Marina Hyde and Richard Osman. They talk about everything to do with television, films, music, media... I find it fascinating and it's often very funny. They have a lovely rapport.

For comedy I love Three Bean Salad, it's been going a few years now so there's lots to listen to.

Agree The News quiz is good but if you're avoiding news at the moment that might not work for you.

Have a look around the BBC Sounds app - there's tons of interesting stuff on there. Evil Genius is fun.

A podcast is really the same as a radio programme imo but one you can listen to as and when you want.
Ones I've listened to - its a Fair Cop, Uncanny (often has comedians as guests), Henry Normal.

Take a look at the BBC Sounds app. There are lots of Podcasts on there. I like listening to the Friday Night Comedy (News Quiz, Dead Ringers etc). There is one called Short History Of and each episode is about 50 minutes long about an event or person. Uncanny if you like a ghost story. I think you can still listen to the Michael Mosley Just One Thing podcast for health/wellbeing stuff and there are plenty of others to choose from.

I use wireless headphones too and tend to listen to podcasts when cleaning and tidying etc.

The Kitchen Cabinet (BBC Sounds) is a funny food programme, very upbeat.
The light consumer stuff Sliced Bread & Toast on BBC.

Americast on BBC Sounds. Really informative podcast about American politics. Highly recommend.

I’m a podcast addict, I have soo many that I listen to. Current follows are (in no particular order)

BBC Sounds:
You’re Dead to Me (comedy/history)
The Infinite Monkey Cage (science/comedy)
Newscast (News/Current Affairs)
Americast (US politics)
Now You’re Asking with Marion Keys & Tara Flynn (comedy)
Evil Genius (comedy/historical figures)

Other Podcasts

Pod Save the World (politics/current affairs)
Pod Save America (US politics)
The Teen Commandments (parenting)
Feel Better Live More (health/wellbeing)
Begin Again with Davina McCall (health/wellbeing/interviews)
The Rest is Politics US (US politics)
The Rest is Politics (politics)
The Rest is Politics Leading (political interviews)
The Rest is Entertainment (entertainment industry)
The Rest is Money (money/business)
The Rest is History (history)
My Therapist Ghosted Me (comedy/lifestyle)
Rob Brydon & (interviews/comedy)
Political Currency (politics)
Kermode & Mayo’s Take (movie/tv reviews)
Not Just The Tudors (history)
Dan Snow’s History Hit (history)
Parenting Hell (parenting/lifestyle/comedyj
Crime Analyst (True crime)
Real Crime Profile (True crime)
Off Menu (food/comedy/interview)
Films to be Buried With (interviews)

TV Show watch-along podcasts (some of these have finished but I go back to them periodically)

Fake Doctors, Real Friends (Scrubs)
The West Wing Weekly (West Wing)
Taskmaster The Podcast (Taskmaster)
The Rewatcher (Buffy)
Buffering the Vampire Slayer (Buffy)
Boys Watching Buffy (Buffy)

I may have a problem 🤪

I really love the Ologies podcast by Allie Ward - she talks to a different expert each episode. Go back through the old ones, they are great. Not often funny but fascinating.

For funny and interesting I like You're Wrong About and Stuff You Should Know and No Stupid Questions.

For mindfulness/positive mental health stuff try Unlocking Us with Brené Brown, Struggle Care, and Motherkind (if you're a mum).

I also like Russell Howard's interviews - he has a really brilliant way of interviewing people to get the funny and also the touching stories. He is really very good. Even if you are not much of a fan of his I recommend giving one a try.

Lateral with Tom Scott is good as well. Sort of a comedy/quiz thing.

Luanna for comedy/current affairs/ 'rants, bants & general explicit content'

It's fab

Hey Bertie, I recently discovered "Lateral" and it's always a fun listen.
People who enjoy puzzles and escape rooms may enjoy "Escape This Podcast" which is by a fun Australian couple. Thanks for all the good recommendations in this thread!

I really like one called Flightless Bird, it's a guy from New Zealand who originally started the podcast when he got stuck in LA during the Covid lockdown. It used to be part of Dax Shepard's podcast but now he's out on his own. It started as a deep dive each episode into one thing he found odd about America, that's still the basic format but he goes off on some odd topics too - the one about digital media was really insightful and interesting. I can see you have a long list of recommendations already but this one is worth a try!

Mystery Hour is the best .. such a destressor and has me smiling to myself - love it . Also all the Rest Is podcasts.
Also the BBC sounds app allows you to go back and listen to radio so can follow along a story from Radio 4 which is a free way of getting an audio book

I like comedy/easy listening my favourites are-

Shagged married annoyed
Parenting hell
The rest is entertainment
Off menu

I also like taskmaster and traitors podcasts but obviously only relevant if you like those shows