If there’s one thing we’ve all been sorely missing over the course of this third lockdown, it’s human interaction. However, tuning into podcasts has proved to be a great way for many to get away from those sharp pangs of loneliness.
There’s something fascinating about podcasts that can make you feel like you’re learning, being productive and taking part in a conversation, when in reality you’re doing no more than passively listening. That’s definitely a feeling we should make the most of.
Our small but varied team all have our favourite podcasts to plug into, but we know how daunting it can be to choose one to start. So, we’ll do the work for you.
Pour yourself a G&T, settle in and read on for our team’s podcast picks to enjoy.
Mark’s Choice: Off Menu Podcast with James Acaster and Ed Gamble
Comedians Ed Gamble & James Acaster invite a number of special, celebrity guests into their supernatural restaurant and ask them to describe their dream meal, from starter to dessert and even down to their choice of bread.
‘What’s not to like’ said Mark, our co-founder. ‘They talk about their perfect 3 course meals which is pretty much everything I spend my time doing anyway. It’s light-hearted, not serious, has a good mixture of guests and is the perfect length for my journey into work.”
Alwyn’s Choice: Elis James & John Robins: The Isolation Tapes
Elis & John have occupied the Friday lunchtime slot on 5Live for nearly 2 years and are always great value to laugh you into the weekend. Their isolation tapes – recorded specifically for lockdown – are a darker but more important take on how they’re adapting their lives to live under new restrictions, hilarious anecdotes that have occurred 2 metres apart from other people and offer a glimmer of hope in these dark times.
This podcast really deals well with issues such as dwindling mental health, intense family life whilst isolating and, of course, the shame that develops as a result.
Amy’s Choice: Crime Junkie
The Crime Junkie podcast, hosted by Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat, delves deep into true crime every week. Free of rabbit holes and with straightforward storytelling, the cases stay suspenseful yet easy to follow.
For people who can’t get enough of true crime, tune in to hear about the crimes they’ve been obsessing over in a way that feels like chatting to good friends.
Jade’s Choice: Table Manners with Jessie Ware
Hosted by a hilarious mother-daughter duo, the Table Manners podcast strikes the perfect balance between the art of conversation and all things food and family. Jessie Ware and her talented chef of a Mother Lennie invite a new guest each week to chat about culture, music and politics over a delicious plate of food cooked by them!
This one’s proved to be a perfect treatment for lockdown loneliness, with comforting chats that warm the heart, familial banter to quell the ache of being away from your own family and an interesting look into the lives of the celebrities invited on.
Liam’s Choice: Blood on the tracks: The Phil Spector Story
Having shaped some of my favourite songs, it was interesting to find out a bit more about the personal life and psyche of the man who unfortunately for his legacy became a murdering whack job!
His story is told over the course of the podcast by famous friends in a part true crime, part historical fiction, part spoken word beat brought to you by Jake Brennan. With fictionalised voices, this podcast puts a unique spin on the true crime genre.
Dan’s Choice: The Ricky Gervais Show or Triforce.
The Ricky Gervais is a ‘fantastic, re-listenable’ podcast described by Dan as a ‘key piece of art which spearheaded modern podcasting’. This one’s definitely a throwback but it offers up the kind of comedic nostalgia that can be so comforting in uncertain times. With stories that span from personal life to unconventional childhoods to downright ridiculous stories, it’s a guaranteed listen for those looking to laugh.
Another favourite of Dan’s is the Triforce podcast. Hosted by several of his favourite youtubers growing up, Triforce is all about video games and computers.
Reach out to us on Instagram at @Didsbury_Gin or Twitter at @DidsburyGin if you listen to any of our recommendations. Happy listening!
