Thought I'd post about podcasts, seeing as they have almost entirely replaced radio as my speech-based listening content.

The Blindboy Podcast
I can’t remember how I came across it, but I was quite an early adopter of this podcast – I think I started listening after the first couple of episodes and it’s been something like seven years now. Blindboy gets a podcast out every week, but I find I'm always a few months behind. I’m always impressed by his ability to come up with new and interesting content. I can’t help thinking that if blokes listened to him instead of Rogan, Peterson and Tate, the world (and masculinity) would be in a much better state.

Saw him live in Sydney, pre-Covid, in the fantastic atmosphere created by a theatre in Sydney full of pissed Irish millennials. That’s the only live podcast I’ve been to.

Chart Music
The podcast that I bump to the top of my playlist as soon as a new episode drops. A panel of three former Melody Maker journalists dissect an episode of Top Of The Pops, right down to the molecular level. It’s not unusual for these podcasts to go on for like 6 hours an episode, but they keep you hooked. Really insightful and very funny. They’ve been far less regular since the tragic early death of one of the regular hosts, Neil Kulkarni, which clearly knocked them all for six.

The Adam Buxton Podcast
I try to avoid posh people as much as possible, to be honest. I make an exception for Adam Buxton, though, which is testament to how good his podcast is. He chooses his guests well and has such an endearing manner that I give a little cheer when it comes on and I hear his intro song
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We Buy Records
Two record shop owners talk about record selling and buying. What’s not to love about that?

The History of Rock Music in 500 Songs
Andrew Hickey has taken on this mammoth task, talking in-depth about one song per episode, in chronological order, going into the social-political-racial context of each, as well as the writing, recording, musical and business aspects. It’s amazing. I’m currently up to episode 94. This has caused me to have The Boswell Sisters (the podcast’s theme) as a frequent earworm.

Athletico Mince
I had a listed to this early on and didn’t think much of it and left it. Then I was told that you should start listening about episode 8, because that’s when it changes from its originally intended football discussion podcast into a hilarious vehicle for Bob Mortimer’s comedy genius.

Dear Joan and Jericha
This podcast only lasted three seasons, but it remains one of my favourite ever pieces of comedy, in any format. It’s basically Julia Davis and Vicki Pepperdine improvising the roles of two terrible agony aunts. In fact, as a result of writing this, I’ve decided to stick it on my list to listen to again.

Also, special mentions for Richard Herring's Leicester Square Theatre Podcast (RHLSTP!), Running is BS, The Alexei Sayle Podast, All Killa No Filla, Revisionist History and When Saturday Comes - all podcasts that I listen to regularly and enjoy.

Any recommendations are always welcome.