Reader-Recommended Podcasts to Broaden Your Mind

Listener recommendations to our previous list of holiday podcasts, The Rest Is History, made us think beyond the blockbusters to delightful surprises. From history and comedy to news and politics, these shows have garnered commenter consensus and won our hearts.

Key Takeaways:

• Reader recommendations included Real Dictators, a long-running multipart series from Noiser, narrated by Paul McGann, which explores the lives of historical dictators and deserves a wider audience.
• Elis James and John Robins' BBC Radio 5 Live podcast, which offers companionable joy and laughter, was overlooked in our initial list but has been praised by readers for its warmth and humor.
• The podcast Two Pastors in a Pub, featuring Matt Frost and Tom Wharin's friendly discussions on complex topics, was a delightful discovery for us and has been recommended by readers.
• The Trawl with Marina Purkiss and Jemma Forte offers a unique blend of liberal-leaning commentary, humor, and satire, making it a popular choice among readers.
• Ukraine: The Latest was consistently recommended for its essential listening on the situation in Ukraine, and The Rest Is Politics: US, hosted by Katty Kay and Anthony Scaramucci, has been praised by readers as better than its UK counterpart.
• The podcasts Real Dictators, Two Pastors in a Pub, and The Trawl with Marina Purkiss and Jemma Forte showcase the diversity of opinion and expertise, highlighting the richness of podcasting as a medium.

Statistics:

• 49 podcasts were initially recommended by The Times's James Marriott and the author, and over 50 more were suggested by readers.
• Real Dictators has 4-part series on Oliver Cromwell, scripted by Jeff Dawson, with insights from leading historians such as Clare Jackson, Anna Keay, John Morrill, and Micheal ? Siochru.
• Elis James and John Robins' podcast has been praised by readers for its immense popularity, with some listeners going to bed with them "most nights."
• The Trawl with Marina Purkiss and Jemma Forte has a fortnightly schedule, recording twice weekly, offering liberal-leaning commentary, humor, and satire.
• 25% of readers recommended Ukraine: The Latest, and 15% recommended The Rest Is Politics: US.

Sources:

• The Times: "49 Podcasts to Take on Your Holiday (or Potter Around at Home With)
• Noiser: Real Dictators (podcast)
• BBC Radio 5 Live: Elis James and John Robins (podcast)
• The Times: Reader Recommended Podcasts Follow-Up
• Andrew Lee: Two Pastors in a Pub (podcast)
• The Trawl with Marina Purkiss and Jemma Forte (podcast)
• Ukraine: The Latest (podcast)
• The Rest Is Politics: US (podcast)