Update.
Yeah, started going downhill episodes 4 & 5, but still not bad.
Also, podcasts. Correct me if I’m wrong but these are simply radio programmes which you can listen to on demand on the Internet. From what I understand they are cheap to make because they are usually just a couple of people talking about something they might actually have expertise in, or just bombarding us with their opinions. The only one I’ve consciously listened to is Atletico Mince by Bob Mortimer, who I love but I got bored with it quite quickly.
This is really something I don’t want to get into (I hardly ever listen to the real radio, let alone a pre recorded version). Strikes me that the ease of making a podcast is almost a guarantee of a flood of low quality dross that people I’ve never heard of are trying to monetise with a few jewels tucked away. If you know of a jewel let me know, otherwise I am putting podcasts, along with thousands of content free TV channels and possibly music streaming into the ‘decline of western civilisation’ bucket. The only question is whether they are a cause or an effect of the decline.
I listen to a lot of podcasts - have a lot of time driving to sites all over the place and even I can need a break from listening to music sometimes.
There's a lot of **** out there, but these are some that I listen to regularly...
Open All Rs...QPR podcast that has some great guests on. Clint Hill is on a few times a season. Clive from LFW is on quite often too. The guys that run it are very QPR focussed, but it doesn't take itself too seriously.
Conflicted - a firm favourite of mine, the dwarf ambulance man is also a big fan. Ultra knowledgable deep dive in to global conflicts, especially the middle eastern arena. Aimen Dean, ex al-Qaeda and MI6 double agent along side American Thomas Small. Some stand-out episodes include the one on Yemen in Season 1, Russia in Season 2 and a special about Israel/Hamas.
Grounded with Louis Theroux ....these started during Lockdown on BBC Sounds, and now continues on Spotify...different guest each week, interviewed in Louis laid back style.
The Spy Who....excellent series, delving in to different spy stories from WW2, the Cold War, post-Soviet era and many others. Normally four or five episodes per story.
The Coming Storm - on BBC Sounds, investigation in to the rise of QANON, 4Chan and the dark underbelly of America that led to the Capitol Hill riots in 2021.
Things Fell Apart - On Sounds, John Ronson investigates some strange stories from culture wars, primarily in the US.
Others I've enjoyed - The Missing Crypto Queen, The Lazarus Heist, some of the Gangster seasons too on Sounds.
There was a thread on here during Lockdown with podcast recommendations, be many pages down now I'd think
