Some British Podcast Award nominations you may have missed
The British Podcast Awards 2024 shortlist reflected the breadth, depth and vibrancy of the podcasting industry in the UK. Here are a few that we particularly enjoyed and feel deserve a special mention.
Boss Class offers sensible and entertaining advice in a world full of jargon
Even those with little or no aspiration for leadership will enjoy Boss Class, a podcast series from The Economist about what it takes to be a good manager (spoiler alert: good leaders have processes, not superpowers). Andrew Palmer, author of The Economist’s most-read column, Bartleby, brings his characteristically wry humour to a podcast that shuns management jargon in favour of practical advice from leading executives and workplace experts. As well as helpful guidance, there’s plenty of entertainment too including a sequence where Andrew learns about the disadvantages of the TWaT approach to working from home and when he meets the brains behind a new technology that allows remote workers to interact via some rather sinister 3D holograms of themselves. Andrew’s meeting with Stanford’s Jeffrey Pfeffer, who tells him Trump and Elizabeth Holmes, the disgraced and jailed boss of Theranos, best embody the attributes of successful power players is also great value. Boss Class is well worth a listen, just a shame that it’s only the first two episodes that are available for free, the rest are behind The Economist’s paywall.
Here’s an excerpt from the first episode where Andrew hears from Claire-Hughes Johnson, COO of Stripe, about the importance of knowing yourself as a manager and writing a ‘manual of me’.
Saving Planet Earth, the perfect tonic for climate anxiety
Barely a day goes by when we don’t hear a story about the devastating impacts of climate change, whether its ice melting in the Arctic, forests burning in the Amazon or floods devastating towns in Spain. Young people are particularly affected by these stories with 70 per cent of them worrying about the world they will inherit. ‘Saving Planet Earth’ is a great antidote to the growing ‘climate anxiety’ among kids. The podcast encourages them to focus on some of the extraordinary things that scientists are doing to combat climate change. In each episode, the Kid’s TV presenter and climate-change graduate, James Stewart, interviews a scientist or climate expert on their mind boggling discoveries from using dolphin poo to help restore coral reefs to growing liquid trees out of microalgae to refreezing parts of the Arctic. There are also inspiring words from celebrity guests and young listeners on the actions they’re taking to save planet Earth. James is a brilliant interviewer and his boundless enthusiasm is infectious. ‘Saving Planet Earth’ is a refreshingly positive take on climate change and a fun listen for kids and grown-ups alike.
Listen to this extract where Shaun Fitzgerald, an engineer from Cambridge University, explains some exciting experiments on refreezing ice in Alaska.
Folk on Foot
Folk on Foot combines Matthew Bannister’s three passions: folk music, walking, and telling stories. The former BBC broadcaster takes folk musicians on walks through the landscapes that inspired their music. The conversation is a mix of light chatter, musings on the world and live music performances in nature. The conversation is broken up by the sounds of streaming rivers and wildlife from the walks, creating a natural rhythm and human moments between Bannister and his guests. Folk on Foot also organizes community events including festivals and a 186 mile walk to raise money for charity that helps musicians.
Kermode and Mayo’s Take
Film critic Mark Kermode and presenter Simon Mayo come together to share brutally honest film and TV reviews, recommendations on what to watch and interviews with celebrities attached to the biggest releases. The show stands out because of their open discussions on the films in cinema where they might disagree not only with each other but with their listeners. On air engagement with listener commentary gives an approachable tone and opens the door for an entertaining back and forth.
Help I Sexted My Boss: a modern-day advice column brought to life in the form of a podcast.
William Hanson and Jordan North are an unlikely pair of best friends with wildly different backgrounds. Willam, an etiquette expert, grew up thinking his parents having a separate car for their dog was ‘totally normal’ and Jordan is a radio presenter from Burnley whose mother used to bathe him in the sink. The pair join forces to help their listeners through dilemmas such as what to do if you discover a box under your parent’s bed and what the protocol is if you unwittingly share a sex toy with a family member. William and Jordan’s sense of humour and wonderful dynamic invite listeners in to laugh, gasp and judge humanity for the tales of woe they share with the world.
Bloodlines: Syria. 2018. ISIS is on the brink of defeat. Two-year-old Salmaan disappears amid the bombardment. In London, his grandfather desperately searches for answers.
Bloodlines is a joint BBC Sounds and CBC Podcasts production, Investigative reporter Poonam Taneja has covered ISIS for a decade and explores what happened after the war against the Islamic State was won? What became of the children of its fighters? There are thousands of kids like Salmaan, with roots in Canada, the U.K., the U.S. and beyond — many of whom are still trapped without a way back home. During Poonam’s search for answers about Salmaan she meets Canadian born Dure Ahmed in a Syrian detention camp. Ahmed is the former wife of El Shafee Elsheikh, a notorious IS fighter. Ahmed willingly shares information about the last known whereabouts of Salmaan, gives insight into life living with ISIS and her life in the detention camp. Bloodline is a gripping listen and does not hide away from the difficult questions surrounding this complicated topic.
