My favourite podcasts

I spent 41,589 minutes listening to podcasts this year

Earlier this month everybody was sharing their favourite songs and artists through their personalised Spotify Wrapped.

I use my Spotify mainly to listen to podcasts so my 2024 Wrapped total listening time was made of mostly of podcasts.

According to Spotify my top podcasts by listening time were:

1. The Motley Fool Money

2. The News Agents

3. Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend

4. The Rest Is Politics

5. Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster

However, my personal preferences are slightly different because some of my favourite podcasts have a lower output than others, for example some podcasts publish new posts on a daily basis while others on a weekly basis. Also, taking The Motley Fool Money podcast as an example, not only it has new content every day but it’s also easy to switch on and listen to mindlessly, which is what I tend to do before falling asleep.

When it comes to the podcasts I am really interested in, I make sure I listen to them during the day and avoid doing work like writing articles at the same time, which requires concentration.

There is so much more to be said about favourite podcasts and a short list of only five titles would not do them justice. On top of everything else, my taste changes over time and what I used to enjoy a few years ago either doesn’t resonate with me anymore or the publishers have stopped creating new podcast episodes. Talking of podcasts I used to love but that have gone dormant an honourable mention goes to Boners of the Heart by two Kiwi comedians Rose Matafeo (of Taskmaster fame) and Alice Snedden. Their jokes pulled me through lockdowns, together with Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend.

Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend

Does this podcast need any introduction? My guess is that it’s one of the most popular podcasts worldwide. Just in case, here are a few facts:

• the podcast started in November 2018 after O’Brien’s 25-year TV career as a late night show host

• the co-hosts are O’Brien’s former executive assistant Sona Movsesian and producer Matt Gourley

• the title music “We’re Going To Be Friends” is by the band White Stripes

• the podcast has been downloaded more than 230 million times since its launch.

What I love about this podcast is the humour but also how timeless it is, as it doesn’t chase trends and stays true to its mission to provide light entertainment.

Off Menu Podcast

Off Menu is practically neck-and-neck with Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend in my estimation and I’ve been a fan since it launched in December 2018.

The hosts, UK comedians James Acaster and Ed Gamble, were already famous on the comedy scene, having toured extensively and appeared on various TV programmes including panel shows like Mock of the Week and Would I Lie To You? Both Acaster and Gamble participated in the show Taskmaster in 2018 and in 2019 respectively.

The premise of the podcast is quite simple: celebrity guests are asked what their ideal meal would be, from starter to dessert. The resulting menu can be anything from home cooking to courses served in fancy restaurants.

The most successful and enjoyable episodes tend to feature fellow comedians who are quick off the mark coming up with quirky answers and hilarious anecdotes.

Politics podcasts – as a category

I listen to a whole bunch of political podcasts, from The Rest Is Politics and The News Agents to Inside Europe and Inside Politics.

On busy news weeks the topics being covered are the same so in such cases I just choose one podcast over the others for in-depth commentary and analysis.

Throughout the year, each title can bring new information and new perspectives. I particularly enjoy the fact that I get pondered and well researched opinions from experienced journalists and exclusive interviews with key decision-makers.

Similarly, I follow many podcasts under different categories, from movies to music, and I am not snubbing a pinch of celebrity gossip every now and then.

BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Podcast

I probably started listening to this podcast when I was volunteering at a community garden in North London and then continued when I moved to Ireland. This podcast, alongside another BBC production called Gardeners’ Question Time, is gentle and informative, allowing you to appreciate nature and what you can do to preserve it.

While I listen to various gardening podcasts, I thought I would just stop at mentioning two. Now that I think of it, I prefer Gardeners’ Question Time to Gardener’s World, simply because it is structured as a panel show, which I am a big fan of (from Never Mind the Buzzcocks to Have I Got News for You). The introduction to each episode also features that it contains “dubious horticultural humour”, which is the main reason for me to tune in. Sure, if you worship Monty Don you are more likely to come across an interview with him on the magazine podcast, but silly jokes about Sarcococca (a scented shrub, in case you didn’t know) are the domain of the questions show.

I’ve realised I have so much more to say about podcasts so I’ll save some thoughts for a future post.

What are your favourite podcasts?