7 podcasts to keep you entertained and distracted

The second lockdown is upon us but don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with seven of our favourite podcasts varying from the mysterious story of Anna Delvey through to some weird and wonderful facts.

No Such Thing as a Fish

Worried about returning to the Zoom quiz? No Such Thing as a Fish is a great way to improve your trivia knowledge without having to look at your friends in small boxes on a screen. Each week, the QI Elves come together to share the best facts they’ve found out during the week. Filled with laughs and some very strange facts, this is great for when you’re taking your state-approved daily exercise!

The High Low

For your weekly dose of all things pop culture, download The High Low, a weekly podcast led by writers and journalists Dolly Alderton and Pandora Sykes. Dolly and Pandora share the things they have been enjoying throughout the week including podcasts, books and films. They also host author specials so you can hear from a host of exciting writers including Bella Mackie, Candice Braithwaite and Adam Kay.

Top tip: it’s well worth going back to the episode from the 8th September (titled ‘Revising Our Thoughts on Gwyneth Paltrow, Dettol’s Dubious ‘Back to Work’ Ads and The Best of Garage’) to hear Dolly Alderton’s story about the mysterious Francesco!

The Empire Film Podcast

We might not be able to get to the cinema right now, but you can still hear about the latest films on the Empire Film Podcast. Filled with interviews about the latest from the big screen, The Empire Film Podcast is not to be missed by film buffs. The podcast has recently welcomed Superman’s Henry Cavill and BAFTA-winning actress Annette Benning as guests to discuss their latest projects.

Fake Heiress

Anna Delvey isn’t who she says she is. Behind all the money, glitz and glam lies a fraudster. Listen to this real life story of how Anna Sorokin tricked everyone around her into believing she was a New York socialite with a huge trust fund. If you enjoyed The Dropout, we really recommend this!

This real-life story is currently being made into a new 10-part Netflix drama, produced by Shona Rhimes – who is best known for her work on Grey’s Anatomy. It will see Julia Garner play con-artist Anna Delvey, so now is the best time to get to grips with the real story before the drama plays out later next year (although there is no confirmed release date yet).  

You’re Dead To Me

What better way to take a break from the present than by exploring the past. Historian Greg Jenner is joined by guests each week (over Zoom at the moment) to explore a bit of history. The podcast starts by exploring some assumptions you might have about the topic and then gives you a history lesson with a bit of fun built in. Recently, Greg has covered Genghis Khan, The Haitian Revolution and our favourite, the history of chocolate. Perfect for those who dozed off at the back of their GCSE history classes!

My Dad Wrote A Porno

We couldn’t resist… although My Dad Wrote A Porno probably features on most podcast recommendation lists, we just had to include it! Funny to the point of tears and completely original, My Dad Wrote A Porno is led by former Radio 1 DJ Alice Levine and her two friends Jamie Morton and James Cooper. Each week, the team read a chapter from Jamie’s dad’s self-published erotic novel, Belinda Blinked, and offer their hilarious commentary. Set aside some time (without children under the age of 18 around) to listen to Rocky Flintstone’s titillating… masterpiece?

In Good Company

If you’re looking for an uplifting and motivating listen, download the In Good Company podcast. Created by bestselling author of Little Black Book, Otegha Uwagba, the podcast format involves interviews with inspiring women on conquering the current workplace. Guests on the show have included Dolly Alderton, Emma Gannon and Jia Tolentino. This is a great one for women who are trying to get their side hustles off the ground or need an extra bit of inspiration!

All of the above podcasts are free and can be found on platforms such as Spotify, Apple Podcasts and the Google Play Music app.

Words by Emma Chadwick