TOP PODCASTS TO LOSE YOURSELF IN

Just about the best ‘gadget’ I ever invested in was my new pair of Apple Airpods. They make it so easy to lose yourself while seemingly ‘being there’ though they have admittedly got me in trouble more than once when I should have been listening and I actually was listening… not to the person before me but rather to Aviccii or another of my favourite artists. Airpods also facilitate another big hobby for millions of people around the world – listening to podcasts of which there are literally millions to choose from.

Podcasts cover just about every subject you can think of – from crime to music, theatre to history. This is just a small compilation of über-popular ones you might enjoy listening to while going for a walk or catching transport (when COVID-19 is done, dusted, and defeated, of course).

COMPILED BY MARISA CUTILLAS

FAKE HEIRESS

If you enjoy amazing real-life stories and con artists pique your interest, this one is for you. It is the true story of Anna Delvey – the fake socialite who conned friends to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars by claiming she was an heiress. Anna – whose real name was Anna Sorokin. She even bled an intern for Vanity Fair dry, enjoying a five-star holiday on the young journalist’s tab. The result was a famous article that chronicles the lies Sorokin told to lead a lifestyle way beyond her means. This podcast makes things a little more interesting by combining reporting and dramatised scenes. The story is a stark reminder of how easy it is to fool people by creating an aura of competence and prestige.

BEATLES CITY

For some of us, there will never be another four quite this fab. This podcast goes into the early days of the biggest rock and roll band ever, talking to individuals who knew them before they became famous. We hear from people who knew John Lennon when he was a child and student, visit the Kensington living room-turned-recording studio where the artists cut their first record, and make our way to the Cavern’s cellar nightclub, which saw the Beatles perform their earliest live gigs.

DRUNK WOMEN SOLVING CRIME

Crime stories are a highly popular genre in podcasts and on YouTube, but this show is quite original indeed, owing to its comedic element. The writers are comedians – three women to be exact – Hannah George, Catie Wilkins and Taylor Glenn, who get drunk and test out their detective skills by trying to solve true crime stories. Each episode lasts around an hour but they literally fly by. Be warned however: this series is highly addictive.

YOU’RE WRONG ABOUT

A fascinating podcast about how big media can turn stories on their head and interpret key historical events in a way that can actually be very unfair to those who actually lived through them. Writers Michael Hobbes and Sarah Marshall cover an array of topics (including the Challenger fiasco, the Tonya Harding story, and the O.J. Simpson trial, zeroing in on cultural issues and refusing to accept the narrative that the mainstream media has sold us.

13 MINUTES TO THE MOON SEASON 2

This is the sequel to the amazing Season 1, which detailed the triumphs and tragedies of the Apollo 11 mission. This time the focal point is Apollo 13, which blasted into space a year later. The podcast features a fantastic blend of new interviews and archives and includes the views of commander Jim Lovell. Apollo 13 is arguably one of the most dramatic missions ever, since an oxygen tank exploded, leading the three-astronaut team to race to find a way to get back home, fast.