As a podcast producer and creator of audio content I am often asked which podcasts are ‘the best’ to listen to.
The answer is of course very subjective, depending on your personal taste, interests, and mood at the time of listening. However, research says a podcast listener will listen to several shows a week.
Firstly, I’m not a huge true crime fan. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy and appreciate podcasts like The Teacher’s Pet and Trace which were extraordinary pieces of journalism and compelling storytelling, but for me conversation and long form chats with interesting people are what capture my attention.
With that in mind, here is my list (in no particular order) of podcasts to tune into in 2021.
CONVERSATIONS
When it comes to interview-style podcasts this one is the gold standard. Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski chat to a mix of famous and everyday people with extraordinary stories. Fidler, in particular has a gift for extracting the story within a story through the art of listening to formulate his next question which is what makes him such a terrific interviewer and conversationalist.
WILOSPHY WITH WIL ANDERSON
Described by The New York Times as a podcast for anyone “incessantly curious about the things that govern people’s decisions,” Wil’s style enables him to get to the heart of any conversation with a balance of humour, intelligence and empathy. It’s kind of like Conversations but a very lose, unstructured and ‘fruitier’ version. You don’t necessarily have to be a fan of Wil’s comedy to enjoy this podcast.
REVISIONIST HISTORY
As the title suggests, Revisionist History is heavy on historical fact. Its secret lies in turning serious and complex concepts into thoughtful and easy to understand stories. Malcolm Gladwell unites these seemingly disconnected stories along a central unifying theme, exploring the blind spots in our accepted interpretation of events. Clever and essential listening
HIDDEN BRAIN
Host Shankar Vedantam delves into the recesses of the human mind and questions why we think about things the way we do. He conducts excellent, well researched interviews on complex topics that are made simple to understand. This one guaranteed to get the brain ticking over and will have you questioning yourself as to why you make certain decisions in your life. Fascinating.
THE CATCH AND KILL PODCAST
The book by Ronan Farrow was extraordinary and the podcast hosted by the same man is almost as good. A look at the years-long investigation into convicted sex offender, Harvey Weinstein. It features never heard before recordings from inside a story that changed America and led to the subsequent arrest and jailing of one of Hollywood’s most powerful men. Gripping, compelling, mind blowing.
THE ELEVENTH
One for the political nerds. This is a seven-part, extremely well researched and put together feature on one of the most famous chapters of Australian political history — the dismissal of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam on November 11, 1975. It explores in detail the extraordinary events leading up to the most dramatic day ever seen in Australian politics. Bingeworthy.
THE CHANGE ROOM PODCAST
From the Tucker Media stable (we had to sneak a few in). NRL identities Matthew Elliott and Anthony Minichiello convert their award-winning wellbeing program into podcast form by providing listeners with rare access to world champion athletes, business leaders, high performance experts, authors and health professionals who share their personal health and wellbeing stories. Delivered with enthusiasm and a sense of fun it is definitely worth hitting the subscribe button.
THE HOWIE GAMES
I’m a sports lover at heart so to hear from leading athletes and sporting personalities from around the globe in long form conversation is something that is right up my alley. Host Mark Howard’s positive nature means he’s able to extract genuine stories from his guests without resorting to headline grabbing attention tactics.
THE SOUNDING BOARD
Damian Barrett and Craig Hutchison peel back the curtain on all things media, sport and business, and how they all intersect. Often polar opposites in their opinions and views, which makes for an entertaining weekly listen. If you’re from the northern states and can wade through the AFL discussions, it’s worthwhile tuning in.
THE ETFM PODCAST
I’m not a tech guy by any stretch of the imagination but Trevor Long delivers a radio-style show with a mix of editorial, interviews and listener questions. He offers simple advice for everyday tech enquiries like which television, printer, laptop, or headphones etc are best value for money? The format of the show means it moves along very quickly and doesn’t get bogged down in intricate detail and tech jargon.
PODSCHOOL
As the Head of Podcasts with Nova Entertainment and formerly with Mamamia, Rachel Corbett knows her stuff. She gives tips and advice for podcasters starting out on their journey in a simple, yet informative way. Rachel covers one subject per week in a show lasting anywhere from 3-15 mins and there’s enough information to take in without feeling overwhelmed. As a podcast producer it’s also a great way to keep up with the latest trends and industry best practices.
2020 RE-VISION
20 people with 20 stories about 2020. It was a year like no other in modern history and everyone had a story to tell. I was fortunate to speak to business owners, a professional athlete, a youth worker, a marriage celebrant, a new mum, among others, about their experiences. From Finland to Canada to New Zealand and almost every state and territory in Australia the stories shared were remarkable.
FOR THE SHIRE BUY THE SHIRE
Another one from the Tucker Media production line, and as a resident and property owner in the Sutherland Shire I have more than a passing interest in this one. Nathan Smith from Birdie Wealth speaks to a wide range of people connected to the real estate industry to share their knowledge on property in the area. From auctioneers, to agents, to financial planners and interior decorators, every aspect is covered in an informative and helpful manner.
THE MUMBRELLACAST
This podcast ticks a lot of boxes in terms of keeping up to date with the latest happenings in the media, marketing, and advertising industries. The team at Mumbrella dissect the big news of the week combined with relevant and interesting interviews with many of the major players in this space. Very listenable, each and every week.