From true crime cases to culture and society, this week has lots of interesting podcast episodes.
1. The Good Immigrant: The Official podcast
Streaming platform: All streaming platforms and YouTube
Genre: Culture and society
Following 10 years since the publication of The Good Immigrant essay collection, editor Nikesh Shukla has now launched The Good Immigrant: The Official Podcast. Throughout the series, Shukla invites the original essayists to look back at the decade since The Good Immigrant was first published.
In this week’s episode, he welcomes comedian Nish Kumar and journalist Coco Khan to explore what has changed, what hasn’t and why the book’s questions remain urgent today. Throughout the episode, the three speak about what has changed since 2016, with the main highlight being the Brexit Referendum.
Kumar opens up about how he was first racially abused on stage in 2016 and they all agree: “We thought it was bad in 2016, we didn’t know how bad it was going to get.”
The trio go into details about the difficulties of being a person of colour online too. However, to finish the conversations, Khan explains what gives her hope through everything. “What gives me hope is having each other,” she concludes.
Overall, the podcast is an insightful listen to the society we currently live in for people of colour, what has changed for the better, or the worst, and the changes that still need to be made.
(By Sara Keenan)
2. Sara and Cariad’s Weirdos Book Club
Streaming platform: All streaming platforms
Genre: Entertainment
If you’ve ever tried to set up a book club with fellow literary pals, you’ll know all too well how quickly conversations can wander. One minute you’re discussing a character or debating a plot point, and the next you’re swapping personal stories. Sara and Cariad’s Weirdos Book Club podcast perfectly captures this brilliant mix of book chat and entertaining side-tracks.
In the latest episode, comedians, authors and, most importantly, best friends Sara Pascoe and Cariad Lloyd catch up on the books they devoured over the summer in this back-to-school special.
The pair chat about Booker Prize nominee Switzy by Emma Cline and Natural Disaster by Lisa Owens among others, and give listeners a spoiler-free synopsis of each novel, along with their honest thoughts and opinions.
But, as always, the conversation goes far beyond books. The duo reminisce about their university days, chat about the chaos of motherhood, and Pascoe even reveals her latest obsession with Mario Kart.
If you enjoy hilarious rants, book recommendations and completely unfiltered opinions, Sara & Cariad’s Weirdos Book Club is well worth a listen.
(By Camilla Foster)
3. Murder They Wrote
Streaming Platform: BBC Sounds
Genre: True Crime
TV presenters and married couple Laura Whitmore and Iain Stirling are regularly seen on our TV screens, appearing on shows including Love Island and Celebrity Gogglebox. However, when they’re not in front of the camera, they can be found chatting about another interest – true crime.
In 2023 they launched their podcast Murder They Wrote, providing a platform to talk all things crime and justice.
This week’s episode is the Bait & Switch Bank Heist, a crime that took place in Seventies London. This saw Scotland Yard’s intelligence branch (C11) lured into a false sense of security while staking out a branch of the Bank of America – knowing a criminal gang were planning a heist, they believed the Cannon Street branch was the intended target, but the gang were steps ahead, robbing a branch just a few streets away on Davies Street.
The Flying Squad were brought in to find the gang before they could flee the country with their loot. Luckily for the cops, the criminals were not as discreet as they should have been, making monumental errors that led to their capture.
It’s a fascinating tale, made all the more entertaining by Whitmore and Stirling, who revel in the intrigue and bring the whole story to life.
(By Rachel Howard)
4. Tea With Rosie
Streaming Platform: All streaming platforms and YouTube
Genre: Entertainment
Tea With Rosie is a brand new interview series hosted by actress and producer Rosie Fellner and the concept is simple. Throughout each episode, Fellner invites an interesting guest to the table for afternoon tea and they see where the conversation goes.
This week, she speaks with Grammy Award-winning rapper, singer and actress, Eve. The episode begins with the two sitting down together having a cup of tea – sticking to the British tradition. Fellner asks Eve a series of questions, including about her upbringing and childhood.
Although Eve says she is proud of where she came from, she always felt like there was more for her. “I had that idea that I want more and this can’t be it,” she says. “I wanted to see the world.”
Speaking of growing up in what she calls ‘the projects’ – similar to council housing in the UK – Eve says her mother always ensured she was dressed for any occasion. “My mother was always put together,” she says, crediting her mother for many of her traits and drive.
The pair speak about the price of fame, catching your first big break and one of the key things Eve speaks about which is “not questioning yourself because you have that audacity.”
A wholesome listen between two friends and a cup of tea.
(By Sara Keenan)
5. Killers, Cults & Queens
Streaming Platform: All streaming platforms and YouTube
Genre: True Crime
Killers, Cults & Queens is hosted by RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star Cheryl The Queen and award-winning podcaster Nikki Druce who take deep dives into true crime stories.
In this four-part series, they start with the case of JonBenet Ramsey, a six-year-old American child beauty pageant contestant whose 1996 murder remains one of the most infamous unsolved cases in US history.
Throughout the episode, it combines Druce’s true-crime expertise with Cheryl’s candid reactions as they revisit the timeline, evidence, police interviews and autopsy report. The pair discuss the controversial topic of child beauty pageants and also the concerns that come with it.
As Druce explains the case, she talks about the night that JonBenet went missing – the next morning her mother woke up to a ransom note demanding $118,000 in return for the little girl. The episode lets listeners hear the 9/11 call that was made to the police and also how the crime scene was tampered with as many people were in and out of the house the next day.
It ends on a cliffhanger as we find out that JonBenet’s body was found in the downstairs basement – contradicting the ransom story.
A great listen that delves into true crime but sprinkles some energy and personality throughout.
(By Sara Keenan)
