Pick of the week
The Rest Is History: Beatles Special
The popular show’s two-part special on the Fab Four has, bizarrely, prompted its Beatles sceptic co-host Dominic Sandbrook to refuse to appear. But his mega-starry replacement is Conan O’Brien, in for an engaging chat with Tom Holland through the career of John, Paul, George and Ringo. Their USP? Says Holland: “We’re a history podcast rather than a music podcast so we need to make the case that the Beatles are significant historically.” Alexi Duggins
Widely available
The Guilty Feminist: Road to Gilead
With hundreds of episodes under her belt, Deborah Frances-White is a podcast veteran. This miniseries considers the rise of US Christian nationalism, and how super-conservative ideas are shaping our treatment of minorities, alongside the likes of Russell T Davies and Amnesty International’s Chiara Capraro. Hannah J Davies
Widely available, episodes weekly
Really?? The Doors?
This new strand on misunderstood cultural icons marries a compelling format with insightful interviews. Hosted by the New Yorker’s Naomi Fry, it’s a rich deep dive into the legacy of the Doors, as singer-songwriter Weyes Blood considers their “corny” reputation, and LA punk John Doe explains how Jim Morrison helped listeners to parse the darkness of life. HJD
Widely available, episodes weekly
The Switch: Living Planet
The title refers to humanity’s long-overdue transfer from fossil fuels to clean energy. Given that solar power is the cheapest energy source in human history, this should be easy. Why is it taking so long? This podcast explores possible reasons, including regulatory inertia, a lack of investment and failing political will. Phil Harrison
Widely available, episodes weekly
Paranormia
This series about the space between psychology and the supernatural – and how the idea of the supernatural causes real-life actions – begins with Slender Man. It looks at how the fictional internet creation ended with a 12-year-old Wisconsin girl being stabbed 19 times, and is an impressively well-researched investigation into true crime’s spookier side. AD
Widely available, episodes weekly
