What’s on my playlist these days?

Welcome to my now yearly compendium of some of my favourite podcasts, which hopefully will offer some ideas on what to listen next.

Four years on and Casefile is still and always my top choice; and they keep working hard on their work, which is consistently excellent and often mindblowing.

But what else is in my feed? Read on to discover

True crime

Detectives Don’t Sleep

Each week, we shadow the world’s most remarkable sleuths… Real detectives who worked extraordinary cases… Because the truth is often stranger than fiction.

I stumbled upon Detectives Don’t Sleep while browsing for true crime pods. I think I liked the graphic, primarily but after listening to a couple of episodes, I went back for more. I enjoy Mark Dodson’s delivery which is carismatic without being too cheesy (like the italian Demoni Urbani which I no longer listen to). Episodes are well researched and a good lenght.

Sweet Bobby

What a story! It was bewildering to hear the whole thing (I won’t spoil it) and at the end, I am truly wondering why, but what a listen… Sweet Bobby is a live, multi-part investigation in search of one of the world’s most sophisticated catfishers. It’s a story about who we are online, and how social media can be weaponised as a tool of abuse and coercion. Well done Tortoise Media for bringing us Sweet Bobby.

Hoaxed

An investigation into one of the most serious British conspiracy theories of all time, from the team who brought you Sweet Bobby, this was another fairly local story I knew nothing about. Similar theme to the incredibly story told by italian podcast Veleno (one of my favourite series ever), Hoaxed is less sensational and I would argue, less emotionally punchy, but nonetheless, makes for a great listen.

Fiction

Last Known Position

Last Known Position follows a group of experts including submersible pilot Mikaela Soto (Gina Rodriguez) as they seek to recover a flight that suddenly vanished over the Pacific Ocean. I have listened to a lof of productions by QCode Media, and this one was great. It goes a bit bonkers towards the end and leaves it open for series 2, but I honestly prolonged my dog walks to keep listening, it’s that good! It’s going to be made into a movie by Netflix, in fact.

The Foxes of Hydesville

The only thing more frightening than ghosts… is your family.

QCode again. Inspired by the true story of the Fox Sisters, this 9-episode swirling family epic (starring Carey Mulligan) follows the infamous mediums as they rise to fame in the 19th century when they begin conjuring up the dead… and inadvertently spawn a new religion: Spiritualism. Fantastic sound effects and of course, acting.

Ad Lucem

Hold on to your humanity

Another QCode, Ad Lucem was an oddly fascinating futuristic tale of family love, deceit and greed as well as AI. It stars Chris Pine and Olivia Wilde amongst others. Very enjoyable.

Investigative journalism

Million Dollar Lover

Million Dollar Lover is an unlikely love story, recorded in real time as the relationship unfolds between a wealthy widow, Carolyn, who is 80 and Dave, 57, a former drug user who is homeless and has a long criminal history.

The podcast is written and narrated by juournalist Sue Mitchell and it is one of those pods that really, really made my blood boil, for so many reasons. I felt Mitchell was quite biased in her narration, and then those daughters… my gosh, incredible how cruel some people can be. Nevertheless, is a complicated story that will make you keep walking and listening until the end!

The secret history of the Estonia

A tale of secrets, smugglers and spies and how 852 people died on a ferry. From the team behind The Secret History of Flight 149 which I loved and shared in 2022, journalist Stephen Davis investigates the tragic sinking of the passenger ship The Estonia, uncovering a mysterious trail that leads back to the Cold War. I did not know this story at all, and it’s as before, told with flair and skill, and keeps you on your toes.

Burning Sun

Another really interesting story from Chloe Hadjimatheou who produced May Day for BBC4, reviewed in an earlier post. Burning Sun is set in Korea and it’s about Kpop and the scandal related to some of their biggest stars who were drugging and molesting (and worse) unsuspecting fans). Worth a listen.

Gone Medieval

Ok this might be a bit niche, and certainly I do belong to this niche of people who love the Middle Ages, with religious architecture, wars and castles. I obviously love Gone Medieval by History Hit, they have a huge variety of topics so there is something for everyone, and the episodes are not too long, as well as quite lively.