Whether you're after true crime, politics or sports podcasts, our guide will give you something intriguing to listen to.
Comedy is, overall, the UK’s favourite podcast genre. But, as Vodafone’s recent research discovered, there’s plenty of variation among the UK’s nations and regions when it comes to podcast preferences with politics, true crime and personal development, as well as health and fitness, all jostling for eartime.
Whichever genre is your favourite, we’ve rifled through the extensive library of podcasts available on Spotify to find gems from each one for your listening pleasure. Vodafone UK Pay Monthly mobile customers can add Spotify Premium, which brings offline listening to your entire streaming audio library, for a low monthly fee.
Comedy
Classic sitcom stars never die, they just reminisce about the old days on a podcast. Or at least that’s what Zach Braff and Donald Faison of Scrubs fame have done. Each episode of their podcast Fake Doctors, Real Friends takes a retrospective behind-the-scenes look at each episode of the hit TV show.
If you want to look even further back into the past, You’re Dead To Me is the podcast for you. Each episode of this BBC Radio 4 show takes a wry, witty and irreverent look at a different historical subject from Pharoah Rameses the Great to the development of ice cream.
Top Flight Time Machine started out as a podcast about football, but each episode now consists of slightly surreal bickering between the two hosts on everything from lamb chops to advertising. Think of it as an aural Vic and Bob.
Politics
Scots are particularly fond of political podcasts, according to Vodafone’s research, so it’s only fitting that one of the most insightful comes from north of the border. The Stooshie (Scottish slang for ‘fracas’ appropriately enough) covers both Westminster and Holyrood.
True crime
This is one of the most popular and crowded podcast genres, but there are still some hidden gems for even the most voracious listener.
The Murder in My Family looks at the delicate subject of how homicides affect the relatives of murder victims.
Bruh Issa Murder dives into cases involving people from ethnic minorities and marginalised communities. It somehow manages a light deftness of touch that balances seriousness and respect for the victims with listenable conversationality.
Amanda Knox should need no introduction for followers of high-profile criminal trials. In The Truth About True Crime, Knox looks at crimes both notorious and obscure with some cases spanning multiple episodes.
Sports, health & fitness, and personal development
Pound for Pound is the knockout podcast for boxing fans, with analysis and commentary on the sport’s comings and goings.
Limbering up for a marathon? Then the Marathon Training Academy podcast can help you prepare for the big race with practical advice in every episode. If you’re interested in your fellow runners as much as the activity itself, Ali on the Run should be up next in your listening queue. Each episode delves into the personal stories of a different runner.
For a podcast about mental rather than physical wellbeing, try Unlocking Us. Episodes can vary, with some featuring academic or celebrity guests, but all focus on a different aspect of our inner lives from dealing with grief to handling relationships in the middle of a pandemic.
And now, for something completely different
If you’re not quite sure what you want out of a podcast, then You’re Wrong About could be the podcast to cure your aimless browsing. This podcast examines and often debunks popular myths and misconceptions surrounding public figures and historic events, from Marie Antoinette and OJ Simpson to the Millennium Bug.
Drama was the least popular podcast genre according to Vodafone’s research. If you’d like to give it a go nonetheless, Spotify’s latest exclusive podcast is about the Caped Crusader himself. Batman: Unburied is a multi-episode story penned by one of the writers behind the cinematic Dark Knight Trilogy, but set in a unique continuity all its own. Think of it as a radio drama, but with Hollywood talent such as Winston Duke, Gina Rodriguez and Lance Reddick.
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