Podcasts! Dynamic Duo Edition

Anyone else as preoccupied with recommendations and following internet rabbit holes as I am? I can barely scroll through instagram for a minute without having to open about 30 new tabs, adding 10 more books to my amazon wishlist and subscribing to 5 new podcasts. Which reminds me; here are some podcast recs from yours truly..

I only started listening to podcasts a little more than a year ago but trust me, I have been making up for lost time ever since. Here are a few of my favs:

You know how everyone is high key obsessed with how healthy and loving and kind and funny Dax Sheppard and Kristen Bell’s relationship is? Well the first ever episode of this podcast shines a light on the couple which illuminates their bickering and teasing and so, demonstrates what is so fantastic about them together. Armchair Expert is an interview podcast hosted by Dax Sheppard and supported by his soulmate Monica Padman (Miniature Mouse). The podcast has only been around for about as long as I’ve been listening to podcasts but in that time it has gained a huge and loyal following- fans are called Armcherries. On the show Dax talks to various celebrities and academics about their lives, careers, philosophies and more. He has this gorgeous way of being completely open and honest about himself that encourages the same behaviour in his guests resulting in some extremely interesting, insightful and enlightening episodes. As I mentioned before, in the first episode Dax talks to his wife Kristen Bell. I found this episode to be such an important introduction to a fantastically open and honest way of being together. I loved it.

The other important relationship in this series is that of Dax and Monica; their mutual respect and love for each other is amazing to hear and they bring so much warmth to the podcast. Listen to the end to hear Monica’s Fact Check which is lots of people’s favourite part of the episodes!

Other guests include: Amy Schumer, Samin Nosrat (be still my beating heart!), Elizabeth Gilber, Ashton Kutcher… there are hundreds.

Back on this side of the pond, Jessie Ware and her mum Lennie have a brilliantly funny interview podcast called Table Manners. Here, they invite a celebrity round for dinner and grill them about their food experiences. There are a few questions that come up again and again every episode (and for which I have prepared my answers for when I’m invited on): desert island/death row dish, worst table manner, do you have good table manners yourself etc etc (right now: Eggs Benedict followed by a massive sourdough pizza from Pi in Winchester and then sticky toffee pudding. Would drink a nice pic poul de pinet or a montepulciano; cutlery screeching on plates; average- I’m not disgusting but I don't mind eating with my hands when needs be). Anyway, Jessie and Lennie are hilarious together and it is so interesting hearing people like Kiefer Sutherland talk about what they used to like eating as a child.

Other guests include: Carley Rae Jepsen, Sadiq Khan, Dermot O’ Leary, Clara Amfo.

I mentioned recommendations earlier and there is nowhere more rife with bloody recs than Dolly Alderton and Pandora Sykes podcast called The High Low. The show is a wonderful blend of everything from books and film to current affairs. Dolly and Pandora present a lovely thoughtful programme whereby they talk through various topics offering funny insightful points of view and opinions. Also they do something which is absolutely invaluable which is: they write PROPER show notes in which they detail everything they’ve mentioned in the podcast. Podcasters take note: this is so so helpful! The ladies have broad interests and this is demonstrated here. I love checking in with them and being kept up to date on what’s going on in the world! Those who have read or heard of Dolly's best selling memoir, Everything I Know About Love will know already how bright and culturally literate Dolly is, expect more of that with some social consciousness thrown in for good measure.

Fortunately with Fi and Jane is a Radio 4 podcast presented by the absolutely hilarious and dry as a bone pair: Jane Garvey and Fi Glover. The pair basically have a chat together, have a chat with a guest and that’s the show but the real magic is how funny and friendly and in Jane’s case, blunt, the two women are. They are kind of the epitome of British radio 4 liberal middle class, middle aged women which for me at least is very comforting and cosy. Basically they remind me of mi madre.

From one hilarious pair of women to another: Dear Joan and Jericha is completely brilliant. I don’t want to say too much because I think the less you know, the funnier it all is but please listen to it if you’ve not already. The podcast is created by Vicki Pepperdine and Julia Davis and both are fabulous on it. Think of Dudley Moore and Peter Cook's Derek and Clive but funnier.

Basically, I just love listening to people having fun and being best friends.

What have you all been listening to? Can you recommend me any more dynamic duos? Have you listened to any of the podcasts I’ve mentioned here?