Five Must-Listen Podcasts This Week: From Comedy to Career Insights
If you're searching for funny, insightful, or thought-provoking audio content, this week's podcast recommendations are tailored for you. We've curated a list of five new and notable podcasts that span genres from comedy and life discussions to business and celebrity interviews. Each show offers unique perspectives and engaging conversations, perfect for your listening queue.
1. Ignore That Feeling
Streaming platform: All streaming platforms and YouTube
Genre: Comedy
Comedians Fern Brady and Alison Spittle have reunited to launch their new podcast, Ignore That Feeling, delivering unfiltered, loose-limbed, and sharp-tongued dialogues. Both former Catholics, the duo explores a wide array of topics each week, ranging from artificial intelligence and German philosophers to reality television and nostalgic boybands from the 2000s.
In the debut episode, Brady and Spittle delve into their previous podcast collaborations, the advantages and disadvantages of offering advice to friends, diverse communication styles, and experiences with menopause. They also share candid thoughts on Lily Allen's album West End Girl, the mammal holding the Guinness World Record for the longest ejaculation, and Spittle's first encounter with hummus.
For listeners craving authentic chaos from two comedians with deep familiarity, Ignore That Feeling provides a refreshing and humorous escape.
2. Mad, Sad & Bad with Paloma Faith
Streaming platform: All streaming platforms and YouTube
Genre: Life, culture and society
Mad, Sad & Bad with Paloma Faith is a podcast where the acclaimed singer-songwriter invites actors, comedians, musicians, and experts into her home to explore what makes them mad, sad, and bad. In a recent episode, Faith is joined by Rebecca Lucy Taylor, known as Self Esteem, discussing the origin of Taylor's stage name, the fluctuations of self-esteem, and the challenges associated with fame.
The conversation touches on why individuals should not police their voices and the experiences of being a woman in the music industry. Faith and Taylor also open up about postpartum psychosis, with insights from Faith's friend Laura Dockrill, author of the motherhood and mental health memoir What Have I Done?.
Faith shares her personal experiences, particularly as a 44-year-old expecting her third child. This podcast stands out as a refreshing and thoughtful listen, fueled by Faith's genuine warmth and inquisitive nature.
3. The Messy Parts
Streaming platform: All streaming platforms and YouTube
Genre: Life and business
On The Messy Parts podcast, host Maryam Banikarim interviews New York-based luxury jewellery designer Marla Aaron, unpacking how she transformed a side hustle into a thriving career and the lessons learned along the way. True to its name, the conversation does not avoid the messy realities of a major career pivot, including the time, energy, financial anxiety, and unexpected life challenges involved.
Aaron's grit and determination are evident as she discusses the emotional highs and lows of these turning points and the often solitary experience of building a business from scratch. Her journey serves as a powerful reminder of the value of hard work, the potential for reinvention later in life, and the myth of waiting for the perfect moment to start.
If you're drawn to entrepreneurial stories that explore the good, the bad, and the ugly, The Messy Parts podcast is a compelling and worthwhile listen.
4. Gracefully Said Podcast
Streaming platform: All streaming platforms and YouTube
Genre: Comedy and relationships
Gracefully Said Podcast is a new weekly show hosted by lifestyle influencer, singer, and digital content creator Grace Ajilore. Since launching her YouTube channel in May 2009, Ajilore has built a loyal following through fashion lookbooks, beauty tutorials, lifestyle vlogs, and dating dilemmas, and her podcast continues this trend.
In the first episode, Ajilore offers unfiltered takes on hot topics such as forgiveness, backup crushes, blocking people, and rekindling relationships with exes. She also tackles relationship dilemmas, including collecting personal belongings from an ex after a year and whether it's appropriate to ask a former partner for money back after a cancelled holiday.
The episode features a 'Chat with Grace' segment where Ajilore receives calls from listeners. Gracefully Said Podcast aims to be the start of an amazing journey, offering a fun and entertaining experience for those who enjoy lighthearted discussions.
5. Good Hang with Amy Poehler
Streaming platform: All streaming platforms and YouTube
Genre: Life and comedy
Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actress and comedian Amy Poehler hosts the weekly podcast Good Hang, where she interviews guests in her inimitable, no-holds-barred style. The show features a stellar lineup, including Gwyneth Paltrow, Idris Elba, and Michelle Obama, showcasing Poehler's appeal across Hollywood.
In a recent episode, Poehler welcomes actor and singer Jonathan Groff, known for Glee and his Broadway career in Hamilton. The podcast feels like listening to two friends setting the world to rights rather than a formal interview, covering topics from Groff's childhood in a conservative Mennonite household to his discovery of theatre and coming out as gay.
Essentially, Good Hang with Amy Poehler offers an hour of laughter, humorous anecdotes, and the sense of a budding friendship, making it a perfect destination for hilarious and engaging chats with some of the world's biggest stars.
