Sara Pascoe and Cariad Lloyd are back with the fifth series of their offbeat literary podcast, Weirdos Book Club. The new season kicks off with a recommendation for Emily Wilson’s translation of The Odyssey, which gave new life to its female characters, and Pascoe “butchering” the plot of James Joyce’s Ulysses. Guests this time round include author Maggie O’Farrell and musician and writer Kae Tempest. Episodes are available weekly.
In other podcast news, the former head of the US National Archives, who was fired by Donald Trump, hosts a smart series about lessons from American history. The first episode focuses on George Washington, from his childhood to his decision to relinquish power after the revolutionary war.
Retired Olympic diver Matty Lee has launched a warm series in which he speaks to fellow athletes about the realities behind their careers. Long jumper Jazmin Sawyers reveals what it’s like performing on her period, while Alice Kinsella discusses her return to gymnastics shortly after giving birth.
Novel and iHeart’s strand about women banding together against dangerous exes returns with a show that turns dark subject matter into a moreish listen. Anna Sinfield meets the exes of Derek Alldred, a charming US romance scammer whose victims linked up on Facebook to seek justice.
Fans of cultural mystery series will enjoy a quirky new podcast about family myths and whether tales passed down through “intergenerational games of Telephone” are true. The first episode investigates whether a friend’s great-great aunt Margarita really invented her namesake cocktail.
