These are the podcast series’ we relate to and recommend right now.
The rise of podcast series’ has been evident due to the uncertainty within our lives – you’ve either started listening to a series or you’ve started a podcast of your own.
In fact, 28% of Australia’s population are weekly podcasts listeners – that’s about 5.6 million people.
According to Joan Warner, Commercial Radio Australia chief executive, “Australians have continued to embrace radio through this period of unprecedented disruption and are listening both live and online.
“Radio has been extremely resilient in reaching mass audiences, while the uptake of podcasts has accelerated rapidly, positioning the industry well for continued growth and innovation in this area”, he said.
The BB team is a part of this movement and we’ve picked our top podcast series’ for you:
BB Writer Claudia Recommends: ‘Star Talk’ by Neil deGrasse Tyson
Where you can listen: Spotify and & Apple Podcasts
This podcast focuses on astrophysics and all things space. ‘Star Talk’ is a podcast on space, science, and popular culture hosted by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, with various comic and celebrity co-hosts, and frequent guests from the worlds of science and entertainment.
I love it because it makes this complex side of science more accessible to people like you and me. Black holes, the 4th dimension, simulations, animal behaviour, aliens, dark matter, happiness, and many, many more are all subjects of conversation that help me to fit pieces of the universe together that I would otherwise never know about or understand.
Neil has an engaging and mesmerizing way of talking about space that pulls you in and holds you at the centre of the discussion. I also love how every few episodes they hold a ‘Cosmic Queries’ segment where listeners can send in their existential questions and have them answered. It’s a podcast for those who find topical areas of science fascinating but find science class boring.
BB Writer Maddy Recommends: ‘Joe Rogan Experience #1109 – Matthew Walk’ ’ by Joe Rogan
Where you can listen: Spotify and & Apple Podcasts
The podcast is all about the importance of sleep and the science behind dreams, as Joe Rogan interviews sleep expert, Matthew Walker. It highlights how lack of sleep can directly impact motor functions, memory reception, decision making and health issues such as heart disease, diabetes, and depression.
The most interesting thing I learnt was that one half of your brain won’t sleep as deeply as the other when sleeping in a foreign environment, like a hotel room. This traces back to early survival days when cavemen would have to stay alert in unfamiliar territory.
They also discuss how alcohol and marijuana blocks REM sleep (rapid eye movement) where most of your dreams occur. REM sleep stimulates the areas of your brain that are essential in learning and retaining memories. The brain records how much dream sleep you have not been getting because of alcohol and marijuana, so when you have a sober sleep, you will usually have very intense dreams.
BB Writer Monique Recommends: ‘The Guilty Feminist’ by Deborah Francis- White
Where you can listen: Spotify and & Apple Podcasts
Comedian, Deborah Francis- White, hosts the award-winning series for best podcast, best host, and best British podcast. She invites on different special guests, who are other comedians, actresses and sometimes highly acclaimed women from almost any industry including education, medicine, politics, and advocacy.
They discuss topics “all 21st century feminists agree on” while confessing their insecurities, hypocrisies and fears that underlie their lofty principles”. Each week they start the show by saying “I’m a feminist but…” and everyone on stage must state a hypocrisy of theirs. It’s hilarious.
Each week they highlight an organisation or charity that supports the need of minority groups in local areas. I love it because it’s hilarious and it is a light-hearted way to participate in incredibly important topics in our world. You’re guaranteed to learn something new and to also laugh in every episode. I love how it’s women supporting women and it is such a positive way to give certain perspectives a platform to speak up.
BB Writer Ruby Recommends: ‘The Imperfects’ by Hugh van Cuylenburg and Ryan Shelton
Where you can listen – Apple Music and Spotify
This podcast is all about finding resilience from struggles, vulnerabilities, and imperfections. The hosts chat to a range of people from all realms of society and share their experiences through the podcast. By chatting to a diverse group of individuals who are all in vastly different circumstances, the podcast enables anyone to feel heard and not alone.
Sharing such experiences through this kind of platform is comforting and authentic, and for that reason I admire how ‘The Imperfects’ do their part in helping just about everyone navigate the ups and downs in life.
I love that each episode is such a raw insight into somebody’s extraordinary story, and how great the takeaways are – of resilience, perseverance, and gratitude. Hugh and Ryan bring a lightness to some heavy topics and make me consider how I can apply their tips for a more resilience and how to seek the positives in everyday, no matter the hardships that arise.
BB Writer Czelene Recommends: ‘Office Ladies’ by Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey
If you’re a dedicated fan of the award-winning and highly successful sitcom series The Office, then this one’s for you. 16 years since the first episode aired, The Office is still, to this day, a crowd favourite and continues to make numerous generations laugh.
Where you can listen: Spotify and & Apple Podcasts
Hosted by two of the actresses from the TV series, Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey, the pair go through each episode where they discuss behind-the-scenes secrets alongside their special podcast guests who were past crew members other cast mates.
Anyone who is a fan of a movie or tv show would appreciate knowing what goes behind the camera, so I love being able to know how the cast and crew were like on the show when the cameras weren’t rolling. It’s also interesting to hear how a show’s production and how Hollywood works. After listening to the podcast, I love watching episodes back and having a little bit more knowledge of the significance of a specific moment.
BB Founder Renae Recommends: ‘Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday’ by Oprah Winfrey
Where you can listen: Spotify and & Apple Podcasts
Need some daily inspiration? Well, this podcast has you covered as we get to hear Oprah’s life philosophy and view of the world through some of the world’s most respected people she interviews.
I enjoy this podcast because it is diverse, fresh, and rich in content on so many levels. Many episodes are edited to include quotes from some of the world’s most famous people from The Dalai Lama to Goldie Hawn, and Maya Angelou and Angelina Jolie. The list is long and very diverse.
