Podcasts You'll Love This Week
PODCAST GENRE | BEAUTY AND HEALTH
Podcast: Diary of a CEO
Episode: 209 / Doctor Tim Spector: The Shocking New Truth About Weight Loss, Calories & Diets
OK, so the episode title is clearly designed to reel you in. I would slightly ignore it’s “you heard it here first!!” splashy front page title because actually this episode is thoughtful, the guest is a specialist in the field of gut health and there is a lot of in-depth knowledge imparted throughout (also, unless you’ve been living under a rock, the idea that calorie counting doesn’t work is not exactly “shocking” - it’s not 1985 for goodness sake!) What this episode actually delves into is gut health and how it affects anxiety, depression, your immunity and overall health. As part of this conversation, Dr Tim Spector discusses popular diets such as Keto and whether they work and why they might not. The advice given is balanced and easy to digest (pun intended!) and if you care at all about your health, I highly recommend you give this podcast episode a listen.
Podcast: Doing it right with Pandora Sykes
Season 3 : Episode 1 / The Myth of good skin with Jessica DeFino
I have always enjoyed Pandora Sykes as a podcast presenter but had somehow forgotten that this podcast existed. I happily came across it the other day and delved in by just choosing a random episode. And I chose a goodie!! I loved this episode with Jessica DeFino as it confirmed a lot of my thoughts on the beauty industry and the marketing of beauty products. If you are someone who buys skincare or makeup then you will find this thought provoking episode interesting and perhaps a little confronting (but hopefully in a good way). Jessica was a beauty editor and worked in the mainstream beauty industry (she most famously worked on the Kardashians app) before deciding she couldn’t be a part of peddling it’s wares any longer. It was through her work on the inside that she realised just how manipulative the industry is in convincing us to buy products our skin just doesn’t need. As a streamlined skin care user (face wash, moisturiser and I’m done) I felt reassured by Jessica’s in-depth knowledge that I wasn’t missing out by not buying or using expensive lotions and potions. Her stance that our beauty standards are a result of a patriarchal, capitalist, colonialist and…(there’s another ‘ist’ but I can’t remember what it was now) was a teeny tiny bit over done for me - I get it and I can see that it’s true, but also - I don’t know, makeup and stuff is sometimes just fun so I’m good with everyone buying into this facet of life however they wish (regardless of whether it comes from some repressive societal system). The episode is an easy one to listen to and I’m sure it will have you thinking about what is on your bathroom shelves.
PODCAST GENRE | TRUE CRIME
Podcast: I’m not a monster
Season 2 : The Shamima Begum Story
The latest season of I’m Not a Monster has just started and this one investigates the story of Shamima Begum, a British girl who ran away from her London home at just 15 years of age to join ISIS in Syria. After marrying an ISIS fighter and living in war torn Syria for 4 years, she ultimately found herself in one of the refugee camps - by now she was a mother and wanted to return to the UK. I am only on episode 2 of this series as it’s only just been released so each week a new episode drops. So far I am really enjoying it. I think back to when I was 15 and how impressionable I was and wonder if you can reasonably hold someone accountable for their actions while they are still a minor. That being said, from what I’ve heard so far, she doesn’t seem very remorseful about her choices so it will be interesting to see how this story develops. For now she is blocked from returning to the UK. I found the first season of I’m Not a Monster gripping - it told the story of an American mother who similarly moved with her 10 year old child to live in the ISIS caliphate with her husband. That series was extremely moving - especially as it related to her son who recounts his time as as child of ISIS with a maturity that seems hard to fathom. So it you haven’t listened to season 1 you could put that on your list too.
Podcast: Suspect
Season 2 : Vanished in the Snow
I really loved Season 1 of Suspect so I was pleased to see a second season from Wondery. Vanished in the Snow tells the story of Jonelle Matthews, a 12 year old girl who disappeared from her home in Colorado 35 years ago. This isn’t a podcast with lots of horrific details about the crime but is rather an investigation into the suspect(s) who may or may not have committed the crime. From that perspective it is easier to listen to, as truth be told, I’m not great hearing stories of horrible things happening to children. There are only seven episodes and each one is about 40 mins long, so it is great for shorter car journeys - for when you are on your own. If you like true crime but don’t want lots of explicit details, give this one a listen. And if you haven’t listened to Season 1, give that one a try too (I think I preferred it to this latest season).
Podcast Genre | personal stories
Podcast : Diary of a CEO
Episode : 210 Davina McCall : I was doing cocaine with my mum at 15
Another headline grabbing title. Yes, Davina does reveal that she did cocaine with her mum at 15 but this podcast’s episode is very touching (and at times quite sad - I cried a little) and I thought Davina McCall was very raw and honest about who she is today and how her past has shaped her. She doesn’t hold anything back (for those who don’t know Davina, she is a British TV icon who regularly presents popular TV shows and is perhaps most famous for presenting Big Brother). Today she is a woman in her mid-50’s who is campaigning for greater transparency and support for women in menopause. She is an advocate for staying strong and fit and healthy and has a verve for life that is infectious. I have seen a bit of what she is doing on menopause through her Instagram account and I am keen to buy her book Menopausing. I like her no nonsense approach to this topic and it is great to see that she is still being given a platform in which she can advocate for topics affecting women. Her life story is compelling and says a lot about grit and determination and picking yourself up even when you’ve hit rock bottom. An easy listen.