These are the 25 best podcasts to listen to during lockdown, whatever your mood
If you’re feeling the pressure of being indoors for days on end, and wondering how to fill the time, why not try a podcast? Just like settling down to a box set or a great book, but with the added ease of being able to get stuff done whilst you enjoy them - and that’s just what we need to avoid spending endless hours on the sofa.
Listen to your podcasts whilst cooking, tidying up, decorating, gardening, completing your lockdown to-do list - they offer flexibility and easily-accessible entertainment that won’t have you fighting over control of the TV remote.
But if you’ve never gotten into podcasts before, and don’t know where to start, don’t worry - Hood has got you covered. Whatever your preferred genre or area of interest, we’ve found the perfect podcast to make you laugh out loud, get your brain in gear or keep you on the edge of your seat.
Read on, and then get downloading - what are you waiting for?
The best feelgood podcasts to lift your mood
Table Manners with Jessie Ware
Length: 50 minutes
Frequency: Every Wednesday
Resist the temptation to laugh out loud with this brilliantly funny and relatable dinner-party-based podcast, hosted by singer Jessie Ware and her mum, Lennie. The duo invite celebrities into their home, Lennie cooks a feast, and they delve into chat where nothing’s off the menu, including life, love and vitally, their desert-island meal. There are nine series and so many great episodes - we especially love the ones with Alan Carr, Nigella Lawson and Antoni Porowski.
Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee
Length: One hour
Frequency: Weekly
If you’re looking for accurate medical advice without sensationalist spin, then this is a great podcast for you. Dr Rangan Chatterjee uses each episode to offer practical advice on looking after your health and wellbeing, in a simplified and uplifting way that’s easy to follow and implement.
Oprah’s SuperSoul Conversations
Length: 30 minutes
Frequency: Every Wednesday
We might all admit to feeling a little ‘down in the dumps’ at the moment, so who better to motivate and uplift than Oprah? This insightful podcast sees Oprah interview a selection of amazing, interesting and inspiring guests - including Michella Obama and Lady Gaga - and bring out some brilliant stories and learnings, from managing mindfulness to ticking off life ambitions.
Sh**ged Married Annoyed
Length: One hour
Frequency: Every Friday
In need of a giggle? Tune into this hilarious podcast, from comedian Chris Ramsey and his equally-funny wife, Rosie. The pair transform the mundanities of daily life into something hysterically funny, covering universally-relatable subjects, reader questions and of course, their ‘beef of the week’. An incredibly easy listen that will definitely make you LOL.
Love Stories with Dolly Alderton
Length: One hour
Frequency: Not recording currently, but all episodes are available online
For a feelgood look at love and life, listen to this mini-series from writer and journalist Dolly Alderton. Dolly interviews a wide range of charming and funny guests, including Sharon Horgan, Ruth Jones and Marian Keyes, about their most defining relationships and the people and moments that have made them who they are. Sometimes bittersweet but ultimately, a podcast that feels like a cuddle from a friend.
The best true crime podcasts to get stuck into
The Doorstep Murders
Length: 20 minutes
Frequency: Not recording currently, but all episodes are available online
The doorstep murder of Nairn banker Alastair Wilson sent shockwaves throughout Scotland when it took place back in 2004, and the case remains unsolved. This short but intense podcast, hosted by BBC Journalist Fiona Walker, leads us through what happened to Alastair and speaks to family and friends, police and potential witnesses about the crime. Hard-hitting as it’s so close to home, but a gripping listen for true-crime fans.
Serial
Length: One hour
Frequency: Not recording currently, but all episodes are available online
Viewed by most as the original true-crime podcast, Serial is a great way to lose yourself in the genre and get stuck into a story that you’ll be thinking about long after the series is over. Start with season one, and the now-world-famous case of the murder of high school student Hae Min Lee, and the imprisonment of her ex-boyfriend, Adnan Syed. Brilliantly told, it’s easy to see why this particular podcast has been downloaded more than 250million times.
Undisclosed
Length: One hour
Frequency: Weekly
Once you’ve listened to Serial, make the leap over to Undisclosed to study the case against Adnan Syed in even greater depth. This thought-provoking podcast is hosted by three law professionals and looks at Syed’s case in extreme detail, bringing details, evidence and witnesses into the fold. Brilliant for armchair detectives, and those looking for something to help focus your mind elsewhere - it’s not an easy listen, but if you’re interested in wrongful convictions and true crime conspiracies, it’s a great deep dive.
The Immaculate Deception
Length: 30 minutes
Frequency: Weekly
A new podcast on the true crime scene, and a fascinating listen. Journalist Jenny Kleeman investigates the truth behind one Rotterdam fertility clinic and the lengths one doctor was willing to go to, in order to create new life. A tough topic that’s unbelievably true, this is a podcast that’s hard to resist bingeing, as you go on the pursuit of the truth of what really happened at the Karbaat Kids clinic.
To Live and Die in LA
Length: 30 minutes
Frequency: Not recording currently, but all episodes are available online
In 2018, aspiring actress Adea Shabani simply disappeared from her apartment in Hollywood, not long after moving there from her native Macedonia. This gripping 12-part series sees journalist Neil Strauss follow the case of Adea’s disappearance as it unfolds, told through witness accounts, clips and evidence. It’s full of twists and turns, a truly compulsive listen.
The best culture podcasts to broaden your horizons
Hit Parade
Length: 90 minutes
Frequency: Once a month
If you’re interested in music and pop culture, then you’ll be happy to drop everything for this particular podcast. The extensive episodes are fascinating deep-dives into the biggest musical artists, albums or songs in contemporary pop culture - covering everything from the Bee Gees to the power of having a posthumous No.1. Something to stretch your mind with during these long days.
Bookclub
Length: 30 minutes
Frequency: Weekly
Ever wondered what an author thinks about their most famous piece of work? With this podcast, you can find out, as authors ranging from Helen Fielding and Marian Keyes, to Margaret Attwood and Hilary Mantel share interesting insights into their writing experiences, memories and opinions of the books that made them bestsellers.
Desert Island Discs
Length: One hour
Frequency: Weekly, with a huge back catalogue available online
There’s a reason why this particular radio show-turned-podcast has been entertaining us for almost 80 years. The premise is simple; a public figure is cast away to a fictional island, and chooses eight songs, one book and a luxury item that they’d take with them. The resulting conversations are incredibly insightful, uplifting, and heart-rending, and of course you enjoy each guest’s musical choices too. There are over 3,000 episodes to choose from, but to start you off, we’d recommend listening to Tom Hanks, Kathy Burke, Yoko Ono and Lynn Barber.
Song Exploder
Length: 20 minutes
Frequency: Every other Wednesday
Another one for music lovers, this short but sweet podcast invites musicians to deconstruct their most famous compositions and reveal how they came to be. There’s technical and personal insights into how your favourite songs came into existence, which make for addictive listening and the opportunity to learn some fascinating facts. The episode with Fleetwood Mac’s Lindsey Buckingham discussing Go Your Own Way is touted as one of the best, but there’s hundreds of episodes with the likes of Bjork, Janelle Monae, The Killers and Chvrches.
Something Rhymes with Purple
Length: 20 minutes
Frequency: Every Tuesday
Fancy yourself as a bit of a wordsmith, or just want to use this time at home to work on improving your vocabulary? This brilliantly clever podcast, hosted by Giles Brandreth and Susie Dent, guides you through words you never even knew existed and teaches you how to use them correctly, as well as educating you on the beauty of the language we speak. A fascinating listen and a little bit of self-improvement too, it’s a win-win.
The best thought-provoking podcasts to get your brain in gear
The Dream
Length: 40 minutes
Frequency: Not currently recording, but all episodes available to listen to
You’ll already be familiar with the term ‘pyramid scheme’, but what does it actually mean? This compelling series explores the very beginnings of these multi-level marketing schemes, from the get-rich-quick days of the original schemes in the 1980s, to the schemes that are rife on our social media platforms today.
The Tip Off
Length: 30 minutes
Frequency: Every other Thursday
If you’ve ever wondered just how journalists manage to land enormous news stories or salacious scoops, give The Tip Off a listen. Lifting the lid on the detective work that goes on in the world of news journalism, investigative journalist Maeve McClenaghan speaks to fellow journalists about the tip-offs that gave them the biggest stories of their careers; from terrorist cells to the Panama Papers.
No Such Thing as a Fish
Length: 45 minutes
Frequency: Every Friday
Use this time at home to brush up on facts that will make you a future pub quiz champion, and download a few episodes of this hilarious educational podcast, from the team of researchers behind the BBC panel show, QI. Each week, the hosts bring their favourite facts to the table, spanning the irreverent and the irrelevant, to things that are almost too strange to be true.
The Business of Fashion Podcast
Length: 40 minutes
Frequency: Every Friday
Fashionistas assemble! The ultimate podcast for everyone who’s even mildly interested in the world of fashion, this detailed, informative series covers topics ranging from the environmental impact of fashion, to interviews with brand founders and style pioneers from companies such as Ganni, Reformation and Veja.
The Guilty Feminist
Length: Up to 70 minutes
Frequency: Twice weekly
You’ll likely already have heard about this particular podcast, as it’s been popular for years, but now’s your opportunity to get stuck in. Host Deborah Frances-White uses the platform to help make feminism more accessible, and helps listeners to understand what being a feminist in the 21st century really means. It’s light-hearted and humorous, but packed with essential knowledge and motivating guests, covering topics that affect women worldwide, today.
The best careers-focused podcasts to help you climb the ladder
Ctrl Alt Delete
Length: Up to 45 minutes
Frequency: Every Monday
Author and journalist Emma Gannon is the definition of the modern multitasker, and in this funny, honest and engaging podcast, she and a series of high-profile guests (think Sophia Amoruso, Emily Weiss and even Mrs Hinch) discuss the world of work in the online era.
Hey, Cool Job!
Length: Up to 80 minutes
Frequency: Not currently recording, but all episodes available to listen to online
If you’ve ever been curious about the people who do some of the most interesting, out-of-the-ordinary jobs, whether that’s being a frontline warzone reporter, a magazine founder or a celebrity paparazzo, then you can indulge your curiosities with this insightful podcast, which interviews those with some seriously interesting careers.
Work Like A Woman
Length: Up to 40 minutes
Frequency: Not currently recording, but all episodes available to listen to online
‘Queen of Shops’ Mary Portas launched this careers-based podcast in conjunction with her new book of the same title, which highlights her mission to place kindness at the heart of business for a better working future. In this series, Mary interviews those who’ve done just that, including nail entrepreneur Sharmadean Reid, psychotherapist Philippa Perry and journalist Bryony Gordon.
Girlboss Radio
Length: Up to one hour
Frequency: Weekly
Get inspired with this enlightening podcast, which sees Girlboss founder Sophia Amoruso share honest conversations with trailblazing women, about how they built their businesses, or what it takes to carve a successful career, all whilst navigating life’s curveballs along the way. There are five years’ worth of episodes online, so plenty to help you feel fired up and ready for the next step.
How I Built This
Length: Up to one hour
Frequency: Weekly
If you want to start your own business, How I Built This is a great motivator. The series tells the story of successful companies, in the words of their creators, so you can hear all about how Instagram became the biggest image-sharing site in the world, or what it took to make Ben & Jerry’s a globally-recognised brand. Brilliant to help you feel ready to launch your own ‘next big thing’ in the future.