Whether you spend 2 hours a day commuting, or have a few minutes to spare before you fall asleep in the evenings, podcasts are a brilliant low-effort way of amusing and educating yourself. These can range from edited versions of regular radio shows to podcast only broadcasts, and come in a huge spectrum of topics. If at
They can range from edited versions of regular radio shows to podcast-only broadcasts, and come in a huge spectrum of topics. If at first you can't find anything to tickle your fancy, keep looking and you're bound to come across something you like.
Here are our favourite podcasts to get you started in your search:
1) Woman's Hour
If you haven't come across this bastion of British radio culture, get listening.
Jenny Murry and Jane Garvey lead their listeners on a journey through subjects ranging from leadership and science to breakups and ageing, all through the lens of the female experience.
2) The Economist
If you've ever wanted to understand financial markets or haven't quite got to grips with the political situation and how this might affect the amount of cash you have to splash, listen to the Economist.
Rather than having to trawl through heaps of text, you'll be able to listen to the soothing tones of professional broadcasters as they explain the current economic situation to you.
3) Desert Island Discs
Have you ever wondered what you would listen to if you were stranded on a desert island with only a few musical tracks to chart the progress of your life? Well, this is what various celebrities and celebrated figures have been doing for years on this brilliant radio show, which you can now download as a podcast.
From Ed Sheeran to Levi Roots, the range of figures whose lives are discussed is incredibly broad, and will certainly teach you something about various different social backgrounds and careers.
4) In Our Time
Melvyn Bragg and his assembled guests lead us on a voyage of discovery through the ideas and thought processes of people across the ages in this much-loved show.
Whether you're interested in philosophy, religion, or simply want to know 'how not to be a Victorian woman', there will be something here to spark your interest.
5) TED Talks
The now famous TED talk events began in 1984 with a single conference, and have since grown to achieve global acclaim, holding events all over the world every year. Each talk from a different speaker tackles a completely new topic from a new light, meaning that exciting new concepts lie around every corner.
Whilst there are a multitude of talks available online, sorted into their many categories, the podcast will bring you a fascinating selection of new talks in categories you may not have picked out for yourself.
6) The Infinite Monkey Cage
Brian Cox leads us into unchartered territory in this brilliant show which pairs comedy and science to make concepts both large and small more accessible to a multitude of listeners. This is a fast-paced science podcast, with a large range of speakers covering a large range of topics, from Frankenstein and the discovery of new particles to the science of gender and love.
This is a fast-paced science podcast, with a large range of speakers covering a large range of topics, from Frankenstein and the discovery of new particles to the science of gender and love.
Alexandra Jane writes for Inspiring Interns, which help career starters and interns succeed in the workplace. To browse their graduate jobs, including mobile jobs, visit their website.
