5 new podcasts to listen to this week

Are you a fan of true crime? Or thinking about ways to better cope with life’s uncertainties? Or even interested in learning more about food technology? Then this week’s podcast picks are for you.

1. How Do You Cope?

Streaming platform: All streaming platforms

Genre: Health and wellbeing

How Do You Cope? is a podcast presented by comedian and radio broadcaster John Robins, who hosts intimate conversations with well-known guests, speaking about the challenges they’ve faced over the course of their lives, and touching on topics such as mental and physical health in the day-to-day.

In this week’s episode, Robins speaks with Justin Hawkins, lead singer of rock band The Darkness, who shot to fame with their hit song ‘I Believe In A Thing Called Love’ in 2002.

Hawkins opens up about his journey from becoming dependent on drugs to gaining extra confidence on stage, to booking himself into rehab, and how he was consumed with feelings of sadness for an extended period of time.

Throughout the episode, the two men go behind the scenes to look at what it’s like to be a rock star, and how easy it is to fall into the harmful mindset of drugs and alcohol.

Hawkins describes how, before checking himself into rehab, he went on one final binge, then headed straight to the facility afterwards.

As a singer in the public light and surrounded by temptation, Hawkins speaks of how he had to remove himself from the band and the environment that had initially fed his problem.

He also opens up about how he was suppressing his feelings – sadness in particular – which came to the surface when he removed all substances from his life.

The episode is filled with some pockets of surprising elements that you may not have been aware of, such as Hawkins’s time working with the late singer Meat Loaf, what goes on behind the scenes when making cameos, and his plans going forward for a sober life.

(By Sara Keenan)

2. Theatre Of Crime

Streaming platform: All streaming platforms

Genre: True crime

Theatre Of Crime isn’t your usual true-crime-meets-audio-drama podcast.

It’s hosted by actors Pearl Mackie (Doctor Who), Emma Sidi (Starstruck), and Kiell Smith-Bynoe (Ghosts), who explore the characters of those at the heart of one of the biggest murder trials of the day, by re-examining and recreating some of the drama through their eyes.

Thanks to the Old Bailey (the Central Criminal Court of England and Wales), which has dug deep into its archive to unveil some of the shocking transcripts, they have exclusive access to what really happened and they ‘reinvestigate’ cases, recreating moments and getting into character.

The first episode is an infamous 1907 Camden Town Murder, which saw 22-year-old part-time sex worker Emily Dimmock found locked inside her apartment in Camden Town with her throat cut.

It was a case that, at the time, shocked high society and the general public. Was it tied to Jack the Ripper or not?

Her alleged murderer, Robert Wood, an artist, was tried and acquitted after a defence by Sir Edward Marshall Hall at the newly opened Old Bailey. Then, for the first time, the media and the public were co-opted to hunt down and find the murderer.

The podcast is produced by Global and Chalk & Blade, in collaboration with Dentsu Entertainment.

(By Yolanthe Fawehinmi)

3. Melting Pot

Streaming platform: All streaming platforms

Genre: Food and science

If you’re someone whose kitchen repertoire begins and ends with putting half a frozen pizza in the air fryer, the Melting Pot podcast could completely change how you enjoy your food.

Jay Behrouzi lifts the lid on relatively simple ideas to elevate your cooking, with viral content creator Big Manny using his chemistry background to explain everything from why you keep burning your stir-fry to how to ensure your chicken is safe to eat.

They look at which spices are soluble in oil compared to water, and why some cultures add vinegar to their brines. The first episode explains how to get your food crispy on the outside but juicy on the inside by knowing just a bit about the Maillard chemical reaction.

They pack a lot into their 26 minutes – which is much less time than your food delivery app will take – with Jay sharing recipes and Manny making the science side super simple.

The constant sound effects of bubbling pots and sizzling pans do get a bit tedious, but stick with it and you’ll be rewarded with so much kitchen confidence.

(By Amy Crowther)

4. David Tennant Does A Podcast With…

Streaming platform: All streaming platforms

Genre: Interview

You can’t really blame David Tennant for needing a break from his podcast series. Launched in 2019, with a second season in 2020, it’s been more than four years since the Scottish stage and screen actor delved into his bumper contacts book to find co-stars and friends to interview.

In that time, he’s played Macbeth on stage, hosted the BAFTAs twice, transformed into a rogue in Jilly Cooper’s Rivals and even made a return to Doctor Who.

That busy and varied career ensures Tennant is never short of an interesting podcast guest, but alongside that, he’s simply a really intuitive interviewer.

Whereas some showbiz luvvies can’t help but crowbar themselves into any and every anecdote, Tennant asks insightful questions, gives his guests plenty of space to respond and, most importantly, he’s done his research.

Season three opens with the witty Parks And Recreation star Ben Schwartz, who voiced the DuckTales animation series with Tennant.

They spark a fascinating discussion on the differences between improvisation and scripted stage work, and how unexpectedly lucrative some acting roles can be.

British actress and activist Jameela Jamil, Conclave star Stanley Tucci and Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies are also on the season three line-up.

(By Amy Crowther)

Spotlight on…

5. Reid the Room Podcast

Streaming platform: All streaming platforms

Genre: Self-help and wellbeing

Reid the Room is your new podcast playground for self-discovery and if, as an adult, you feel like your life needs a rebrand.

Over the last few years, host singer-songwriter Dionne Reid has been venturing into different spaces and things, including launching KiD iN YOU, an organisation which offers a variety of games, workshops and online content that promotes wellbeing and play for adults. As such, she thought it would be great to bring listeners along on her own journey as an adult in real time.

While creating the podcast, Reid toyed with various formats and settled on using popular games we used to play as a child as the theme for each episode.

The first being Hide and Seek, which Reid introduces using the prompt: what parts of yourself are you hiding?

Reid admits she’s a “professional hider” and invites listeners to hold her accountable — with love — every step of the way through feedback and sharing their own adulting experiences.

She shares her own experience during lockdown, during which she lost work as many people did, and how she was forced to look in the mirror and think about why she’s been afraid to explore other career goals and interests.

Other segments on the podcast include ‘Ridiculous’ and ‘Read all about it’, which really allow Reid’s sense of humour and heart to shine through.

(By Yolanthe Fawehinmi)