Picks of the week
Archetypes
Spotify, episodes weekly
Meghan Markle’s podcast is one of the most hyped of the year – but that’s not to say it’s the best. Still, the Duchess of Sussex is compelling as she seeks to “live inside and rip apart the boxes that women have been placed into for generations: diva, slut, crazy … ” Her first guest is tennis champion Serena Williams, who talks about “that dirty, dirty word, when it comes to women – ‘ambition’.” And yes, right on cue, Prince Harry pops in to say hi. Hollie Richardson
Sisters of the Underground
Widely available, episodes weekly
The story of the three Mirabal sisters isn’t widely known outside the Dominican Republic, but this podcast, executive-produced by Eva Longoria and Dania Ramirez, aims to change that. It’s an inspiring tale about the fearless freedom fighters who led the revolution against dictator Rafael Trujillo. Hannah Verdier
A Mid-Semester Night’s Dream
Widely available from 6 Sep, episodes every Tuesday and Thursday
Bridgerton’s Charithra Chandran stars in this fast-talking take on A Midsummer Night’s Dream. When a professor tasks four students with producing a new version of the play (“Think TED Talks, but Bill Talks”) romantic entanglements kick off and the class is soon in chaos. There are plenty of lines to bait traditionalists and earn Shakespeare some new fans. HV
The News Agents
Widely available, episodes every weekday
The much-anticipated podcast from Emily Maitlis, Jon Sopel and Lewis Goodall offers smart analysis of the news, but the real brilliance comes from the chemistry of its trio. They are not afraid to laugh, rage and dole out some proper common sense as they mull over the headlines. HV
There’s a podcast for that
This week, Francesca Hughes chooses five podcasts on disability, from a trailblazing BBC show to a dissection of everyday discrimination against those with disabilities
BBC Access All
Originally launched as OUCH! in 2010, this series was a pioneer in disability podcasting. Its new name feels far more apt, with Access All covering recent disability issues in the news as well as deep-dive conversations into problems that many disabled people experience regularly, from accessibility issues at music festivals to wheelchair-users being abandoned on planes. The host is BBC disability correspondent Nikki Fox, who is a mobility scooter user.
Disability Visibility
This podcast’s name captures its ethos of amplifying and facilitating discussions between disabled voices. Host Alice Wong is an award-winning campaigner who uses her platform to support people from various areas of the disability community. Having edited a successful essay collection about disability with the same name as the podcast, she fully commits to the disability activism slogan: “nothing about us without us”. Interviewees include Judy Heumann, an attender of Camp Jened (a New York summer camp for disabled people), who was heavily featured in the Netflix disability rights documentary Crip Camp, while a particularly poignant episode sees Wong in conversation with a disabled refugee from Iraq.
Disarming Disability
Sarah Tuberty and Nicole Kelly are two friends with limb differences who want to change conversations about disability. This US podcast aims to break taboos and stop stigmas around disability through conversations with disabled people, medical professionals, academic experts researching disability and people who work to promote accessibility as inclusion consultants. A standout episode explores disability history, which is often overlooked and not taught in schools.
Be My Eyes
The Be My Eyes podcast is produced by the accessibility app company of the same name that allows sighted people to describe items and help blind people with tasks in a very immediate way. One of the most memorable episodes features visually impaired Lego art director Morten Bonde, who has worked to add braille to Lego bricks, making the landmark toy more inclusive. They often discuss the representation of blind people in the media and how this can be improved, rather than just reinforcing tired stereotypes.
The Accessible Stall
Journalists and activists Emily Ladau and Kyle Khachadurian discuss how current affairs and casual ableism affect disabled people’s daily lives, with subjects including the pandemic and recent shifts in US politics. (The pandemic in particular had a significant effect on disabled people’s situations as many needed to shield themselves before official guidelines to keep safe and some disabled people’s care packages were greatly reduced). They discuss these issues, as well as the benefits of remote working for disabled people. They also discuss how the failure to protect disabled people early enough from Covid-19 is rooted in the ableist idea that only “healthy” people are worth saving.
Why not try …
An immersive look at how black music has shaped a nation in Sounds of Black Britain with Julie Adenuga.
Tatiana Maslany’s dodgy kidney transplant gives her a new lease of life in drama Power Trip.
From Regina Spektor to Joan Jett, women from across musical genres and generations are celebrated in Sheroes.
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