In previous blogs we’ve recommended you try out our favourite business podcasts and legal podcasts. But we all need a break from studying sometimes. Whether you’re exercising, doing chores around the house or just trying to get some rest, podcasts can make a great addition to your daily routines. Today we’re looking at our favourite podcasts to help you relax and unwind.
By Cara Fielder. Published 29 September 2020. Last updated 30 September 2024.
It’s simply impossible to keep up with every big movie, series and book release, but NPR Pop Culture Happy Hour is here to help. With bite-sized episodes of 10 to 30 minutes, the NPR team reviews and discuss the latest pop culture releases from Hollywood big budget blockbusters to lesser-known indie releases and overlooked TV series. Books get the least coverage, but they do pop up occasionally, usually in a seasonal review. Fun, friendly and witty, this podcast is great to help you decide how to spend your precious downtime and keep up with pop culture trends.
How Did This Get Made is a podcast that brings the love of hate-watching movies to life. Comedians and actors Jason Mantzoukas (Brooklyn 99), Paul Scheer (The League) and June Diane Raphael (Grace and Frankie) watch all sorts of movies, from Sharknado and The Room to Justice League and Morbius. They revel in continuity errors, bad acting and canyon-sized plot holes with such energy that you can’t help but laugh along. They’re often joined by special guests, including Seth Rogen, Conan O’Brien, Amy Schumer, Charlize Theron and Roxanne Gay.
There’s a huge back catalogue to listen to but if you want a recommendation to get you going, you can’t go wrong with any of the Fast and Furious or Jason Statham movie episodes.
RedHanded is a British award-winning true crime podcast from hosts Hannah Maguire and Suruthi Bala. Their weekly episodes look at various types of crime from across the globe. From modern stories such as the Twin Flames cult to older tales like the Chernobyl disaster and MKUltra, there is something to interest everyone. Due to the hosts living in the UK, they also include stories closer to home, like that of the Grenfell Tower fire, that make difficult listening so please listen mindfully and skip any episodes you may find upsetting.
Stuff You Should Know is a brilliant ongoing podcast that teaches you about a wide variety of subjects. Whether you want to learn about marathons, Ouija boards, hurricanes, the KGB or dissociative identity disorder, it’s all in this podcast. With such a large, diverse back catalogue of episodes, it’s easy to swipe through and find something that interests you. If you don’t know where to start, try Axolotls: The Smiling Salamander from Mexico or E.T.: Is It Really the Worst Video Game of All Time?
Comedians and good friends Tom Davis (The Wolf) and Romesh Ranganathan (The Owl) get together to talk all about life, current events and what’s keeping them busy. They started the podcast at the end of 2020, when the Covid pandemic left them with limited ways to catch up and perform comedy. Their general chitchat is wrapped up with an agony aunt-style segment and Tom always ends the episodes with a heartfelt (and often random) final thought.
Wolf and Owl is a fun, meandering chat between friends that makes a great listen.
Warning: This podcast may make you snort laugh in public.
Criminal features one of the most famous voices in the podcast world thanks to host and co-creator Phoebe Judge. Her sultry tones introduce us to criminals and the people impacted by crime. Unlike most true crime podcasts, this isn’t a shock factor show. Every episode looks into a different type of crime, from stealing Venus Flytraps en masse (Episode 5 Dropping Like Flies) and identity theft (Episode 51 Money Tree) to the legal responsibilities of a book that teaches people to get away with murder (Episode 85 The Manual). Although the show started in 2014, Criminal shows no signs of slowing down or running out of intriguing crimes to keep you listening.
The BBC Friday Night Comedy podcast features the ongoing shows The News Quiz, Catherine Bohart’s TLDR and Dead Ringers with household names such as Sara Pascoe, Miles Jupp, Jo Brand and Hugh Dennis bringing the laughs. If real news is getting too much for you, this is the perfect way to stay informed while having fun.
Smartless is another podcast that hosts and comedy actors Jason Bateman (Ozark), Sean Hayes (Will & Grace) and Will Arnett (BoJack Horseman) created during the 2020 lockdowns. Every Monday, one of the hosts introduces a surprise guest to the rest of the team and the freeform interview begins. So far, guests have included huge names, such as Selena Gomez, Taika Waititi, Idris Elba, Keanu Reeves, Sigourney Weaver and many more. Equal amounts funny and thoughtful, Smartless is great listening.
QI television show researchers James Harkin, Andrew Hunter Murray, Anna Ptaszynski and Dan Schreiber come together every week (with the occasional guest) to discuss their favourite fact of the week. You’ll learn all sorts of weird and wonderful facts you never knew you needed in your life and have plenty of laughs at the same time.
Ok, we admit it, we might be slightly biased with this choice. Still, we think that The University of Law Podcast makes for great listening. The show is packed with useful information for current and prospective students as well as anyone with an interest in law, business, criminology, policing or psychology. It’s also a great way to catch up with some of the events you may have missed.
Don’t miss our groundbreaking series The Judges: Power, Politics and the People where top UK judges share insights into their careers and opinions on current affairs. We also have series focusing on Future Solicitors, All About the SQE, 24 questions in 2024 and so much more.
Stream The University of Law podcast on Spotify or wherever you stream your podcasts.
Now you’ve got some great podcasts to listen to, it’s time to download the best free apps for students.
