There's usually only one show that comes to mind when you think of the Adam Buxton Plus podcast, and that's all you have to do to earn its title. But one of the biggest beasts in design is about to expand…
Well, more or less. Buxton's upcoming drama, Up in Smoke, is made in the style of a true crime series, but is actually a work of fiction, in which he plays a detective on the trail of a missing person. Its “host,” actor Mei Mak (currently starring in the Royal Shakespeare Company's acclaimed production of My Neighbor Totoro), is said to present an audio investigation of the mysterious incident. It feels like an exercise in blurring gender and reality. What would it be? Next week, by this time, everything should be revealed.
In the meantime, we have plenty of other great songs for you. Read on for everything from the shocking history of breast cancer treatment (and the role a former president's wife played in revolutionizing it) to a tearful look at new beginnings in midlife curated by the icon of They're joined by a roundup of the best shows you can watch if you want to listen comfortably, and a new show that tackles listeners' toughest problems, including helping a thirty-year-old New Yorker learn to drive. What a public service!
Alexie Duggins
Assistant Television Editor
Options of the week
start again
Weekly episodes widely available
Nothing incites an existential crisis more than being an expert on the midlife of '90s icons, but Davina McCall is the OG of the genre. A new podcast about new beginnings, twists, and the “lines of motion” of life is about to be released. McCall is a regular ball of empathy, not afraid to cry with her guests, chief among them Fearn Cotton, who talks about her challenges. This isn't your typical celebrity chat podcast, as McCall listens carefully to find answers from her guests. Hannah Verdier
Overrated
Weekly episodes widely available
This optimistic podcast bills itself as a support service for life's intractable problems. Alex Goldman, an “overconfident jerk” (in his words), has fun helping a woman convert America's Cups into grams when she investigates why driving in New York is so bad. high voltage
less serious
Weekly episodes widely available
Dr. Bernie Fisher was instrumental in improving the way breast cancer patients were treated: women could still undergo invasive surgery without his job. Here, Dr. Stacey Wentworth takes us from the operating room to the White House to show how Fisher, the women's movement, and science fundamentally changed breast cancer care. Holly Richardson
Elon's spies
Widely available, all episodes are now available
Is Elon Musk using undercover investigators to gather information on people he cares about? That's the suspicion that the series deepens with an in-depth interview with a British diver it calls “pedo boy” after he miraculously rescues a group of cavemen trapped underwater from the hands of young Thai soccer players. Alexie Duggins
Last notes: Groups: from Bill to Punk to the Sunset Strip girls
Weekly episodes widely available
The podcast begins with a look at 1970s teenage girls by artists like Led Zeppelin and David Bowie. It is surprising but superficial; There's no shortage of wild party stories, and it's a compelling listen, but judging by the first episode, it questions more the ethics of power and age dynamics. ADVERTISEMENT
There's a podcast for that.
This week, Raquel Arosti The five best choices asking for comfortA wedding mystery that went viral until the initial show about Elizabeth Day's failure
A perfect day with Jessica Knapbett
There are “perfect” podcasts, covering everything from dream meals (Off Menu) to ideal vacations (Life's a Beach) to fantasy funerals (Where Wills a Wake, There's a Wake), but a relatively recent addition to the genre is the more comforting. Hands. It's partly thanks to the theme (it's a meditative experience listening to all the sweet, relaxing things guests put on their perfect day agenda) and partly to our charming and fun hostess, who brings out the supportive energy (in fact , it helps to be friendly with his guests, including Tim Key and Emerald Fennell) to go on strange tangents. Lead a conversation that is fearless.
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Who shot the ground at my wedding?
The rise of podcasting and the rise of true crime have gone hand in hand, and it's no wonder: high-speed, detailed, suspenseful investigation is the perfect fuel for the audio format. But what if there was satisfaction in solving the crime, but not depressing violence or universal corruption? The answer is this podcast, in which amateur detective Lauren Gilby tries to find the culprit behind the poop at her friends Karen and Helen's yacht wedding. The resulting group is a very fun and sweet addition to the true crime genre. Even better, the team recently returned with another charming and light-hearted mystery titled The Little Suit Case/Case.
as fail
Elizabeth Day's hit podcast isn't exactly an exercise in schadenfreude, although inviting celebrities (Kate Winslet, Bonnie Tyler, Richard Osman, et al) to reveal their top three failures How to Fail helps listeners feel a little better about the things. have gone wrong in their own lives. The show often serves as a reminder that no one's life is perfect (a necessary corrective in the age of Instagram), but it also offers proof that it is possible to thrive after a turbulent period, as guests tell powerful stories of suffering.
Green Wing: Revived
Comfort is often inextricably linked to nostalgia, which is why shows like Friends have seen a resurgence during the pandemic. In fact, 2000s television is especially important in the collective comfort zone. For comedy fans of a certain age, the hospital comedy Green Wing definitely lives up to the hype, and after a literal trip down memory lane, this podcast revival will be gratefully received. Green Wing: Resuscitated stays true to the original show, with most of the cast returning, including Stephen Mangan (pathetic surgeon Guy Secreton), Julian Rhind-Dudd (a swoon-worthy Mac), and Michelle Gomez (Sue, staff liaison Fireworks). . Tune in to familiar fantasies and uncompromising silliness.
Look what he grabs
For anyone in need of mindless solace, reality TV should be high on the agenda, especially the Real Housewives franchise's nonstop festival of infighting and trivia. This podcast is hosted and published by enthusiasts Ben Mandelkar and Ronnie Karam. Five Once a Week: Recaps all 11 American Housewives shows (and other Bravo Reality Network shows). It's a complete guide to all the characters, stories, and fights, and a chance to reveal gossip, jokes, and airbrushes about the cast's most annoying members. It is delivered with all kinds of increasing frenzy, as an uninterrupted schedule should create.
Why not try…?
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How to Save It is an upbeat series about conservation campaigns that are getting results, from saving manatees to healing coral reefs in Papua New Guinea.
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Away Days with Woody and Pierce features two independent musicians who talk to fans about the trials and rewards of following your band across the country (or the world, for that matter).
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A bold attempt to understand the political needs of America's young Gen Z with Dylan Douglas.
