EDITORIAL
15 new podcasts to listen to in May 2021
Pod Bible aims to be the essential guide to podcasts. To keep your download list full of brilliant podcasts, and help you find the next podcast sensation, we’re bringing you the latest podcast releases in our New This Month feature. With big celebrity shows and the return of some classic podcasts, here’s our round-up of great new podcasts to listen to this May…
New Podcast Shows
Brydon &
It’s incredible to think that this is the first Rob Brydon podcast. Whilst he has been a fabulous guest on many, the Welsh comedy genius hasn’t actually done his own until now. Brydon’s announcement on Twitter exemplifies the understated comedy we can look forward to: “Like many middle-aged men I have had to accept the inevitable, and I wanted you to be the first to know. I have a podcast. It starts today on Spotify, and though I say it myself, it’s rather good. Today, John Bishop and I talk. And talk. And talk. Enjoy!” Spotify have managed to grab Brydon & as an exclusive. Listen now >>
BRITs Top Table with Mastercard
As the name suggests, this music podcast is an accompaniment to The BRIT Awards 2021, which are on 11th May. The eight-episode series started on 23rd April, and presents exciting and diverse voices in British music speaking about their own experiences and the music they love. It’s hosted by comedian and broadcaster Sideman, and comedian and screenwriter Munya Chawawa (who presented The BRITs red carpet coverage and livestream last year). Episodes are released weekly and it’s currently exclusive to Amazon Music. Listen now >>
Dark Air with Terry Carnation
Released on April 1st, Dark Air with Terry Carnation is no joke – or maybe it is. Rainn Wilson (aka Dwight Shrute on American The Office) stars in this fictional and dark comedy podcast that explores the on and off-air life of Terry Carnation. The first episode (brilliantly titled ‘The Returnening’) follow Terry’s first night back on the airwaves after a mental breakdown – when he receives a call that could be coming from beyond the grave. As a non-pod reference, this reminds me very much of the Channel 4 comedy Garth Merenghi’s Dark Place. Listen now on Acast >>
The Moon Under Water
The Moon Under Water is only 3 episodes in and has already appeared on a few ‘noteworthy’ lists. If you’re looking for podcasts like Off Menu, this would be an on-the-nose comparison: a mystical pub of the mind where the Landlord (comedian John Robins) and pub regular (Robin Allender) invite guests to create their dream watering hole. It’s a bit more relaxed than Off Menu, and with some ‘ye olde speak’ and literature references. But it’s already had a similar calibre of guests: Nish Kumar, Suzzi Ruffle and Jodie Kidd kick-off the pub-crawl. Listen now on Acast >>
LBC’s Difficult Women
In this new LBC new podcast, Rachel Johnson talks to women who “had to be a pain in the backside to get where they are today”. As to be expected from LBC, the interviewees so far come from the political sphere. The first episode is Lady Brenda Hale, a British judge who served as President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. Episodes are short, running at not over 20 minutes – which is perhaps a good length for ‘difficult’ conversations! Listen on Spotify now >>
British Scandal
British scandals seem to be coming thick-and-fast at the moment, but scandals are nothing new. They have changed the course of history, brought down governments and caused the mighty to fall. This show looks into some of the most infamous scandals in living memory, starting with the Litvinenko Affair. This the first show the podcast-giant Wondery has produced in the UK, and is a sister-show to their American Scandal. It’s hosted by the wonderful (pun not intended) Alice Levine of My Dad Wrote a Porno, alongside podcaster and former political advisor Matt Forde. Listen now on Acast >>
Other new podcasts for your list:
- 12 Questions with Fraser T Smith – Fraser T Smith is a producer for some of music’s biggest names including Adele, Stormzy, Dave and Kano. In his own debut album “12 Questions” he posed twelve universal, human and urgent questions, all born of Fraser’s own anxieties about the world today. Fraser is now asking some of the sharpest minds in popular culture to answer these questions. Listen now on Spotify >>
- Life Jolt – One of a number of podcasts that gives a voice to incarcerated and formally incarcerated people. Life Jolt prison slang for a life sentence – examines the lives of women navigating Canada’s correctional system. Listen on Spotify >>
- Leonardo: The Official Podcast – This is an accompaniment podcast to a new murder-mystery drama from Amazon Prime. Leonardo stars Aidan Turner and is based on the life of Leonardo da Vinci. The podcast is hosted by Angellica Bell, and reveals behind-the-scenes secrets. Listen now on Spotify >>
- Wednesdays We Drink Wine – Every Wednesday, friends Melissa and Sophie chat about Boyfriends, help with your dilemmas and of course drink some wine! Listen now on Acast >>
- West Cork – “In West Cork, it’s simply known as ‘the murder’…” This 10 part series is a gripping – and unsettling – investigation of an un-resolved (but possibly solved) murder from 1996. Technically, it’s not a new podcast, but the acclaimed Audible Original is now available on other platforms. Listen now on Acast >>
- Sounds Like A Plan – What can music and musicians do to save the world? It turns out, quite a lot! This podast looks into some of the ways the music world is taking action when it comes to the climate crisis. Listen now on Spotify >>
New Podcast Seasons
The Max & Harvey Podcast
They are the UK’s biggest TikTok stars, and now Max and Harvey have signed an exclusive deal with Spotify for their podcast. This is kind-of a second season, and kind of a new podcast as well. Their School Daze podcast was a huge success, and the Spotify Original podcast is on the same feed, but has been renamed and rebranded. The format is similar though, with a relaxed, unfiltered, and chatty series to discuss everything that makes up the pair’s lives – growing up from their school days, to TikTok and being influencers and how to succeed at business.
The Smart 7
The daily podcast that’s still going strong and has just surpassed 5 million downloads. Can’t face the Twitter wormhole? The Smart 7 provides you with your morning news vitamin… the world’s biggest 7 stories told in just 7 minutes. There’s now over 325 episodes, and the Irish Edition started just over a month ago. Listen on Acast now >>
Fuelling Around
The podcasts with stars talking cars is back for a second season. Whilst this podcast brands itself as ‘the podcast for Petrolheads’, it’s proved pretty accessible to non-car enthusiasts as well. As one listener we know said “I’m not a car nut, at all. But it’s just got a really chatty vibe and some nice celeb stories.” Listen on Spotify >>
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If you listen to these podcasts, please tell us what you think! Tag us on social media @PodBible. Read more of our New This Month editorials for the newest podcasts to listen to.
Do you have a show for our new podcast list? Email info@podbiblemag.com with the show description, release date and artwork. We will share as many launches as we can!
