Scholars are making podcasts! You might be aware of the popular science communication podcasts. They are great at presenting complex ideas through highly produced episodes, but they miss the nerdy beauty that can be found when experts deep dive into topics or themes. DIY podcasts produced by scholars allow those who might never get a post-graduate education the chance to experience the very best version of being in a seminar.

Material Girls

Hosted by the indefatigable duo Hannah McGregor and Marcelle Kosman, who rose to academic podcasting fame with ‘Witch, Please’, this new scholarly podcast about pop culture is heavy on the laughs and sharp with the social theory. You can deep dive into concepts such as ‘petro-capitalism’ via Barbie, ‘mass culture’ via Star Wars or ‘intimate publics’ via Taylor Swift. Totally accessible, even to those who’ve never felt the need to theorise filmic depictions of blue aliens. Listen now >>

Big Biology

Biology research is so diverse that biologists have to ask each other lots of questions to understand each other’s research which, it turns out, makes for an amazing podcast for non-biologists. Especially those who have questions such as: ‘Can we use a molecule’s complexity to distinguish life from non-life?’ Co-hosts Marty Martin, Art Woods and Cam Ghalambor do a great job of explaining what they will talk about with their guests in advance, so that even when it gets a bit intense, lay people can follow along. Listen now >>

Who do We Think We Are?

If you’ve only paid passing attention to news in the UK over the last decade or so then you’ll know that British people are having an ongoing existential discussion with themselves about who they are. Whether discussing Brexit, Windrush or ‘really hostile environments’, sociologist Michaela Benson doesn’t shy away from complexity as she is joined by an array of experts. Helpful ‘active listening questions’ accompany the podcast, whilst the Beyond the Headlines occasional spin off, co-hosted by Ala Sirriyeh, unpicks how migration is being reported. Listen now >>

The Cosmic Savannah

This podcast promises a ‘safari through the skies’ as it explores astronomy and astrophysics from the African continent. Co-hosts Jacinta Delhaize and Daniel Cunnama speak to leading researchers about their cutting-edge work, covering topics such as pulsars, how galaxies change over cosmic time, the lifecycles of cosmic dust, and the supermassive black hole that we have in the middle of our Milky Way. Some basic understanding of science is needed, as some of the episodes get quite complex. Listen now >>

Disasters: Deconstructed

There’s no such thing as a natural disaster. That’s what co-hosts Ksenia Chmutina, Jason von Meding have been telling their listeners for the last eight seasons as they explore the root causes of disasters from different disciplinary and ideological points of view. Some episodes feature guests speaking about work in ‘disaster studies’ or related fields, while other episodes are reading groups of classic works. They traverse themes relating to injustice, inequality, structural violence, and resistance. Listen now >>

What the If?

Documentary filmmaker Philip Shane, history of science professor Matt Stanley, and virologist and sci-fi author Gabrielle Paniccia push their imaginations to limit as they take listeners on extended wild yet scientifically-rooted thought experiments. ‘What if humans had evolved tool use while still living in the ocean?’ ‘What if humans lived forever?’ From gene editing to space rocks, and lethal flatulence to x-rays, the only limit to the podcast is the hosts’ curiosity (which, it seems, is endless). Listen now >>

How to Build a Stock Exchange: Making Finance Fit for the Future

This limited run podcast series is a history and sociology of financial markets. Philip Roscoe’s promise to teach listeners how to build a stock exchange, is the ruse around which he builds his anecdote-packed narrative that explores how financial markets came to be as they are today. Episodes include ‘Pickles, public schoolboys, and the business of financing start-ups’, and ‘The decade when greed became good’. You may or may not learn how to build a stock exchange by the final episode, but even if you listen with zero knowledge of finance, you’ll come away with an understanding of not only how influential stock-markets are in our day-to-day lives, but how they came to be so. Listen now >>

—

Dr. Ian M. Cook loves working with fellow scholars and students in making their podcast dreams a reality. By training, he is an anthropologist whose work focus includes urban India, scholarly podcasting, refugee access to higher education, and environmental (in)justice. Ian has co-created numerous scholarly podcasts, including for research projects and initiatives, and has taught podcasting workshops for researchers, students, teachers, NGO workers, activists and journalists across Europe. He interviewed 101 scholars who podcast for his book Scholarly Podcasting: Why, What, How? He is currently Editor-in-Chief at the multimodal anthropology publishing platform Allegra Lab. 

The post 7 of the best scholarly podcasts appeared first on POD BIBLE.

The theme for this year’s World Book Night on April 23rd is Books That Make You Smile, and with the joy-giver (and podcaster) that is Sandi Toksvig as Lead Ambassador, it’s clear they’re on a mission to keep our spirits up.

In a pretty rubbish year, novels have been a lifeline for those of us not only stuck inside our homes but our heads too. For World Book Night, alongside online events and readings, The Reading Agency are giving away 100,000 books to organisations across the UK as a celebration of reading, and to highlight its power and benefits to wellbeing.

Reading for mental health

It was a teacher who first recommended that I plunge myself into a novel when I was struggling with a bout of depression in my teens. Make no mistake, I definitely needed some form of professional care but, in the circumstances, a novel was the next best thing. But for those of us who struggle with mental health issues or low mood, starting a book can sometimes feel like another way of setting ourselves up for failure.

I started The Dabbler’s Book Club in 2019 to force myself to read one book every fortnight (or so!) and then to talk about it (when all I usually want to do is stay on the sofa watching Friends for the millionth time). Since March 2020 this simple habit has been so valuable,- and it’s about so much more than the books. The conversation that the podcast allows is just as important and not only gives a sense of completion after turning the final page, it’s left me feeling closer to my partner and our listeners.

In our first episode, my co-host and partner Curtis Nice joked that “our counsellor said it would be good for us”. Three series later, it’s actually very clear to see how it has been.

5 book podcasts for non-bookish people

To get you in a bookish mood without taking you back to the dread of English class and feeling like the poorly-read idiot, here are my top five book podcasts if you don’t think you’re particularly bookish.

These are book podcasts that aim to include everyone. They keep conversation light and inclusive, away from the academic styles we might have been used to at school or university, and they’re a great reminder that books really are for everyone.

Books are gifts authors share with the world; podcasting about books is the gift we can give ourselves and our listeners. There’s really nothing better.

Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast

Presented by journalist and author Yomi Agedoke, guests including Elizabeth Day, Sara Pascoe and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie celebrate the best books written by women. They discuss the year’s shortlisted titles and talk about what the future holds for women writing today. This might seem like a very bookish podcast, but the Women’s Prize for Fiction aims for inclusivity and accessibility. The conversations are celebratory and heartfelt, and will inspire you to read more women authors. Listen now on Acast >>

You Heard It Here First

A recommendation show to help you discover your next podcast, audiobook or drama listen. Host Imriel Morgan cherry-picks highlights from Audible’s extensive audio catalogue, with the help of listeners, authors and Audible editors. Expect honest recommendations, laughs and listens you never knew existed – and to be welcomed in with open arms to our family of podcast, audiobook and audio drama lovers. A pocket-sized podcast of 30-minute episodes, it features a diverse list of books and guests, giving you a great overview of the book world outside the traditional bestseller lists. Listen on Audible or elsewhere.

Book Shambles

Book Shambles is an easy-going podcast that’s been running in one form or other since 2015. Using books as a jumping off point, hosts Josie Long and Robin Ince invite a different special guest each week to dive into interesting, passionate and shambolic discussions. Recent interviews include Marian Keyes, Nell Frizzell and Katy Wix. [It’s also one of Eddie Izzard’s favourite podcasts! – ED] Listen now on Acast >>

Book Cheat Podcast

Admittedly, Book Cheat isn’t quite in the World Book Night spirit of encouraging everyone to read… but it does tap into the sense that we’re all playing catch up when it comes to books – especially the classics. This is a fun podcast where host Dave Warneke reads the book so you don’t have to. Each episode Dave tells two special guests all about a classic novel or play, and by the end of the show, both you and they can pretend you’ve read it. From Austen to Tolstoy, Shakespeare to Hemingway… Dave lets you devour a classic in a single sitting. Listen now on Acast >>

The Dabblers’ Book Club

And of course, I’m including mine at the end because not only is it pretty good, but it also embodies so many things I’m passionate about. Working-class and state-school voices in literary criticism, and authentic, un-sanitised conversation that gives space for different perspectives and experiences. Non-stuffy book chat and funny one-star reviews. We’re a book podcast for people who like reading but don’t always feel qualified to talk about it. Maybe you went to state school or haven’t read any of the greats but still want to talk about books in a normal way. Just about every fortnight, my co-host Curtis and I read and have a fairly sweary chat about a novel, while incorporating our own anecdotes and life experiences. Guest special episodes feature interviews with the likes of Booker Prize winner Douglas Stuart and barrister and author Hashi Mohamed. Listen on Acast now >>

The post 5 great book podcasts for non-bookish people this World Book Night appeared first on POD BIBLE.