But you’re also kind of busy, and despite your best efforts your partner/mates/colleagues/flatmates/pets don’t have anywhere near as much invested in, say, the ongoing struggle for control of Waystar-RoyCo. Where do you put your energy, your urge to shout about it, your extremely tenuous fan theories? Or, if you pick up a show absolutely yonks after everyone else was raving about it, how do you feel it unfurling before you without getting the standard “What, you’re only just watching Breaking Bad?” response from anyone you try to chat about it with?

You listen to one of the many watchalong podcasts, obviously. There are a few different genres here, from the kinds of slightly ramshackle, homemade pods powered by their hosts’ deep devotion to their subject to the super-swish broadcaster produced tie-ins that have become de rigeur for shows big and small. Here are some of the best.

His Darker Materials

Hosts Dave Corkery and Empire magazine’s Helen O’Hara delve deep into HBO and the BBC’s adaptation of Philip Pullman’s novels, with cast members including Dafne Keen and Amir Wilson and VFX don Russell Dodgson also popping by to explain how the show comes together behind the scenes. Empire Podcast listeners will already be familiar with O’Hara’s mix of insight, knowledge and generally being a laugh, and the easy rapport she has with Corkery is the bedrock here. Listen now >>

Buffering: A Rewatch Adventure

It’s hard to overstate quite how important Buffy the Vampire Slayer was to a generation of young people who found community and recognition in its portrayal of gay women. Hosts Kristin Russo and Jenny Owen Youngs are both queer and bring that perspective to their ep-by-ep rewatch of Buffy. Astutely picking out viewpoints that were bypassed in the late nineties, they bring a fresh and affectionate eye to a show they both love. And, at the end of each episode, there’s a new original song responding to what they’ve seen. Now they’ve finished Buffy, the pair are moving onto another cult favourite with The eX-Files: An X-Files Podcast. Listen now >>

Office Ladies

The crew who starred in The US Office are clearly loath to leave a thing they loved behind – after Brian Baumgartner’s The Office Deep Dive pod, which featured pretty much anyone who’s ever been near Dunder Mifflin there’s this from Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey who played Pam and Angela respectively. It’s another ep-by-ep breakdown, and the very palpable sense that these best pals are having fun wandering down memory lane is apt for the ultimate comfort blanket sitcom. Listen now >>

The Crown Official Podcast

Official podcasts can be a teensy bit dull, but what you lose in spicy takes and off-brand wittering you gain in glossier presentation and a hotline straight to the big dogs at the heart of things. The Crown costs about a trillion quid as it is, and clearly some of that’s gone to the official tie-in pod: Edith Bowman on hosting duties, cast members dropping by to chat, and a raft of fascinating below-the-line professionals doing the hard yards to pull the whole thing together. Listen now >>

Dragoncast

Back in the heady days of early 2019, before that Starbucks cup got left on Daenerys’ desk and everything started going to pot, the Game of Thrones fandom was one of the most obsessive and upbeat fandoms around. With House of the Dragon, it feels like the good times are back again, and Jamie East’s podcast has been there for all the ups and downs. Sue Perkins and journalist Chris Mandle are regular guests, and ensure every fan theory and world-building detail is chased down. Listen now >>

Dug Too Deep

A billion quid later, we’re still kind of making our minds up about whether Amazon Prime’s admittedly beautiful Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power series was worth all the palaver. But as with everything Tolkien, there are passionate defenders of – and, even more crucially, knowledgeable interpreters of – his work everywhere. Jim, Aron, David and John are some such types, reverently irreverent about everything Rings of Power but full of Middle Earth lore too. The chiptune rendering of Concerning Hobbits which opens each ep is a joy. Listen now >>

The Lost Boys

Film journalists Jacob Stolworthy (Lost superfan) and Jack Shepherd (Lost agnostic) watch the entirety of the extremely what-just-happened desert island drama. It’s a particularly handy pod for the Lost first-timer, what with Jacob’s deep knowledge and Jack’s knack for asking exactly what you’re probably thinking about the show which stands as probably the biggest fan theory generator since Twin Peaks. The interviews with the cast and crew are excellent too. Listen now >>

Firecrotch and Normcore: A Succession Podcast

Husband and wife Geoff Lloyd and Sara Barron will be familiar from their work on BBC comedy across TV and radio, and as well as breaking down each episode they’re exceptionally good at picking up and pulling at the stray threads which live rent-free in the heads of Succession stans. Where exactly did Marcia’s son go? We deserve to know. Listen now >>

HBO’s Succession Podcast

Official tie-in podcasts can be a bit of a mixed bag. Yes, the access to stars and prime movers is great, but the necessity of only being nice about the thing that it’s tied in with can make the discussion a little anodyne. Fortunately, Succession is on such outrageously good form that it takes that roadblock out of the way of HBO’s pod, and host Kara Swisher is appropriately brisk with her guests to get the most out of them. Well, it wouldn’t be right if such an unsentimental show got too cosy a pod, would it? Listen now >>

Talking Sopranos

It’s been off the air for more than 15 years, but it’s never the wrong time to get into The Sopranos. Whether you’re fresh to it or on a twelfth rewatch, this is the top companion pod. Its hosts are Michael Imperioli and Steve Schirripa, who played Christopher Moltisanti and Bobby Baccalieri, and who liberally sprinkle anecdotes and memories from their time on set into the mix. It’s as close as you’ll get to hanging out eavesdropping on Tony in Dr Melfi’s office in podcast form. Listen now >>

This article was original published on January 4, 2023.

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Now, Liz Cheng and Patricia Alvarado Núñez (who co-created the series with Editorial Manager Chris Hastings) host and executive produce Stories from the Stage: The Podcast, based on the original broadcast series. It allow listeners to hear entire episodes of the original series as they appeared during their original television broadcasts, but it also provides bonus “behind-the-scenes” narratives and extras not included in the Stories from the Stage on-air broadcasts.

We caught up with Liz and Patricia to talk about creating the podcast series, representation, and which podcasts inspire them…

Can you introduce yourselves to the readers?

Liz Cheng: Early in my career as a print and video journalist/producer, I gravitated to the stories of individuals, caught in the headlines, who illustrated the unfortunate pressure points in America, and yet, were determined to prevail. I was especially drawn to those who embodied all the ‘differences’ that make a difference. You see, my parents emigrated from China after World War II at a time when our country thought every Asian was the enemy, so it was difficult for them to find jobs, despite having advanced degrees, and it was years until they eventually became U.S. citizens. As a result, I found myself focusing on fellow multiculturals — filmmakers, storytellers and subjects/people with diverse backgrounds, differing orientation and often challenging circumstances —who like all of us just want a safe and sustainable place in the world for themselves, the people they love and their community. Thanks to our talented staff, WORLD has evolved from a service that merely repeated the best in PBS non-fiction content to now commissioning and curating original films and storytelling with widely diverse perspectives and memorable situations – in essence, people reporting from the heart of their own multicultural communities.

Patricia Alvarado Núñez: Growing up in Panama and working at its public television station, I had always dreamed of studying in Boston and working at the powerhouse public media producer, GBH. I was fortunate to secure an internship with La Plaza, a GBH series dedicated to examining issues affecting Latino communities throughout the United States. Following my internship, I had the opportunity to produce different projects, including a documentary about Fidel Castro for the PBS series American Experience, a national studio-based series called Maria Hinojosa: One-on-One and Neighborhood Kitchens, a regional multicultural food series. I hope all my projects give people a glimpse into the diverse communities that make up our country. For this series, we have created a welcoming stage accessible to people from across the nation and around the world — of all ages, genders and ethnic backgrounds as well as those from rural and urban areas. When we create a safe place for people and their stories, we make space for empathy and a way for all of us to connect with a shared humanity.

What drew you to this project?

Patricia: Stories from the Stage is a dream project for me. I grew up hearing stories, mainly from my aunts and my dad in our childhood home. So, while I’ve always enjoyed the art of storytelling, I never dreamed that such stories could appeal to a wider audience. We love to help people find their voice because everyone has a story to tell. Some say telling a story on stage in front of strangers is simple, but it is not, even if you are an experienced speaker, actor, writer or stand-up comic. Liz, Director and Editor Michael Rossi, Curator and Story Coach Cheryl Hamilton, and I are grateful to our storytellers for allowing us to work with them on honing their performances, as they prepare to share the best and worst moments of their lives. Sometimes storytellers think they are ready to go on stage when they are not, so we gently invite them to return another time.

There are many reasons why tellers volunteer to do what they do: the time needed to process and publicly recognize something significant that happened to them as well as the opportunity to connect with strangers, impart insight about personal experiences and help others on their journey through life. Plus, it’s an amazing adrenaline rush – until you are up on stage, you can’t imagine the energy, excitement and feeling of accomplishment.

Liz: I believe a memorable story, heard at the right time, can transform a person. These are quintessential American stories from people whose families often originated from other countries. You can be emotionally uplifted by someone who might seem, at first, very different from you: a penniless young Black refugee from civil war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo trying to pursue an education in the U.S.; a woman with alopecia who redefines beauty for her two young daughters; or a man, whose family fled the Holocaust, learning to come to terms with tremendous loss.  These stories can inspire empathy, action and even incite social change — it is an art form that dares to take a stand. The primal act of sharing a story is a wonderful communal experience — we can learn together through laughter, tears — and cheers!  We endeavor to move beyond  understanding in order to celebrate our differences.

What do you have to consider when making a podcast as a companion to a TV series?

Patricia: For the podcast — as a major departure from broadcast — we can reveal the thinking and expand the timeline driving this incredibly rewarding work. Liz and I share behind-the-scenes information, including what happens after a performance. For example, on stage, a mother describes rescuing her young daughter from an oxycodone house; a year later, did the daughter stay drug-free and what did she think about her story being told publicly? Often, post-performance, long-lost friends, family and those involved in a story reach out to tellers after decades of no contact. These important details add layers to a story that is already extremely impactful.

Liz: Patricia and I discuss why we choose certain storytellers and how three stories connected together can make an inspiring statement about fighting for a cause, surviving a hilarious set of circumstances, triumphing over disaster, and even finding redemption. Unlike our broadcast series — we can also talk about how we identify with tellers and their stories. After all, we’re not made of stone! If we are filled with a sense of wonder or a particular story hits home, we talk about the connections to our personal lives. The podcast allows amazing stories – for the first time — to be enjoyed by all of you outside the United States.

Are there any podcasts you draw inspiration from?

Liz: I love so many podcasts that provide daily news, political analysis, storytelling, humor and deep dives into science, history, the arts or social justice issues.  Walking the dog on weekends, I like to listen to Code Switch, Hidden Brain, On the Media, and Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me!

We like to give our listeners a point of entry to series – would you say there’s a particular episode that’s a must listen?

Patricia:  It is hard to choose among so many storytellers who have inspired and entertained us. Below is a sampling of episodes we have listened to again and again and have turned out to be fan favorites in the U.S. Enjoy!

GROWING UP BLACK

Valerie Tutson introduces her disbelieving Black students to one of the world’s greatest explorers from Africa; and as a young girl at a predominantly Black school in Chicago, Angie Chatman has a chance encounter with a police officer she will never forget. Listen now >>

DEADLY SINS

Ashley Rose’s beloved multicultural neighborhood in Boston was destroyed by a man-made disaster; years later, she takes us back there to explore how this traumatic event turned her into a crusader for others. Listen now >>

WHATEVER IT TAKES 

Teacher and artist Annemarie Whilton describes her daughter Sarah’s descent into substance misuse disorder and her dramatic rescue from a drug den. Mother and daughter have a conversation with us about the challenging journey toward recovery. Listen now >>

SURVIVING CHILDHOOD

Comedic storyteller Susanne Schmidt shares two of her favorite childhood adventures: an “extreme camping” trip with her family, and her Janis Joplin lookalike nanny, who invented an new Olympic competition riding pillows down the staircase. Listen now >>

Where can our readers find out more about you?

You can follow Stories from the Stage on Facebook @storiesfromthestage to learn more about the series and discover new stories, or
Instagram, Twitter and YouTube using the hashtag #SFTSPodcast or by tagging @worldchannel and @StoriesFromTheStage.

Listen to Stories From The Stage now on worldchannel.org, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other popular podcast apps.

Patricia Alvarado Núñez is an executive producer at GBH Boston.

Liz is the general manager of television for GBH’s six channels in the station’s local Boston, Massachusetts, area and for the U.S. 24/7 digital service, WORLD Channel, which is available in markets representing nearly 75% of U.S. television households.

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So, it’d be understandable if you need a little recap – and there are a lot of podcasts ready to help.

Know all there is to know about the Shelby gang? There are behind the scenes stories aplenty here too, from actors, directors and showrunner Steven Knight, and historians telling the true stories behind the series too.

Of course, the end of Peaky Blinders as we know it isn’t the end of the Shelby saga. There’s a film to come, and a potential spin-off too, so now’s the best time to find your favourite Peaky pod.

Obsessed with… Peaky Blinders

If you want behind the scenes stories, this is where to come. Ahead of season five, Digital Spy’s Laurence Mozafari sat down with pretty much everyone involved for this BBC podcast – Steven Knight, Cillian Murphy, director Anthony Byrne and loads besides – to explore how that season came together, as well as recapping everything that’s happened so far with the directors of seasons one to four. It’s as close as Peaky’s got to an official pod, so it’s very on-brand – but that also means the access is second to none. LISTEN NOW >> 

By Order of the Peaky Blinders

This is the best of the Peaky fan podcasts. Hosts Daniel and Josh break down every episode, leak, rumour and trailer – a thankless task at times over the barren couple of years since the end of season five – and interview fan favourites from the Peaky-verse including Johnny Dogs actor Packy Lee and Emmett J Scanlan. They’re well informed, passionate and lovingly critical. LISTEN NOW >>

Cillian Murphy’s Limited Edition

Two of the biggest draws of Peaky are the tunes and lovely Cillian Murphy. So, what more could a Peaky fan want than to luxuriate in both for a couple of hours? Murphy pieces together playlists for BBC 6Music show in his basement somewhere outside the Dublin suburbs and they’re eclectic in the extreme, ranging from funk and jazz to afrobeat and spoken word. But everything he plays has a nocturnal, owlish feel to it. LISTEN NOW>>

Previously On… Peaky Blinders

The Previously On… podcast runs through the back catalogue of a big series before pivoting to a week-by-week recap as its newest series lands. Most recently that’s included Succession and Westworld, and it dipped into peaky back in 2019 too. Annoyingly, that means it pulls up short at the end of season four but with the amount of double-, triple-, and quadruple-crossing that went down that season, it’s certainly the season most in need of a forensic analysis. LISTEN NOW >>

History Extra podcast: The Real Peaky Blinders

The Peaky-verse provides rich pickings for history podcasters. The Blinders themselves existed, and as the inspirations for the Shelby clan come from a real crime family called the Sheldons, quite a few podcasts have dived into the true story behind the show. Dan Snow’s History Hit did another good dive into the underworld of postwar Birmingham too, with historian and Peaky grandson Prof Carl Chinn. But our pick is History Extra’s chat with Prof Andrew Davies, who specialises in the history of crime. He digs into how late Victorian society created the conditions for organised crime to flourish, and how the gangs themselves were organised. LISTEN NOW >> 

Oh! What a Lovely Podcast: Peaky Blinders

Go on then – one more history pod. Emma Hanna from the University of Kent joins the team of Oh! What a Lovely Podcast, which examines the unexpected ways that the First World War has influenced pop culture and the ways in which pop culture has coloured how we’ve seen the conflict since. This one’s a little looser and more relaxed than History Extra, and focuses more on the ways that trauma and violence changed the men who fought in the First World War and thereby changed British society. LISTEN NOW >>

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On the Acast Creator Network, two of them, Firecrotch & Normcore and Previously On… Succession, are currently tied up in a fearsome rivalry to dominate the market.

The podcasts both launched on Acast in October to mark the highly anticipated return of season three of the Succession TV series, each offering listeners an in-depth commentary on the plotline and character, allowing listeners to get even more of the Roy family, discuss fan theories and shocking plot twists.

However, as the series continues to unfold, so does the podcaster’s discord. This week, Firecrotch & Normcore released a public statement in response to Previously On… Succession’s press conference discussing “the other podcast’s” attempt at a hostile takeover. There have been talks of plans for the podcasting giants to sit down for a shareholder meeting – which is rumoured to take place on a crossover episode at the end of the season…

Whilst is may seem cut-throat, the tongue-in-cheek animosity from both podcasts is in line with the tone of the show. And this is also a good example of how cross-promotion can work on podcasting, perhaps one of the few platforms where ‘rival’ shows can feel confident to share an audience.

And it just goes to show how we can’t get enough of TV companion podcasts!

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