Recommend me some uplifting podcasts

I listen to them when I run on my own which is almost every day for around an hour. Interested in Politics, current affairs, Economics, finance etc so lots of R4 stuff. I listen to a lot of music at home but dont listen to it when running and I am finding the constant bad news is leaving me feeling low and I need something to balance out the negativity. Other interests include the outdoors and sport (well only running and cycling really) but I find specific running podcasts (of which there are many) to often be inane and even silly at times. 10 minutes of an interview with an interesting guest then 30 minutes of rubbish.

Help me find something a bit more inspiring to counteract our worrying times. Whats your favourite stuff?

I like The Rest is History. The two historian guys are entertaining with some bantz and you learn stuff. The latest is Custer, Crazy horse and sitting bull, cumulating at the little big horn. They cover some standard topics, but you learn stuff that’s not run of the mill. Custer was a character that’s for sure. They did the Titanic recently, but not just the run of the mill stuff as everyone knows the story.

If you’re on BBC Sounds, Soul Music is a good one. Basically it takes a famous song and threads it through with the meaning it has to different people, and often a bit about how it was written. The stories about the impact the song has had on people’s lives are often very moving, in an uplifting way.

Other BBC Sounds things I like;

From Our Own Correspondent (takes a look at stuff that’s going on in the news but from a personal, on the ground, perspective. Normally three or four different stories each week)

Crossing Continents (interesting, often slightly quirky, stories from abroad, a bit like From Our Own Correspondent but a single story each week)

The Invention Of… (How countries came to be the countries they are now)

It’s a Fair Cop (Comedy policeman tales)

The Folk Show (self explanatory really, but I find the music really relaxing and uplifting)

Sarah Keyworth Are You a Boy Or a Girl (interesting, honest and funny look at gender identity)

History of the World in 100 objects (it’s a bit of a commitment, it’s 100 x 15 minutes segments, each looking at the story of a particular piece from the British Museum, from pre-history to modern day)

13 Minutes to the Moon (the Apollo 11 moon landings, really interesting)

Agree on the above, The Rest is History is a good listen. The episodes on the Hernán Cortés and the fall of the Aztecs was brilliant listening.

If history is your thing, Oh What a Time is very light hearted and funny.

Running wise, the only pod I’ve stuck with in that arena is Running Commentary which always feel like your listening to 2 mates having a chat. I really like that, you may not.

Finally, my standard recommendation for all “what podcast” questions is 13 Minutes to the Moon. The best podcast series I’ve ever listened to. Series 1 on Apollo 11 is awesome, series 2 on Apollo 13 is even better still.

+1 on 13 Minutes.

The Empire podcast is my go-to history doo-daa. 🙂

On BBC Sounds, Survival Stories is entertaining.
Just listened to one about a mountain biker who got attacked by a mountain lion.

Dictators is interesting. Currently I’m enjoying Pol Pot, though clearly many people didn’t enjoy Pol Pot.

Infinite Monkey Cage is awesome.

A Short History Of, is good. Lots of episodes on famous historical happenings or people.

Just listening to Ear Hustle today which is a podcast from San Quentin Prison in Cali. Lots of stories about prison life. Interesting and occasionally uplifting.

You’re Dead to Me is often good though some of the comedians can be irritating.

Desert Island Discs obvs.

Infinite Monkey Cage is awesome.

I used to love IMC, but went off it as I found it was getting a bit too “let’s have a comedian guest on who will just ask knowingly stupid questions”.

If you have an interest in current affairs and politics but want something uplifting try the Tim Dillon Show. Absolutely hilarious (of course that’s subjective) and only 1hr episodes

OP, your post could have been written by me, except for the one hour a day of running.  I’ve shifted away from daily politics pods on my dog walk to more history pods. I feel better for it.

i know that it’s now old and it does tire after a while but My Dad Wrote A Porno is brilliant.

Thanks all, some great stuff there!

It’s a Fair Cop (Comedy policeman tales)

This is brilliant me and Mrs Surfer listen to this (7 series) on our last 2 camper van weekends away, hilarious.

Thanks @lunge

Running wise, the only pod I’ve stuck with in that arena is Running Commentary

Ill have a listen but maybe its because I am close to it I haven’t heard one (yet) that I like 🙂

Thanks @Chrishc777 I’ve just subscribed to that and downloaded an episode for my run.

Joe Rogan?

@IHN @lunge subscribed to 13 minutes to the moon, cheers

One of my current favourites is The Rest is Entertainment, which I was half expecting to be like Hello magazine in podcast form when it first started but no, if you have an interest in entertainment, be it films, TV, radio (less so, admittedly), or books as well as well as news media, it’s very entertaining. Hosted by Richard Osman and Marina Hyde, with 2 episodes a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Their debate about ending the Thursday show with ‘See you next Tuesday!’ was quite amusing.

I always recommend We Have Ways Of Making You Talk as well as Al Murray and James Holland (his brother does the The Rest Is History pod) are always fascinating to listen to, talking about the 2nd WW. They’re currently part way through a 12 episode series on Operation Overlord.

This is brilliant me and Mrs Surfer listen to this (7 series) on our last 2 camper van weekends away, hilarious.

Cool 🙂 And, if this means our senses of humour are similar, try the Sarah Keyworth thing.

Sideways presented by Matthew Syed on BBC Sounds – the bumph says it “explores the ideas that shape our lives with stories of seeing the world differently”. There’s 70 in the series.

There’s also some good crime podcasts on BBC Sounds if that’s your thing.

Hosted by Richard Osman and Marina Hyde, with 2 episodes a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

I have been listening to this, as a former (reluctant) entertainment journo I have to say it’s very good.

Osman is brilliant, very witty and warm. Hyde is starting to grate on me a little though, she comes across a bit smug and self-regarding.

Is The Bugle still good? That was always my light hearted current affairs pod of choice, not listened to it in a while though

I still listen to the Bugle, went to a live one recently. Chris Hoy does a podcast where they mostly interview comedians. It’s very light hearted and can be very funny too.

The Moth. It’s all true stories told by the people they happened to. Often uplifting.

I’ll second We Have Ways and Rest is History.

The one I really look forward to though is Terrible Lizards because it’s rekindled a childhood love of dinosaurs and b) it’s just so (obviously) ‘not current affairs’ that it essentially distracts from worrying times completely.

Where there’s a will there’s a wake.

Kathy Burk takes people through the final hours.

It’s funny and moving in many ways.

Adam Buxton has a huge back catalogue with some amazing guests

Also as above alfi bow (sp)with “it’s a fair cop” BBC sounds. even just for the krs1 booopp booopp it’s the sound of the police intro music.

Am I allowed to blow my own trumpet? (No brass instruments involved though)

And if course STWs Hannah is a guest on one episode

One of my current favourites is The Rest is Entertainment,

Came here to say this. I listen to loads, but this is brilliant.

Others I like are Beef & Dairy Network, Elis & John, Down the Dog, Wolf & Owl, Taskmaster and as above…the back catalogues of Buxton, Films to be Buried With, Off Menu, Parenting Hell….

I gave up on most of R4 back in 2015. Regurgitated press releases, ridiculous ‘balance’ (swivel eyed loon opinions vs experts), and limited investigation and challenge made it dispiriting.

I changed to listening to R3 in the day, despite the ‘news’ bulletins, it is more uplifting. I have heard all sorts of music that I would not otherwise have known about.

the private eye podcast ‘page 94’ is heavy going sometimes but offers some interesting background and further reporting on some of the Eye’s printed material. Differently not uplifting from R4.

If you want a change from political commentary and current affairs podcasts have you tried ‘the Allusionist’? Helen Saltzmann explores words, often with guests.

if you don’t mind hearing about the terrible work of some of the worst people in history then Cool Zone Media’s ‘behind the b@5t@#%$’ podcast by Robert Evans is one of my favorites.

I see it in the posts here and agree that ‘it’s a fair cop’ is one of the best ‘new’ BBC comedy programs.

Edit. of course, the enormous catalog of ‘in our time’ might be of interest if you’ve not heard them all already.

edit edit. If you’ve not listened and they are still available then the ‘50 things …’ on BBC were great.

Great minds…..was ready to suggest The Rest is Entertainment – amusing and informing in equal measure.

A third for We Have Ways.

Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford, the bloke from More or Less is excellent.

A Short History Of, also very good.