From current affairs and history to sports, true crime and comedy, there are hundreds of free podcasts online covering just about every subject matter. With coronavirus creating ongoing uncertainty for all of us and more time than usual indoors, we asked our team to share the podcasts that offer them a happy distraction...
Business
Rob Moore: The Disruptive Entrepreneur
Moore is a property investor, author and public speaker whose podcast focuses on how to shake things up and be a disrupter in business. He also interviews some of the world's most left-field entrepreneurs, who give their unique take on running succesful businesses.
She Means Business with Carrie Green
Founder of the Female Entrepreneur Association Carrie Green interviews female businesswomen from all over the world who are following their entrepreneurial dreams. Green also shares her personal experiences of building two successful businesses with no money and no business knowledge.
Brian Basilico - The Bacon Podcast
What can you learn about increasing income in your business in 10-15 minutes? A lot! This weekly show features tips and insights from speaker, online marketing strategist, and award-winning author Brian Basilico.
The Portal
The Portal is an exploration into discovery, including conversations with thought leaders. Mathematician and host Eric Weinstein, managing director of Thiel Capital, brings his expertise and a diverse array of guests for a wide range of discussions, including science, culture, business, and capitalism.
Comedy
Rule of Three
Comedy writers Jason Hazeley and Joel Morris talk to people who make comedy about something funny that they love. Guests pick a TV show, a film, a book, an album or a comic that means something to them.
Shagged. Married. Annoyed.
Whether you're sh**ged, married, annoyed, or, all of the above, couple Chris and Rosie Ramsey, will get you laughing in this hilarious podcast. They chat about life, relationships, arguments, annoyances, parenting, growing up and everything in between.
Off Menu
Each episode, comedians James Acaster and Ed Gamble invite a well-known personality to their fictional restaurant to discuss their favourite meal. As one might expect, it's less about food and more about the comedy, as conversations inevitably stray off-topic.
The Political Party
Stand-up comedian, TV host and former political adviser Matt Forde presents this weekly celebration of politics and its personalities.
Society & Culture
TED Talks Daily
Fans of TED Talks videos will enjoy this audio version of their inspirational talks. Hear thought-provoking ideas on every subject imaginable – from artificial intelligence to zoology, and everything in between – given by the world's leading thinkers and doers.
The Joe Rogan Experience
This podcast is a long form conversation hosted by comedian Joe Rogan with friends and guests that have included comedians, actors, musicians, MMA fighters, authors, artists, and beyond.
Desert Island Discs
Listen to the back catalogue of one of the UK's most iconic radio programmes. Dating back to the 1960s, hear a wide variety of guests share the eight tracks, book and luxury they'd take to a desert island.
How to Fail with Elizabeth Day
Journalist Elizabeth Day is a brilliant interviewer who started this podcast after the breakdown of her marriage. Each episode she asks a well-known personality to share three failures from their lives and what they learnt from them.
Wellbeing
Happy Place
TV personality turned wellness guru Fearne Cotton interviews a range of guests who open up about their personal journeys with mental health and how they deal with the stresses of everyday life.
Bryony Gordon's Mad World
Telegraph journalist and mental health campaigner Bryony Gordon talks to different guests about how their mental health has been affected by events in their lives.
History & Science
Making Sense - Sam Harris
Join neuroscientist, philosopher, and best-selling author Sam Harris as he explores important and controversial questions about the human mind, society, and current events.
Dan Carlin's Hardcore History
Carlin’s work weaves historical information with deep questions and Twilight Zone-style twists to help illustrate the power and continuing relevance of the past. Drama, extremes, empathy and vivid examples of both the highs and lows of humanity dominate the narrative.
Sport & Travel
Quickly Kevin
A series in which 90s football aficionado Josh Widdicombe is joined by friends, and fellow 90s experts, co-host Chris Scull and ‘Director of Podcast’ Michael Marden, as the trio embark on a tour of niche football topics from 1990 to 1999.
Extremities
Why and how people live in earth's most isolated and extreme settlements. The first season is about Pitcairn Island, season 2 is about Svalbard, and season 3 is about Saint Helena.
New to podcasts? There are lots of ways you can enjoy listening to them, including from the following apps: Spotify, Acast, Pocket Casts, Castbox, Google Podcasts and iTunes.
What are your favourite podcasts? Share your favourites with us and our followers on Facebook and Twitter.