OUR PICK OF THE WEEK’S PODS
LEGACY... MARGARET THATCHER
The Legacy podcast, from Wondery and Goalhanger, does a great job at illuminating political figures.
Hosted by Afua
Hirsch and Peter Frankopan, the show explores the lives of extraordinary men and women and investigates whether they have the reputation that they deserve.
The previous episode was all about Thatcher winning a landslide victory against Labour’s Michael Foot, but in this third episode, the hosts move the story along and get into her undying and deep-seated hatred of the unions – she saw them as a means to restrict the scope of what a government can actually do and it drove a showdown that would define a large part of her reign – the 1980s miners’ strike.
Legacy is engaging, informative, and insightful thanks to the nuanced and thoughtful analysis of both Hirsch and Frankopan.
EVERYTHING TO PLAY FOR
Do you ever think about the drama of sport and what is really behind some of the most iconic sporting moments?
Everything To Play For from Wondery and Crowd Network, hosted by Countdown and BBC Radio 5 Live host Colin Murray and comedian, actor and radio host Elis James, is a three-part series which takes listeners behind the scenes of the greatest rivalries, the bravest underdogs and the most astonishing comebacks.
The first figure to come under the microscope is Everton and Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney. It’s worth going back to listen to episodes one and two, which charted the rise of an 18-year-old Rooney from initial promise to an electrifying tournament debut for England. This third episode continues to explore the career of an outstanding footballer 20 years on.
If you enjoy learning how sporting legends achieved their status, Everything To Play For is a short and sweet podcast series to tuck into.
SPORT’S STRANGEST CRIMES: A FRENCH FOOTBALL SCANDAL
This 5 Live podcast, hosted by awardwinning comedian Maisie Adam, pokes into the shadowy corners of the sporting world. The new eight-part series, available now on BBC Sounds, uses exclusive access to tell the gripping story of two teammates on Paris Saint-germain’s women’s team, who become enemies after a terrible assault that impacted the club and left lives, careers and reputations in ruins.
Maisie says: “As a big football fan myself, this was huge news that sent shockwaves through the industry, and I have been following it ever since. I have really enjoyed hosting the podcast and have learnt so much more that I didn’t know about the case.
“It’s an extraordinary story of jealousy, deception and violence that still continues to grip the French public in 2024. As the series develops, we hear many fascinating twists and turns and I can’t wait for listeners to come along with me and discover it for themselves.”