I thought I’d leave Friday Treat well alone this week while we all adjust to sweating through the days and instead give you some recommendations for your leisure time. I love a podcast and listen almost daily to something or other. I never listen to anything beauty related because it’s what I’m doing all day but instead try to switch it up with comedy, commentary and history. So, in no particular order, here are a few of my favourite podcasts (you will need a sense of humour!):
Blocked & Reported
Hosted by journalists, Jesse Singal and Katie Herzog, this is word play and verbal dexterity at its very best. I also have a paid Substack subscription with this podcast because I want the premium content as soon as I can. It took me a while to understand the humour of their content because they can take it to the edge sometimes – Jesse and Katie winkle into hot potatoes such as trans issues, American politics and on-line trolling. In terms of hosting, it’s a match made in heaven, especially as the pair rarely meet in real life. HERE
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Help, I Sexted My Boss
Silliness and more silliness that makes me laugh out loud sometimes with this podcast hosted by etiquette expert, William Hansen and DJ, Jordan North. Occasionally, they get around to answering some of the modern dilemma questions they’re sent but with the help of a cocktail or two they’re very easily side-tracked – mostly by Jordan – and it’s extremely funny. Also, some of the dilemmas are jaw-dropping as the title might suggest. HERE
Red Handed
This female founded crime podcast is hosted by Suruthi Bala and Hannah Maguire. They do an enormous amount of research for each episode which is what marks it out as one of the very best of its genre. It’s won several awards, and rightly so. They cover everything from awful murders to topical subjects such as theories around how Malaysian flight MH370 went missing and the undercover police scandal. It’s smart and the storytelling is well rounded. HERE
Smosh Reads Reddit Stories
Host Shayne Topp is an American actor and comedian who invites various friends to trawl through the most eye-opening Reddit stories. I’m new to this and can’t get enough – it’s relaxed in style, really quite funny and if you ever want a peek into the most unimaginably complicated lives, searing entitlement and general attitude derangery, you’ll love it. It’s a close to having a hilarious gossip with friends as you’ll get. HERE
We Can Be Weirdos
Dan Schreiber describes himself as a professional fact hunter (he started out as a QI Elf) and is so genuinely open to and interested in alternative beliefs that his enthusiasm carries through each episode. A visit to The Haunted Antiques Paranormal Research Centre, for example, sits as happily alongside episodes with comedians Tony Hawks and Josh Widdicome as it does educating us about psychic fingerprinting and crab competitions. HERE
SUBSTACK
Now, as I’m still quite new to Substack, I’m still discovering exciting writing. My own Substack {HERE) is small bites of beauty every day but it’s starting to cover other topics as well – if I have a thought that pans out to a feature, Substack is where I take it. My preference for reading is for shorter form content rather than very long and I avoid politics, religion, the election or anything that’s subversive. I just want to have a nice time here! So, my favourites so far are:
The Midlife Beauty Edit
This is written by journalist (and there are a lot of journalists on Substack) Jennie Baden Howard and it’s a mix of beauty, fashion and wellness, formatted to be relatable, achievable and digestible. It’s got the easy, relaxed style of someone who very much knows what they’re talking about and her experience shows. I like her take on wearing a white t-shirt, red lipstick and make up bag updates. The Midlife Beauty Edit feels spontaneous and current. HERE
A Model Recommends
Anyone who knows Ruth Crilly from You Tube, Instagram and blogging will know that she is a natural writer whose skill is in quirky observation across beauty, fashion and family. She is new to Substack but has made a great start with her opening post, ‘Why I’ll Never Do Substack’. Definitely one to watch and grow with. HERE
Broad
This is written by Guardian journalist and columnist Polly Vernon and covers a huge variety of topics which is what is so fresh about it. Topics I’ve enjoyed include asking why men are taking over pilates which turned out to be so timely just as a little group of men have worked their way to the front row of my yoga class and I’ve wondered about the entitlement of that – how they assume that’s their natural place in the class. Don’t start me. Writers like Polly, who can tap into the zeitgeist so easily and well are always a pleasure to read. HERE
And as a quick reminder, my Substack (ad free) is HERE.
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