Laura Grimshaw and Chris Pearson take a look back at some of the Podcast Radio Hour highlights and best guests of 2021. Featuring:
Nicola Coughlan and Camilla Whitehill from Whistle Through The Shamrocks
Pandora Sykes from Pieces of Britney
Repeat Beat Poet from Lunar Poetry Podcast
Danny Robins from The Battersea Poltergeist and Uncanny
Karen Rice from Stolen Goodbyes
Justin Rowlatt - the BBC's Environment Editor and presenter of A Pyrotechnic History of Humanity
Caro Mincks from Seen and Not Heard
Nicky Campbell from One of the Family
Benbrick from Have You Heard George's Podcast?
Tom Price from My Mate Bought A Toaster And guest presenters Jessica Fostekew, Jon Holmes, Scott Bryan, Shivani Dave, Salena Godden, Isy Suttie, Greg Cochrane and Ella Watts.

Best of Podcast Radio Hour 2021

Presenters recommend their favourite podcasts and speak to the people who make them.

Society & Culture

Personal Journals

History

Philosophy

Places & Travel

It's  BBC Radio 4 Extra's final Podcast Radio Hour so Laura Grimshaw, Amanda Litherland and Chris Pearson look back at some of the best co-hosts, podcasts and interview guests.  With contributions from regular co-hosts Scott Bryan, Jon Holmes, Isy Suttie, Jessica Fostekew, Shivani Dave, Ella Watts, Ellie Gibson, Greg Cochrane, Imriel Morgan, Jake Yapp, Roshan Roberts, Chrystal Genesis and Salena Godden. Plus archive interviews with Nicola Coughlan and Camilla Whitehill, Alan Cumming, Suzannah Lipscomb, Steve Coogan, Lemn Sissay, Susannah Constantine, David Dimbleby and Neil Gaiman - and many more.

The Last Podcast Radio Hour

Wes Butters and his Producer, Kerry present a few of the best podcasts on fungi. Dr. Gordon Walker talks about the role of social media in sharing high quality information about fungi, Dr. Merlin Sheldrake tells us about the importance of amateurs in the field of Mycology - and the Podcast Producer, Katharine Kerr reveals the things that she learned about "zombie-ants" whilst creating a podcast in association with The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
 
Along the way, we'll hear clips from podcasts including... Cultures For Health
The Mushroom Revival podcast
Fascinated By Fungi
StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson
Unherd
The Bioneers: Revolution From The Heart Of Nature
The Mushroom Hour
Unearthed: Mysteries From An Unseen World

Fascinating Podcasts about Fungi

Chris Pearson and Ella Watts recommend apocalypse audio fiction.  Jenny Turner Hall talks Marvel's Wastelanders: Wolverine, and discusses the pressures of working on a Marvel property, as well as the stakes that come from writing stories starring young characters. Plus Kc Wayland discusses We're Alive: Descendants - the latest iteration in the We're Alive universe, which brings to a close a story that began in 2009. We'll hear how Kc's military background influenced writing the show, and ask how has the podcast audio fiction landscape changed in the last thirteen years. And we'll recommend: - The Last Station
- This American Wasteland
- No Place but the Water
- The Program Audio Series
- Hello From The Hallowoods
- Out of the Ashes
- Spaceships
- The Liminal Lands

End of the World Audio Drama

Chris Pearson and Scott Bryan suggest new listening for October.  Tubsey and Hyder, Bafta winners, join us to talk about their first steps into podcasting. Why did they want to start "The World According to Tubsey and Hyder" - and what do they love about working with each other? Plus we'll hear new conversation, documentary, and drama podcasts, including clips from: Carolina Herrera presents Walk Tall
Restless Natives
Fear Of Missing Out
Crosshairs
The Tower
Weight of Sand
Beneath Our Feet

New listening for October

Chris Pearson and Chrystal Genesis with podcasts for young ears.
 
Molly Bloom discusses the debate show Smash Boom Best, and tells us why it's important to introduce children to debating at an early age. And Rebecca Sheir talks about her global storytelling podcast Circle Round, which introduces children to stories from around the world. Plus we'll hear clips from But Why?
Kids Law
Million Bazillion
CBeebies Radio Podcast
The Story Seeds Podcast

Best of Podcast Radio Hour 2021

Download our free app to listen on your phone