'Death: a podcast about love, grief and hope' (Newshub) is a new locally produced show, that tries to find some answers about how we can cope with grief, and how we can help others do the same. And the story's told by a man who's experienced incomprehensible loss himself. In 2011, Mark Longley's daughter Emily was murdered in England when she was 17 years old. This bewildering event, Mark's attempts to come to terms with it, and audio grabbed from home videos of the young Emily, give the show much of its emotional resonance and its driving force. But it's not just his story: he speaks to others who have lost loved ones in suicides, illnesses, accidents, and to old age.

Overthinkers unite in 'Adrift'. 'A Way With Words' explores interesting words and phrases. 'Brexitcast' gives you a behind-the-scenes view of Brexit. And 'Here Be Monsters' offers an anxiety-laden look into our fears.

Back in Ye Olden Days 'Here Be Monsters' is what map-makers are supposed to have written over unknown and unexplored parts of the world on their charts. It's also the name of an offbeat, arty show that describes itself as a podcast about the unknown. Producer Bethany Denton made 'Hypnosis of Hunger' after she found 2 old cassette tapes in a box in her basement- on them were recordings of childhood visits she made to a hypnotherapist to help with her disordered eating. In this powerful audio story she cuts between these old tapes and her own modern day musings. 'Hypnosis of Hunger' from 'Here Be Monsters' is produced by Bethany Denton and Jeff Emtman for KCRW, and the show is edited by Nick White.

Listener Janet emailed [email protected] about Brexitcast, a show she's got addicted to that features some top BBC journalists explaining what's going on with Brexit. As Janet writes "... it's very back-room. And surprisingly entertaining if not funny". We speak to the show's producer Dino Sofos and play clips from two episodes of 'Brexitcast' to give you a taster. 'Brexitcast' is presented by Laura Kuenssberg, Katya Adler, Adam Fleming and Chris Mason, produced by Dino Sofos (and engineered by NZer Edward Swift among others!) for BBC Radio 5 Live.

'A Way With Words' is a long-running US phone-in show that answers listener questions about the origins and use of interesting words and phrases. For example, when do clothes become laundry? Where does the saying 'high and dry' come from? And how on earth should you pronounce turmeric?! This miscellany of mangled words and unusual sayings is led by two writers, journalist Martha Barnette and lexicographer Grant Barrett, with word quiz guy John Chaneski often popping up to pose little language puzzles for you to solve.

In 'Adrift', serial overthinker Geoff Lloyd and co-host and confidante Annabel Port pick over their listeners' social dilemmas and stories about their failed interactions with other human beings. The two hosts have an easy rapport and some of the deeply uncomfortable (and often minutely detailed!) stories of social awkwardness they share will have you simultaneously cringeing, and laughing out loud.

The podcast poet: 'Have You Heard George's Podcast?' aims for social change. 'Backlisted' brings new life to old books. 'Conversations With People Who Hate Me' introduces online haters to their targets. Finally, 'Words To That Effect' looks at how big ideas enter the popular imagination through books and film.

'Words To That Effect' looks at how some big ideas enter the popular imagination through books and film. Zombies, overpopulation, steampunk and imaginary countries are just some of the topics covered by the Irish writer and researcher Conor Reid and we share an excerpt from an episode called 'Dinosaurs: Palaeontology To Pyjamas'.

In 'Conversations With People Who Hate Me' the actor and activist Dylan Marron speaks directly to the people making hateful comments about him (and others) online. Four years ago Colleen tweeted "I'm not sure I hate any celebrity the way I hate Amanda Palmer". So of course Dylan engineers a conversation between Colleen and Amanda, a popular musician and writer who you might know from her band The Dresden Dolls! Episode 27 of 'Conversations with People Who Hate Me' is called 'I Hate Amanda Palmer' and is created and hosted by Dylan Marron for Night Vale Presents.

'Backlisted' takes neglected books and gives them new life for the modern reader. It's a bit like a clever book club where everyone does all the reading! The show's hosted by Andy Miller and John Mitchinson (who spent lots of time here in New Zealand growing up). We speak to John about how the podcast's getting people to buy more books, and play an extract from the episode about Angus Wilson's novel 'Hemlock and After', featuring guest Dickon Edwards.