What are the best non-US English-language podcasts?
May 17, 2021 6:23 PM Subscribe
What are some good podcasts being made in English outside of the US? I’m especially interested in ones that aren’t strictly interview-based and are not hosted by comedians.
Radio National - National being Australia has some pretty good podcasts. Patient Zero is a good one.
posted by freethefeet at 8:33 PM on May 17, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by freethefeet at 8:33 PM on May 17, 2021 [1 favorite]
The Mindfield is another good Radio National one about ethics/philosophy (with a bit of assumed classical philosophy knowledgeable/permissiveness of a bit of jargon)
posted by hotcoroner at 8:41 PM on May 17, 2021
posted by hotcoroner at 8:41 PM on May 17, 2021
Ok I'm passing twitter links because that seems to be these accounts' activity hubs, so:
Queer from the Straits is a relatively new one from the anglophone southeast asia, though mainly Malaysia/Singapore for now as the hosts are based there (and for obvious reasons the hosts are heavily pseudonymous). It is interview format, but otoh it's a perspective we seldom get to highlight which is queer history and lives from the region.
HERstory Southeast Asia is Philippines-based and is a current project to highlight historical women figures from the region. They are also great in linking up similar projects from the global south.
New Naratif is actually a subscription-based digital publication (and they're currently looking for support) but they do have podcasts and while based in Singapore, have been really distinguishing themselves in Southeast Asian coverage, it's a real one-stop magazine for the region, imo.
posted by cendawanita at 10:27 PM on May 17, 2021 [2 favorites]
Queer from the Straits is a relatively new one from the anglophone southeast asia, though mainly Malaysia/Singapore for now as the hosts are based there (and for obvious reasons the hosts are heavily pseudonymous). It is interview format, but otoh it's a perspective we seldom get to highlight which is queer history and lives from the region.
HERstory Southeast Asia is Philippines-based and is a current project to highlight historical women figures from the region. They are also great in linking up similar projects from the global south.
New Naratif is actually a subscription-based digital publication (and they're currently looking for support) but they do have podcasts and while based in Singapore, have been really distinguishing themselves in Southeast Asian coverage, it's a real one-stop magazine for the region, imo.
posted by cendawanita at 10:27 PM on May 17, 2021 [2 favorites]
The Shadows is a six part fictional story about a romantic relationship from CBC (Canada). Very good.
posted by catquas at 7:09 AM on May 18, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by catquas at 7:09 AM on May 18, 2021 [1 favorite]
I like In Our Time from the BBC. Each episode has a historical topic and two or three experts on that topic — usually university professors — discuss it along with the host. It’s a much smarter version of the “wisecrackers explain a Wikipedia page to you” genre of podcast.
posted by chrchr at 7:43 AM on May 18, 2021 [6 favorites]
posted by chrchr at 7:43 AM on May 18, 2021 [6 favorites]
Seconding In Our Time - the guests are all scholars in the relevant field, and often at least one is a specialist on the specific topic (engaged in current research).
The BBC has a huge catalogue of podcasts, as does ABC and CBC (Australia and Canada respectively). All three radio/broadcasting corporations have a variety of documentaries and discussion programs, as well as interview-based podcasts. These countries are rich, like the US, but they are still quite different culturally.
But are there particular topics that you are interested in - History? Current Events? Science? Economics? Are you especially interested in English-language podcasts from middle and lower income countries as opposed to rich countries?
posted by jb at 8:06 AM on May 18, 2021 [3 favorites]
The BBC has a huge catalogue of podcasts, as does ABC and CBC (Australia and Canada respectively). All three radio/broadcasting corporations have a variety of documentaries and discussion programs, as well as interview-based podcasts. These countries are rich, like the US, but they are still quite different culturally.
But are there particular topics that you are interested in - History? Current Events? Science? Economics? Are you especially interested in English-language podcasts from middle and lower income countries as opposed to rich countries?
posted by jb at 8:06 AM on May 18, 2021 [3 favorites]
Came here to say what jb said - there are some great options from these pubic radio stations. CBC Ideas for example is one of the few programs that I have been listening to for decades. Not every show is amazing, but generally feature smart people talking passionatly about their thing, and manage to walk the line between accessible and dumb.
It's the only show I will intentionally listen to a subject I otherwise have no other interest in, much like how I approach the New Yorker. Ideas doesn't have the budget In Our Time has, but it isn't nearly as stuffy. One of my favorite recent Idea series was just rounding up a bunch of STEM grad students and simply letting them have at it for a full hour of radio.
posted by zenon at 2:12 PM on May 18, 2021
It's the only show I will intentionally listen to a subject I otherwise have no other interest in, much like how I approach the New Yorker. Ideas doesn't have the budget In Our Time has, but it isn't nearly as stuffy. One of my favorite recent Idea series was just rounding up a bunch of STEM grad students and simply letting them have at it for a full hour of radio.
posted by zenon at 2:12 PM on May 18, 2021
If you like true crime, I'd recommend Where Is George Gibney (Irish), The Nobody Zone (Irish/UK), and The Teacher's Pet (Australian).
posted by snusmumrik at 7:05 AM on May 21, 2021
posted by snusmumrik at 7:05 AM on May 21, 2021
« Older Hey Vermont, What'd I miss? Fully vaxxed and... | Safe and healthy online communities for *tween*... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
It's legit scary at times though, and I do not recommend listening to it before going to bed or, say, in during a camping trip. You would probably die.
Really well acted/written though. Listen to it with the lights on and you will enjoy it a lot.
posted by tiamat at 6:48 PM on May 17, 2021 [1 favorite]