Look, I know it’s important. I know that whoever wins will have a disproportionate (and probably pretty awful) impact on the rest of us on this planet.
But god, it really does go on and on.
And even when it’s over, the conversations will turn into tedious post-election analysis.
So if you, too, are desperate to escape the relentless US political discourse, I have a list of listening recommendations for you. It’s an eclectic mix so there’s bound to be something here you fall in love with.
Word of Mouth
Word of Mouth from BBC Radio 4 describes itself as a “Series exploring the world of words and the ways in which we use them”. Host Michael Rosen leads genial and fascinating conversations about the words we use, without you feeling like you’re in a linguistics lecture.
I particularly enjoyed the episode, “The words we use about getting older and why they matter”.
Daily Tips That May or May Not Help You with Arielle and Ned
Daily Tips That May or May Not Help You with Arielle and Ned pretty much does what it says on the tin. Episodes are only a couple of minutes long but, within them, you might just find your next best life hack from Arielle Nissenblatt and Ned Donovan.
The Junkees
The Junkees, with Dave O’Neil and Kitty Flanagan, came to my attention because I love the Netflix show Fisk, and wanted more Kitty Flanagan in my life. It’s a simple premise. They both love junk food, so they do taste tests of various sweet and salty snacks on the podcast.
It shouldn’t work, really – we can’t see or taste the food ourselves – but somehow it does. It’s funny, easy listening and a nice way to wind down.
No Such Thing As A Fish
More comedy, this time No Such Thing As A Fish, which grew out of the wildly popular TV show QI. In the show, the hosts pick a quite interesting fact they’ve learned this week and talk about it with an almost alarming degree of intelligence and wit.
Carrie Jade Does Not Exist
Hosted by Sue Perkins and Katherine Denkinson, Carrie Jade Does Not Exist “is the story of how one woman, who took on over six different identities, infiltrated the lives of vulnerable people, and lied her way into gaining their trust”.
It’s an interesting listen, and deeply disturbing how this woman appears to have reinvented herself so many times and pulled the same tricks again and again on unsuspecting people.
How Did We Get Here?
How Did We Get Here? is described in the blurb like this:
A unique insight into people’s most vulnerable emotions, this brand-new podcast from Somethin’ Else gives listeners access to real life conversations with a clinical psychologist on family and parenting issues.
Presented by one of the UK’s top TV hosts, Claudia Winkleman and her good friend, clinical psychologist Professor Tanya Byron, the sessions recorded offer deep insight into every day issues with practical advice on resolutions.
And this is no surface-level stuff. Tanya Byron helps guests to really delve deeply into their experiences and emotions and provides incredible insight. There hasn’t been an episode for a while, but the archive is there for everyone to listen and learn.