#podcasts

#podcasts

Trade organization RAJAR, which measures UK radio usage, has released its Q4 2025 data. The headline takeaway tells us that 50 million adults (86% of the adults UK population) listens to the radio at least weekly. That usage adds up to just over one billion listening hours. On a per-listener basis, the average person hears 20-30 hours of live radio per week. These numbers do not necessarily indicate turning on an analog radio. Forty-four million 15+ UK'ers use a digitally enabled platform each week.

On the face of it, the RSPB picking Ned Stark as the host of the new series of their podcast seems odd. But it turns out he's been a birder since childhood, who crams in birdwatching between acting gigs. He's warm and honest in his first podcast, chatting to fellow ornithology lover Elbow's Guy Garvey about spotting different species while working abroad, recognising bird song and the meditative joy of watching the feathered creatures. Alexi Duggins Widely available, episodes fortnightly

Listen, I don't know about you, but I'm generally not so big on listening. I tend to be more of a "words in front of my eyes" kind of guy when it comes to taking in information (which, as I've come to learn, also means I'm "an old person" by modern-day standards-hey, I'm okay with that). Sometimes, though, there's something to be said for sitting back and enjoying an aural experience-or, as the cool kids call it these days, a podcast.

This was the case in the most recent episode, when Sara revealed a tidbit that Erin sounded somewhat taken aback by: Twenty years ago, Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber set Sara up with George Clooney, and it went terribly. "I just remember being like offended that they would set me up with him 'cause he felt so old at the time," Sara said, adding that she was 24 at the time (she is 44 now), which would have made George 44.

Amazon Music Unlimited is offering new users three free months of music, podcasts, and audiobooks, but the limited-time offer ends today. Upgraded from the traditional one-month trial, the three free months of Amazon Music Unlimited offers users unlimited access to 100 million songs, podcasts, and audiobooks - all ad-free and in high-definition. Additionally, over seven million songs, including exclusive remastered albums, are available in Ultra HD, delivering more than 10 times the bitrate of standard-definition streaming services.

I stumbled across this podcast a few weeks ago and romped through the first season in short order. My Dad died recently, and I often feel sad. Ill-advised has helped me feel lighter. I have laughed out loud at both the questions and Bill's dryly-delivered answers. I love the banned word portion (such as pivot and like, when used as fillers in sentences), while the book suggestions at the end are a perfect closer. Julie Hannaford, 59, librarian, Toronto, Canada

Podcasts have devastated my relationship to music. Confirmation of that sad fact came earlier this month in the form of my Spotify "Wrapped," the streaming service's personalized report of what I listened to this year, including a playlist of my top songs. In the past, this annual playlist supplied a loop of sonic pleasure, propelling me through workouts, dinner preps, and hours-long commutes. This year, I haven't even opened it.

Threads already launched another podcast-oriented feature in recent months the ability to link to a show on a profile and have it open in Apple Podcasts, iHeart or Spotify and the company hopes that luring podcasters could foster community around their shows. If podcasters engage with the service, it could make Threads more compelling to listeners and viewers as a place to gather virtually to discuss episodes, said Connor Hayes, head of Threads.

We would like to hear about your favourite new podcast you've been listening to in 2025 and why. Let us know and we'll run a selection of your recommendations. Tell us your favourite using the form below. Share your favourite You can tell us your favourite podcast of the year using this form.

When Disney announced a TV show all about Cassian Andor from I remember barely caring at all. "Cool, I guess that dude from gets a show, too." Then I watched Season 1 in 2022 and was completely enthralled by its depiction of rebellion and fascism. This year's season two was even better, featuring more moments than I can count that made me sit up in my chair, hold my breath, and wait for the next scene or piece of dialogue

Note, as we discuss at the very end of this, we're wondering when/if you think we should record next week. We could do it on Wednesday, Friday, or not at all. Let us know! Also, here's that graphic Nicole mentioned, which shows that we're firing cancer researchers and VA nurses and replacing them with ICE goons. Listen on Spotify (transcripts available) Listen on Apple (transcripts available)

Ivan Yates says TDs declaring conflicts of interest before podcasts would be a 'mood killer' Podcasts must be included in planned new broadcasting regulations which are designed to cover radio and television, according to the chair of the Oireachtas Media Committee. Alan Kelly said there is an "imbalance" in the current proposals which should be "relooked at" in light of controversy around Ivan Yates who was training Fianna Fáil's presidential candidate, Jim Gavin, while also co-hosting the Paths to Power podcast.

Tencent's profit jumping 19% on AI gains, and 58% of UK households holding fewer than three streaming services. ITV is rewriting the rules of broadcast advertising with Live Addressable +, unveiled at its Palooza event. For the first time, advertisers can target audiences on ITV's linear TV channels with precision. And while ITV sharpens its targeting game, it's also stepping into the social spotlight by joining TikTok's Pulse Premiere, giving brands prime placement alongside trending content.

Nearly a third of all Americans listen to or watch podcasts every week but far more often than not, it's men's voices that they're hearing. According to a new study from researchers at the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, podcast hosts skew heavily male, and so do their guests. The researchers dug into data from over 600 of the most popular podcasts of 2024, using data from Spotify. They found that within the top 100, nearly two-thirds were hosted by men and nearly three-quarters of all guests were male, too.

Halloween is the rare moment when we collectively embrace the morbid, the mysterious, and the delightfully spooky. You don't have to love the macabre to get into the spirit sometimes, a bowl of candy corn and a good podcast will do the trick. We've gone digging through the podcast archives and have a goodie bag of episodes that cover all your seasonal needs: deep dives into history, thoughtful analysis of horror films, and a practical guide to making the ultimate cozy fall soup.

"The goal is to create a robust international forum that supports the sustainable development of podcast markets worldwide, ensuring a fair, diverse, and independent podcast and audio ecosystem." - IPA

Tickets go on sale at 10 am unless otherwise noted. MUSIC Alan Doyle Aladdin Theater (May 16, 2026) On sale at noon Alice Phoebe Lou - Oblivion Tour Aladdin Theater (Apr 27, 2026) Atmosphere: Winter Carnival Tour Roseland Theater (Feb 16, 2026) Berner Hawthorne Theatre (Feb 19, 2026) Colony House - The 77 Tour Aladdin Theater (Mar 18, 2026) Del Water Gap - Chasing the Chimera World Tour Crystal Ballroom (Feb 11, 2026)

It's surreal to be part of the NBA's return to NBC, a network that defined basketball for an entire generation,

If we listen to many mainstream climate stories, then time has run out. Right? This thoughtful series hosted by Laurie Laybourn explores what happens now that we are on track for the world's temperature to rise by more than 1.5C. Its first episode is tough but crucial listening, full of talk about how scientists have underestimated the risks, listing potential outcomes including the UK being unable to grow food. It's time to draw up new plans to cope. Alexi Duggins Widely available, episodes weekly

This week, I've been reading about Intel factories and Nobel Prize winners and ATM thieves, watching this pop-punk "Defying Gravity" cover on repeat, reliving my teenage music taste now that The Format is back, catching up on the new Critical Role campaign, taking all my calls with the delightful Pop Phone handset, watching more Love Is Blind than I'm proud of, sending this deep dive on RSS readers to anyone who hasn't blocked me,

Now that sketch did have a glaring omission: audio. Time to take another look and add audio into the mix. Audio is one of the most overlooked channels in data-driven marketing. Sure, it has measurement issues and can't compete with the last-click attribution "goalhangers", taking all the glory and reward for handy conversion tap-in (Google, Meta, Amazon et al). But that will be fixed, as we build AI powered attribution.

People hunt for shortcuts - some podcast episode that dials in confidence and charisma overnight. Spoiler: not happening. What actually works are the small, compounding habits any of us can pick up if we pause long enough to listen and apply. I've made rent hustling side projects, missed on others, and learned the same lesson every time: leadership doesn't come as inspiration; it comes as repetition.

He said the "whole concept of brand safety" is a "problem." "That's just subjective," he said onstage in conversation with measurement giant Nielsen. "You look at somebody and you look at their audience and you say they're not necessarily safe. What does that mean? There was a time a couple of years ago they were saying Judy Blume books weren't safe - Judy Blume!