If you use Android Auto to navigate or control your in-car media, you'll know it's an incredibly useful app. But if that's all you use the software for, you're missing out on a ton of functionality. Hundreds of apps are Android Auto-compatible. While these apps don't necessarily do anything different on your car's screen than they do on your phone, using the car-enabled version is significantly less distracting. These apps will also make your life significantly easier. You don't need to do anything special to use these apps on Android Auto. Just download them onto your phone and connect.
I'm big on rituals for every holiday, and Valentine's Day is no exception. Every year in my mid-twenties, I watched Casablanca in the theaters with my sister. After turning thirty, I read bell hook's All About Love, and have committed every February to a similarly-themed read. My latest tradition: sharing a playlist of lovey-dovey podcasts. I feel like I'm back in middle school, only now I'm passing out pods instead of candy and cards. Whatever you're looking for this V-Day, I hope you find a pod that warms your heart. And if you like what you hear, subscribe to NPR's Pod Club newsletter!
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.
The calendars have been flipped for a few days now, but before we dive headlong into the 2026 sports media scene, your semiloyal scribe (that's me) wanted to jot down a few national and local people, places, and things that I enjoyed or appreciated from the past year on this beat. Twenty-six of them, in fact ... · NBC Sports Boston's "Quick Slants," especially Tom E. Curran's good-natured "Irrelevant Questions" segments with Patriots players. · Phil Perry's knack for good-naturedly shutting down Felger-generated Patriots hot takes with facts and insight. · Lou Merloni's #walkthedog social media clips that never fail to offer clear-eyed assessments of the state of the Red Sox.
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.
More like I'm playing a shell game where all three cups are empty. Chasing job opportunities that ghost me. Pivoting to trends that die in three months. Staring at my bank account, wondering what "stable" even means anymore. Turns out I'm not alone. At all. I started scrolling Reddit at 2 a.m., looking for proof I wasn't the only one spiraling. Spoiler: I found an entire internet of people posting variations of "I'm so burned out" while reading other people's "I'm so burned out" posts.
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.
