Have a giggle, find inspiration or feel part of a captivating conversation…
If you’re always on the go (quite possible?), podcasts can be a fantastic way to factor in some ‘me-time’ as part of your day. We love that you can have a giggle, find inspiration or feel part of a captivating conversation – all whilst doing the dishes! Best of all, most are free and easy to access. There’s so many reasons to hop on the podcast trend.
From gripping true crime episodes to laugh out loud comedy shows, there are more podcasts than ever before. With so many to choose from it can be hard to know where to begin! That’s why we’ve compiled this short list to get you started, keeping carers’ interests in mind. Take a look at some of our favourites below.
Happy listening!
1. Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee
We had to add this one to the list. It comes highly recommended as the number one health podcast in the UK and Europe. Each episode alternates from a detailed and lengthy discussion between Dr Chatterjee and experts in health, to an inspirational bitesize clip - perfect if you’ve just got 10 minutes to spare that day.
You’ll hear stories, advice and fantastic life-hacks from leading health care professionals and personalities, to help you become healthier and happier. We like that there’s no pressure here to overhaul your life, you can just pick up some simple tips that work for you, and fit around a busy schedule! To start, perhaps try this special episode (starts about 6 minutes in) with a range of speakers sharing useful tips to help us look after our mental health.
Listen here or in your favourite podcast app.
2. No Such Thing as a Fish with Dan, James, Anna and Andy (the makers of QI).
I bet you didn’t know African wild dogs vote on whether to go hunting or not by sneezing? Well thanks to the writers of the BBC show QI (aka the QI Elves) you’ll learn about these wonderful and bizarre facts each week. There are a lot of episodes to catch up on but don’t throw in the towel just yet, the great thing about this podcast is you can join in at any point because every episode is different to the last. This podcast isn’t specifically for carers (obviously), however it’s funny, light-hearted and has the completely random entertainment value we all need sometimes to escape from the daily grind. After listening to this you’re sure to add a little spice to your Zoom calls!
Listen here or in your favourite podcast app.
3. Who Cares Wins with Kyro Brooks and James Townsend
Ok, so you knew this one was coming right? Kyro and James are the brains behind Mobilise, and Who Cares Wins was the beginning of their journey. Community is at the heart of what they do, building a space where carers can come together and support each other. This feeling of community is reflected in the podcast as you feel part of the conversation. These down to earth presenters tackle the struggles carers face and yet still manage to make us smile. They share incredible stories, wisdom and experience of people who have been caring for a loved one.
Listen here or in your favourite podcast app.
4. Happy Place with Fearne Cotton
Phillip Schofield, Sam Smith and Jessica Ennis-Hill, Fearne hosts fantastic interviews with just about everyone. These household names openly discuss love, loss and life. Fearne brilliantly draws out intimate and insightful details in the conversation leaving us hanging off every word, ultimately finding out what happiness means to others. We recommend listening to an episode whilst having a soak in the bath or on that walk you keep meaning to take. The perfect remedy if you’re feeling overwhelmed and want to adjust your outlook.
Listen here or in your favourite podcast app.
5. Griefcast with Cariad Lloyd
Described on her website as “a podcast that examines the human experience of grief and death - but with comedians, so it’s cheerier than it sounds.” And that’s exactly what you get.
Cariad lost her dad to cancer when she was just fifteen, and it took her many years to express what she had gone through. She created this podcast as a way to talk to others about their personal experience of grief. These raw conversations reflect on the complex feelings that we have with death, which is beautifully balanced with a frank sense of humour throughout. The podcasts ultimately reminds us we all have our own unique journey with our loved ones and that we’re not alone.
Listen here or in your favourite podcast app.
We’ve touched on a few fantastic podcasts here to help you get a sense of what’s available and how they may help you in your caring role.
This article was created in partnership with Mobilise.