This week, Ammar Kalia chooses five of the best niche podcasts, from a deep dive into the written works of Jane Austen to a podcast about the humble pen itself Beach Too Sandy, Water Too Wet There is no better way to plumb the depths of obscurity than to go searching for negative reviews of strange products and places online. This long-running podcast from siblings Alex and Christine Schiefer pays hilarious tribute to the niche world of one-star reviews, providing dramatic readings of everything from screeds against suburban branches of Hooters restaurants in the US to dud strands of weed, caves, matchmaking services, and wedding chapels. It is as much an exploration into the psyche of the people who feel compelled to leave reviews as it is an unearthing of the unusual places and things they experience. Centuries of Sound Since sound recording began in the 19th century, sonic traces of our history have ranged from changing styles of music to recorded speeches, radio broadcasts and the simple bustle of background noise. British sound artist James Errington has been compiling this audio archive since starting his podcast in 2017, making immersive sound mixes of music, chatter and atmosphere for each year from the 1850s onwards. While discursive interludes provide context for the mixes, the audio itself is an engrossing guide, placing listeners directly back in the time of the music and sound’s making. The Pen Addict We might spend most of our lives glued to screens and tapping at keyboards, but there is still a satisfying pleasure in putting pen to paper and scratching away. At least, that’s the premise for this stationery-themed podcast, hosted by aficionados Brad Dowdy and Myke Hurley. The pair guide listeners through the latest developments in fountain pen technology, paper stock and ballpoint design in each episode. While it might sound yawn-inducing, the show’s attention to detail is strangely fascinating; from the rarefied world of collectors to what your handwriting says about you, there’s more to our writing implements than meets the eye. The Thing About Austen A historical podcast with an ingenious route into its 18th- and 19th-century periods of study, this series from literary academics Zan Cammack and Diane Neu examines the world that surrounded the novels written by Jane Austen (pictured above). Much more than just an exploration of genteel society and marriage comedies, Cammack and Neu’s wide-ranging and gleefully nerdy discussions drill down into the smallest details from Austen’s popular texts, from Sense and Sensibility’s toothpick cases to Northanger Abbey’s muslin. By raking through Austen’s objects, Cammack and Neu discover the writer’s ingenuity and what her characters’ possessions ultimately reveal about their time and place. The Somm TV Podcast There are barrel-loads of wine podcasts, from the sommelier-led I’ll Drink to That! to celebrity interview series A Glass With … and the novice-friendly Wine for Normal People. Wine-themed streaming service Somm TV’s podcast is the best option for an all-round series on the drink, though, featuring deep dives into geographical varieties and best buys for experienced quaffers, as well as introductions on tasting notes and detours into the history of wine: from the first wines of Armenia to the favourite tipples of US presidents. Start with their Top Wines of 2022 episode to pick a quality tipple for your next gathering. Why not try … The history of women’s underwear is laid bare in Hello Girls.
The death of a gay police officer during the Troubles sends ripples through Northern Ireland’s LGBT community in Blood on The Dance Floor. The horrors of the 2011 Fukushima nuclear plant disaster are retold in a seven-part BBC drama, Fukushima, narrated by Romola Garai. |