Your New Favourite TV Podcasts

Ideal entertainment for all kinds of daily scenarios – from working to travelling, doing chores or simply chilling out around the house – podcasts have become a pivotal part of our everyday routines, especially over the past couple of years. And oh has the medium grown in that time. Nowadays you can listen to podcasts on just about any topic, including cooking and food, sports and current events, history and science, crime and mysteries, religion and spirituality, even humour and the arts. And yes, movies and TV.

In the world of TV, podcasts have become a place to have a virtual ‘water cooler moment’, listening to what other people thought about that one amazing episode of your favourite show, or sharing your enjoyment of the twists and turns of a particular drama. A way to prolong the pleasures of watching, and to connect with other fans – even if from afar.

In the spirit of bringing viewers together over a shared appreciation of good television, we’ve scoured the globe for top-notch TV podcasts covering the genres we love and the shows we can’t get enough of. Get ready to hit ‘subscribe’.

HBO’s Succession Podcast

We start with the official podcast of the hottest show on TV right now. Succession follows an extremely wealthy and powerful family as they plot, scheme and undermine each other in the pursuit of control over their patriarch’s business empire. Official podcasts often run the risk of being bland, but this series’ success is down to its host, celebrated journalist Kara Swisher, who parallels each new episode with real-life events, and is joined by experts and analysts from around the world. It’s bold, it’s smart, and there’s no doubt the Logan clan would subscribe!

Telenovelas Con Dulce 

One woman’s passion for an entire genre leaps from the studio and into your ears, as charismatic host Dulce Valencia celebrates the art of the telenovela in this bilingual podcast, where she invites celebrity guests to discuss beloved episodes, characters, plot twists and moments from telenovelas past and present. Some episodes offer a beginner’s guide to the genre, as well as what and where to watch for the true newbie. However, most episodes are best enjoyed if you already have some knowledge of the shows up for discussion. Regardless, her dynamic guests and her clear love of the medium are infectious and make for interesting listening.

Fake Doctors, Real Friends

Ever looked at two best friends on TV and wondered if the actors who play them get on in real life? If you’re a fan of 2000s comedy show Scrubs, you’ll be pleased to know J.D. and Turk, aka actors Zac Braff and Donald Faison, are still the best of friends years on from their success. The pair started a podcast looking at each episode of the much-loved show, bringing in cast members, creatives and even a real doctor as guests. The chemistry between the two is irresistible, making the show a must-listen for newcomers and fans alike.

Obsessed With… Line of Duty

UK crime show Line of Duty became an international hit over the last few seasons, following the investigations of a police anti-corruption unit that roots out villains from within their own force. In this podcast, actor-comedians Lolly Adefope (Miracle Workers) and Brett Goldstein (Ted Lasso) analyse each episode, bringing in special guests to either share the love or spill some tea. It’s best watched either if you’ve already seen the latest episodes, or are catching up and want a companion piece. However, the humour and conjecture will keep you engrossed.

And Just Like That… The Writer’s Room 

Another ‘official’ pod, but one with an interesting perspective: that of the show’s writers. Sex and the City sequel And Just Like That… became one of the most talked-about TV shows at the turn of the year, and if you’re one of those people who can’t get enough behind-the-scenes chat, this podcast is for you, bringing in each episode’s writers to give the inside scoop and reflect on the worldwide reaction to their stories. It’s fascinating to see people reacting to the show’s success almost in real time, sharing, in the moment, their feelings and thoughts of what it means to be part of the cultural conversation.

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The Culture 

This award-winning podcast from Australia doesn’t just cover TV; its explorations on everything from The Real Housewives to Barry Jenkins’ The Underground Railroad make it a must for anyone seeking a thoughtful take on today’s pop culture giants. Hosted by journalist Osman Faruqi, who is joined by noted culture writers, this is the podcast to listen to if you want a compelling conversation that takes entertainment seriously.

Buffering The Vampire Slayer 

A favourite for cult fans worldwide, Buffy the Vampire Slayer changed the game for many when it ruled TV schedules during the late ‘90s and 2000s. But did you know it had a big influence on LGBTQ+ culture? Every two weeks, hosts Jenny Owen Youngs and Kristin Russo of Buffering the Vampire Slayer go through the show, one episode at a time, discussing the social and political issues that were present within the show’s narrative, as well as its influence on queer culture, while geeking out over their love of the Joss Whedon Universe. What’s more, the hosts (who are also professional musicians) create a song for the end of each episode! With Buffy now being revisited or discovered by millions on streaming platforms, it’s the perfect time to take a bite out of this fan favourite!

Trash Taste 

“The Worst Anime Podcast Has Arrived!” was the cheeky title of the first episode of Trash Taste, a podcast hosted by three Japan-based creators who discuss anime alongside Japanese culture and society. The title proved to be misleading, however, as the podcast has become a substantial hit since debuting in 2020. While the subjects do wander, the likeable trio tend to come back to anime, interviewing artists and discussing moments in the culture’s history. Available as audio or on YouTube, it’s a fine example of how a fandom can be as entertaining as the subject they’re discussing.

What A Cartoon!

If retro Saturday morning cartoons are more your thing, then What A Cartoon! is the place to go. While mostly American-focused, hosts Henry Gilbert and Bob Mackey examine a variety of genres and themes each week, from beloved episodes of Duck Tales or Garfield to more adult fare like South Park and Death Note – showing the broad range of TV animation, and the effect it can have on the hosts and their regular guests.

The Hawkins Report: A Stranger Things Podcast

Ahead of this summer’s return of Stranger Things for its fourth spooky season, tune in to The Hawkins Report, one of the more celebrated podcasts centred on the Netflix phenomenon. With an episode-by-episode review format, hosts Jessica and Dean make insightful and nuanced points about the characters and their narrative progression. To their credit, not every review is glowing, and they examine the downsides as well as the things that worked for them. A truly balanced and informed companion, assuming the podcast resumes for the forthcoming season.

Race Chaser

The amount of Drag Race podcasts out there could fill a whole ‘Werk Room’, with even host RuPaul’s own podcast becoming a feature on the show. Of the many out there, we would recommend that you sashay toward Race Chaser, a podcast by popular drag queens and former contestants Willam and Alaska (the latter of whom won the second season of All Stars). Both queens go through the series’ history episode by episode, as well as offering ‘Hot Goss’ episodes that lift the curtain on life on the drag scene. Both an inside look at the show and an exploration of the culture, the chat is racy, but always entertaining!

Baking Bad: A Bake Off Podcast 

British reality TV has earned a loyal following worldwide thanks to it generally being a lot friendlier than the competitive nature of shows in other countries. None typifies this more than The Great British Bake Off (or The Great British Baking Show in some countries), a sedate baking competition known for its supportive hosts and competitors who are more like family than foes. In this companion podcast, comedians Ross Drummond, Sean Ford and Harry Monaghan bring their irreverent, loving and occasionally R-rated perspective to the show as they react to each week’s baking battle. There’s a lot of silliness, but their clear affection for the series is endearing.

Gayest Episode Ever

A show that celebrates representation, looking at episodes of TV series that featured a storyline relating to the LGBTQ+ community. Looking at American TV staples like The Simpsons, Frasier, The Golden Girls and more, screenwriter Glen Lakin and entertainment journalist Drew Mackie examine what queer representation looked like in previous decades, commenting on what the shows got right and what potentially went wrong. Through culture, we see the world many of us grew up in, as well as the characters and storylines that helped us discover who we are. There’s also a healthy amount of humour as displayed in tongue-in-cheek titles such as “The Cartoons That Made Us Gay”!

Children Of The Watch: The Book Of Boba Fett

Formerly The Mandalorian Watch, as the name implies this is a podcast that delves headfirst into the world of Star Wars’ TV shows, including current hit The Book of Boba Fett, animated series The Bad Batch, and the forthcoming Obi-Wan Kenobi. Providing background information, episode analyses and discussions about forthcoming projects, it’s a one-stop shop for those excited for the next phase of adventures in a galaxy far, far away…

Office Ladies 

Who better to go through the US version of The Office episode-by-episode than the stars of the show? Jenna Fischer (Pam) and Angela Kinsey (Angela) share behind-the-scenes stories of the show that continues to be one of the most-streamed series worldwide. Like Fake Doctors, Real Friends, the podcast is a delight for fans happy to discover that the people they love on screen are also close in real life. Plus, their promise of telling the story of The Office “from the people who were there” offers a perspective on a TV landmark that few can match.