Let\u2019s start this newsletter by looking at some podcasts that are looking ahead to 2022. Firstly \u2026 news! Channel 4 News and their Fourcast<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong>podcast <\/strong>has a special looking ahead in the news in world affairs. Their predictions? Turmoil in Afghanistan, growing risks from cyber warfare and China\u2019s continuing rise as a global superpower. The Financial Times\u2019 FT News Briefing<\/strong><\/a> asked their reporters and columnists to make economic predictions for the year ahead too, with instability from omicron and growing inflation their major concerns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Want something a bit more hopeful? I am! Jay Shetty <\/strong>has launched an audio guide to what he has learnt in 300 episodes of hosting On Purpose<\/strong><\/a> this week, Radio Headspace<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong>has daily episodes on intention setting and having an optimistic frame of mind and RunPod with Jenni Falconer<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong>has a guide to improving your running form. The Happy Pear Podcast<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong>has an episode on sticking to resolutions, featuring insight on the benefits of cutting alcohol, with Andy Ramage from One Year No Beer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n And in Sport \u2026 5 Live Boxing<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong>has a preview of some of the big fights coming up this year, The Tennis Podcast<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong>has a look ahead to the tournaments to get excited about. <\/p>\n\n\n\n NOTABLE NAMES ON PODCASTS THIS WEEK<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have listened to a great guest on a podcast, let us know by filling in <\/strong>this form<\/strong><\/a> and it might get featured in an upcoming newsletter.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are our podcast picks for the week ahead<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you want your podcast featured, or you have a great recommendation, all you need to do is fill in this <\/strong>simple form<\/strong><\/a> and might get featured in a future newsletter.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Coming Storm<\/strong><\/a> – A year on since the insurrection at the Washington Capitol this insightful new BBC Sounds and BBC World Service documentary series, hosted by reporter Gabriel Gatehouse, looks at how conspiracy theories (such as QAnon) became such an integral part in shaping the terrifying events that day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gatehouse speaks to those who have been influenced by QAnon, a far-right conspiracy theory that claims that a Satanic cabal has taken over the world. And whilst the internet has been a driving force behind the spread of QAnon, Gatehouse points out the origins of the ideology and the forces that shaped Jan 6th can be traced years earlier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re a fan of this, I would also recommend listening to Finding Q<\/strong><\/a>, an Audible podcast series hosted by the journalist Nicky Woolf that tries to find the leader of Q.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lonel(i)ness<\/strong><\/a> – <\/strong>I have been a fan of Broccoli for quite some time, the production company behind compelling podcasts such as the history series Human Resources<\/strong><\/a>, and the daily storytelling series Anthems<\/strong><\/a>. They also have a compelling documentary strand, containing series and one-off episodes, with a recent episode looking at loneliness within the UK, after a report from the Office of National Statistics says that 2.6 million often or always felt lonely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You might assume that this is an issue pre-dominately affecting older generations, but as the podcast\u2019s host Jaja Muhammad points out, nine out of ten people between the ages of 18 and 24 are the largest group of people experiencing loneliness in the UK. And whilst the pandemic has increased the feeling of isolation for many of us, the experience of feeling lonely has been a plight millions of Brits have faced for years. So what can be done about it? And what can you do if you experience these feelings?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you enjoyed this podcast episode, in the podcast for The Stitch Up<\/strong><\/a>, another Broccoli doc that looks at how the fashion industry can put the planet before short term profit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Spotify Podcast of the Week: <\/strong>Where is My Mind?<\/strong><\/a> – It’s January and it’s time to reset and reassess. With yet another year of anxiety and frustration, mindfulness has never been more important amongst all of the current chaos. In the first episode of the year, host Niall Breslin sits down with producer Ciara to discuss ‘Metta Month’ which is taking place on his sister podcast – Wake Up Wind Down. Metta means positive energy and kindness toward others, but it feels like there’s a lack of that in the world right now. Niall explores how we can reconnect with ourselves and each other, and not let social media and other external forces take over our minds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Where is My Mind? <\/em><\/a>is released weekly on Mondays, and Wake Up \/ Wind Down<\/em><\/strong><\/a> are short episodes released every morning and afternoon on Spotify.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Desperately Seeking Wisdom<\/strong><\/a> – <\/strong>A podcast that aims to provide wisdom to people who might look successful on the outside, but aren\u2019t feeling as good as they think they should be. In this podcast Craig Oliver, who used to have a high profile job at the heart of the British government but felt at the same time unfulfilled, speaks to someone who has made adjustments in their life after an unexpected challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n His first guest is BBC Newsreader and journalist George Alagiah, who was diagnosed back in 2014 with stage four bowel cancer. Recently stepping back from his TV news role in light of further treatment, here Alagiah talks about how grateful he is after being told that he would only have possibly a year or so to live and how he manages to stay optimistic: \u201cI remember talking to my consultant and saying \u2018I\u2019m not going to worry, you\u2019re going to have to do all the worrying for me. Worrying is tiring me out.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He also talks about how his health issues have made him take stock on what matters in his life. \u201cYou can get angry, you can feel regret and all of those kinds of quite negative things,\u201d Alagiah says. \u201cThere are as many ways of dealing with cancer as people who have got it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBut to get to that point where you are able to see life as a gift is, I think, really important.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n