This week the organisers of the British Podcast Awards<\/strong><\/a> (the same people who run this very newsletter) announced the inaugural The Irish Podcast Awards<\/strong>. The awards, which will celebrate all forms of podcasts from the ones made in kitchens to the ones broadcast on national radio, will be open for entries in March 2022. And just like the BPAs, there will also be a Listeners Choice Award, which is a podcast that has been chosen by the public.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To find out more details you can signup to the newsletter on the website, but I thought of starting this week\u2019s newsletter by mentioning some great Irish podcasts you can listen to right now. The Witness: In His Own Words<\/strong><\/a> is a compelling investigative series, based on the book by Nicola Tallant, looking at one of the youngest ever individuals to enter Witness Protection in Ireland. Tallant is also behind the successful series Crime World<\/strong><\/a>, exploring the lives of people behind the headlines you often read about in the news. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Irish History Podcast<\/strong><\/a>, presented by Fin Dwyer, is full of rich details looking back at historical events you might know nothing about. Three Castles Burning<\/strong><\/a>, by Donal Fallon, tells \u2018forgotten\u2019 stories about the Irish capital. The Blindboy Podcast<\/strong><\/a> always tops the charts thanks to its array of interesting comedy skits and interviews. An Irishman Abroad<\/strong><\/a>, presented by Jarlath Ragan, features in-depth interviews out three times weekly. <\/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 Harsh Reality: The Story of Miriam Rivera<\/strong><\/a> – <\/strong>Do you remember There\u2019s Something About Miriam<\/em>, a reality show that aired on Sky One in the early noughties? Airing at the height of Big Brother<\/em>\u2019s popularity, it featured six straight men competing to be close to a young model called Miriam, only for the men to be told in the final episode that she was a transgender woman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this compelling new podcast series from Wondery, host Trace Lysette provides a necessary re-examination of the series, which she describes as being \u201cone of the most controversial reality TV disasters of all time.\u201d The six part investigative series features interviews from the contestants who took part and members of the production team who thought up the exploitative twist. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Miriam is also at the heart of this story. She died in 2019, and Lysette knew her through the ballroom scene in New York back in the 90s. \u201cShe was always kind to me and I feel honored to help bring this podcast about her life to the listeners,\u201d Lysette says. \u201cI hope she can finally be celebrated and appreciated for the pioneer that she was.\u201d Make sure you listen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Weird Walk with Charlie Cooper<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong>– Podcasts that consist of a well-known name walking in the outdoors has been a popular format for years, from Adam Buxton<\/strong><\/a>, <\/em>to Clare Balding<\/strong><\/a> to Matthew Bannister\u2019s Folk on Foot<\/strong><\/a>. <\/strong>This Country\u2019s Charlie Cooper is now the host of a new podcast that explores obscure and unique sights, traditions and folklore throughout the British Isles. It\u2019s a delight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first episode features Cooper walking down the South Downs Way (a national trail from Hampshire down to East Sussex) in pursuit of The Green Man. It is, as Cooper describes, a \u201cphysical representation of Spring, a Pagan symbol of rebirth and renewal.\u201d He visits The Long Man of Wilmington, a large human figure that you can see on a steep slope of a nearby hill, and meets a nearby Morris Dance troupe who dance at dawn every year on the 1st May near the hill in the hope of a fortuitous summer. If you want someone to blame for the poor Summer we just had, COVID restrictions meant that they weren\u2019t able to do it properly this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Spotify Podcast of the Week:<\/strong> The Fellas<\/strong><\/a> –<\/strong> YouTubers Calfreezy and Chip are the guys behind the Fellas, which has just become Spotify’s second video exclusive podcast in the UK & Ireland. They recently returned with their second season, which is promising to be even more revealing and outrageous than the first. Each week, you can enjoy listening (and watching!) Cal and Chip chat to some of the biggest creators in the world, covering everything from the latest YouTube beef, honest conversations about sex & relationships, and even the odd deep chat here and there. New episodes are released every Tuesday on Spotify.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unexpected Beginnings<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong>– Recent episodes of this newsletter have featured podcasts guiding you through each step of pregnancy, such as Is It Normal? With Jessie Ware<\/strong><\/a>. <\/em>This new series is a necessary resource for anyone whose baby is premature, needing surgery or is currently staying in a neonatal ward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Presented by Kerry Bickerdike and Caroline Verdon, parents of babies who have stayed within neonatal wards, each episode explores a different topic relating to the wards featuring interviews with experts, doctors and consultants. These episodes are designed to help support parents through an often isolating and unfamiliar experience, with episodes explaining how the wards work and how to deal with the emotions that come with it. It is a thoughtful, comprehensive and well-considered podcast to help parents during a stressful time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Like Minded Friends with Tom Allen and Suzi Ruffell<\/strong><\/a> – <\/strong>Finally, a firm favourite for many podcast listeners has *finally* returned for a new series. Presented by comedians Suzi Ruffell and Tom Allen, you can\u2019t necessarily blame either of them for taking a break prior to this podcast, with Ruffell also presenting another successful podcast featuring interviews with LGBTQ+ trailblazers<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong>and Allen presenting pretty much every single primetime Channel 4 programme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Their chemistry is natural and infectious and they manage to do a podcast that frequently steers off topic without it becoming only for the enjoyment of its hosts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Just so you know this is your final opportunity to let us know about the podcasts that are having Christmas specials this year. Please let us know by filling in this form<\/strong><\/a> and it might be one of two special Christmas newsletters coming out over the festive season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n