All of the podcasts you should be listening to, according to team IMAGE

Megan Burns, Editor, IMAGE Interiors; Deputy Editor, IMAGE

I’ve been listening to Every Single Album for quite a while, but it seems like the perfect moment to start if you haven’t already, given the hold Taylor Swift has on the world at the moment. It started in 2021 with hosts Nora Princiotti and Nathan Hubbard doing deep-dives into each of Taylor’s albums. Each episode is a fascinating discussion on the background to each album, the intricacies of how it was made, as well as the hosts debating their favourite aspects. There’s always fascinating industry insights too. They’ve gone on to cover other artists since, but circle back to Taylor every time she does something new, which recently, has been a lot.

There are plenty of episodes on the Eras Tour if you’re lucky enough to be heading along, insights into the business that is Taylor Swift, and I also love the opportunity to hear two people talk about what they love in so much detail. Over the last few months, they’ve also been focusing on ‘Pop Girl Spring’ – a series of episodes focusing on the wealth of female artists releasing albums this year, with episodes dedicated to Billie Eilish, Kacey Musgraves, Maggie Rogers, Beyoncé, Chappell Roan, and more. It’s always a fun listen, and I can’t recommend it enough.

Simone Kennedy, Events Manager

I love true crime podcasts! Some of my favourites that I couldn’t turn off are Sweet Bobby, an English catfish story; Harsh Reality: The Story of Miriam Rivera, which looks into a 90s reality TV show that went horribly wrong; and S-Town, where an American man contacts a reporter about two expected murders in his town, and it takes a turn you do not expect! I’m currently listening to The Stardust Tragedy, which is such a sad story but an important one for everyone to be aware of. I also tune into Casefile True Crime every Saturday for a new episode. Each episode tells a different story, so you can jump in and out as you wish.

Hannah Stapleton, Marketing Intern

Like the rest of the country, I was hooked on The 2 Johnnies Podcast‘s GAA Catfish saga. I have been obsessed ever since! Hosted by Tipperary natives Johnny ‘Smacks’ McMahon and Johnny B O’Brien, it is the perfect easy-listening podcast, with guests and without, my week isn’t complete if I haven’t listened to the latest episode. From the ‘GAA Catfish’, to the craziest stories from Nashville to Tipperary, Joanne McNally to The Wolfe Tones, and live gigs from the 3Arena to New York City, The 2 Johnnies have something for everyone, and I couldn’t recommend it more if I tried.

I also love a good true crime podcast series, and always recommend The Witness: In His Own Words and Who Killed JFK? So incredibly gripping, and the perfect listen for those who love true crime and don’t want to commit to an episode a week.

Emily O’Neill, Marketing Account Executive

I have recently started listening to the Little Things podcast by Laura Douglas. Laura covers topics such as anxiety, grief, body image and has some brilliant interviews with content creators too. When listening it feels like your friend is chatting to you! If you are looking for something new to add to your list I would highly recommend it.

I couldn’t talk about podcasts without mentioning my all time favourites Kevin and PJ, also known as I’m Grand Mam. They are genuinely a tonic. When I’m having a bad day I know I can rely on an episode of the podcast to cheer me up. You are guaranteed a laugh within the first 10 seconds! I’m at the stage where I am re-listening to some of their very first episodes. If you haven’t listened to their episode with Paul Mescal yet, please do!

Holly O’Neill, Editor of IMAGE.ie and Beauty Editor

I am bet into The News Agents and The Rest is Politics always, but especially at the moment in the lead-up to the UK general election, and on Fridays, TRIP do a brilliant US segment if you’d like to stay on top of Biden and Trump’s campaigns too. Zara, Gavan and Richard bring me through all the updates of the week in Irish and international news on The Group Chat – Gavan is a wonderful follow for all things election in Ireland whether he is explaining PR-STV with Smarties or meticulously tracking candidates in Google spreadsheets. Similarly if there is an Irish news story you haven’t had time to fully get your teeth into, The Explainer from The Journal is your weekly deep dive into the story of the moment.

When they’ve all whipped me into an existential panic, for fun I love Sherlock & Co (really great if you still miss the Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman show), No Encore if I need to know what’s going on in music, Vogue and Joanne, PJ and Kevin and Mark Mehigan when I need to laugh and Jenny Claffey’s Red Room when I need to spiral. I would be remiss to not direct you to our IMAGE podcasts, Work Rest Slay with the incredible Melanie Morris for business stories from Irish and international business leaders and disruptors, and The Wellness Project for expert guidance on making healthier changes in your life.

Having written all that down, I feel so hashtag blessed and grateful and fortunate and all the other annoying social media idioms that so many of the people I choose to spend my free time with get to intersect into my work life and share their talent with us at IMAGE. Just need to find a way to get Alastair and Rory and Sherlock to write an IMAGE.ie column.

Sarah Gill, Staff Writer

For me, Catch Up with Louise McSharry and Young Hot Guys are weekly essentials. The former has three instalments, made up of a news roundup, an entertainment rundown, and an interview with someone on something topical. The latter is made up of three big legends; Tony Cantwell, Killian Sundermann, and Shane Daniel Byrne. By way of format, it’s essentially just listening into their chat, fly on the wall style, and suffice to say that topics tend to blur into one chaotic hilarious blur. Nice one for co-listening to with your fella, if you’re into that cute stuff.

I also just started listening back through some older episodes of Candlelit Tales Irish Mythology Podcast, and I absolutely love it. Hearing these ancient Celtic myths and legends retold by incredible storytellers is spine tingling, and it has such a nostalgic quality to it.

Saving the absolute best of the best for last, Sentimental Garbage is one of my very favourite things in the whole entire world. I cannot overstate it enough, and I have been asked on more than one occasion whether or not I have shares in said podcast, such is the extent to which I endorse it on nights out. If you’re unacquainted, it’s a podcast hosted by the ludicrously intellectual Caroline O’Donoghue that’s spawned its own little community of people who love silly little things passionately, and after years of being admonished for that, they’re now relishing every second of it. Episodes vary from albums, films and books to the more conceptual ideas like the word ‘like’, indie sleaze, and Robbie Williams fandom. I laugh and cry every time.