True crime, AI, romantasy and strange stories from a small Welsh town are among your picks of the best podcasts of the year
I stumbled across this podcast a few weeks ago and romped through the first season in short order. My Dad died recently, and I often feel sad. Ill-advised has helped me feel lighter. I have laughed out loud at both the questions and Bill’s dryly-delivered answers. I love the banned word portion (such as “pivot” and “like“, when used as fillers in sentences), while the book suggestions at the end are a perfect closer. Julie Hannaford, 59, librarian, Toronto, Canada
This is an immaculately produced, in-depth exploration of the origins of Fela Kuti, his music and the impact it continues to have on West Africa and the world. A wide range of sources and archive material complete this wonderful journey through a pivotal period of Nigerian history. Pat, 38, product manager, south east London
Monica Lewinsky knows what it’s like to be scrutinised by the media, and she approaches these conversations with people with a level of gentleness and relatability hard to find elsewhere. I suspect many people only know Lewinsky for one thing, so it’s nice to see how she’s introducing another side of herself to both audiences and the media. Mac, 27, works in public relations, New York City
