They say you’re never alone with a book. The same can be said with a podcast... and the real bonus is you can listen while gardening, cooking or doing your daily squat thrusts. Candia McKormack brings us her top eight Cotswold offerings
• The Barn Theatre
Always a joy to visit when its Cirencester doors are allowed to open, The Barn Theatre has been bringing us this brilliant podcast since April 2019. Expect lively conversations with artistic director Iwan Lewis, industry figures such as Michael Morpurgo, Rory Bremner and Jan Ravens, as well as Cotswolds celebs discussing the theatre’s work, aims and ideas. And more recently, the theatre has been ahead of the curve in showing us how it embraces technology by broadcasting live video streams on its many social media platforms, including Shakespeare’s Henry V and weekly Tweedy shows with its Behind The Barn Doors broadcasts. Pure brilliance. spoti.fi/3bDUHPX
• WTAF Podcast
Fans of This Country, listen up. Two Cirencester legends, Pavo and Neil, are there for us now that our favourite Cotswolds-based BBC TV mockumentary has ceased filming (let us all have a moment to think about that). Pavo and Neil are good buddies, and their beautiful bromance shines through as they broadcast from their garden shed, packed with tech and Star Wars figurines. What’s really impressive about this podcast, though, is their commitment: they’re at Episode 120 at the time of going to press, and guests have included the likes of This Country director Tom George, Laurence and Jackie Llewelyn-Bowen, Knibbsey, and of course series’ character favourites, Rev Francis, Slugs, Len, Big Mandy, Martin Mucklowe, and - ta-dah! - Kerry and Kurtan. Pavo and Neil, we salute you. bit.ly/3bGpJa4
• The Rissington Podcast
This one makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Referring to themselves as a ‘web-geek version of Gardeners’ Question Time’, hosts Jon Hicks and John Oxton-King sound like they’re having way too much fun in this glorious, not-obviously-themed compendium. From the love of Gregg’s sausage rolls, Star Wars Lego, the History of RAF Rissington (complete with live aviation sound effects), and the heavenly ‘Font of the Week’, you owe it to yourself to join them virtually in their Cotswold bunker for fun and games. rissingtonpodcast.co.uk
• Getting There With Cotswold Claire
Kicking off on February 27, Claire takes us through the highs and lows (oh, the lows) of her 10-week training programme ahead of the Brathay 10 in 10 Marathon Challenge. Along the way, she shares tips to help you through your own training regimes (Epsom salts all the way), singing Elton John, listening to audiobooks, dealing with the weather, and having to stop for the loo... all the while taking us on a tour of our beautiful Cotswold villages. Her March 23 broadcast covers social distancing and how Coronavirus has changed all our lives, and her candid views are well worth listening to. bit.ly/39AcaYa
• Funky Death Productions
From their ‘little hidey hole in the Cotswolds’, self-confessed ‘middle-aged men’ Stu and Dave have been broadcasting for over 20 years now, and bring their ‘Den of Geektitude’ to share their love of Marvel comics, video games, movies, old-school wrestling and more. The Banana Splits and Garbage Pail Kids meet Godzilla and X-Men... it’s all here, together with several (un)healthy doses of Covid-19 observations. spoti.fi/2w2kHFz
• Meet the Farmers
Though not specifically Cotswold based, Ben Eagle’s brilliant podcast tells the stories of farmers and food producers. We meet Anna and Phil Bryant on their farm in Wiltshire; Gloucestershire National Trust tenant Jonty Brunyee; Oxfordshire beef farmer Silas Hedley-Lawrence; Andy Dibben and Kate Yells of Abbey Home Farm, near Cirencester; chief executive of the Soil Association Helen Browning, as well as discussions on farming diversification and mental health, and annual visits to the Real Farming Conference in Oxford. In his March 23 broadcast, Ben stresses the need to support farmers now more than ever as they struggle to adapt to life following the Covid-19 outbreak. thinkingcountry.com/meet-the-farmers-podcast
• Ramblings
Again, not purely a Cotswolds-based podcast, Clare Balding’s wonderful shows – also broadcast on BBC Radio 4 – see her exploring the British countryside, accompanied by those with stories to tell and favourite walks to take. Cotswold ramblings include the Bath skyline with Stuart Maconie, the banks of the River Severn at Purton, climbing 330 metres above sea level on Cleeve Hill, and setting off from Soudley in the Forest of Dean. Each walk comes with accompanying notes and links and, as ever, Clare is a wonderful walking companion, and you learn so much about the area as you go. Not to be missed! bbc.in/2yirADn
• The Dundry Gardening Podcast
Join Chris Evans and his team at this lovely hyperlocal podcast from Dundry Nurseries, near Cheltenham. You’ll hear all about the history of the nurseries - from Chris’ grandfather establishing it to Chris himself setting up the wonderful Butterfly Garden project - plus there are gardening guests, seasonal tips and local chat. As a regular on Mark Cummings’ BBC Radio Gloucestershire breakfast show, Chris is very used to the broadcasting process and speaks with ease on his own show. There’s even a Q&A section where listeners can pose questions via the nurseries’ Facebook page. At the time of going to press there are just four episodes, but they’re absolute gems and we look forward to hearing many more. spoti.fi/3avKKny
