Ultimate Guide to FREE BBC Podcasts

What Are BBC Podcasts?

BBC Podcasts are edited pieces of audio content that are made on a variety of subjects. They can be edited portions of radio shows, or content that has been created specifically for the podcast.

How Do I Find BBC Podcasts?

The easiest way to find BBC Podcasts is to visit the BBC Sounds website. You can search for a specific podcast, or browse through a list of podcasts on a specific subject.

Are BBC Podcasts Free?

BBC Podcasts are free to listen to and to subscribe to.

How Do I Listen To BBC Podcasts?

You can listen to BBC Podcasts through BBC Sounds on the website or in the app. You may also be able to listen through the service that you currently use to get your podcasts.

How Do I Subscribe To BBC Podcasts?

There are several ways that you can subscribe to a BBC Podcast. You can subscribe directly from BBC Sounds by clicking on the subscribe button. Both Android and Apple devices will also have a podcast app that you can use to subscribe to BBC podcasts.

Which Are The Best BBC Podcasts?

There are many different BBC podcasts that are available to listen to. Some of the best podcasts that are currently available are listed below…

Rethink…

This a series of podcasts that are only six minutes long. The subjects of each podcast is centred around how things can always change for the better.

How To Cure Viral Misinformation…

You may have noticed that social media is becoming increasingly full of posts that spread misinformation and easily disproved conspiracy theories. The podcast discusses the reasons people share this information and how it can be stopped from happening.

Coronavirus Global Update…

This podcast gives you all the information you need about coronavirus for that day without going into any speculation that can make you feel anxious.

Tailenders…

Tailenders is a cricketing podcast, but you do not need to have an in depth knowledge of the sport in order to enjoy it. It is presented by Felix White, Greg James and Jimmy Anderson.

Match Of The Day Top 10…

Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Ian Wright gather in Lineker’s kitchen as they discuss various top tens of the footballing world.

Bloodsport…

This ten part series looks into Russia’s state sponsorship of the doping that took place in 2012 which involved Olympic athletes. One of the most interesting aspects is the firsthand testimony from Russian whistleblowers.

The Bomb…

The podcast tells the story of the science that went into creating the atomic bomb and the effect it had on the scientists who created it. It also contains interviews with family members of some of the scientists.

13 Minutes To The Moon…

There are two seasons of the 13 Minutes To The Moon podcast. Season one focuses on the Apollo 11 moon landings, with the second season looking at what went wrong during the Apollo 13 mission.

Replay…

The Replay podcast has sporting commentary from sports events of the past such as the England vs. Holland game of Euro 96. The commentary is available to listen to in full, with any insights being given at the end of the podcast.

Ecstasy…

The Battle of Rave – This is an unusual history podcast in that it is split into two distinctive parts. The first half gives the history of the role ecstasy played in the culture surrounding raves in the 80s and 90s. The second half sees celebrities such as Meera Syal and Adrian Edmondson giving monologues about their own experience of raves.

It’s A Continent…

Each episode in this podcast looks at a different event in the history of Africa. The events are well researched and show some of the complexities in the way that African countries relate to each other.

Have You Heard George’s Podcast?…

This podcast is hosted by London poet George Mpanga and he has won multiple awards for the first season. The podcast covers a range of genres such as journalism, fiction and poetry.

In Our Time…

In Our Time has been presented by Melvyn Bragg since the show began in 1998. Each episode sees three experts talking about their field in a way that gets to the heart of the matter. There are over 800 episodes available as podcasts and they are all around 45 minutes in length.

The Peregrine…

JA Baker wrote this classic piece about the Peregrine Falcon more than 50 years ago but it still feels relevant today. For this podcast, the piece is read by David Attenborough and this just makes it even better.

This Game Changed My Life…

This podcast is hosted by Charlie Booker, Aoife Wilson and Julia Hardy. They talk to a wide variety of people whose lives have been affected by computer games in some way, including a refugee from Syria who made a game about his experiences.

Mindful Mix…

If you have been finding it difficult to sleep lately, then you are not the only one. This podcast is full of relaxing sounds which can help you drift off into a peaceful sleep.

The Boring Talks…

The name of the podcast and the fact that the topics are subjects such as pencils and doormats, means it is easy to overlook. However, what these podcasts teach is that there is a lot more to objects all around us than may meet the eye.

James Acaster’s Perfect Sounds…

James Acaster is convinced that 2016 was the best year for new music in recent history. In this podcast he tries to convince fellow comedians of this fact but showcasing some of the biggest selling albums from the year.

Slow Radio…

The things that you will listen to on this podcast from Radio 3 may always be different, but there is one thing that does not change. None of the fifteen minute podcasts are ever rushed through and you are left with a sense of calm after listening.

The Escape Artist…

Arthur Cravan may not be the most well-known of British artists, but he had a life that was almost a piece of work in itself. He influenced the work of artists such as Andy Warhol and this podcast tells the whole of his life story.

Murmurs…

This is a radio drama that does not follow the rules of other radio dramas. There are no references to the particular locations that the characters are stood and why they are there and the series has been described as a radio version of Black Mirror.

The Fake Heiress…

Anna Sorokin was born in Russia but managed to convince everyone that she was a wealthy German heiress and ran up hotel bills of thousands of dollars. The podcast details the facts of the deception but also includes segments that turn these facts into a radio drama.

The Missing Cryptoqueen…

There are two series of this podcast which focuses on the search for Dr Ruja Ignatova. She persuaded people to invest thousands of pounds in her cryptocurrency, which turned out to be fake, before disappearing with the money.

United Zingdom…

Zing Tsjeng is eligible for a British passport, but this would mean she would have to give up her Singaporean one. In order to help her make the decision, she takes a trip round the UK to find out what it means to be British, and it this trip which is documented in the podcast.

This City…

It is the people that make London the city that it is, and Clara Amfo meets some of these people in this podcast. These guests talk about their careers and the places around London that made them the people they are.

1Xtra Talks…

1Xtra Talks is a chat show which focuses on issues that affect young people in the UK today. Many recent episodes have been centred around the Black Lives Matter movement where people of colour share their experiences of growing up and raising children in Britain.

Pride & Joy…

LGBTQIA people discuss the issues that have affected them as they start a family and raise their children. Surrogacy is a route that many parents go down and the issues that arise from this process are discussed at length.

For Fast’s Sake…

This podcast originally began in order to provide the truth behind some of the most common misconceptions that exist about Ramadan. A second season has just been released which talks about how the hosts have dealt with observing Ramadan this year while in lockdown.

The Comb…

This podcast comes from the World Service and features stories from countries all across Africa. These stories are almost always surprising and they are definitely things that you will not hear elsewhere.

Desert Island Discs…

Desert Island Discs is one of the best known radio shows in the world and episodes are available in podcast form. The archives date all the way back to 1951 and so there is no shortage of shows to listen to.

Grounded With Louis Theroux…

Surprisingly, this is the first podcast that Louis Theroux has hosted. Some of the guests that join him for a chat include Boy George, Miriam Margolyes and Lenny Henry.

No Country For Young Women…

The podcast is hosted by Sadia Azmat and Monty Onanuga who discuss what it means to be a British woman in 2020. Notable guests that have also appeared include Ainsley Harriot, Rose McGowan and Jade Thirkettle from Little Mix.

The Poet Laureate Has Gone To His Shed…

Simon Armitage began locking himself away in his shed to record the podcast way before lockdown became a thing. Guests tend to be writers or artists, and the topics discussed are often based around nature and literature.

My Death Row Pen Pal…

This podcast has three parts and it follows Rebekah Beere from Manchester as she writes to Charles Thompson who has been on death row for 22 years in the United States. It takes a look at whether murderers can ever really be redeemed through the friendship that Charles and Rebekah have formed.

Overview

BBC Podcasts are available on an extensive range of subjects and this means there really is something for everybody. The fact that they are free to listen to also means you have nothing to lose by trying out one that is completely new to you.

If you are new to listening to podcasts, then the range that is offered by the BBC is a good place to start. The have a comprehensive collection of podcasts to choose from, and many of them are from well-known personalities that you may already be familiar with.