Each month we bring you recommendations for must-listen radio programmes and podcasts.
Alex Bishop is the PRA’s Production Manager. His job is to ensure our productions run smoothly, and to create award-winning on-air campaigns alongside our partners in the criminal justice sector and beyond.
“My first pick is Revisionist History from Malcolm Gladwell – one of my favourite podcasts of the last few years. In each episode the Tipping Point and Blink author takes on points in history which he declares as overlooked or misunderstood.
“It’s Malcolm Gladwell so, of course, it’s smart. But what I love about this series is how personally invested he is in each story – how angry he gets. I’d start with episode 4 of the first series, Carlos Doesn’t Remember. It’s the first of a three-part mini-series that re-evaluates how good America is at enabling people to fulfil their potential.
“After three series, Gladwell will soon be launching new podcast, Broken Record, with super-producer Rick Rubin – so this might be the end of Revisionist History, in which case – thanks for the ride Malcom!
“On Where Should We Begin we hear real couples therapy sessions with psychotherapist Esther Perel. My friend recommended this to me recently and it’s really brilliant. Topics covered include affairs, addiction, sex and parenting.
“And it’s not simply a fly-on-the wall exercise – each session is intercut with Esther commenting on the development of the session. She is clearly a fantastic analyst of relationships, but the way she questions and challenges the couples without judgement is equally impressive.
“I have recently began producing National Prison Radio’s new legal feature The Brief. Each week we have solicitor and prison law expert Claire Salama answering listeners’ questions.
“Prior to this my knowledge of criminal law and was mainly based on watching Rumpole of the Bailey with my grandad. So Mondeo Law has been very welcome. It’s hosted by comedian and law graduate Alex Boardman and barrister and comedian Chris Kehoe. In each episode, Chris takes us through a key case in the history of English criminal law.
“Funny, occasionally raucous but always thankfully easy to understand it’s great for anyone with a bit of an interest in the law.
“And it’s called Mondeo Law because it’s recorded in a Ford Mondeo, which the odd road-digger aside, makes a pretty decent studio.”
