Each month, Podcast Review’s staff offers recommendations on the best new podcasts to listen to. Here are our favorites for November:
Described as “Serial meets Twin Peaks,” Up In Smoke is a new fictional crime series from veteran podcaster Adam Buxton. His role in the show is relatively low-profile. As DCI Roy Burgess, Buxton plays a cop who worked on the case of a missing man, only to be pulled into a new investigation by an ex-tabloid journalist who wants to find out the truth. Here’s the meta twist: the journalist, played by Mei Mac, is investigating the disappearance as part of a true crime podcast. Expect engrossing writing, plenty of atmosphere and some ethical hand-wringing. Up In Smoke is our pick for the perfect fall series.
We’ve written before about our favorite AI podcasts. That said, there’s always room for another. The rate of acceleration in AI has been startling, with just about every major business promising to use this new technology. It can all feel a bit daunting. Luckily, AI For Humans is a weekly podcast that keeps you up to date with the latest news, tips, and tools for navigating this transformative field in a practical manner. Hosts Kevin Pereira and Gavin Purcell explain everything simply and clearly — with even a few jokes thrown in.
Rejoice, longtime Recode Media listeners — Peter Kafka is back, this time with a slightly wider remit in his new podcast, Channels. The show takes a thoughtful look at how media intersects with tech, politics, and culture at large. So far, Kafka has brought on a strong lineup of guests, including Jon Lovett (Pod Save America), Emma Tucker (Editor-in-Chief, Wall Street Journal), and Neal Mohan (YouTube CEO). For fans of tech and business podcasts like Offline and Pivot, Channels is a natural addition to your weekly rotation, with Kafka’s sharp interview style and knack for probing his guests’ responses making it a consistently compelling listen.
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