Callout
Pick of the week
Final Thoughts: Jerry Springer
Long before he was a chatshow titan, Jerry Springer was a plucky young politician who held the post of mayor of Cincinnati before setting his sights on the state of Ohio at large. Slow Burn’s Leon Neyfakh goes all the way back to those beginnings for this nine-part series, marrying excellent journalism with some unbelievable source material – not least when it comes to Springer’s 70s sex scandal. Hannah J Davies
Audible, all episodes out now
Beyond Suspicion: The Criminals Who Betrayed Our Trust
Listener discretion is advised as Yinka Bokinni examines legal cases where the perpetrators – often well-liked and respected in their fields – offended in plain sight. The first is about paedophile football coach Barry Bennell, with insight from Ian Ackley, whom he abused, and experts who explain how his crimes went undetected. HJD
Audible, all episodes out now
Sorry About the Murder
The snappy satirical mystery series returns with a new case in the fictional Beavertown – where residents are unfailingly nice, in that famously Canadian way, despite the bonkers crime rate. In the first episode, Frenchie, an ice-hockey rink cleaner, is arrested for murder. Hollie Richardson
Widely available, episodes weekly
Titanic: Ship of Dreams
Actor Paul McGann hosts this podcast about the world’s most infamous shipwreck, featuring contributions from his brother Stephen. Both are nephews of a Liverpudlian named Jimmy McGann, who survived the disaster. They build a vivid picture of nautical near-misses and class separation that contradicts Hollywood’s more romanticised version of events. HJD
Widely available, episodes weekly
What We Spend
“I try really hard to maintain my control,” says Kellie from Utah of her rocky relationship with money. This series is perfect for nosy parkers, with producer Courtney Harrell dissecting one American’s spending each week. It’s sensitive, too, particularly when it comes to topics such as mounting credit card and student debt. HJD
Widely available, episodes weekly
