Hari Berrow keeps it domestic for this look at the cream of the contemporary Welsh podcast scene, starting with a politics-based pair which are respectively bowing out and starting up.
Welsh political podcasts – the handover
Hiraeth – Welsh Politics has come to an end. For those of us struggling to understand our nation’s place in the strange, London-centric soup that can be UK news coverage, this podcast offered a refreshing and entertaining perspective on issues that many of us often knew nothing about.
We’d like to wish the Hiraeth team of Matthew Hexter, Ceri Davies and Richard Martin best of luck with the next part of their journeys – and if you didn’t have the pleasure of listening to them during the 2024 general election, their back catalogue is still available. We also recommend their final episode and New Year’s special, which features former First Minister Mark Drakeford among other brilliant panellists.
Meanwhile, if you’re looking to fill the gap that Hiraeth has left, check out For Wales, See Wales, in which Guardian columnist (and Hiraeth regular) Will Hayward joins Welsh comedians Mel Owen and Robin Morgan to discuss key national issues of the day. The show started last October, and is a little more in the vein of the PoliticsJOE podcast than its more serious predecessor. It could make for a great addition to your morning commute.
Welsh History On Tap: from old kings to coal
If that isn’t enough Welsh culture for you, Welsh History On Tap might be what you’re looking for. A new podcast exploring all aspects of this nation’s history, Christian and James talk everything from little-known aspects of coal mining’s past to medieval Welsh king Hywel Dda. The show is really accessible and relaxed: a perfect entry-level podcast for anyone hoping to learn more about Wales and its history, but with enough compelling tidbits and extras to engage listeners with a bit more knowledge too. It also has a real earworm as an opening song, the sort that’s hard to decide if it’s diabolical or an absolute banger.
Camlann: a cosy dystopian drama
The Camlann podcast celebrated its first birthday last month. The podcast, written and directed by audio drama heavyweight Ella Watts (Doctor Who: Redacted, Eliza: A Robot Story, Re: Dracula), came out to rave reviews. The team were nominated for several awards, with Amber Devereux winning Composer Of The Year at the first UKAN Audio Awards for her contributions to the project (among other works), and the show winning Best Original Podcast at Planet Cinema Fest.
A post-apocalyptic drama based on the Mabinogi and Arthurian legends and set in the Welsh countryside, Camlann follows Dai, Morgan and Perry as they (and their beloved dog Gelert) try to rebuild their lives and make sense of what the world has begun. The show features Tobias Weatherburn (Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes) and Robyn Holdaway (Sex Education, Moon Haven, Strike) and explores Welsh folklore with a modern twist. If you love narrative podcasts, Welsh stories and the fantastical, this is the podcast for you.
Speaker S.O.S!: new year, new voice
Voice and confidence coach Charlotte Lewis joins Luke Davies – TV presenter and voice of the Scarlets rugby team – to talk all things public speaking in their podcast Speaker S.O.S!. If your new year’s resolution was to start your own business, network more, or even just feel a bit more confident in meetings, this podcast is a great place to start.
The duo give practical insights about not just how to manage nerve-wracking situations, but what happens in your body when you begin to get the jitters and the natural reactions that our body goes through when we do things that matter to us. Lewis and Davies are funny, charismatic and take a lighter approach than many of the tiring ‘bro’ podcasts that help you ‘lock in’ on your goals. If you’re looking for an episode to start you off, why not try ‘WHERE do I start? Making a Confident First Impression’? The podcast has been on hiatus but we expect the pair to bring out another season very soon.
words HARI BERROW
