Welcome to our regular roundup of podcast episodes you need to fill your time with.

Terrified of silence? Social interactions with strangers on the tube? Tune out of your surroundings and tune into a conversation you actually want to be a part of instead. Whether that’s advice on how to navigate the world of situationships or a chat with the directors behind your new favourite filmbelow is a list of six episodes – both old and new – that you need to get on your headphones right away.

01

Mannequin Pixie Dream Girl

99% Invisible

Why do mannequins look the way they do now in retail stores? Perhaps this is a question you’ve never asked yourself, but the answer is worth knowing – trust us. This podcast goes into the story of Lester Gaba and his mannequin Cynthia, which he took with him everywhere in the 30s. Cynthia, as we know it, changed retail stores forever and became the focus of magazines during her time. A history guide you didn’t know you needed.

02

Greta Gerwig, Little Women

OnWriting: A Podcast of the WGA East

Writing can even be a struggle for the most accomplished of writers or authors. Enter the OnWriting podcast, a refreshing deep dive into some of your favourite written pieces. The focus of this episode is on Greta Gerwig and her screen adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s novel Little Women. Here, Gerwig delves into her creative process behind the film’s script, and how, centuries later, Little Women remains reflective of our times. On top of that, the filmmaker chats about the art of writing itself – covering her creative environment, isolation and doubt.

03

My Husband Wants a DNA Test

The Receipts Podcast

If you haven’t tuned into The Receipts Podcast yet, this is one that you need to get to know. Each episode is an unfiltered and honest conversation between the podcast’s three creators. Expect laugh-out-loud discussions on sleeping with a pastor, cheating, fuckbois and everything else in between. Listeners can submit their complicated situationships and questions to the podcast, so if you’ve been ruminating over texting your ex or how to shoot your shot with a crush – get some advice here.

04

Dua Lipa's Disco Fever

Switched On Pop

Switched On Pop is an essential Vox-produced podcast that dives into detailed breakdowns of the best popular hits, helmed by musicologist Nate Sloan and songwriter Charlie Harding. The focus of this episode is on Dua Lipa’s club anthem Don’t Start Now, where the pop superstar talks about the single’s disco influence. Listen here.

05

Seduce and Destroy with Josh Safdie, Benny Safdie & Paul Thomas Anderson

A24 Podcast

If you haven’t seen it already, Uncut Gems is another gripping, albeit anxiety-inducing, masterpiece from the Safdie Brothers. Here, the pair discuss why it makes sense to ship precious stones inside a fish, watching Adam Sandler in Punch-Drunk Love and much more. Enter Paul Thomas Anderson into the mix, and you’ve got an intriguing conversation between three masters in their field.

06

Shanghai and the aesthetics of failure

Cursed With Good Ideas

This is one from the archive, but a fascinating listen nonetheless. Tapping into the workings of the Shanghai underground scene, Katy Roseland – of Shanghai Community Radio – talks DIY spaces in the city and the club landscape. If dance music from Shanghai is an interest of yours, get to know the scene better.

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