Best new podcasts of 2021

We’re nearing the end of 2021 and, for many, life continues to be a constant flux of unpredictable changes. But for lovers of well-made audio storytelling, there’s one thing that never seems to change: There’s always a great new podcast to ground yourself in amid the chaos.

Last year, podcasts gained even more relevance, as one of the only safe ways to make entertainment during the pandemic and as a type of sorely-needed companionship. 2021 was both a return to the previous role podcasting used to fill in our pre-pandemic lives, yet also an expansion of the medium’s growing cultural importance.

Maybe you’re back to commuting, or maybe you’re still leaning on podcasts for companionship that’s less anxiety-inducing than the return to IRL friendship. Regardless, podcasts continue to thrive, with countless new gems across every genre: from the mega popularity of true crime to deep-dive investigative reporting and riveting storytelling (both fiction and non-fiction).

Though there are always great new podcasts to discover or that one can miss, these are the ones we loved most in 2021. Only titles or new seasons and mini-series released this year were considered for inclusion.

1. Through the Cracks

What it’s about: True crime, systemic racism, injustice, generational trauma, personal narrative

Why it’s great: Even in this golden age of true crime, the stories of victims from certain demographics are still so often left untold. But in this poignant series, host Jonquilyn Hill ensures the case of 8-year-old Relisha Rudd — whose disappearance from a D.C. homeless shelter in 2014 went unnoticed for 18 days — will never be forgotten again. Less of a whodunit and more of a how-could-we-let-this-happen, Hill covers the case with equal parts journalistic rigor and empathy. Can any single family member be blamed, really, when our entire society has systematically failed to protect Black girls and women from falling through the cracks?

2. How it Happened

What it’s about: Trump, American politics, the pandemic, the Capitol riots

Why it’s great: I don’t know about you, but I’ve got a lot more processing to do about everything that happened from 2020 to January 2021. That’s what the unparalleled reporting of Axios’ Jonathan Swan (best known on the web for his highly memed Trump interview focusing on his COVID-19 response). Swan dissects the final days of the Trump administration with incredible in-the-room-where-it-happened details on the most stunning behind-the-scenes moments with the former president leading up to the Capitol insurrection. While the reporting requires some skepticism and leaps of faith in trusting anonymous sources, both Swan and Axios’ reputability speak for themselves.

3. Anything For Selena

What it’s about: Selena, Latinx identity, culture, art, racism, personal narrative

Why it’s great: Selena and Me isn’t just about the beloved Mexican-American singer who was tragically murdered at the height of her career. Like Selena’s music this podcast touches on the beating heart of Latin-American identity itself. Host Maria Garcia combines the cultural context behind Selena’s significance to the community with her own personal narrative, seeking to understand more about herself through the pop star who helped many who straddle a multicultural background feel so seen. As intimate as it is all-encompassing, the nine-part series offers both an English and Spanish version of each episode.

4. Unexplainable

What it’s about: Science, mysteries, space, the universe, technology, innovation

Why it’s great: “While Vox is known for explaining complicated ideas in easily understandable ways, its new podcast Unexplainable flips that premise on its head. Instead of demystifying the daily information onslaught, Unexplainable sits with the most mystifying unknowns of all time. From questioning whether everything we thought we knew about psychology is wrong to the quest to understand what the hell dark matter is, Unexplainable teaches us to get comfortable with the idea that human knowledge has many limits. And that’s kinda awesome.” [From our Best Educational Podcasts roundup]

5. Welcome to your Fantasy

What it’s about: True crime, sexuality, greed, gender politics, corruption, the ’80s, sex work

Why it’s great: Murder, male strippers, and discourse about female desire in the ’80s—what’s not to love about Welcome To Your Fantasy? This new Gimlet true crime series bares all about the strange, scandalous, seedy, and surprisingly dark origins of the Chippendales dancers, which is all fun, games, and gG-strings until it ends with the awful murder of one of its primary founders.

6. Stolen: The Search for Jermain

What it’s about: True crime, injustice, Indigenous women and girls, domestic violence

Why it’s great: We’re big fans of CBC reporter Connie Walker’s work. Her previous true crime podcast Missing & Murdered shone a spotlight on not only one Indigenous woman’s disappearance but also the larger systemic injustices behind it. In Stolen, Walker similarly dives into the murder of Jermain Charlo, a 28-year-old mother who went missing from her home on a Montana reservation in 2018. But once again, Walker contextualizes her individual case in larger cultural injustices, revealing the disproportionate amount of violence that Indigenous women in America face — whether from the justice system established by colonizers, their own communities, or (in Charlo’s case) their own life partners.

7. ICYMI

What it’s about: Digital culture, social media trend and drama, influencers, society, tech

Why it’s great: Slate’s new digital culture podcast ICYMI is here to digest all the latest chaos, trends, and #drama from the web — so you don’t have to. And for that, we thank hosts Madison Malone Kircher and Rachelle Hampton for their service. This bi-weekly podcast goes beyond the surface of our screens, covering not only what trouble the newest viral main character of social media got into, but also why it matters. It’s incisive, insightful, and miraculously always finds a way to cut through the static noise of the digital void to find the human side of it all.

8. Unraveled: Long Island Serial Killer

What it’s about: True crime, serial killers, police corruption, investigative journalism

Why it’s great: If you’re a true crime aficionado, you’ve probably heard of the Long Island Serial Killer (aka LISK) more than enough times. But no other podcast has done the level of rigorous investigative work that cohosts Alexis Linkletter and Billy Jensen bring to the table. In the latest thrilling season of Unraveled, the two uncover never-before-heard evidence, finding bread crumbs of new information that help chip away at the inexplicable puzzle that is the LISK case. Digging through mountains of unknowns to reveal a pattern of evidence that could potentially implicate the very police force tasked with solving the murder of 11 victims buried for over a decade on a beach, it’s a season with twists and turns you won’t want to miss.

9. The Experiment

What it’s about: America, history, social inequalities, society, current events

Why it’s great: “The American experiment, often repackaged as the American dream, is one of the biggest sources of miseducation in our country. In this WNYC Studios and Atlantic collaboration, host Julia Longoria applies the ideals of America’s past that were held to be self-evident, then measures them up against our current reality. Bringing the high ideals of this country’s founding to everyday experiences, The Experiment can even find lessons in trash reality TV shows like 90 Day Fiance.” [From our Best Educational Podcasts roundup]

10. Soft Voice

What it’s about: Fiction, women’s experiences, consciousness, mental illness

Why it’s great: Whatever you think you can expect from QCODE’s new Soft Voice fictional podcast, think again. Several episodes in, we’re still not entirely sure what’s going on, but we know that it’s an absolute trip. Featuring a trifecta of British talent you’ll probably recognize (Naomi Scott, Olivia Cooke, and Bel Powley) it tells the story of Lydia, who lives what seems to be an ideal life because she always listens to Soft Voice, the controlling little dictator inside her head insisting on perfection and conformity. Then, one day, it’s gone. We’ll leave it at that, but buckle up for a wild, sapphic, and mind-melting journey best listened to with headphones. Do note the disclaimer in the beginning, though, which warns of sensitive topics broached that might be triggering to some.

11. Depresh Mode

What it’s about: Mental well-being, self-care struggles, mental illness, comedy

Why it’s great: John Moe, host of the popular podcast The Hilarious World of Depression, is once again back to talk about and laugh through our pain. Every week guests talk about both their personal and our collective mental state as a larger culture. Often, these guests are well-known comedians, musicians, and actors like Patton Oswalt, who speak candidly about struggles with the oh-so-common yet still taboo issues of depression, anxiety, grief, mental illness, and trauma. But Moe makes equal room for mental health experts, covering everything from post-COVID PTSD to burnout.

12. Under the Influence with Jo Piazza

What it’s about: Digital culture, influencer economy, social media, gender inequity, motherhood, work culture, personal narrative

Why it’s great: Jo Piazza is a staple of the podcasting world for a reason. Host of Committed, in her Under the Influence series Piazza tackles another under-discussed narrative in media: the power and innovation of mommy bloggers. Through a mixture of personal narrative and a long-overdue deep dive into the oft dismissed billion-dollar industry, it’s a podcast about navigating social media’s influence on our lives, aspirations, self-worth, and business. After experiencing job insecurity and disillusionment with her career in media, Piazza sets out to both understand and even become the Instagram-perfect (and financially dependent) ideal of a mommy blogger. But this isn’t a podcast that seeks to judge or diminish, and it is certainly not just “for women.” If you have any interest in the internet, digital culture, the influencer economy, and wrestling with the impact these unstoppable forces have on us, then this is a must-listen.

13. Be Antiracist with Ibram X. Kendi 

What it’s about: Inequity and inequality, racism, sexism, ableism, anti-Blackness, politics, society, education

Why it’s great: When historian and author Ibram X. Kendi is involved, you know you’re in for a journey of learning about our greatest untold injustices but also finding our common humanity. In his new podcast — which features both personal narrative and interviews with renowned guests across academia, activism, journalism, and politics — he tackles all the facets of what it means to be antiracist. A term you might’ve heard but never fully understood, this highly accessible guide is an invaluable resource to all (no matter your race, ethnicity, class, or gender) on how we can build a world beyond the systems of oppression that alienate us from ourselves and each other.

14. Spectacle

What it’s about: Reality TV, society and culture, gender and race politics, media history

Why it’s great: We have not even begun to reckon with the enormous societal shift we’re currently experiencing after the golden age of early 2000s reality TV. That is what host Mariah Smith sets out to do with Spectacle, unpacking everything from reality TV’s most telling history, moments, and stars. With the help of a host of other insightful experts, it leaves no facet of this influential cultural force unturned.

15. Dark History

What it’s about: True crime, macabre history, humor

Why it’s great: If you’re big into true crime and YouTube, you definitely know Dark History‘s fabulous host Bailey Sarian. She’s known for her popular “Murder, Mystery & Makeup” series, in which she not only does her make-up fabulously but simultaneously recaps true crime cases. Sarian brings all that personality and humor that made her a vlogging hit to Dark History, which covers dark and spooky stories from the past that don’t necessarily fit the typical true crime mold but scratch that same itch.

16. Counterclock Season 3

What it’s about: True crime, investigative journalism, murder

Why it’s great: Crime Junkie fans, you know the drill. This Audiochuck podcast, hosted by investigative journalist Delia D’Ambra but executive produced by the popular true-crime podcast creator Ashley Flowers, had a whirlwind of a third season. D’Ambra brings the original reporting that some have criticized podcasts like Crime Junkie for lacking, with a year-long probe into the infamous case of the Pelley family. In 2006, police convicted Jeff Pelley, the very son of the Floridian pastor who was brutally murdered along with most of their other family members. But new evidence — and D’Ambra’s own reporting — calls a lot of what folks thought they knew into question.

17. Internet Urban Legends

What it’s about: Paranormal, internet culture, social media, ghosts, murder, true crime, conspiracy theories

Why it’s great: Another pair of YouTubers making the leap from the small screen to audio, Loey Lane and Eleanor Snitchery are probably best known for vlogging about the web’s greatest mysteries. In this new Parcast and Spotify original, they take their vast knowledge of spooky online culture to the airwaves, covering everything from the Momo Challenge to Horror TikTok (which we actually also did a deep dive on). If you’ve ever come across something scary on the web and wondered “is this real?” this podcast is here to try and find the answer.

18. Unread

What it’s about: Grief, digital culture, stan culture, mental health, suicide, Britney Spears, personal narrative

Why it’s great: Unread is not for the faint of heart. The mini-series has an unflinching determination to cope with grief, trauma, depression, loneliness, and the need to reach across the screen for connection. Host Chris Stedman takes listeners on his personal journey as he follows the breadcrumbs left behind by his enigmatic, Brittany Spears-loving friend Alex. In 2019, Alex died by suicide, but not before sending out emails to all his friends that started with: “i am writing to let you know that when you receive this scheduled email, i will no longer be alive.” As much a loving eulogy as it is an internet mystery, the podcast is really an ode to all of us lost souls who must turn to the internet for acceptance. Note the disclaimer up top about covering sensitive topics related to mental health struggles, though.

19. You Must Remember This: Gossip Girls

What it’s about: Hollywood history, gender and race politics, media history

Why it’s great: “You Must Remember This tells the strange and forgotten history of old Hollywood. Host and producer Karina Longworth researches the stories deeply and weaves interesting, narrative-driven tales,” we wrote in our Best History Podcasts roundup. In the latest ‘Gossip Girls’ series, the inimitable Longworth dives into the stories of Louella Parsons and Hedda Hopper, two celebrity columnists who pioneered the format in the 1940s. Come along for a hell of a ride full of feuds, hot (old Hollywood) goss, industry corruption, gender politics, racism, and ultimately the incredible story of how two women on parallel tracks gained unprecedented power in male-dominated Tinsel Town.

20. On Our Watch

What it’s about: Police corruption, law enforcement, systemic injustice, issues of race and gender

Why it’s great: At this point, you probably think you have quite a good grasp on police corruption. But KQED and NPR’s On Our Watch reveals just how bottomless law enforcement misconduct really goes, making it clear (if it wasn’t already) just how this institutional violation to protect and serve infringes upon every citizen’s rights, regardless of race. After a recent California law gave journalists like host Sukey Lewis access to a mountain of police documents departments never thought would see the light of day, they’re shining a light on the fuller picture of these “bad apples” rot, and how the entire justice system evades accountability. With essential and fearlessly rigorous reporting, the team goes beyond the more widely known forms of police brutality to reveal more endemic issues, ones that intersect with ableism and other types of violence such as sexual harassment and assault. It’s as much a podcast highlighting injustice as it is a call for supporting the investigative (especially local) reporting that is usually our greatest (sometimes only) weapon to demand the truth.

21. Truer Crime

What it covers: True crime, social justice, criminal justice, racism, sexism, homophobia

Why it’s great: [From our Q&A interview with Celisia Stanton] With each passing year — especially since the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020 — the uglier parts of true crime have become harder to ignore. Enter Celisia Stanton: Wedding photographer, high school debate coach, prison abolitionist, and first-time podcaster. Truer Crime, which Stanton launched in May, tackles the laundry list of ethical critiques lobbed at the genre — and then some. It covers some of the classic, popular true crime stories, like that of Darlie Routier (the mother convicted of murdering her two sons) and the Jonestown Massacre (with over 900 members of a predominantly Black civil rights group forced to poison themselves by their white leader Jim Jones). But you’ve never heard them told like this before. On top of that, the podcast even has a TikTok page that’s helping to make TrueCrimeTok a less toxic, white-focused space. In a genre with far too many false narratives, Stanton stands out by revealing the truth of crime in America and getting at the heart of those most victimized by systems that exacerbate the violence.

22. If I Go Missing the Witches Did It

What it covers: Fiction, humor, satire, true crime, horror, literature, social commentary, racism, sexism, storytelling

Why it’s great: Satires are a woefully underrated podcast niche, and Realm’s If I Go Missing the Witches Did It is one of the best introductions to it we’ve ever heard. This genre parody by Pia Wilson is like if everyone’s favorite white lady true crime podcast met 2020’s The Craft remake and the hilarious yet boundary-pushing comedic stylings of Ziwe. A white podcast host fights for her life in the struggle to be a True Ally to a missing Black woman writer she’s selflessly trying to save by exploiting the voice memos she recorded before her disappearance for clout. On top of being biting social commentary on racism and sexism in posi-vibes manifest destiny trendy witch influencer culture, the show is also just a super compelling binge-worthy thriller.

23. Close to Death

What it covers: Death, humor, society, grief

Why it’s great: Nobody likes to think about death. But after 2020, a lot of us really need to talk about it. Yet talking about death doesn’t need to be a gruesome or drab affair, either. Each week, Close to Death gives a different comedian, reporter, or writer the opportunity to explore an aspect of death that compels them. From trying to learn how to write your own perfect obituary, to meeting a witch who claims to commune with the deceased, or the ins-and-outs of a human compost farm, each episode’s journey is a rollercoaster of hilarity and vulnerability, pragmatism and hope. It’s the perfect podcast to help shift discussions of death away from the unmentionable and into the normal.

24. Land of Giants: Google, Season 4

What it covers: Big tech, internet culture, Silicon Valley, current events

Why it’s great: [From our Best Tech Podcasts roundup] When historians look back on this time in human history, they will point to a new era — a new species, really — of imperial regimes. Google, Amazon, Facebook, Netflix: the tech giants that dominate our culture, economy, and even politics demand thorough understanding and investigation. That’s exactly what Recode’s Land of the Giants delivers, explaining how the most powerful companies came to be and at what cost to the rest of us. Season 3 kicked off with hosts Shirin Ghaffary and Alex Kantrowitz tackle the first and most prevailing emperor of big tech, searching far and wide for the story behind Google (and by extension YouTube.)​​

25. Last Podcast on the Left: Black Death mini-series

What it covers True crime, comedy, pandemics, history, death

Why it’s great: You might think you’ve tired of hearing about global pandemics in 2021, but you need to give this five-part series from one of our favorite true crime podcasts of all time a try. Launched over Last Podcast on the Left’s history-themed summer, their heavily researched yet endlessly entertaining deep dive into the Black Death shows just how much we haven’t changed in our collective response to mass death from disease. There’s a lot of pertinent lessons to be learned from the most catastrophic plague in human history. While some might find the humor at the core of this show jarring, the approach can make those lessons easier to swallow, as the hosts trace the plagues seemingly unstoppable tear across the world over centuries, upending society while claiming millions of lives.

26. StraightioLabs

What it covers: Queerness, humor, culture, society

Why it’s great: I’m not usually a fan of freewheeling conversational podcasts on loose topics, where the main draw is the feeling of just hangin’ out with friends. But that’s before I experienced the parasocial friendship of comedians George Civeris and Sam Taggart, whose irressitably entertaining StraightioLabs offers the kind of light, fun, and queer space many LGBTQ folks crave but struggle to find IRL. Selling itself as “the only podcast about straight culture” with a wink and nod, it’s of course the opposite. With hysterical segments like Straight Shooter, guests join to bond over the ridiculousness in mainstream hetero culture and queer culture alike. A podcast serving that gay agenda your youth pastor warned about, it just feels like home.

27. Your Magic

What it covers: Spirituality, occult, modern witchcraft, alt culture, art

Why it’s great: [From our Best Astrology Podcasts roundup] Your Magic is the new Spotify Original podcast that those who are down with all things mystical absolutely cannot miss out on. Hosted by author and poet Michelle Tea, it explores personal journeys through the lens of cosmic spirituality — but also, it’s far less pompous than all that. One of the most beginner-friendly shows on our list, every episode centers around a celebrity guest interview, with folks like Phoebe Bridgers coming on to discuss their magical practices as well as a tarot reading that digs into whatever they’re currently going through. But each week also offers one lucky listener their own tarot reading from Tea, and also offers a spell, affirmation, or manifestations you can try out yourself.

28. Murdaugh Murders Podcast

What it covers: True crime, investigative reporting, murder, police corruption

Why it’s great: If you’re part of any online true crime community (guilty as charged), then you’ve probably heard a lot about the Murdaugh family in 2021, and the string of suspicious deaths and murder allegations that have surrounded this powerful South Carolina family dynasty. Yet unlike most others hopping on the bandwagon now, host Mandy Matney of FITSNews (a local independent online media outlet) has been reporting on this complex case full of twists, turns, conspiracies, and corruption for years, offering the kind of investigative journalism most true crime podcasts lack. While it’s no Serial (and doesn’t pretend to be), the Murdaugh Murders Podcast is one of the more honest and ethical approaches to real-time investigative true crime podcasting out there.

29. Dr. Death: Miracle Man Season 3

What it covers: True crime, medical malpractice, thriller

Why it’s great: After a very successful first two seasons, this popular Wondery series released arguably its most fascinating and horrifying season yet with the case of once world-renowned surgeon Dr. Paolo Macchiarini. From NBC TV news producer Benita Alexander to a prestigious Swedish medical institution, Macchiarini charmed countless people into crossing serious ethical boundaries in his pursuit of a supposedly ground-breaking procedure. Even as the bodies and lies of grandeur piled up, many found themselves willing to excuse Macchiarini’s atrocities in his pathologically ambitious pursuit of inspiring medical innovation. Told mostly through Benita Alexander’s perspective as she’s seduced into compromising her journalistic integrity for the fabulously romantic fairytale Macchiarini spins, this season adds a personal layer of betrayal that hits especially hard.

30. 9/12

What it covers: Culture, society, recent history, politics, racism, America

Why it’s great: Despite the ominous promise to “never forget,” it’s hard to remember exactly how much 9/11 changed the U.S. That’s what Pineapple Street Studios’ 9/12 is all about, as host Dan Taberski examines all the new realities people found themselves in after the attacks. From The Onion’s struggle to recalibrate what humor meant post-9/11 to the longlasting explosion of Islamophobia that traumatized so many in America, there plenty of things we need to remember in this 20th anniversary year of 9/11. But what matters more than anything is rethinking and re-processing the nationalistic narratives we were fed for decades.

31. Deathbed Confessions

What it covers: True crime, murder, conspiracy, mystery, thriller

Why it’s great: Life’s too short to die with secrets, which is perhaps why the deathbed can often become like a religious confessional, unburdening souls of what they promised to take to the crave. This Parcast Spotify Original tells the stories of the most dramatic final reveals of people’s lives, with lifelong held secrets that may help unravel everything from the truth of an unsolved Hollywood murder to Jimmy Hoffa’s infamous “disappearance.” Combining gossip with true crime and a sprinkle of human drama, the podcast is a good bit of scandalizing fun.

32. Sounds Like a Cult

What it covers: Pop culture, society, sociology, celebrity, internet culture, modern zeitgeist

Why it’s great: In case you haven’t been paying attention, cult mentality has casually seeped into an unprecedented amount of mainstream culture. It’s becoming increasingly hard to tell the difference between what is and isn’t a legit cult, which is where Sounds Like a Cult comes in. Different from most other recent podcasts diving into the topic of conspiracies and cults, looking beyond the Q Anon of it all to find the culty warning flags in everything from Soul Cycle to stan culture to the cult of personality driving influencers’ rise. Author of Cultish, Amanda Montell, and documentarian/comedian Isabela Medina bring a non-judgmental attitude to analyzing the variety of fanatical subgroups we all find ourselves in today to unpack exactly how culty (or concerning) they are or not.

33. Nice Try! Interior, Season Two

What it covers: Society, sociology, history, psychology, domesticity, consumerism, women’s issues, technology

Why it’s great: Last season, Nice Try! host Avery Trufelman explored the many different ways human beings have sought utopia across the world and throughout history. But in the podcast’s fascinating new season, Trufelman zooms in on one of the most universal visions of utopia still being universally sought today that’s sure to hit close to home: the domestic sphere. By talking to historians and experts about the overlooked impacts of inventions like the doorbell and vacuum, Trufelman reveals how much the interiors of our homes reflect and shape the interiors of our humanity. She takes it a step further into the future, too, looking at what the home and lifestyle tech seeking to improve our interiors say about contemporary society.

34. Not Past It

What it covers: History, society, culture, America, injustice, racism, xenophobia, sexism

Why it’s great: Each week, this Gimlet podcast revisits a historical event that happened in the past on that very same week. While this format isn’t new for history podcasts, host Simone Polanen brings that compelling je ne sais quoi needed which truly connects history to the now in a way that makes it come alive for modern audiences. Covering everything from the racist atrocities that really haunt the sensationalized Lake Lanier to the immigrant woman who was tried as a witch in 1930s Detroit, Not Past It focuses on the part of America’s past it’d rather forget. But as the title suggests, there’s a reason why so many want to ensure these stories remain present in our memories so they’re not repeated in the future.

35. I’m Not a Monster

What it covers: Politics, war, family, ISIS

Why it’s great: A new limited series from Frontline PBS and BBC Panorama, this investigative podcast tells the shocking story of how one American family wound up in the heart of ISIS. Journalist Josh Baker takes listeners on his own harrowing four-year journey investigating an American mother who moved to Syria, leading to a now-infamous 2017 ISIS propaganda video of her 10-year-old son training to be a soldier and threatening then President Trump. With direct access to the family, Baker unravels their winding, wrought, and poignant story filled with unanswerable questions.

36. The Slit Verse

What it covers: Fiction, horror, fantasy, immersive storytelling

Why it’s great: If you’re a fan of expansive, unsettling fiction podcasts in the tradition of Tanis or Welcome to Nightvale, then the Slit Verses will be right up your alley. A self-described “weird fiction” and “folks horror” audio journey, it builds its alternate fantasy world slowly and deliberately, starting small with two characters on a mysterious mission before expanding out. Immersing you in a mesmerizingly eerie soundscape, it’s sure to get your heart racing and keep your mind hypnotized.

37. Human Resources

What it covers: History, slavery, injustice, British culture

Why it’s great: History, especially horrifyingly painful history, is too often removed from the humanity of the people who lived through it and inherit its consequences. But for host Moya Lothian-McLean, a British journalist who is also descended from enslaved Black Africans and their white oppressors, the conflicts of the past are still very present in day-to-day life. In this Broccoli Productions series, Lothian-McLean talks to historians and experts to understand the full scope and human cost of British participation in the Transatlantic Slave Trade. From chocolate production to the tradition of country manors, Lothian-McLean reveals how every aspect of British culture remains steeped in a past that many would rather forget.

This post was originally published on June 19, 2021. It was updated with more podcast recommendations and republished on Nov. 23, 2021.