Pick of the podcasts: How Did We Get Here?, The Secret’s Out, Comfort Eating With Grace Dent

How Did We Get Here? is a question most of us have asked at least once in the past couple of years.

With unprecedented political upheaval, the campaign to defeat racism, and the global pandemic, our world has changed forever.

In their hugely popular series, Strictly presenter Claudia Winkleman and clinical psychologist professor Tanya Byron concentrate on issues as they are faced by individuals rather than the population as a whole. But in doing so, they touch on the concerns of many people who might be going through something similar.

Each episode of the British Podcast Award-nominated series is a conversation with a real person who is feeling stuck in an area of their life.

Topics range from anxiety, phobias and identity to PTSD, grief, sexuality and unexpected, life-changing events – no matter the subject, the themes of loss, guilt, love and forgiveness are universal. In each of the 12 episodes in the third series, Winkleman listens to the conversation to discover how the professor unlocks the story behind each issue, and asks questions about how Byron guides the guests forward to a place of clarity.

Among the unsung heroes we hear from is a frontline worker involved in the aftermath of the 7/7 bombings.

This is not the first time Radio 2 presenter Winkleman and Byron have teamed up to help people with their struggles.

First airing in 2005 on BBC Three, The House Of Tiny Tearaways helped parents turn around their family lives. They checked in to the House with their children for six days of 24-hour observation and parenting support.

Since then, the pair have become close friends, creating the concept of this podcast together.

Apple, Spotify, Acast

Comfort Eating With Grace Dent (Spotify, Apple)

Restaurant critic Grace Dent might be used to eating in high-class establishments through her job, but are they really the most important meals? She believes it’s comfort food that holds a special place in our hearts – and stomachs!

She talks to famous names about some of their favourite comfort meals, such as writer Russell T Davies, who describes a Woolworth’s pork and egg pie as holding special meaning.

The Secret’s Out (Apple)

YouTube star Alfie Deyes is back with a second series and a strong line-up of celebrity guests, including Giovanna and Tom Fletcher, Diversity’s Perri and Jordan, and Vicky Pattison and her mum, as they uncover the weird and wonderful secrets his 18 million followers have anonymously submitted.

The guests will also reveal some of their secrets, too, making for some embarrassing and hilarious confessions.