Pick of the Podcasts: Famous Fates, Intercepted, Binge Mode

If there’s one thing more fascinating than the lives of famous people then it’s famous people whose lives are cut short.

You can trace a line from Cleopatra all the way to Marilyn Monroe to see our fascination with tragic figures who die all too soon.

The macabre topic now has its own show. No surprise really since podcasts seem to be where macabre topics have found their natural home.

Famous Fates delves into the lives, and more importantly deaths, of these famous figures.Whether it’s death by snake venom or barbiturate overdose, the sad demise of a whole host of characters are covered.

While most podcasts give you an episode or two a week if you’re lucky, Famous Fates’ 30-minute instalments arrive in clusters of five, all grouped into their own categories.

First up was Hollywood icons – featuring Marilyn, as well as Humphrey Bogart, James Dean and John Candy.

Then there are the mysterious deaths, where you can find out what we know – and what we don’t – about Billy the Kid, Rasputin and Harry Houdini. And in a morbid nod to gender equality, influential women like Princess Diana, Amelia Earhart and Joan of Arc all have their fates explored.

The first podcast arrived on December 11 and, remarkably, we’re on to episode 30 – the life and death of Caligula – already.

There are five more episodes due this Wednesday – and every Wednesday after that.

That’s a lot of life and death.

Famous Fates (Spotify)

Intercepted (The Intercept)

Don’t know enough about the 2019 coup in Bolivia, China’s treatment of Uighur Muslims, or the cover-up of CIA torture?

Catch up with Intercepted, a podcast about news stories which sometimes fly under the mainstream radar.

Fearless journalism, and very critical of some of the world’s most powerful governments.

Binge Mode (The Ringer)

Star Wars may have concluded in underwhelming fashion with The Rise Of Skywalker last month but the movies – and the toys, games and books – will live on.

Binge Mode takes Star Wars apart by focusing on an individual element of the movies each week.

The Jar Jar Binks episode is a highlight.

Not a Star Wars fan? The team have also dissected Harry Potter and Game Of Thrones.