Pick of the podcasts: Slow Burn, The Art Of Change, Bestsellers

Slow Burn has been recommended here a few times before and there’s a good reason for that.

Each series of the podcast – which examines a particular subject – has been a fascinating deep dive into recent American history. But Slow Burn isn’t just an excuse to retread past events.

Not according to Gabriel Roth, who produced the series.

“One of the things Slow Burn does is find the stories from the past that are broadly known in summary, but maybe not deeply remembered by the broader audience,” he explained.

“Particularly stories that have a connection to what’s happening in our world in our politics today. And, when you’re thinking in those terms, there’s no more important story right now than the resurgence of white nationalism, not only as a popular phenomenon, but as something with a presence in mainstream politics at the highest levels.”

White nationalism is what the fourth series of Slow Burn picks apart – particularly in America, and particularly the Ku Klux Klan. This series looks at the rise of David Duke.

He came to prominence in the 1980s and ’90s after gaining political office in Louisiana, before launching a campaign to join the US Senate despite being a Nazi sympathiser and former Klan leader. It was also a personal issue for presenter Josh Levin, according to Gabriel.

“He has a strong connection to this story, in particular, because he’s a native Louisianan,” said Gabriel.

“As a member of the Jewish community in Louisiana at the time, I think the threat of David Duke’s rise in local politics was a very urgent and frightening presence in the background of his life.

“This is a story he had always wanted to tell, and it felt like Slow Burn is the right form for him to do just that.”

Apple Podcasts, Spotify

The Art Of Change, Apple Podcasts

The Art of Change is a series where we meet artists who are passionate about changing the world. Join writer, actor, comedian and campaigner Stephen Fry in conversation with journalist Chris Gunness for a four-part series.Here, Stephen looks at Beethoven. In episode one, he reads from the composer’s Heiligenstadt Testament which leads to a discussion about music, art and the power of art.

Bestsellers, Apple Podcasts

Forget snobbery about books. Bestsellers is here for book fans. This podcast is about big-selling, easy-to-read books, perfect for reading on the beach, on the bus or in bed. Expect authors like David Nicholls, Lynda La Plante and Michael Connolly, who all read extracts of their latest novels. Together, hosts Phil Williams and Natalie Jamieson are going to find out what it takes to be a bestseller.Slow Burn