The Pod Files - Monday 22 December 2025

 

The ‘casts -

(Notes spoken to Siri, and edited later if I remember

(Changed tactic now where starred dialogue denotes quoting from the show’s own notes

The Last Word with Matt Cooper - 22 December 2025: *Remembering Driving Home For Christmas Singer Chris Rea - With news that Driving Home For Christmas singer Chris Rea has died age 74, John Caddell joins Matt to talk about his career and some of his biggest hits. / We also some memories of Chris Rea from listeners. 

Love Purpose Connection with Estelle Bingham - 18 December 2025: *If you've lost a pet, this is the podcast for you! - Matt Johnsons on Pet Grief, Masculinity & Finding Purpose - What happens when you finally say how you feel, after years of not having the tools, the language, or the permission to do so? / In this deeply honest and emotional episode of Love Purpose Connection, Estelle is joined by Matt Johnsons for a conversation about men's mental health, masculinity, grief, and the unexpected ways love finds us, even through the heartbreak of losing a pet. / Matt shares how growing up without emotional tools as a working-class man left him struggling in silence, how speaking about his feelings quite literally saved his life, and how spaces for honest male connection helped him feel less alone. He opens up about depression, shame, masculinity, and the courage it takes to be sensitive in a world that often tells men not to be. / At the heart of this episode is grief, particularly the profound heartbreak of losing his beloved pug. Matt reflects on how having a dog gave him purpose, eased loneliness, and ultimately taught him unconditional love. / Losing him broke his heart, but also cracked it open in a way that forever changed how he loves himself and others and how this lead to his RSPCA campaign to help people grieving a pet have a voice.

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day - 22 December 2025: temporize

Podnews Daily - 22 December 2025: *YouTube podcast consumption: 700 million hours on TV - That's a big number! We put it in context.

StarDate - 21 December 2025: Southern Solstice

Six O'Clock News - 22 December 2025: *The singer and musician Chris Rea dies at the age of 74 - The singer and musician Chris Rea dies at the age of 74. / He had a string of hits, including the festive classic, written when he was on the dole and banned from getting behind the wheel. In other news, a senior Russian general is killed in a car bomb attack in Moscow. A large hole opens up in a canal in Shropshire, leaving some narrowboat stranded at the bottom of the crater. / Got my car and I went outside with my torch and there was no water in the canal. I was on the bottom. I was actually on the bottom of the canal. / Denmark warns the US to respect its sovereignty, as Donald Trump appoints an envoy to Greenland, a territory he says he wants to annex. Also tonight, a lengthy prison sentence for a cowboy builder who conned victims across the west of England. The price of gold reaches a new record high and a trial of driverless taxes is set to begin in London. / The musician Chris Rea, whose hits include the festive song Driving Home for Christmas, has died at the age of 74. / A statement on behalf of his family said he died in hospital following a short illness. As well as his Christmas classic, Chris Rea had success in the late 70s and 80s with Fall If You Think It's Over and The Road to Hell. / He suffered multiple health issues throughout his life, including pancreatic cancer and a stroke. Chris Rea often said in interviews that he wasn't frightened of dying. 

BirdNote Daily - 21 July 2023: *Architecture for Avians - During her first year at the Yale School of Architecture, Kenyan graduate student Barbara Nasila was tasked to design a hypothetical outdoor pavilion in a local neighborhood called Dixwell, featuring an original copy of the enslaver John James Audubon's book, The Birds of America. As Barbara got to know Dixwell, she realized that there was already an existing conversation about birds in the community. She designed an urban oasis with bird habitat and space for community groups — but she left out The Birds of America, feeling that Audubon wouldn't have cared about this project.

7 Good Minutes - 11 October 2025: You Don't Need to Be Ready, Just Present

Odd One Out - 9 December 2025: Brazil or Canada?

5 Minute Advice for Authors - season 1 episode 42: 7 August 2024: Oscar Trimboli on Listening Beyond Words - In this episode of "5 Minute Advice for Authors," Oscar Trimboli, author of "How to Listen: Discover the Hidden Key to Better Communication," explains that listening goes far beyond hearing someone's words. Oscar teaches how to listen for what is not said. / Additionally, Oscar offers advice on various ways to disseminate one's message beyond the traditional book format. He discusses creating multiple expressions of an idea, such as audio formats, visual books, and interactive quizzes, to engage a broader audience and enhance the impact of the core message. Finally, He highlights the supportive environment provided by Stephen, his audiobook director, who not only helped coordinate multiple voice actors but also created a space that allowed Oscar to deliver his best work comfortably.

7 Good Minutes - 11 October 2025: 7 Good Minutes: Extra - The door to transformation opens...

TED Health - 28 November 2022: *It's impossible to have healthy people on a sick planet - This week on TED Health, we are revisiting an episode focused on the Hippocratic Oath. It states: "first, do no harm" and is one of the world's oldest codes of ethics. It governs the work of physicians -- but climate and health campaigner Shweta Narayan says it should go further. In this essential talk, she highlights the interdependence of environmental and human health and emphasizes the necessity of placing health at the heart of all climate solutions.

Science Quickly - 26 February 2015: *Britain Imported Wheat 2,000 Years before Growing It - Sediments at a Britsh archaeological site include wheat remains dating back 8,000 years, meaning that Britons were bringing in European wheat two millennia before they grew it. Cynthia Graber reports. 

Daily Dad Jokes - 22 July 2025: National Day of the Cowboys 

The Slowdown - episode 1235: 8 November 2024: Today's poem is On Being by Ruben Quesada.

DASH - Season 1 Episode 21: 27 November 2024: *Dash Season 1: There's More To The Story.. - ...and we're back. In this brief announcement Dash co-creator Dave Ebersole and Dash podcast executive producer Mick Loro announce the formation of their new artistic project Lightbooth Blackout, Dash: Season 2, a new Patreon page to get exclusive Dash content (both podcasts and comics) and a teaser for our new 4 episode mini series that will lead directly into Season 2. We're calling it The Case of The Ghost and The Tomb. 

MinuteEarth - 25 April 2025: Monoclonal Antibodies How to Turn Cancer Against Itself

Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus - season 3 episode 8: 11 December 2024: *Julia Gets Wise with Rita Moreno - On today's episode of Wiser Than Me, Julia connects with EGOT-winning actress, singer, and dancer Rita Moreno on her 93rd birthday. / The two discuss why Rita almost backed out of her Oscar-winning turn as Anita in West Side Story and the complex emotions Rita experienced after her husband of 45 years passed away. Julia and Rita also bond over the fact that they both find Mel Brooks sexy. / Later, Julia talks with her 90-year-old mom, Judith, about seeing the original West Side Story on Broadway and how musicals can be an important vehicle for storytelling.

The Stupid History Minute - 22 December 2025: BB-8 Droid 

Daily Tips That May or May Not Help You - season 3 episode 16: 22 December 2025: *A Tip For Keeping Your Fridge Clean - Line your fridge drawers with paper towels or aluminium foil before storing items that might leak. When spills happen, simply remove and replace the lining instead of scrubbing the drawer. A small preparation that saves major cleanup headaches.

BirdNote Daily - 22 July 2023: *Nest Boxes Help Bring Birds Back - Wherever you live, chances are a sweet-singing, cavity-nesting bird would be happy to perform in your yard — and it might stick around it you offer it a cozy nest box, like the one this Carolina Wren enjoys. Natural cavities, like old woodpecker holes, are often in short supply. So putting up a box in the right place — and that's the right size to accommodate them — is truly an act of stewardship.

SmartLess Presents ClueLess - episode 87: 22 December 2025: *Christmas Mini! - On this miniature holiday episode of ClueLess, host Elliott Kalan (and Producer Devon) gather 'round the ol' fireplace sound effects to pose some questions to you about holiday traditions around the world, and then to play a round of Peace, Love, and Joy, where every answer will contain one of those words! Hope you got something nice in your stocking!

Daily Life Pro Tips - 4 November 2025

Naked Scientists In Short - episode 183: 6 September 2012: *BSF 2012 - Finding Higgs and Mining Heat - In this special edition of the Naked Scientists from the British Science Festival, we get the latest news from the Large Hadron Collider, including their scientific shopping list, and find out how heat pumps could extract household heating from abandoned mines...

Question of the Week - episode 543: 8 December 2023: *What is a black hole made up of? - Thanks to Cambridge University's Ben Allanach for the answer!

Womanica - 2 June 2021: Dorothy Arzner

5 Good News Stories - 11 May 2025:,*Heartwarming Rescues, Adventurous Spirits, and Dinosaur Discoveries

The Daily Quiz Show - 27 October 2025: Sports and Leisure 

7 Minutes For Yourself - 17 Jun 2024: Start Strong: The Ultimate Guide to Crafting a Successful Morning Routine

Daily Comedy News with Johnny Mac - 21 December 2025: *Dave Chappelle's Surprise Special Reviewed and Bowen Yang's SNL Farewell - Johnny Mac discusses Dave Chappelle's unexpected Netflix special, giving it a strong review and comparing it to other top comedy specials of the year. He reflects on Chappelle's performance and the unusual release strategy. / The episode also covers Bowen Yang's emotional departure from Saturday Night Live and speculates on his future career moves. / Additionally, there's a brief mention of a physical altercation at Conan O'Brien's holiday party, and a review of Kumail Nanjiani's special, which Johnny finds prety good, but is suspect of some reviews oout there.

The Daily Poem - 18 October 2025: *The Lonesome Wanderer and the River's Unheard Lament - Today's poem is about Unhappiness in the style of Octavio Paz. / Poems generated from OpenAl ChatGPT API with proprietary prompts. / This podcast is produced by Klassic Studios.

Consider This from NPR - 16 December 2025: *The U.S. is interested in Venezuelan oil, but that's not all - Tensions between Venezuela and the U.S. have been growing over the past few months. / And last Wednesday, the pressure point was oil. / The U.S. government seized a tanker it says was filled with illegal oil headed to the black market, in violation of sanctions. / The seizure was an unprecedented move. / And it represents an escalation in the standoff between the two countries. In recent months, the U.S. has struck nearly two dozen suspected drug boats in nearby waters, issued new sanctions targeting Venezuela, and increased its naval presence in the Caribbean. / The U.S. has long had economic and political interests in Venezuela. And the oil industry there has been a key part of that relationship. / Francisco Monaldi, director of the Latin American Energy Program at the Baker Institute at Rice University, explains how the two nations got to this point.

Daily Shower Thoughts - 13 October 2025

Charles Dickens Ghost Stories - Season 1 Episode 2: 8 December 2025: *A Christmas Carol: Part Two - As foretold by Marley's ghost, Scrooge is visited by two more spirits: the Ghost of Christmas Present and the Ghost of Christmas-Yet-To-Come. But will their lessons be enough to prompt the old miser to mend his ways - in time for Christmas Day?

Merry Christmas! Daily Christmas Stories - 13 December 2025: A Cowboy's Christmas Ball - William Lawrence Chittenden. 

Season's Readings - 14 November 2025: *A Set of Poe - a Classic Holiday Tale by George Ade - George Ade's A Set of Poe follows Mr. Waterby, a man who wants just one indulgence: a beautifully bound set of Edgar Allan Poe. When his wife discourages the purchase, he spirals inward, convincing himself she must be selfish and unloving. The small misunderstanding blossoms into resentment, silent punishment, and wounded pride — until Christmas morning reveals an entirely different truth. A gentle, funny, and deeply human portrait of how love can be hidden beneath our worst assumptions. / George Ade was an American humorist at the turn of the twentieth century, best known for stories that reveal our everyday vanities and tender blind spots. He had a gift for showing how small misunderstandings can shape lives - sometimes painfully, sometimes sweetly.

Daily Facts - 5 November 2025 

Beauty Unlocked the podcast - Bonus: 21 December 2025: *The Kuntilanak Isn't a Possession Story, Until it is - Welcome, my devilish fiends! / A ghost born from childbirth and silence, the Kuntilanak haunts Indonesia's folklore as something far more unsettling than a simple possession story. / In this episode, we trace her origins through birth, blood, and grief, and examine how a woman who never needed a body sometimes ends up speaking through one. / From eerie encounters in banana groves to modern cases of mass trance and fear, the line between haunting and possession begins to blur. / This is tropical horror where folklore, gender, and modern anxiety collide.

Skipping Through Theatre - season 2 episode 7: 30 March 2025: *With Jack Trinder - Nathan and Maddie are joined by Jack who recently went on a tour around china and played Peter in Peter Pan Panto at the Castle Theatre Wellingborough. Listen as he talks about his china tour and how he got into the industry. 

The Puzzler with AJ Jacobs - 14 May 2025: "C is for Cat" w/ Michael Showalter