The Weekend Listener is an eclectic weekly list of noteworthy podcasts and radio recordings, old and new, curated for your listening pleasure. Posts in this series are published on Fridays, starting with September 30, 2022, coinciding with the International Podcast Day.
LANGUAGE
Accent bias is defined as a discriminatory attitude toward speakers who speak with an accent, whether it’s learners trying to speak a foreign language, or native speakers with a pronounced local or regional accent. Word of Mouth host Michael Rosen interviews Prof. Devyani Sharma on the current research into accent bias in the UK.
LITERATURE
In this BBC Radio 4 programme, veteran broadcaster Melvyn Bragg and his guests discuss one of the most enduring and perennially relevant works of classical Greek literature, Sophocles’ Antigone, and the ethical questions it raises. The web page also contains a very useful reading list.
LEARNING ENGLISH
Truman Capote, 1924-1984: Created the First Nonfiction Novel With ‘In Cold Blood’
Truman Capote was a celebrated and influential American writer, born in New Orleans on September 30, 1924. In this programme produced by VOA Learning English you can learn about his most important works, including his novel Breakfast at Tiffany’s. The listening and reading material has been designed for intermediate-level students.
EFL/ESL students might also want to read my post on how to use VOA Learning English resources effectively before listening to this programme.
HISTORY
The Almanac of Ireland: Of Comets and Kings
The Almanac of Ireland is a series of radio programmes on various aspects of Irish culture. In this fascinating episode you can find out how the study of anomalous climate events and ring patterns on ancient Irish oaks informs the current understanding of the 6th century Christianisation of Ireland.
CULTURE & SOCIETY
Part of a series of CBC Radio programmes on the subject of home, this insightful episode of Ideas with Nahlah Ayed explores how the sense of home changes for people who have been forcibly displaced. Is one’s home a place of residence, the place where they were born and raised, or something else? Once forced to leave home, is it possible to go back?
RELIGION & SPIRITUALITY
Beyond Belief: Autism and Faith
Ernie Rea, the host of Beyond Belief, talks to academic researchers and people of faith on the subject of autism and religion. Do religious experiences of autistic people differ from others? How can faith-based communities better understand the spiritual needs of autistic people and learn from their insights?
Is there a podcast episode you’d like to recommend? You’re very welcome to share it with us in the comments section below.
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