On this, the longest day of the year, we celebrate the summer solstice, not by dressing down to our knackers and playing the flute on a Somerset hill, but by going through some of the latest offerings from podcast-land…

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The Pink House with Sam Smith – “In the Family Room with Gloria Estefan”

Howzat? 5.4 / 6

Surprisingly very, very good. Starts with a diarised note from Smith setting the scene for the interview with Estefan. Genuinely bold creativity which is refreshing in a sea of chat show dross. The interview itself has context, which – no matter what you think of either – makes it an enjoyable listen.  

RK

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Bridgerton: The Official Podcast – “Inside the Ton: The Wallflower”

Howzat? 1.2 / 6

The host has access – executive producer Betsy Beers – but it doesn’t evoke the flutters the TV show brings in spades. It sounds scripted, and that’s the danger about scripts, ironically. Most of the episode is basically telling us that there’s a new season forthcoming. WE GET IT! Guests reveal some cute insights but this is only for superfans. 

GF

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The Self Love Revolution – “How to be alone”

Howzat? 0.1 / 6

“Hi, I’m Lu, a 53-year-old ray of fucking sunshine… and I’m here to teach you…” Stop. No, thank you. Get into the fucking sea with that sententious tosh. 

PP

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Heroes & Humans of Football – “Messi & Argentina: A Love Story (of sorts)

Howzat? 3.6 / 6

A show for the pot-bellied, swearing alcoholic, terraced-hugging fan, this is not – Heroes & Humans of Football aims to bring some cultural narrative to the beautiful game and is presented by the typical ‘class geeks’ [read: newspaper journalists], who preferred analysing statistical data in a darkened room rather than playing ‘jumpers for goalposts’ in the school playground. Odd listening during a European Championship but solid nevertheless. 

RK

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Shrink The Box – “CHANDLER BING: could it BE any more complicated?”

Howzat? 1.9 / 6

It’s weird that Kermode and Mayo introduced the podcast but hey, we’ll let that go. What’s even weirder are the pairing of Ben Bailey Smith and Namone Metaxes: both sound like they should be presenting on Smooth FM, rather than offer cutting insight into the nuisance of television characters, á la The Rest Is Entertainment. Meh.