From the mic to your ear

Whether you like Dua Lipa or Joe Rogan, a celebrity podcast will spice up your day

SLOUGH, ENGLAND:

If you are in a bit of a music rut and want to branch out into the world of podcasts – or are itching to broaden your existing podcast playlist – then allow us to gently nudge you in the direction of celebrity podcasts.

Hallmark of a good podcast

Those who are already connoisseurs of celebrity podcasts will have already gleaned that the format is a goldmine when digging into what the rich and famous are up to. With big-ticket names such as Oprah Winfrey (no stranger to hosting), actor Kate Hudson and comedian Conan O'Brien having held sway behind the microphone during their time, listeners have a long list of treats in store for them.

Naturally, it is not enough to dump a famous person behind a microphone. To keep listeners hooked, every successful podcast needs three things: a personable host, an assembly line of interesting guests, and a smorgasbord of interesting topics designed to engineer conversation. What's more, that podcast needs to be churning out content on a regular basis. Here is a slew of celeb-led podcasts worthy of your attention.

'Dua Lipa: At Your Service'

Dua Lipa doesn't just bring the house down on the stage; she holds away behind the microphone in her podcast Dua Lipa: At Your Service. Running in her third season, the pop powerhouse engages in light-hearted conversation with internationally renowned artists, thought leaders and cultural icons. The topics under discussion? Reinvention, relationships, resilience, creativity, and the vast landscape of human experiences. The premiere of season 3 saw Dua chat with Chicken Shop Date host Amelia Dimoldenberg. If that has not caught your eye (or ear), you can also look forward to hearing from BLACKPINK's Jennie Kim, star of Netflix's You (and podcaster) Penn Badgley.

'SmartLess'

Ozark star Jason Bateman has teamed up with his onscreen brother and former Arrested Development co-star Will Arnett, as well as Sean Hayes of Will and Grace to bring us SmartLess, where they take turns inviting another celebrity guest. If you want to know more about the ins and outs of being involved in a show or a film, this is the podcast to tune in to. In each episode, one of the hosts reveals his mystery guest to the other two in the intro. Following that, each host attempts to interview the guest on the spot. Improvisation is the name of the game, with each conversation lending itself to sheer organic hilarity. Guests have included big names such as Bradley Cooper, Tom Hanks, and Mike Myers.

'Unqualified'

Anna Faris has several claims to fame. Who remembers Erica from Friends, the biological mother of Chandler and Monica's twins? Or perhaps Cindy from the Scary Movie franchise? Formerly married to Chris Pratt, Faris now seeks to give completely unqualified relationship advice on her podcast. "Hi, I'm Anna Faris," she writes in her intro on her podcast's website. "I started this podcast with zero qualifications, only curiosity, the desire to connect, and a genuine interest in your life and stories. I hope you will join me in the experiment." So far, Faris's experiment has featured celebrity guests along the likes of Kevin Bacon, Christina Ricci, David Duchovny, and many more.

'The Armchair Expert'

Comedian and actor Dax Shepard (also known as the husband of Frozen actor Kristen Bell), heads his interview podcast alongside his co-host and assistant Monica Padman. "Welcome to The Armchair Expert, a podcast that celebrates the messiness of being human." If the messiness of being human is something that sounds right up your street, this is the podcast for you featuring a wide array of musicians, writers, athletes, scientists, comedians, actors, and directors on the guest list. Introducing a personal element, Shepard often discusses his own struggles with addiction and childhood sexual abuse. Well-known guests have included Ben Stiller, Mandy Moore, and Neil Patrick Harris.

'Tell Me'

Although currently on hiatus, Ellen Pompeo's podcast is a must-have for any Grey's Anatomy fan who still hasn't got enough of the show after 21 seasons. (Pompeo played the beloved Meredith Gray on the award-winning critically acclaimed medical drama Grey's Anatomy.) Still available on Spotify and Apple Music, Pompeo's podcast sits down with a range of guests and celebrity friends who have inspired her and do extraordinary things. Through in-depth, candid conversations, Pompeo shines a light on people and issues that are important to her and the world at large. She also discusses the behind-the-scenes of taping Grey's Anatomy for so many years, with past castmates like Patrick Dempsey, Kate Walsh, and Eric Dane – which, of course, is why most listeners would hit play in the first place.

Casually causing controversy

Those who with a business bent would know Steven Bartlett the author of the hugely popular self-help book Diary of a CEO. Bartlett also made a name for himself as a Dragon on Dragons' Den (the British version of Shark Tank) and as host of his Diary of a CEO podcast. However, it has not all been a bed of roses for Bartlett, who recently received flak for hosting alternative-medicine-loving guests promoting medical misinformation contradicting scientific evidence.

Of course, if you are on the lookout for podcasts involving problematic health opinions, it would be hard to beat The Joe Rogan Experience. Not shy about courting controversy, Rogan made a name for himself mid-pandemic for airing his numerous disputed claims about viruses, vaccines, and lockdowns. Not only has Rogan made a name for himself with his controversial medical claims, his podcast is available wherever podcasts are found, so easily moulded listeners would be advised to tread with caution.