7 Top New October 2022 Podcasts

You won’t find any true crime podcasts here! I know true crime isn’t for everyone and I too enjoy some non true crime podcast listening. This month I have found these great non true crime podcasts that I am excited to share with you. As the darker Autumn evenings begin, these seven podcasts are guaranteed to keep you entertained.

If you are looking for some new true crime podcasts, check out my latest blog Top 7 New October 2022 True Crime Podcasts.

1. Head Noise - Hosted By James Graham - The Australian.

This six-part investigative podcast series looks into the:

“… long-term consequences of concussion and the risks, rewards and responsibilities involved in playing contact sports.” (Source here)

The investigation is led by former rugby league player James Graham who played as:

“… a prop who spent 17 years in first grade and Tests, and was renowned for his fearless, hard-tackling style, famously breaking the cheekbone of fellow star Sam Burgess in the 2014 NRL Grand Final.” (Source here)

Graham has committed to donating his brain to science and in this series he embarks on tests and brain scans to establish the extent of damage to his brain. Graham reveals that he has had over one hundred concussion during his rugby career and is anxious about what the future has in store for him. He hopes to “delay the onset of dementia and other neurodegenerative conditions”.

This podcast is so interesting, it is packed full of interviews with other ex-players who describe their own experiences as professional athletes in various contact sports. All six episodes are available now.

2. Obscene: The Dublin Scandal - Hosted By Adrian Dunbar - BBC Radio 5 Live.

I stumbled upon this podcast and I am so glad I did! Narrated by Adrian Dunbar, this seven-part podcast gives a detailed account of a bizarre moment in Irish history:

“In the summer of 1982, two seemingly random killings occurred within the space of days, sparking Ireland’s biggest manhunt. The smartly-dressed suspect, Malcolm MacArthur, was eventually found hiding in the home of Ireland’s Attorney General.” (Source here).

It is actually hard to believe that these events actually took place in Ireland in the 80s, two murders that absolutely rocked the nation of Ireland.

In the first episodes we hear from some famous Irish figures including Irish award-winning novelist Colm Toibin and Fintan O’Tool from The Irish Times. A really well produced captivating podcast from BBC Radio 5 Live.

3. Lost At Sea - Hosted By Rachel Monroe - BBC Podcasts.

Keith Davies was a fisheries observer with over 15 years of experience when he vanished 500 miles of the coast of Peru. This seven-part podcast series investigates Keith’s mysterious disappearance:

“In August 2015 Keith boarded a tuna vessel but when the ship returned to port a month later, Keith wasn’t on it.” (Source here).

The best word to describe this podcast is enthralling - there is only one episode available so far on Spotify and I am checking daily for new episodes, my patience is running out! All episodes are available on Apple for those of you who have a subscription there.

4. Against The Odds: Wildfire in Paradise (Season 18) - Hosted By Mike Corey & Cassie De Pecil for Wondery.

I think everyone remembers the massive 2018 wildfire that savaged a large area of California. This season of Against The Odds: Wildfire in Paradise is an in-depth examination and re-telling of this event, through the eyes of those who fled from it, helped flight it and were left picking up the pieces after it:

“In the early morning of November 8, 2018, a faulty electrical line sparked a fire in the woods of Butte County, California. Spurred on by high winds and dry brush from extreme drought, the fire spread faster than anyone had ever seen before. In a little over an hour, it arrived in the town of Paradise, California, forcing 27,000 residents to flee for their lives.” (Source here).

From the two episodes that are available I have been struck by how palpable the fear is. Through the descriptions provided you can really imagine the scenes that were unfolding as the fire spread and people struggled to leave the town of Paradise on roads that were gridlocked with traffic.

If you like this podcast, another excellent Against The Odds series that I featured in my April Jewels: Podcasts For You podcast blog is their account of the 2018 Thai Cave Rescue.

5. Even The Rich: Drew Barrymore: Rewriting the Story - Hosted By Brooke Siffrinn & Aricia Skidmore-Williams for Wondery.

This is a podcast which never disappoints, it is the perfect easy listening option, guaranteed to make you laugh. I still absolutely love the hosts too, they just work so well together!

Even The Rich: Drew Barrymore: Rewriting the Story is of course all about Drew Barrymore. This four-part series tells us all about the Barrymore’s that came before Drew before we hear Drew’s own personal story:

“Drew Barrymore might just be the prime example of troubled child stardom. But before there was Drew, there was her famous family — and the troubled legacy they left behind.” (Source here).

While I knew some of Drew’s story, I had no idea of all the drama that came before Drew and even the extent of the drama that was Drew’s early life!

If you have followed this blog for a while, you will know I am a big fan of Even The Rich. There are now 32 seasons!! Here are my top recommendations that you should check out next if you like the Drew Barrymore story:

6. Burn Wild - Hosted By Leah Sottile - BBC Radio 5 live.

Burn Wild is an eight-part podcast series hosted by Leah Sottile which revisits a 2005 environmentalist movement in the USA that subsequently became classified as an “eco-terrorist movement” and the two key figures involved became fugitives when they were branded “domestic terrorists”:

“For over a decade, a pair of mugshots have lived side by side on the FBI’s website, on its list of America’s Most Wanted Domestic Terrorists. The government says these fugitives were part of an eco-terrorist movement that in 2005 the then Deputy Assistant Director of the FBI called the number one domestic terrorism threat in America.” (Source here).

We hear directly from one of the fugitives (now that he has finally been caught) as well as other key figures from the 2005 era of environmentalist actions. This is a really interesting podcast that will have you asking yourself some important questions about the environment, what you class as terrorism and how far is too far to go in the name of protecting the environment.

There are five episodes available now.

7. Wolves Among Us - Hosted By Stephen Seidel - C13Originals.

Wolves Among Us is a highly entertaining podcast jam packed full with funny and sometimes hard to believe anecdotes about the life of Larry Lavin.

On the surface, there was nothing remarkable about Larry Lavin. He lived in a quiet neighborhood with his wife and family, drove a Volvo, and practiced dentistry in Philadelphia. But, from 1978 to 1984, Dr. Lavin moonlighted as one of the largest cocaine kingpins on the Eastern Seaboard.” (Source here).

Hearing Lavin’s life story in his own words is what makes this such a compelling podcast. He lived a crazy life and some of the stories are just bonkers! Overall though, Lavin is really likeable and I am dying to know where this story (his life) goes next!

There are five episodes available so far.

If you've any questions, suggestions or just want to say hello, contact me via the Contact Form, Instagram (@noroadlongenough) or By Email noroadlongenough1@gmail.com