My Therapist Ghosted Me is one of the most popular podcasts around but what other ‘best mate’ pods should we be listening to?
It’s fair to say that comedian Joanne McNally and presenter Vogue Williams have reached the pinnacle of streaming success with their outrageously successful podcast, My Therapist Ghosted Me, which has resulted in a sold-out live show tour across the UK and Ireland.
Their edgy banter, wicked digs and outlandish admissions and revelations (Joanne admitted to wearing a nappy instead of a tampon in one memorable episode) have proved a massive hit with listeners and endeared them to millions of adoring fans.
But they’re not the only ‘friendship’ pod on the block. What do you listen to while you’re waiting for the next instalment of Joanne and Vogue? If you’d like to hear more friendly banter on life, try these on for size:
Bandwagons
Need help pretending to be an expert on everything? Self-professed ‘wagons’ Bríd Browne and Fionnuala Jones are here to help and will get you up to speed with all the things everyone else is talking about. The duo dive deep into all things pop culture that have gained sudden popularity, with topics ranging from beauty to music, television and cultural trends. If it’s trending on social media, you better believe they’re all over it.
And Another Thing
Muireann O’Connell and Emma Doran are further proof that the presenter/comedian mix is a recipe for success in their relatable, craic-filled podcast, And Another Thing. The pair state that they “add to the conversation without contributing any value” as they discuss everything from motherhood, communions and family photos of everyone wearing Christmas PJs to weddings, colleagues, aging and lots more. If you haven’t listened already, what are you waiting for?
The 2 Johnnies
You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone in Ireland, especially the midlands, who hasn’t heard of the 2 Johnnies. From their humble beginnings publishing hilarious sketches depicting life in small-town Ireland and self-released music videos on Facebook and Youtube, Johnny B and Johnny Smacks have gone on to produce Ireland’s no.1 podcast, The 2 Johnnies, release 10 no.1 Irish singles, bring live podcast shows to four continents around the world and produce three TV shows on RTÉ. The podcast is almost at the 300-episode mark, so if you’re not caught up, prepare to be entertained!
Tommy, Hector and Laurita
Unpredictable and funny, carefree and intimate, the Tommy, Hector and Laurita podcast was something three pals started in the height of lockdown that quickly became a runaway smash hit on all podcast platforms.
Controversial comic Tommy Tiernan, lovable presenter Hector Ó hEochagáin and fundraiser, producer and GAA fan Laurita Blewitt, sat around the table in a henhouse at the bottom of a garden in the West of Ireland and just started talking. The result was millions of downloads and podcast gold.
Best Friend Therapy
Elizabeth Day is the host of the wildly popular podcast How to Fail. She also happens to be best friends with a psychotherapist called Emma Reed Turrell for the last twenty years. And so, a new podcast was born. In Best Friend Therapy, the pair chat about whatever is on their minds, in order to gain a deeper understanding of their minds. They dissect topics like regret, boundaries, gaslighting and co-dependency and offer insight in how to tackle these issues with compassion in our everyday lives.
The Group Chat
If your WhatApp threads are full of news links, topical memes and political satire, this might be the friendship podcast for you. It just so happens that the three friends who host the show are also news and current affairs broadcasters for Virgin Media Ireland.
In each episode, Gavin Reilly, Zara King and Richard Chambers break down the big news stories from the week and share their experiences of reporting it to the general public. It’s also a brilliant podcast if you find the news too heavy on a daily basis but want to stay well-informed.
I’m Grand Mam
The premise was simple – two lads, originally from Cork in Ireland and now living in London, have a cuppa and catch up each week while exploring the collective life landmarks that accompany growing up gay in today’s society. Kevin Twomey and PJ Kirby had no idea that their informal chats about navigating gay London with all the virtues and vices of the city would strike such a chord with listeners. Perhaps it’s because, deep down, they vocalised what we all think when living away from home – ‘what would mam think?’ The hugely successful podcast has spawned several live shows around Ireland and even a book – the ingeniously titled The I’m Grand Mamual.
Sentimental in the City
This is more of a rewatch podcast than just a chat between friends but trust us, if you were a fan of the original Sex and the City TV series, this mini-series – an off-shoot of the great Sentimental Garbage – will bring you so much joy.
Authors and SATC superfans Caroline O’Donoghue and Dolly Alderton go through each season of the show, highlighting how they felt when they watched it first, how it holds up in today’s ‘woke’ society, what they would change, their favourite men from the show and lots more. Apart from actually rewatching the whole show, it’s the best possible way to waltz down memory lane with Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte.
