Social Media Antidote: Positive and Informative Podcasts from the BBC

Many of you, quite understandably, are not keen to keep up with all the terrible things going on in the world that you feel helpless to do anything about. Instead you feed your social media addiction, which leads to . . . depression and wasted time.

Here is a list of podcasts from the BBC that will provide you with invaluable background knowledge without depressing you. You can subscribe to them for free via Apple’s “Podcasts” app or any of the usual alternatives. I think you will find them to be a nice relief from social media.

Pro tip: Listen to these while exercising and double the benefits!

Happy News “Our weekly collection of the happiest stories in the world.”

Great Lives “Biographical series in which guests choose someone who has inspired their lives.”

More or Less: Behind the Statistics “Tim Harford and the More or Less team try to make sense of the statistics which surround us.”

People Fixing the World “An innovative new weekly programme looking at how we can solve the world’s problems.”

Sporting Witness “The inside and personal story of the key moments from sporting history.”

Crowd Science “We take your questions about life, Earth and the universe to researchers hunting for answers at the frontiers of knowledge.”

The Food Chain “The Food Chain examines the business, science and cultural significance of food, and what it takes to put food on your plate.”

In Our TimeGo deeper with host Melvyn Bragg and his guests as they delve into the ideas linking philosophy, science, history, religion, and culture in this long-running, insightful program.”

In the Studio “The new podcast which takes you into the minds of the world’s most creative people, with unprecedented access. Famous artists, writers, sports stars, musicians, DJs and designers invite you behind the scenes. We explore the creative process like never before.”

Being Roman “Beneath the togas and the pungent fug of gladiator sweat are real Romans waiting to be discovered. Mary Beard introduces her six part series on the people of the Roman Empire.”