What’s new to listen to

A roundup of what’s best in the world of podcasts.

Stolen Hearts

Jill Evans has a less than stellar track record with relationships but the police sergeant’s new partner turns out to be a career criminal and an A Class manipulator. You’d think a police sergeant could tell she was living with a professional bank robber but is love really THAT blind? One for true crime junkies, this sixpart series about a real-life story’s most fascinating parts are the glimpses inside the mind and workings of a criminal – why do they do it and do they have any remorse?

The Last Soviet

Incredible Russian space stories told by Lance Bass, the former member of the 90s boy band NSYNC who trained as a cosmonaut.

Having learnt Russian, lived at the training ground in the middle of nowhere and undergone an extreme fitness regime, Lance not only tells his own story but others from the beginning of the space race through to a cosmonaut who spent more than 313 days stuck in a space station during the collapse of the Soviet Union. Bass also tells of the drama when relations broke down between the US TV network funding his adventure and the Russian Space Program.

Flipping The Bird, Elon vs Twitter

This series covers the often bizarre set of events that resulted in Elon Musk taking ownership of one of the world’s largest social media platforms and reveals just how mad he is – from Elon’s indecision and stall tactics during the negotiation stages, through to the fake walk out of staff , the infamous paid Blue Tick, the mass layoffs that backfired . But the series also reveals what motivated the CEO of the largest EV company and private space exploration firm to buy a social media company running at a financial loss. The narration perfected on Business Wars with real life scenarios voiced by actors really brings the content to life and makes the story gripping and easy to follow.

Ko¯ tamutamu

Conceived as a way to break down Waitangi 2023 in a series of audio dispatches from stuff.co.nz, Ko¯tamutamu now has the full podcast treatment. The initial run featured Taurapa (reo Ma¯ori translator) and Joel Maxwell (senior Pou Tiaki reporter) on the ground in the Far North analysing the weekend’s hui and ko¯ rero. Strong audience response has seen the remit extended, with the show’s subtitle now Ao Ma¯ori Takeaways. Taurapa and Joel covered controversy at Te Matatini in May and their new episode assesses the enduring significance of the occupation of TakaparawhauBastion Point.