Podcast Corner: Slow Burn's return and Peabody award-winners

The Peabody Awards, which honour the most powerful, enlightening, and invigorating stories in television, radio, and online media, were announced last week.

In the podcast category, Dolly Parton's America, the environmental series Threshold: The Refuge, and the all-conquering Have You Heard George's Podcast? were among the winners - the latter is the first UK show to claim a Peabody.

The titular George the Poet, accepting the award, said: “To win a Peabody feels like being honoured by storytelling royalty. Our podcast was inspired by greats from different fields who have also been honoured here; it's a milestone in my career that I never dreamed of reaching so soon.

"On behalf of my community, I'm grateful for this recognition of our truth.”

Chapter three of Have You Heard George's Podcast? is out later this year.

Where is George Gibney?

Second Captains has announced that the broadcast date of its eagerly awaited investigative series Where Is George Gibney? has been delayed until August, due to Covid-19.

A collaboration with BBC Sounds, the story of the disgraced Irish swimming coach was supposed to arrive last month, but the broadcaster has altered its podcast schedule.

Second Captains asks: "If you have any info you’d like to share, please contact us confidentially at WhereIsGeorgeGibney@bbc.co.uk."

Modern Problem

The first topic, examined in the opening two episodes, is Direct Provision - McNamara explains the system and asks whether it will be a national scandal in years to come.

It's well-produced, easy to understand despite the intricacies of the controversial centres, and, telling the sad story of 'Ahmed', basically in limbo here for over four years, will resonate.

You can find it on all the usual platforms: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, etc.

Slow Burn returns

Slate's Slow Burn has returned with its fourth season, heralding a return to politics after season three looked at the Notorious BIG-Tupac rivalry.

Former 'grand wizard' of the Ku Klux Klan David Duke's rise in US politics in the 1980s is under the microscope this time.

Hosted by Slate's national editor Josh Levin, it asks why some voters came to embrace his message and how activists, journalists, and ordinary citizens confronted his candidacy and what it took to stop him.

It seems timely in this particularly frothy US election year.