Best Rob Nichols Podcasts (2025)

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[TRAILER] Re-Launching Soon: The Pivot with Andrew Osenga 4:06

Play Pause

12h ago4:06

4:06

It’s a brand new season for The Pivot—hosted by artist, producer, songwriter, and author Andrew Osenga. This podcast delves into the idea of changing our minds in an age of polarization and unyielding beliefs. The Pivot offers a space for honest, vulnerable, and intelligent conversations about the evolution of thought, belief, and life path. From p…

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George Michael on his accidental start in music 3:29

17m ago3:29

3:29

As a singer and songwriter, George sold more than 100 million records, won two Grammy awards and notched up countless number one hits. He told Kirsty about how an accident played a pivotal role in his love for music. You can listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds.By BBC Radio 4

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The 2005 Albums Fantasy Auction Draft 1:13:10

29m ago1:13:10

1:13:10

The DREAM TEAM of Chris Fafalios, Matt Kelly, Matthew Milligan, and Tony Hartman are BACK to draft the very best albums from the year 2005. From the launch of YouTube to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, these albums were the soundtrack to a year filled with highs, lows, and in-betweens. Who will draft the very best collection of records with t…

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#344 How to Actually Set & Achieve Goals 43:36

23m ago43:36

43:36

It's great to have goals, but what's the point of having them if we never actually achieve them? Or maybe you do eventually get there, but wouldn't it be nice if we could get there faster and more efficiently? In this episode, I talk about SMART goals and give examples of how you can make your goals Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and T…

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Davina McCall on addiction 3:53

7m ago3:53

3:53

Davina is best known as the host of popular TV shows such as Big Brother, Long Lost Family and Streetmate. She spoke to Kirsty about how she struggled with drugs in her teenage years. You can find the full episode on BBC Sounds.By BBC Radio 4

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Ade Adepitan on his first day at school 2:58

5h ago2:58

2:58

Before his career in broadcasting, Ade was an international wheelchair basketball player who won a gold medal at the 2005 Paralympic World Cup. He spoke to Kirsty about a fashion faux pas he made on his first day at school. You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.By BBC Radio 4

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Ross Halperin: Bear Witness 1:06:00

3d ago1:06:00

1:06:00

A gang in a mountain barrio in Honduras terrorized the people there for years. The police claimed that their hands were tired because witnesses refused to testify. An American sociologist and a Honduran schoolteacher devised a plan to protect their neighbors by taking matters into their own hands. Author Ross Halperin tells me the story in his book…

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Ruth Jones on her start in acting 3:37

1d ago3:37

3:37

Ruth is perhaps best known as Nessa from Gavin and Stacey, the show she co-created with James Corden. She told Lauren about her early career struggles and how she got her foot on the acting ladder. You can listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds.By BBC Radio 4

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Tom Hanks on loneliness 5:35

4d ago5:35

5:35

The Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks was cast away by Kirsty Young in 2016. Tom’s parents split up when he was five, and he went to live with his father. By the age of 10 he'd lived in 10 different houses in five different cities.Tom spoke to Kirsty about his complicated childhood, his parents’ divorce and how he managed his overwhelming feelings of l…

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Val McDermid on her childhood love of libraries 4:00

5d ago4:00

4:00

In 2013 the Scottish writer Val McDermid was cast away by Kirsty Young. Crime fiction is Val's chosen genre, and the millions of novels she sells examine and dissect the darkest recesses of human behaviour. Val spoke to Kirsty about her childhood love of libraries. You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.…

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“The Rain” by Oran “Juice” Jones (f/ Zak Shaffer) 48:29

8d ago48:29

48:29

This week, we're diving into one of the most bizarre R&B hits of the 80s. With its slick production and dramatic monologue, “The Rain” by Oran “Juice” Jones became a Top 10 smash in 1986 before fading into obscurity. Not EVERYONE forgot the track, however, as Donald Glover and the cast of Saturday Night Live resurrected it in 2018 with a spot-on an…

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#343 When 'Terrific' Meant 'Terrifying' 35:19

7d ago35:19

35:19

This is an episode I'm excited for because we'll be looking at a group of words that have gone through a similar history; namely, they have all had quite a drastic change in their meanings over time. Many words we use today in English such as 'terrific' or 'fond' used to have almost completely opposite meanings! In this episode, I explore why these…

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Malala on campaigning for equal access to education 4:33

6d ago4:33

4:33

The activist Malala Yousafzai was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2021. Malala was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize when she was 17, becoming the youngest winner in its history. She spoke to Lauren about why equal access to education for girls matters so much to her and her family. You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.…

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Jilly Cooper on the secret to a successful marriage 3:12

7d ago3:12

3:12

In 2016 the novelist Jilly Cooper was cast away by Kirsty Young. Jilly is perhaps best known as the author of Rivals but her writing career also spans newspaper columns, non-fiction books on class, marriage and animals in war, and novels that sell in their millions. Jilly told Kirsty Young about her theory on what makes a successful marriage. You c…

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Michael Beach Nichols: Perfect Wife 1:03:52

10d ago1:03:52

1:03:52

Most of us have heard about Sherri Papini. She’s the woman who faked her own kidnapping in 2016, which terrified her husband and soon sparked outrage in her Northern California community. Michael Beach Nichols is the director and producer of the Hulu series, “Perfect Wife: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sherri Papini.” He tells US about his experi…

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Ian Wright on his inspirational teacher 5:54

8d ago5:54

5:54

The former footballer and pundit Ian Wright was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2020. Born to Jamaican parents in south-east London, Ian grew up with his mother and stepfather. His biological father had left the family before Ian was two years old. Things at home were difficult, and Ian spent as much time as possible outside playing football. Ian sp…

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Episode 249: The Path of Genius with Michael Meade 58:52

11d ago58:52

58:52

https://www.mosaicvoices.org/ Meade is a renowned storyteller, author, and scholar of mythology, anthropology, and psychology. He combines hypnotic storytelling, street-savvy perceptiveness, and spellbinding interpretations of ancient myths with a deep knowledge of cross-cultural rituals. He has an unusual ability to distill and synthesize these di…

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“Harlem Shake” by Baauer (f/ Chris Dalla Riva) 54:32

15d ago54:32

54:32

In early 2013, the Billboard Charts underwent a major change by incorporating YouTube streams into their formula. Almost immediately, the internet responded with chaos. The bizarre, bass-heavy electronica track “Harlem Shake” by producer Baauer skyrocketed to #1, fueled by a wave of absurd, meme-fueled dance videos that dominated social media. It b…

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#342 Small Talk & Spirituality with Ray 1:01:38

14d ago1:01:38

1:01:38

Rayhan is back for his second appearance on the podcast since Episode 144, about 4 years ago, to talk about a range of topics from getting better at small talk, self-improvement, the origins of the universe, spirituality, and more! Ray teaches on Preply, and you can also find him on Instagram, as well as his course and membership site Elevate Engli…

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Bryan Burrough: The Gunfighters 50:22

17d ago50:22

50:22

We’ve heard from my buddy Bryan Burrough before for one of his Audible books based on a true crime story. His new book is very different. It’s called The Gunfighters: How Texas Made the West Wild. Enough said. Support this podcast by shopping our latest sponsor deals and promotions at this link: https://bit.ly/4gF2K18 See more information on my boo…

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Maggie Alphonsi, broadcaster and former rugby player 49:21

16d ago49:21

49:21

Maggie Alphonsi is a broadcaster and former rugby player. She was part of the England team which took home the 2014 Women’s Rugby World Cup and by the time she retired she’d won 74 caps for her country. Maggie was brought up in north London and when she was 14 her PE teacher suggested she give the sport of rugby union a try. Maggie joined her local…

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Episode 248: Mind Your Body with Nichol J. Sachs 46:02

18d ago46:02

46:02

https://www.yourbreakawake.com/ Nicole J. Sachs, LCSW is a speaker, writer, psychotherapist, retreat leader, and podcaster. She has supported hundreds of thousands, dedicating her work and her practice to the treatment of chronic pain, anxiety, and other conditions. She is the author of the books MIND YOUR BODY and The Meaning of Truth, and the cre…

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Punchline “Somewhere To Land” Instant Reaction 51:03

20d ago51:03

51:03

Punchline’s new album Somewhere To Land was just released a few hours ago, and One Hit Thunder is here with some thoughts! Matt shares his feelings about every track, and Chris shares some insight into the writing, recording, and release of the next chapter in the Punchline story. One Hit Thunder is brought to you by DistroKid, the ultimate partner…

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“Take My Breath Away” by Berlin 44:39

21d ago44:39

44:39

This week, we’re discussing the music and career of Berlin, a band whose biggest hit was, strangely, not really a Berlin song at all. “Take My Breath Away” soared into the stratosphere on the tailwinds of Top Gun in 1986, but it wasn’t a great representation of the sexy, upbeat new wave synth-pop that Berlin was known for. Join us as we journey dee…

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#341 Are You Being Rude in English? 55:09

21d ago55:09

55:09

As you may know, politeness in English - especially in British English - is a very important thing. Learners often struggle to keep up with the confusing grammar and long sentences, so in this episode, I break down a few key phrases that you can start using today to make your questions and requests sound more polite. I go through each phrase one by…

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The 2025 MTV VMAs: Thoughts and Reactions 47:47

22d ago47:47

47:47

Chris and Matt discuss their thoughts on the 2025 VMAs, which strangely aired on CBS instead of MTV (which couldn’t be bothered to interrupt their nonstop stream of the show Ridiculousness to air their signature awards show!) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy Geekscape

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James Polchin: Shadow Men 59:21

24d ago59:21

59:21

Our story this week is set in the 1920s in Westchester County, New York…it’s a Jazz Age mystery. A young ex-sailor is found dead on a desolate road. A suspect from a wealthy family admits to the murder, but he claims that he was trying to protect a dangerous secret. Author James Polchin’s book, Shadow Men unravels a mystery more than a century old.…

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Professor Dame Carol Robinson, scientist 50:20

23d ago50:20

50:20

Professor Dame Carol Robinson is a scientist who was the first female professor of Chemistry at both Cambridge and Oxford Universities. She has been awarded scientific prizes from all over the world for her pioneering work studying complex macromolecules using an instrument called the mass spectrometer. Carol was drawn to science as a child growing…

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Episode 247: Relational Calluses and the Open Heart with Dr. Kelly Flanagan 40:08

25d ago40:08

40:08

https://drkellyflanagan.com/

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“Bodies” by Drowning Pool (f/ Kyle Kuchta) 1:03:39

29d ago1:03:39

1:03:39

To be honest, when this week’s guest Kyle Kuchta pitched Drowning Pool’s “Bodies” to us for an episode, we braced ourselves for a terrible listening experience. Instead, what we got was some solid hard rock and a tragic story about vocalist Dave Williams, who seemed to be a solid dude with a great attitude who was taken from this world much too soo…

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#340 Why Is Everyone Leaving the UK? 48:27

28d ago48:27

48:27

In this episode, I mix a serious topic with some fun where I talk about my reverse culture shock returning to the UK after one year while trying to answer the question why so many people are deciding to leave the UK and move elsewhere in the world. Despite being British, seeing my own country from the outside gave me some interesting realisations, …

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Dan Slater: The Incorruptibles 59:01

1M ago59:01

59:01

New York in the early 1900s was filled with people trying to make their lives better. But for many, the rise of organized crime kept them in constant fear. On the Lower East Side, Jewish criminals from Eastern Europe formed crime syndicates. There were gangs of horse poisoners, casino owners, thieves and thugs. But then a group of Jewish uptowners …

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Harry Hill, comedian 50:48

1M ago50:48

50:48

Harry Hill is a comedian, writer and broadcaster best known for presenting popular television shows including You’ve Been Framed, Junior Bake Off and the multi award-winning TV Burp. He was born Matthew Hall in Surrey and brought up in Kent. He became a Cub Scout and got a taste for performing when he was nine after playing Widow Twankey in the Chr…

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“Always Something There to Remind Me” by Naked Eyes (f/ Mark Popeney) 1:03:30

1M ago1:03:30

1:03:30

This week on One Hit Thunder, we’re joined by special guest Mark Popeney of the Nevermind The Music podcast to discuss Naked Eyes and their 1983 hit “Always Something There to Remind Me.” Originally written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, the song found new life in the synth pop era thanks to Naked Eyes' inventive production and reliance on cuttin…

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#339 How NOT To Learn a Language 42:50

1M ago42:50

42:50

Inspired by a viral video of a Chinese boy doing his English homework, I thought I'd make an episode where I list 10 common mistakes that language learners make and what you should avoid. To be clear, I'm sure that boy will master English one day, and my comments were more of a criticism of language education in schools. The video simply reminded m…

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Tanya Talaga: The Knowing 56:48

1M ago56:48

56:48

If you’ve ever dug deep into your family history, you know that there are sometimes surprises. Author Tanya Talaga discovered that the life of her great-great grandmother Annie Carpenter was mostly unknown because she was Indigenous. It’s a struggle that many Indigenous people in Canada have: how do you learn about your family’s past without crucia…

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Monica Dolan, actor 50:58

1M ago50:58

50:58

Monica Dolan is a BAFTA and Olivier award winning actor. She is equally at home playing a wrongfully accused postmistress in Mr Bates Vs the Post Office as she is playing the serial killer Rosemary West. Alongside her many roles in TV, stage and screen, Monica has also written and performed in her award winning one woman play B*easts. Born in 1969,…

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“Walking In Memphis” by Marc Cohn (f/ Evan Fonseca) 50:24

1M ago50:24

50:24

In an attempt to combat a case of writer's block, struggling songwriter Marc Cohn took a trip to Memphis. A chance encounter at a café resulted in one of the most beloved adult contemporary songs of the 90s. “Walking In Memphis” has stood the test of time, and this week, we’re joined by Phantom of the Podpera co-host Evan Fonseca to touch down in t…

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#338 Overcoming Shyness (Anna, Confident Business English) 36:29

1M ago36:29

36:29

Today we have a conversation between Anna Connelly and me on the topic of overcoming shyness. This was originally an episode we record on Anna's podcast, Confident Business English, where Anna was mostly interviewing me about my experiences with feeling shy and my tips for the audience. Listening back to this one, I actually felt quite inspired, an…

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Alex Eliseev: Cold Case Confession 56:51

2M ago56:51

56:51

This week on Wicked Words on Exactly Right: in 1999, a woman named Betty Ketani went missing in Johannesburg, South Africa. She just vanished from the restaurant where she was working. Then a letter found 13 years later changed everything. Author Alex Eliseev tells me about his book Cold Case Confession—a real Agatha Christie story. Support this po…

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Gustavo Dudamel, conductor 51:19

1M ago51:19

51:19

Gustavo Dudamel is a Venezuelan conductor, violinist and composer. He is known for bringing humour and joy to the podium. He is currently director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra and in 2026 will take up the post of music director of the New York Philharmonic, following in the footsteps of Gustav Mahler and …

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“It Takes Two” by Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock 39:53

2M ago39:53

39:53

HIT IT! Few tracks ignite a dance floor like Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock’s 1988 classic, “It Takes Two.” Built around an infectious sample from Lyn Collins’ “Think (About It),” this platinum-certified anthem didn’t just dominate clubs—it helped hip-hop cross over into the mainstream. Despite the duo’s explosive debut, follow-up efforts like Rob Base’s…

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#337 11 Things I Learnt Teaching English 31:23

2M ago31:23

31:23

I've been teaching English online for almost 10 years now, and over that time I've picked up quite a lot of patterns and similarities between all my students. In this episode, I share 11 life lessons and other interesting things that I've learnt from my students, my lessons, and running an online teaching business. This is actually a previously-rec…

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Megan Abbott: El Dorado Drive 58:40

2M ago58:40

58:40

New York Times’ best-selling author Megan Abbott often uses true crime stories as a jumping off point for her wildly popular novels. Now she has a new book out called El Dorado Drive. It’s about three sisters who become entangled in a pyramid scheme that turns very dark. The real story behind the novel is so strange, it’s hard to know what really h…

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Ash Atalla, producer 50:03

2M ago50:03

50:03

Ash Atalla is a television producer whose first hit was the BBC sitcom The Office, starring Ricky Gervais. He followed it up with the IT Crowd, People Just Do Nothing, Big Boys and Stath Lets Flats. His haul of awards from these programmes include six BAFTAs, four Royal Television Society awards, a Golden Globe and an Emmy. Ash was born in Cairo an…

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“Tainted Love by Soft Cell (f/Paul Menotiades) 45:06

2M ago45:06

45:06

This week, our good friend Paul Menotiades returns to help us unpack the unlikely rise of Soft Cell’s 1981 synth-pop smash, “Tainted Love.” Originally a 1965 Northern Soul obscurity by Gloria Jones, Soft Cell's eerie, slowed-down cover became a global sensation, topping charts in 17 countries and spending a record-breaking 43 weeks on the U.S. Bill…

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#336 Moving from UK to Thailand: The Good & The Bad 31:12

2M ago31:12

31:12

Have you ever wondered what it's like to cycle through Bangkok? That's exactly what I'm doing in today's episode. I'm taking the podcast to the streets and I'm riding my bicycle across the city while avoiding stray dogs, and sharing my views on life in Bangkok. I mostly talk about the things I like and dislike about living here, and some ways in wh…

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Caroline Fraser: Murderland 53:12

2M ago53:12

53:12

This week’s author grew up in the Pacific Northwest with the memories of notorious serial killers like Ted Bundy and the Green River Killer, who also lived there. But the region wasn’t just home to those two murderers: there were many more. Was there a connection between the Pacific Northwest’s most infamous killers…and its incredible amounts of po…

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Carol Klein, gardener 50:47

2M ago50:47

50:47

Carol Klein is a gardener, broadcaster and longtime contributor to BBC Gardeners’ World. She is a six time Chelsea Flower Show gold medal winner, a certified RHS Horticultural Hero and was awarded the RHS Victoria Medal of Honour. Born in 1945 in Lancashire, Carol was the eldest of three children and her love of gardening was evident when she used …

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Episode 246: Proof of Life with Jen Pastiloff 45:50

2M ago45:50

45:50

Jen Pastiloff convinced herself My life is fine and fine’s enough, until the whisper that something was missing turned full-on scream. This is Pastiloff’s account of how she reclaimed her voice and desire by radically changing her life. She did this despite believing that change equaled death ever since her beloved father died when she was eight. (…