Best Mercury Studios Podcasts (2025)

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UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy 42:28

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9m ago42:28

42:28

UK Culture Secretary LIsa Nandy talks us through the Government's new Creative Industries Sector Plan which aims to unlock growth and opportunity in culture, media and sport. Last week 27-year-old Scottish author Margaret McDonald become the youngest ever winner of the Carnegie medal for children's writing, for her debut novel Glasgow Boys, a book …

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Van Halen, The Beatles & More: The Most Misunderstood Songs in Rock History 27:38

7m ago27:38

27:38

You know, sometimes, songs that become classics aren’t quite what we think they are. Hidden meanings, mistaken lyrics, or misunderstood messages. All of those things. These are tracks that have fooled listeners for decades. We’re going to count down and share the crazy backstories behind the most misunderstood songs of all time… Including Van Halen…

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Billy Porter on activism and artists 42:18

11m ago42:18

42:18

Billy Porter, famous for his Broadway roles in such shows as Kinky Boots and Grease, and onscreen in Pose and Cinderella is making his directorial debut in theatre with This Bitter Earth. Jesse is an introspective Black playwright and when Neil, Jesse’s boyfriend, who is a white Black Lives Matter activist, accuses him of political apathy, their pa…

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179. THE ALLOY STUDIO ~ A Perfume with a 'Trashy Perfume' Accord?! 1:06:32

13m ago1:06:32

1:06:32

The Alloy Studio is an experimental, Black, queer-owned fragrance brand blending glamour with grit. Created by romantic and business partners Bryson Ammons (the perfumer) and Eddie Hodges (the creative director), their fragrances dare and delight with notes like pineapple popsicle, sativa, and 'trashy perfume.' This week, we get the inside scoop on…

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Sabrina Carpenter Challenges Sexist Stereotypes + Fletcher and JoJo Siwa Redefine Their Sexualities 52:31

1d ago52:31

52:31

This week on Name 3 Songs… ⚡WE’RE BACK BABY! We’re filling you in on everything that’s been happening and all the ways we’ll be back in your podcast feels and socials once again. ⚡Sabrina Carpenter announced her new album Man’s Best Friend to be released just 359 days after Short and Sweet, but the bigger issue is the artwork itself for Man’s Best …

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1968’s Greatest Songs: Janis, Otis, The Beatles, and a Chilling Surprise 35:19

6m ago35:19

35:19

Up next is our final countdown of our top song of each year countdown…We’ve covered every year from the 60s, 70s, and 80s, and we have one left. Can you guess the final year? It was a monumental year, including Janis Joplin, a nervous legend who vomited every take she did while recording a song that out did any male rocker of the time…also the last…

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Hollywood producer Jerry Bruckheimer on F1 starring Brad Pitt 42:25

20m ago42:25

42:25

Samira talks to legendary Hollywood producer Jerry Bruckheimer, whose latest film F1 stars Brad Pitt as a racing car driver. Alistair McGowan and Dr Caroline Potter celebrate the extraordinary music and life of the French composer Erik Satie, whose centenary is marked on Radio 3 on Saturday. Alistair's play about Satie, called Three Pieces in the S…

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FROM THE VAULT: Why Beastie Boys Hated Their Own Hit "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (to Party) 23:36

11m ago23:36

23:36

FROM THE VAULT: On this day in 2004, The Beastie Boys' album "To The 5 Boroughs" debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200. To celebrate, we’ve got the story of those three mischievous New Yorkers who disavowed one of their biggest songs… Mike D, Ad-Rock, and MCA otherwise known as the Beastie Boys hated (You Gotta Fight) for Your Right (to Party). This b…

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The Secret Behind Led Zeppelin’s “Ramble On” and Its Mysterious Drums 24:14

1d ago24:14

24:14

When Led Zeppelin released their debut album, it literally made the entire world shake. Nobody had ever heard a band like this… They took over America, touring nonstop in support of their earth-shattering LP. Their Label begged them to get one album #2 ASAP… Their sophomore record came out just months after their debut. Unheard of in music at that …

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Top ’90s TV Theme Songs: Friends, Seinfeld, X-Files & More 34:22

1d ago34:22

34:22

Alright, we’ve done it three times before, and every time it was a Gas. I’m talking about the greatest television themes countdown. We’ve done the 60s, the 70s, and the 80s. So you know, we gotta dial up the 90s. And this is my favorite yet… You know all these themes by heart. We’ve got the Friends Theme I'll Be There For You that was recorded over…

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How Soul Asylum’s “Runaway Train” Saved Lives and Changed the World 19:36

3d ago19:36

19:36

Coming up next, a very interesting interview that was a little off at first but got better as we went along. It’s about Soul Asylum's Runaway Train, a song that started out as one thing and ended up making a powerful change worldwide. It came out of crippling depression and it took years to finish. Initially, the lyrics were too similar to another …

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iOS 757: Apple Design Awards 2025 - CapWords, Feather, Taobao, & more! 36:18

3d ago36:18

36:18

Mikah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard go over Apple's 2025 Design Award winners, exploring groundbreaking apps that showcase the best of Apple's platforms. From AI-powered language learning tools to visually stunning adventure games, these winners represent the pinnacle of mobile innovation and design excellence. Delight and Fun Category CapWords - Re…

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iOS 757: Apple Design Awards 2025 - CapWords, Feather, Taobao, & more! 36:18

3d ago36:18

36:18

Mikah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard go over Apple's 2025 Design Award winners, exploring groundbreaking apps that showcase the best of Apple's platforms. From AI-powered language learning tools to visually stunning adventure games, these winners represent the pinnacle of mobile innovation and design excellence. Delight and Fun Category CapWords - Re…

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Review Show: Pixar's new film Elio 42:06

4d ago42:06

42:06

Madeline Sharafian and Domee Shi talk to tom Sutcliffe about directing Pixar's latest film Elio, about a lonely boy who wants to make contact with aliens. The film is then reviewed by film producer and critic Jason Solomons and art critic and writer Hettie Judah. Tom and guests also discuss a major retrospective of the work of painter Jenny Saville…

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Exclusive Interview: Gary Numan on His UK Success, U.S. One-Hit Wonder, and Finding Peace 22:24

4d ago22:24

22:24

Up next, an interview with Gary Numan about several songs that shook radio in different parts of the world. The first one, Are Friends Electric, was a hit in the UK and it came from an out of tune instrument that was written as a science fiction story about the future one that seemed far fetched in the late 70s but one that is a reality now about a…

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Mercury Prize-shortlisted pianist Fergus McCreadie plays live 42:54

4d ago42:54

42:54

On the opening night of the Glasgow Jazz Festival, Mercury Prize-shortlisted pianist Fergus McCreadie performs from his forthcoming album The Shieling live in the Front Row studio. Writer and Edinburgh Makar Michael Pedersen talks about his debut novel Muckle Flugga – a story of love and family set on a remote Scottish island – and reads from the p…

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FROM THE VAULT: How the Bee Gees Rose from Collapse to Conquer the 70s: Top 5 Songs of the Gibb Brothers 23:47

5d ago23:47

23:47

FROM THE VAULT: The Bee Gees or the brothers Gibb. Barry, Maurice and Robin Gibb have sold more than 220 million records over their storied career. In this Bee Gees documentary we celebrate their astonishing run as the most prolific group of the 70s and list their top 5 songs from Lonely Days to Stayin’ Alive, from Jive Talking to How Deep Is Your …

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The producers of RuPaul's Drag Race, plus pianist Alfred Brendel remembered 43:09

6d ago43:09

43:09

RuPaul's Drag Race producers Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato join Nick Ahad to talk about their career making making television and movies, ahead of being guests of honour at this year's Sheffield DocFest. Radio 3 presenter Tom Service discusses the life and legacy of Alfred Brendel who was a celebrated author, poet and pianist. Caroline Norbury, t…

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Danny Boyle and Alex Garland on 28 Years Later 42:24

6d ago42:24

42:24

Danny Boyle and Alex Garland tell Tom Sutcliffe about their new film, 28 Years Later; a whole new take on the story which stars Ralph Fiennes, Jodie Comer and Aaron Taylor-Johnson. It's the follow up to their post-apocalyptic fast-paced, gory zombie movies 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later. The Rage virus escaped a medical research laboratory and - …

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178. JAKE LEVY & MATT BELANGER ~ How did Stéle Become a Household Name? 1:11:41

8d ago1:11:41

1:11:41

A lot can happen in a year. Since opening its Williamsburg doors last summer, Stéle has added a second location, dropped 100(!) fragrances in a single day, and moonlights as Nolita's hottest millennial nightclub (stay tuned for pt. 2: the Pacha-to-Stéle Fri night pipeline). Despite the (well-deserved) buzz, founders Jake Levy and Matt Belanger rema…

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When Kiedis Bombed Live and Loggins Got Fired—Then They Made History 28:35

6d ago28:35

28:35

Sometimes, taking a bold leap or making a risky move can seem like career suicide—until it isn’t. Coming up, we’ll reveal six incredible stories of artists who faced doubt, backlash, or skepticism, only to turn those moments into their greatest triumphs... including an up and coming singer, Anthony Kiedis, who had written a deeply personal song, Un…

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The Untold Stories of 1972’s Greatest Hits: Bowie, Seals & Crofts, and The Hollies 32:18

7d ago32:18

32:18

Coming up, a year that was so great we had to reformat our countdown to 12 songs, truly compelling masterworks here... including the song All the Young Dudes by David Bowie, which he knew was a can’t miss smash. But he gave it to his favorite band, Mott the Hoople, who needed a hit or they were done. The song saved their career and became an all-ti…

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The Genius of Brian Wilson: A Farewell to Pop’s Most Profound Composer 24:47

8d ago24:47

24:47

Today, we have a very special episode of Professor of Rock, and I’m going to get right into it. We lost a true musical Genius recently. But Ya know.. I’ve been thinking a lot about it. And GENIUS simply doesn't cover it. For Brian Wilson, there should be a higher word or title for him that could never be bestowed up on anyone else in music history.…

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FROM THE VAULT: How Bon Jovi Rose to Fame with Anthems of Hope and Resilience 17:47

8d ago17:47

17:47

FROM THE VAULT: The thing about Jon Bon Jovi and his incredible band is the music they've created has always got your back. From "Livin' On A Prayer" and "You Give Love a Bad Name" to "Wanted Dead or Alive" and "It's My Life", their music gives us redemption and faith against all odds. Mostly it's music of hope, which is a powerful thing, especiall…

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The Wildest Rock Supergroups That Almost Happened: Michael Jackson, Freddie Mercury, and Llamas 30:50

9d ago30:50

30:50

From rock royalty to wild misfires — today we’re covering the greatest supergroups you’ve never heard of… but won’t forget any time soon. We’re telling the stories of rock legends who almost joined forces but just couldn’t get it together… And others that actually made it to the stage and into the studio. Among them, there’s a soap opera-inspired b…

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He Lost the Bet...Then Wrote Their Biggest Hit in Minutes! 23:37

10d ago23:37

23:37

Coming up next, the evolution of one of the most legendary groups ever through their greatest songs…and we have all three principles here to tell the story of their sound and its impact on the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Crosby, Stills, and Nash. SO many great stories here in our Evolution series. Including their first album that blew up radio with harmonie…

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Review Show: Pulp's new album More 42:31

10d ago42:31

42:31

Professor John Mullan and writer Lucy O’Brien join Tom to review More, Pulp's first album in nearly 24 years. They also discuss exhibitions by the 20th century British artists Edward Burra and Ithell Colquhoun which are running in parallel at Tate Britain. Plus they give their verdict on Jane Austen Wrecked My Life, inspired by actual experiences o…

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iOS 756: WWDC 2025 - Apple unveils iOS 26 & iPadOS 26! 54:18

11d ago54:18

54:18

Apple just dropped the biggest design overhaul since iOS 7, and hosts Mikah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard dive deep into everything announced at WWDC 2025, from the stunning "liquid glass" interface to game-changing iPad features that finally make it feel like a real computer. Liquid Glass Interface - Biggest visual redesign in many years! Transluce…

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iOS 756: WWDC 2025 - Apple unveils iOS 26 & iPadOS 26! 54:18

11d ago54:18

54:18

Apple just dropped the biggest design overhaul since iOS 7, and hosts Mikah Sargent and Rosemary Orchard dive deep into everything announced at WWDC 2025, from the stunning "liquid glass" interface to game-changing iPad features that finally make it feel like a real computer. Liquid Glass Interface - Biggest visual redesign in many years! Transluce…

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Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys remembered. 42:17

11d ago42:17

42:17

Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys remembered Turner Prize winning artist Rachel Whiteread talks about her retrospective exhibition at the brand new Goodwood Art Foundation in Sussex. We celebrate the centenary of the National Library of Scotland and hear about its plans to send important items from its collection to museums around the country - from N…

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Kenny Rogers on “The Gambler”: The Song That Made Him a Legend 20:19

11d ago20:19

20:19

Coming up next is an interview with Kenny Rogers, a legend we lost a few years back… He was voted the greatest singer in the world several times by the people, and today’s song, The Gambler, his most famous one, is a major reason why… It’s a song that everyone knows and loves, even if they won’t admit it. It’s a song that changed the fortune of a c…

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Celebrating Brian Wilson: The Musical Genius Behind The Beach Boys | Bonus Tribute Episode 21:47

11d ago21:47

21:47

Today, we honor the life, genius, and lasting legacy of Brian Wilson—co-founder of The Beach Boys, and one of the most visionary minds in rock history. In this special bonus episode of Professor of Rock, we commemorate Brian’s extraordinary contributions to music following the news of his passing. Through exclusive commentary and historical perspec…

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Banned by MTV, Rejected by Radio: The ’80s Hits Too Hot to Handle 32:59

12d ago32:59

32:59

Some songs were made to push boundaries — stirring up scandal, controversy, and uncomfortable conversations. On today’s episode, we’re featuring songs that did just that… We’re breaking down six songs that either got themselves banned from radio, blacklisted by MTV, or pulled from live shows. The list of taboo tracks includes Olivia Newton-John Joh…

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Was 1975 the best year for music? 42:31

14d ago42:31

42:31

Sarah Moss, the celebrated author of Ghost Wall, discusses her new novel Ripeness, which oscillates between tension-filled contemporary Ireland and a heady summer in 1960s Italy. Dylan Jones discusses his new book 1975: The Year The World Forgot and debates whether this was the best year for music with chief music critic of the Daily Telegraph, Nei…

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177. SOLO, INTERVIEW & HOTLINE EPISODE! ~ 3-in-1 42:34

13d ago42:34

42:34

My perfume hot takes, a catch-up with Principal Perfumer Sabine de Tscharner about her newest creation for Laundry Sauce, Mojave Peach, and your hotline Qs answered, ALL IN ONE EP! Thank you to our sponsor Laundry Sauce! Use code perfumeroom15 to get 15% off any Laundry Sauce order! (valid through Aug 9, 2025) FRAGS MENTIONED: Amouage Existence*, L…

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FROM THE VAULT: How Tom Petty Proved His Label Wrong with Free Fallin’ 20:57

13d ago20:57

20:57

FROM THE VAULT: An unlikely superstar partnership turned 3 simple chords into the biggest solo hit of a rock icon’s career. The story of the making, and the major label snubbing of the Tom Petty smash Free Fallin that he co-wrote with Electric Light Orchestra principal Jeff Lynne and Mike Cambell from the album Full Moon Fever. We discuss why this …

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Twin Peaks creator plus Ian Rankin on Frederick Forsyth 42:24

14d ago42:24

42:24

Ian Rankin pays tribute to the best-selling thriller author Frederick Forsyth, whose death was announced today. Samira talks to Twin Peaks' co-creator Mark Frost and podcaster Mike Munser about the show's enduring legacy 35 years on, as Twin Peaks is re-released and celebrated at the BFI Film on Film Festival. Playwright Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti talks …

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The 16-Year-Old Who Outsold The Beatles —Top 11 Songs of 1967 31:37

14d ago31:37

31:37

COMING up next, we are taking the time machines back to the Summer of Love, the birth of psychedelia, and the year when music truly became art. With 11 of the greatest songs of that magical time, including a scruffy 16-year-old kid Alex Chilton, who won a high school talent show and got to record a short 2-minute song, The Letter… It ended up hitti…

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How Rick Astley’s Label Hated His Song—Then It Took Over the World 20:34

14d ago20:34

20:34

Coming up next, the fascinating story of the 80s mega-hit Never Gonna Give You Up that topped the charts in at least 25 countries. And it almost never happened. When Rick Astley was searching for his first hit, he got picked up by one of the world's premier production teams. Only instead of letting him record an album, they had him doing chores aro…

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Top 10 Most Soul-Stirring Female Vocal Performances of the ’80s: Aimee Mann, Stevie Nicks, and More 33:05

16d ago33:05

33:05

Coming up, we’re moving into the shadows of the '80s to uncover the most chilling, emotionally gripping performances of the decade. They were the songs that ruled the radio dial and haunted our souls with 10 iconic vocal performances from the decade’s best. As we count down the most haunting songs of the 80s, including post-punk icon Siouxie Sioux,…

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How a Paul Simon–Mentored Band Created One of the Most Haunting One-Hit Wonders of the ’80s 24:17

17d ago24:17

24:17

Some songs are just BLESSED…seriously, it just seems like certain songs are touched by the hand of God where the miraculous and unexplained happens… Well that’s exactly what today’s song was and still is. Life in a Northern Town.. It was a mind blowing song in 1986 that didn’t sound like anything on radio. And it was meant to be. Today’s singer Nic…

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Review show: Paris Lees drama What It Feels Like for a Girl 42:28

18d ago42:28

42:28

Tom and guests review What it Feels Like for Girl, the BBC's coming-of-age drama based on the memoir of Paris Lees; Taylor Jenkins Reid's new novel, Atmosphere, set against the backdrop of the 1980s space shuttle program and new film, Lollipop, about a young woman released from prison battling to regain custody of her children, written and directed…

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iOS 755: Planning a Day Out - Please Don't Rain, Mercury Weather, Citymapper, & more 45:38

18d ago45:38

45:38

Ready to make your next day out absolutely perfect? Mikah and Rosemary share their favorite apps and strategies for planning the ultimate outdoor adventure, from weather tracking to transit navigation and everything in between. Please Don't Rain - Rosemary showcases this specialized weather app designed for theme park visits and outdoor activities,…

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iOS 755: Planning a Day Out - Please Don't Rain, Mercury Weather, Citymapper, & more 45:38

20d ago45:38

45:38

Ready to make your next day out absolutely perfect? Mikah and Rosemary share their favorite apps and strategies for planning the ultimate outdoor adventure, from weather tracking to transit navigation and everything in between. Please Don't Rain - Rosemary showcases this specialized weather app designed for theme park visits and outdoor activities,…