One of the great joys of the internet is being able to catch up with all the best radio shows via podcasts, which you can download to your iPhone and listen to at your leisure on a long car journey or quiet evening. Here then is the GWG's shortlist of the best of Radio 4's podcasts.

AMERICANA: INSIDE THE USA
www.live.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/americana

Matt Frei's show about the US is an interesting mix of irreverence and awe. The Washington Correspondent reports from in and out of the political goldfish bowl, investigating contemporary life in the world's only superpower at the beginning of its decline.

START THE WEEK
www.live.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/stw

This show has been running for forty years and has been fronted by Melvyn Bragg and Jeremy Paxman. It's something of an on air middle class dinner party and current host Andrew Marr is too often obsequious and easily convinced that everyone and everything is "extraordinary". But as a way of finding out about new ideas from the worlds of politics, science and the arts it has its place.

THINKING ALLOWED
www.live.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/ta

This offers amusing and intelligent insight into current social science research and is much more interesting than reading through any of the books mentioned on the show. Host Laurie Taylor, former Professor of Sociology at the University of York, has a relaxed, conversational style and manages to make engaging radio from the most unlikely subject. Recent subjects include tea, milk and corridors.

IN OUR TIME
www.live.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/iot

Melvyn Bragg's Thursday morning gallop through the history of ideas is a marvel. Sit three academics down in front of a presenter who is not afraid of them and will tell them to get on with it if they waffle on too long and what you get is the art of concision. At the end of each 45 minute programme you feel as if you have some insight into Boudica, the siege of Munster and the Frankfurt School. For autodidacts everywhere this is priceless stuff.

WOMAN'S HOUR
www.live.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/whnews

In 2007 this Radio 4 institution admitted the interloper Jane Garvey into its fold, much to the horror of certain patronising broadsheet writers who think the former 5 Live presenter is not middle class enough. But Garvey is a fine presenter with the sort of dry wit which doesn't allow the programme to get to full of itself.


DESERT ISLAND DISCS
www.live.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/did

Yet another Radio 4 show that has been around since the passing of the dinosaurs. Under Kirsty Young's stewardship this is an excellent listen, featuring interviews with everyone from Gok Wan to Sir Stuart Rose. This always holds surprises, like finding out that Sir Clive Woodward thinks Ronan Keating is a musical genius.


BOOKS AND AUTHORS
www.live.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/openbook

This podcast features Open Book, Bookclub and A Good Read. Sit back to the velvety-voiced Mariella Frostrup and James Naughtie talk to leading authors about their work, and a range of guests discuss their favourite titles. A more high-brow alternative to those books recommended by Richard and Judy.


8th August 2011