National Institute of Teaching Recommends: What we've been listening to this month
Off Menu, with Eg Gamble and James Acaster, was the most popular podcast among our staff. Katie Micklewright, our Head of ECF; Sophie Backen, our regional principal in the North and West; and Pip Sanderson, our director of professional development, all recommended it.
Sophie said: "I'm obsessed with this, I listen every week and I often howl with laughter as I drive to work over the Grane Road to Blackburn."
Sophie Backen, Regional Principal for the North and West, also suggested A Jew and a Muslim Go There with David Baddiel and Sayeeda Warsi.
She said: "As a Jew myself who is heartbroken by the current flare-up of a persistent concern in Israel and Palestine, I find the intelligent, but accessible, and considered debate between these two helpful in the context of lots of extreme or poorly researched content being shared in the media. It's not perfect, but that's impossible, and they speak with respect for each other and their respective religions and communities, but without shying away from the tough stuff."
Emma Rennison, executive director of partnerships, said: "As my 4-year-old has figured out how to work Alexa, I am currently listening to nursery rhymes and Elton John's I'm Still Standing on repeat!"
Shabreen Qasam, faculty co-ordinator for our School Trust CEO programme, said: "I'm currently switching between two: listening to Prince, Purple Rain for the milllionth time! I managed to see him perform in Manchester in the 90s as a student and will never forget the feeling or the atmosphere in the MEN when he played Let's Go Crazy.
"I'm also singing along to the Spice Girls Wannabe on the way back from Blackburn (Guilty pleasure I'm afraid!)
In terms of podcasts I'm listening to a couple - Hardcore History by Dan Carlin, and I am also dipping in and out of Stuff You Should Know.
Matthew Peach, senior faculty manager in our system leadership faculty, has been listening to The Prosecutors - The Case of Adnan Syed.
He says: "It's a really interesting look (from last year) at the case that made True Crime podcasts popular through Serial. Two American Prosecutors examine the evidence against Adnan Syed and then pose theories."
Notable mentions
Other podcasts, audiobooks and albums we like this month include:
- If Books Could Kill: Recommended by Dr Calum Davey, our executive director of research. He said: "This is a somewhat silly podcast where two guys take apart popular non-fiction books that have had, in their opinion, undue influence on public discourse. It's pretty funny!
- Cowboy Carter, Beyonce's country album, and Young Again, a BBC Sounds podcast by Kirsty Young, were recommended by Pamela Welsh, our director of marketing and communications.
- The Rest Is... series of podcasts. Amrit Singh, our chief operating officer, has been listening to The Rest is Football, and Pip Sanderson recommended The Rest is Politics, The Rest Is History and The Rest Is Entertainment.