It’s hard to believe that it has been 10 years since iTunes began offering podcasts. Back in the day, iTunes was the podcast directory and one of the chief reasons it became so popular. Now there are many players in this space: podcast networks such as Nerdist and Earwolf host their own, many subscribe through streaming services such as SoundCloud, and even Spotify has entered the ring.

There are gazillions of apps, which is a good thing, because the native iOS offering isn’t all that great. For years I have been using Downcast, a worthy contender with plenty of bells and whistles but it got binned as soon as I discovered Overcast. Free to download (with the option to upgrade to premium), this app has it all: an interface that is well thought out and easy to navigate, Twitter integration for recommendations from pals and a lovely ‘starter kit’ section packed with the cream of the crop. With options including Voice Boost, Smart Speed (it shortens silences) and a sleep timer, the upgrade is worth it. https://overcast.fm/