When plastic surgeon Bob Bierenbaum moves to Las Vegas in the mid-90s, he seems like a catch, and starts making waves on the local dating scene. One of his girlfriends was Carole Fisher, the host of this podcast. Although Bob seems great on paper, it soon becomes clear that something isn’t right – not least the mystery surrounding his former wife, Gail. Soon, Bob’s exes are teaming up to try to piece together just what happened to her. 

Available now

In each episode of her new podcast, bestselling author Clover Stroud sits down with a guest to learn about the times when they have had to be brave, aiming to glean advice on how to live bolder and brighter lives. So far, her interviewees have included writer Candice Brathwaite and actor Helena Bonham Carter. 

Available now

Somerset House’s new podcast is all about addressing our evolving attitudes to work, digging into discussions about time, hustle culture and the body. The four-part series features interviews with the artists behind Black Power Naps, who propose that rest is a radical act; philosopher Bayo Akomolafe; discussing the politics of softness; and musician Shenece Oretha on how we listen.

Available now     

Mike Williams set off on a hunting trip to the swamps of north Florida just before his sixth wedding anniversary. He’d planned to take his wife, Denise, out to celebrate the occasion, but he never returned. After search teams went over and over the area only to find nothing, the police declared him missing, but Mike’s mother refused to give up hope and started to become suspicious of Denise and her son’s best friend, Brian. Journalist Jennifer Portman hosts this latest edition of true crime series Over My Dead Body, which promises some truly gasp-inducing twists and turns. 

Available from 7 August

Expect deep dives into novels from the back catalogue of past winners and nominees, chats with special guests and exploration of some of the award’s most controversial moments when the Booker Prize’s podcast launches next month. It’ll be hosted by Jo Hamya (author of Three Rooms, one of the most realistic depictions of modern renting we’ve read) and broadcaster James Walton, who’ll also be solving listeners’ literary dilemmas with their recommendations. 

The latest podcast from the team behind Serial asks important questions about women’s pain. Why do we often tolerate it, and why is it so often brushed aside? The focus is an American fertility clinic where women started their IVF cycles only to experience excruciating pain during and after the egg retrieval procedure. The reason for their agony only became apparent months later, when staff realised that a nurse had been replacing the fentanyl used for pain relief during surgery with saline. 

Available now

If you were gripped on catfishing saga Sweet Bobby, why not try the latest podcast from Tortoise Media? Presented by Ceri Thomas, with additional reporting from Sweet Bobby’s Alexi Mostrous, Into The Dirt is all about the murky world of corporate espionage and follows former TV producer Rob Moore, who was initially hired to infiltrate an environmental campaign group before later switching sides. He ended up operating as a double agent for several years until he was discovered in 2016. 

Available now

This new podcast from Jamie Bartlett, the host of The Missing Cryptoqueen, tells the story of 16-year-old Megan Bhari, who set up a charity called Believe In Magic back in 2012, granting wishes to seriously ill children. It managed to gain the support of One Direction, then the biggest boy band in the world, and Megan later received an award from David Cameron, the prime minister at the time.

Megan’s charity work was all the more remarkable because she was seemingly very unwell with a brain tumour. But a small group of internet detectives questioned whether she was telling the truth and eventually found out that she was staying in a Disney resort, not undergoing treatment at a US hospital. Bartlett and producer Ruth Mayer speak to Megan’s old friends and former supporters, digging into a surreal, sad story. 

Available now

On 29 July 1981, the world was watching as Prince Charles married Lady Diana Spencer at St Paul’s Cathedral. On the same day, eight-year-old Vishal Mehrotra disappeared on his way home from the royal wedding celebrations and was never seen alive again.

Nearly four decades later, no one had been brought to justice. But at the start of the Covid lockdown in 2020, a BBC local reporter received a tip from someone who had previously worked with the police, setting in motion an extraordinary investigation. The ensuing nine-part podcast is hosted by investigative journalist Colin Campbell and Vishal’s half-brother Suchi Mehrotra. 

Available now

The new podcast from Redhanded hosts Hannah Maguire and Suruthi Bala explores the story of Juliette D’Souza, a Hampstead woman who claimed to be connected to an ancient source of power in the Amazonian jungle and became one of the most successful female fraudsters in UK history. 

The six-part series sees Maguire and Bala talk to the reporters who broke the story, the victims who helped bring her to justice and even a shaman.

Available now

This six-part series uncovers a seriously bizarre art heist. In 2004, after a longstanding feud with Banksy, self-described ‘art terrorist’ Andy Link and his collective kidnapped the anonymous street artist’s sculpture The Drinker from central London.

But after keeping the piece for ransom in his back garden, The Drinker was snatched again and was eventually auctioned at Sotheby’s more than a decade later. 

Available now

From TV presenter to agony aunt, Anna Richardson’s new podcast is helping the nation get to grips with sex, heartbreak, menopause, family, friendship, fertility, mental health, ageing and everything in between.

In every episode of It Can’t Just Be Me, Anna will be sharing a dilemma sent in by the public, and getting advice from some very special celebrity guests and experts who know exactly what you’re going through.

It’s bound to be healing listening.

Available now

Following the release of her book, The Light We Carry, Michelle Obama is entering the podcast world via Amazon’s Audible. Her weekly show will feature Obama’s discussions on her recent book tour with friends like Ellen DeGeneres, Tyler Perry, Conan O’Brien, Oprah Winfrey, Gayle King, Hoda Kotb and David Letterman. We’ll certainly be tuning in.

Available now

Louis Theroux is the undisputed documentary king, and now he’s confirmed that he’s extending his rule to the world of podcasts. The Louis Theroux Podcast, a new Spotify show hosted by the filmmaker, will see Theroux drop into the lives of busy and notable stars from both sides of the Atlantic.

He will then do what he has always done best: disarm his subjects with his signature dry wit and embark on a series of in-depth and freewheeling conversations. And we cannot wait.

Available now

Ella Mills’ latest series, Wellness With Ella, has the simple mission of giving you unfiltered and empowering conversations that give you the tools, knowledge, and inspiration to transform your life and your health.

Mills and her guests will candidly reveal their personal journeys of transforming times of great difficulty into times of enormous personal growth. How did they get to where they are today? What were the biggest challenges they faced? What wellness practices and habits really moved the needle for them? How do they keep moving forward? And it’s compelling listening.

Available now

Everyone’s favourite high-street retailer is now making waves in the podcast world. In Boots’ Taboo Talk, host Vogue Williams and celebrity guests tackle a series of conversations about the health and wellness topics that are still taboo for some. From living with hearing loss and imposter syndrome, to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and alopecia, plus everything you’ve ever wanted to ask about sex therapy, it’s important listening for all.

Available now

Journalist Hannah Ajala delves into the world of online romance scams in this team-up between BBC Sounds and CBC Podcasts. Janessa Brazil is an adult entertainment star who has unwittingly become the face of a global catfishing campaign, but who is she and how are her pictures being used to con victims out of huge amounts of money? Ajala speaks to the victims, as well as the scammers behind similar schemes, and her investigation will take listeners from the UK to Italy, West Africa and the US.

Available now

ITV’s seven-part podcast takes us behind the headlines of one of the biggest political scandals of last year, ushering listeners inside No 10 through exclusive interviews and previously unaired details from the broadcaster’s investigation. The first episode sees ITV’s sources open up about the scale of rule-breaking inside the corridors of power during the pandemic, when the rest of the country was following strict lockdown rules, while later instalments are set to touch on the Downing Street drinking culture, and what then-prime minister Boris Johnson saw himself. It’s presented by ITV’s UK editor Paul Brand.

Available now

The BBC’s deep dives into some of their biggest shows, from Line Of Duty to I May Destroy You, are always a must-listen for devoted fans, and this spin-off dedicated to Sally Wainwright’s brilliant crime drama is no exception. Hosts Amy Gledhill and Isy Suttie (aka Dobby from Peep Show) are on hand to explore the most convincing (and the most unhinged) fan theories and chat to familiar faces from the cast. Each instalment drops shortly after the credits roll on each new episode on Sunday nights. 

Available now

When Squid Game shot up Netflix’s most-watched charts back in 2021, scammers leapt at the opportunity to make a quick buck. They eventually managed to steal a whopping $16 million (£13.1m) from investors around the world, all by capitalising on the show’s success and the buzz around NFTs. In this Audible podcast, tech journalist Janhoi McGregor wades into the murky world of crypto and NFTs to try and unmask the culprit and get justice for the victims.

Available now     

The first season of The Turning explored the dark side of Mother Teresa’s order of Catholic nuns, the Missionaries of Charity, by telling the stories of the women who left it. Next up, host Erika Lantz will investigate the rarefied world of modern American ballet.

Available now

Each season of Chameleon explores the web of lies spun by a different con artist. This time, presenter Sam Mullins shines a light on the strange tale of Dr Ronald Dante, a hypnotist who got his start on the Hollywood nightclub circuit back in the 60s, was briefly married to the actress Lana Turner and later capitalised on the self-help boom of the 80s and 90s. He managed to hypnotise women into parting with their money and even set up a fake university.

Available now     

Here’s one for fans of Black Mirror. This new series explores true tales of how humans have developed relationships with artificial intelligence chatbots, even falling in love with them. It’s handled sensitively rather than salaciously.

Available now

Actor Ben Bailey Smith teams up with psychotherapist Sasha Bates to probe the minds of some of TV’s most fascinating characters, from Succession’s Shiv Roy to ultimate anti-hero Tony Soprano. With Bailey Smith bringing his experience of performing and Bates lending her behavioural insight, it promises to be a fascinating and fresh look at your facourite shows.

Available now

Harlem rapper Max B was on the cusp of stardom when he heard whispers of a bag of cash sitting in an empty hotel room. The ensuing robbery went seriously wrong, resulting in a kidnapping, a death and ultimately a messy trial and extensive sentence. Journalist and TV host Brandon ‘Jinx’ Jenkins hosts this fourth season of Gimlet and Spotify’s Conviction series. “I hope when people listen to this show, they’re able to grapple with the conflict many of our favourite artists live in and the shades of grey when it comes to stories, celebrity, and fandom,” he said.

Available now