Top 10 podcast episodes of the year

The Shift's most-listened of 2024 contains some surprises

Left to right, top to bottom: Annie Macmanus, Amanda de Cadenet, Leslie Jamison, Karyn McCluskey, Miranda July, Bryony Gordon, Lucinda Chambers, Helen Lederer, Helen Garner

#10 Helen Lederer
I spoke to the British comedian back in May about being a lone woman on the 1980s comedy circuit, the curse of being a pioneer, professional jealousy, fear of authority and why she’s spent her life on a diet.

#9 Lyn Slater
In March, I spoke to

Lyn Slater AKA @iconaccidental

about why we need a new narrative for ageing, how she lost herself to life online, how being a “fashion influencer” gave her body image issues and why she’s finally realised she doesn’t have to be the good-bad girl any more.

#8 Karyn McCluskey
The police officer, forensic expert and Chief Executive of Community Justice Scotland, Karyn was a very different kind of guest for The Shift, but you loved hearing her talk about constantly being the only woman in the room, breastfeeding in the police car park, why she was “slightly terrified of the menopause” (not Glasgow knife gangs, menopause…), high heels, HRT and why her mantra is “feel bad move on”

#7 Leslie Jamison
In a big year for divorce, American essayist Leslie Jamison joined me (wearing her earrings of power!) to talk about how her parents’ divorce shaped her, why her small daughter forced her to live in the now, loving an unhappy ending and the joy of discovering the parts of ourselves we don’t yet know.

#6 Helen Garner
One of my personal highlights of the year (alongside Neneh Cherry and Zandra Rhodes), the legendary Australian novelist and her chooks kept me up way past my bedtime as we discussed the difficult father-daughter relationship, why getting married a fourth time would have been the definition of madness, grandmothering and how she couldn’t give a shit about the withdrawal of the erotic gaze.

#5 Amanda de Cadenet
What does 50 look like when you’ve been in the public eye since the age of 16? Amanda was fascinating on the lifelong project of reclaiming her own narrative, surviving on-stage perimenopause moments, going back to basics after losing her dad and the revelation of not having a five year plan for the first time in her life.

#4 Lucinda Chambers
The fashion industry legend and former Vogue fashion director had A LOT to say about why being pushed out of her dream job was a blessing, the joy of embracing BIG change in her 50s, the difference between drive and ambition and why you can’t be stylish if you’re not comfortable.

#3 Annie Macmanus
Our very own

Annie Macmanus

joined me earlier in the year for a do-over. This is a BIG wide-ranging conversation that goes from the emotional upheaval of leaving a big job after 17 years to the hormonal chaos of perimenopause to making new friends in your 40s to leaning into who she really is now she no longer has to waste time getting manicures! It’s a corker.

#2 Miranda July
I’m proud to say this was the first British interview the artist/ performer/ film maker did for her smash hit novel, All Fours, back in the Spring.

Miranda July

spoke about her own trip off the oestrogen cliff, reimagining relationships as we get older, the menopause whisper network, getting out of the anxiety cul de sac and why ageing is “unexpectedly wild”. Will you have my back? She asked. Hell, yes!

#1 Bryony Gordon
I can never be 100% sure which episodes will resonate the most but I do know you love Bryony. She also joined me for a do-over to discuss her struggles with burnout, binge eating and, yep, you guessed it, fluctuating hormones.

You’ll find loads more episodes over at The Shift with Sam Baker podcast, which can be found wherever you get your podcasts. (This link takes you to spotify. While this one takes you to apple pods.) Which were your episodes of the year? I’d love to know.