Chris Packham takes on a terrifying crime ring: best podcasts of the week

Pick of the week
Buried: Dead Rabbit

Mangled pheasants, mutilated foxes, weeping kids: the third series of the multi-award-winning show about environmental crime opens with a huge pile of murdered animals outside a primary school. The investigation leads to revelations about the world of illegal bloodsports and rural organised crime. It even recruits Chris Packham. “It’s low-level terrorism, isn’t it?” he exclaims at one point – and it’s hard not to agree. An essential listen. Alexi Duggins
BBC Sounds, all episodes available

Mystic Mates

Secretly curious about tarot cards, crystals, astrology, reading tea leaves and the spiritual world? For actor mates Helen George and Yvette Robinson, this hobby has been a “dirty little secret” for 20 years. Now they’re ready to ask the big questions and share experiences – while having chummy fun.
Hollie Richardson
Widely available, episodes weekly

Intimacy

Changing everything … Lena Headey. Photograph: Maya Dehlin Spach/WireImage

“This job is going to change everything!” So says Liza (Lena Headey), an intimacy coordinator with a major film gig that quickly becomes disturbingly personal. Written and directed by Headey, this funny, shocking audio drama is based on an idea by “ethical pornographer” Erika Lust and is executive produced by Sharon Horgan. Hannah Waddingham, Alison Steadman and Maisie Williams also star. Hannah J Davies
BBC Sounds, episodes weekly

Pretty Scary With Clair Buckley

“Some people relax with a bubble bath or a meditation app; I relax by reading about things lurking in the woods …” Clair Buckley, best known for podcasting with her actor husband James, branches out with a series about unexplained mysteries, UFOs, true crime and more. While the premise isn’t that original, she is an excellent, eerie compere. HJD
Widely available, episodes weekly

Doing It Anyway

Self-belief is a passion project for the host of The Rest Is Politics US, Katty Kay, who has penned books on the subject. Each week she tackles issues around confidence through an expert interview, starting with Mika Brzezinski, founder of the Know Your Value movement – a community helping women succeed at work. AD
Widely available, episodes weekly