The creator of the No 1 Ladies Detective Agency makes the world happy: the best podcasts of the week | TV & radio

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The Positive Distraction Podcast

Although he is best known for his No 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency books, Alexander McCall Smith has some of the best short stories, which can “tell an entire story in a few paragraphs”. His new list features a selection of original shorts that they hope will give audiences a better sense of the world, starting with a twee adventure story led by a young friend of a helicopter landing. Hannah J Davies
It is widely available, episodes every week

Shadow World: Breaking the ‘Cycle

In the early 2000s, two of London’s most violent criminals decided to escape from crime by making a film about their lives. This a brilliant show it has one of them, including the film’s editor, telling the story of how they ended up getting S Club 7’s Bradley to join them – before the producer’s profile caused confusion. Alex Duggins
BBC Sounds, weekly episodes

You have Braille

Producer Reece Finnegan and writer Jack Bernhardt have written this four-part series list for Hat Trick and RNIB, about an “idiot” twentysomething who also happens to be blind. Although it’s light and airy, it deals well with the challenges Paddy (Finnegan) faces due to his disability. Alison Steadman, Steve Pemberton and Chloe Petts also star. HJD
It is widely available, episodes every week

Come closer

It’s hard not to be swayed by the host of the “mysterious Aries goddess, the guardian of dark matters” Rae Review – see her horns at YouTube version. They tell one of the saddest stories in history, starting with Lorena Bobbitt, who cut off her husband’s penis. Hollie Richardson
It is widely available, episodes every week

The Gaza Chef

“How do you investigate a suspicious death when you can’t go there?” So he asks this podcast about Mahmud, a cook who ran a soup kitchen in Gaza but was killed by a projectile from the sky. I am told effectively from Yassin Musharbash; he sets up the story by describing the relationship he developed with Mahmud – who sent him text messages describing life in Gaza. A.D
It is widely available, episodes every week