Conan O'Brien serves up a Beatles geekfest: best podcasts of the week

"The popular show's two-part special on the Fab Four has, bizarrely, prompted its Beatles sceptic co-host Dominic Sandbrook to refuse to appear. But his mega-starry replacement is Conan O'Brien, in for an engaging chat with Tom Holland through the career of John, Paul, George and Ringo. Their USP? Says Holland: We're a history podcast rather than a music podcast so we need to make the case that the Beatles are significant historically. Alexi Duggins Widely available"

"With hundreds of episodes under her belt, Deborah Frances-White is a podcast veteran. This miniseries considers the rise of US Christian nationalism, and how super-conservative ideas are shaping our treatment of minorities, alongside the likes of Russell T Davies and Amnesty International's Chiara Capraro. Hannah J Davies Widely available, episodes weekly Really?? The Doors? Jim Morrison photographed in Germany, 1968. Photograph: DPA Picture Alliance/Alamy This new strand on misunderstood cultural icons marries a compelling format with insightful interviews."

"Hosted by the New Yorker's Naomi Fry, it's a rich deep dive into the legacy of the Doors, as singer-songwriter Weyes Blood considers their corny reputation, and LA punk John Doe explains how Jim Morrison helped listeners to parse the darkness of life. HJD Widely available, episodes weekly The Switch: Living Planet The title refers to humanity's long-overdue transfer from fossil fuels to clean energy. Given that solar power is the cheapest energy source in human history, this should be easy."

Conan O'Brien replaces Beatles sceptic Dominic Sandbrook to record a two-part podcast special with Tom Holland that treats the Beatles as a subject of historical significance rather than solely music. Deborah Frances-White presents a miniseries probing the rise of US Christian nationalism and its impact on minorities, featuring guests including Russell T Davies and Amnesty International's Chiara Capraro. Naomi Fry hosts a strand on misunderstood cultural icons, including a Doors episode with Weyes Blood and John Doe unpacking Jim Morrison's cultural role. The Switch: Living Planet examines barriers to the global transition to clean energy such as regulatory inertia, investment shortfalls and weak political will.

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