Miranda Sawyer

· 5-min read The English Disease Stak Mag Hags (Franki Cookney and Lucy Douglas) | Apple Podcasts

The tale of a scam hitman on the dark web grips after a slow start; Kamala Harris has the human touch in a US interview; Kate Lawler is moreish; and a radio stalwart is set to bow out

The Mercury-winning quintet talk about the youth clubs where it all started – and what we can all do to support the musicians of the future

· 5-min read Origin Story: Russell Brand – Confidence Man Podmasters Lost Notes: Groupies: Women of the Sunset Strip from the Pill to Punk KCRW

The UK musicians who came to prominence in the mid-90s were more diverse and thrilling than is often acknowledged. In her new book, Miranda Sawyer, who was writing for the music press at the time, looks back through 20 songs

The ex-Tory minister talks shop; artist Jonny Banger enthuses about his activism; Mei Mac and Adam Buxton lift a spooky drama; and a harrowing look at the US military’s attitudes to homosexuality

Fifty years on, the missing aristo and his wife continue to fascinate; Danny Robins and Stewart Lee get into the Halloween spirit; and an eerie English tale with Will Sharpe

· 6-min read Shattered By Hanif Kureishi (Radio 4) | BBC Sounds The Hidden 20% | hidden20.org

From Madchester to Britpop, the journalist Miranda Sawyer was at the centre of popular culture in the Nineties — and so were her clothes

Make Me a Mixtape (Radio 1) | BBC Sounds 16 Sunsets (Antica and Telltale Studios) | Global Player Radio 3 Unwind | BBC Sounds