Kerry Washington takes A-listers back to the streets they grew up on: best podcasts of the week

By the Editorial Team · Tuesday, October 13, 2026

Kerry Washington has launched the podcast *Street You Grew Up On*, where guests like Ben Affleck share personal stories about their childhood neighborhoods. The series offers intimate insights into formative experiences, beginning with Affleck’s accounts of his family struggles and a teenage mugging.

Kerry Washington has launched a new podcast series titled *Street You Grew Up On*, in which prominent guests discuss the neighborhoods they were raised in and personal experiences linked to those places. The inaugural episode features actor Ben Affleck, a native of Cambridge, Massachusetts, who opens up about his parents' divorce and reveals personal stories, including being mugged at knifepoint as a teenager. Washington said she appreciated his candidness during the conversation, noting moments when Affleck attempted to interview her in return.

Another notable podcast highlighted this week is *Deep Secrets*, created by comedian Hunter Hill. What began as a project about parenting evolves into a deeper investigation into Hill’s own family history, particularly questioning whether his grandfather, known for goat farming, had a covert past as a CIA operative. The podcast is noted for its engaging narrative and richly detailed storytelling.

The music-focused podcast *Eras: Spice Girls*, hosted by Rosie Ramsey, draws from the extensive BBC music archive to examine the legacy of Britain’s iconic girl group. The series discusses how the group’s distinct personas, inspired in part by the television show *Friends*, helped shape their image. Contributions from figures such as music manager Chris Herbert and Little Mix’s Jade Thirlwall provide further insight into the group’s cultural impact.

Science enthusiasts may be interested in *13 Minutes: Trouble With Hubble*, which explores the early challenges faced by the Hubble Space Telescope. Hosted by *Sky at Night* presenter Maggie Aderin, the podcast details the discovery that the telescope’s primary mirror had a flaw in its curvature, rendering its initial images unusable. The narrative covers the dramatic response, including the astronaut-led repair mission conducted in zero gravity to correct the problem.

In legal coverage, reporter Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty is providing daily updates from Southwark Crown Court on Russell Brand’s ongoing trial. Brand faces multiple charges, including three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault, and one count of indecent assault, which he denies. Alongside trial updates, Mutanda-Dougherty’s reporting also explores broader issues such as the influence of social media on high-profile court cases.

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