Best podcasts of the week: Can Jon Hamm keep his cool under pressure?
by Alexi Duggins, Hollie Richardson, Hannah Verdier a from on (#5XEYC)
The Mad Men star uses his silky voice to win over a hostage-taker - and his audience. Plus: five of the best bite-sized podcasts
American Hostage
Widely available, episodes weekly
Jon Hamm is a soundbite-spouting radio host with silky tones in this scripted podcast based on a true story. It's 1977 and Fred Heckman (Hamm) is feeling disillusioned (I don't know if the news lost me, or I lost the news") when a huge story breaks. He dives in and gets on the phone with a man holding a hostage at gunpoint. As the pressure and adrenaline build, can Fred keep his cool for a live interview to end the 63-hour standoff? Hannah Verdier