Under his eye: 6 companion podcasts and episodes to listen to before ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ season 5 premieres

On September 14, Season 5 of The Handmaid’s Tale premieres on Hulu, and we’ve rounded up podcasts and episodes in anticipation. Tune in for interviews with the show’s cast, crew, and creatives. The Handmaid’s Tale’s author Margaret Atwood joined an episode of “The Ezra Klein Show” to discuss storytelling and even sang a song from the 1950s about the Iron Curtain.

On our list, you’ll find companion podcasts recapping Hulu’s episodes and exploring the show’s themes. If you need a TV streaming break but still want to visit Gilead, check out a 6-episode podcast based on Atwood’s novel.

The Ezra Klein Show

Margaret Atwood joined “The Ezra Klein Show” in 2022 to chat about storytelling, why the Bible’s stories are so compelling, what she calls “an arm wrestle for the soul of America” in light of current events, and climate change. Atwood shared why she believes society no longer imagines new utopias, discussed UFO sightings, and more in this 68-minute episode presented by The New York Times.

The Handmaid’s Tale

Wondery’s “The Handmaid’s Tale” is a 6-part podcast series by audio producer John Scott Dryden. Travel to a dystopian future where the United States turned into Gilead, a theocracy. Birth rate has fallen and women are taken away from society, trained as handmaids, assigned to men, and forced to procreate. If you’ve binged all episodes on Hulu prior to the new season, give this podcast a listen.

Eyes on Gilead: A Handmaid’s Tale Podcast

SBS On Demand’s companion podcast recaps every episode of The Handmaid’s Tale. The hosts Fiona Williams, Haidee Ireland, Sana Qadar, and Natalie Hambly chatted with cast, crew, and creatives from the series including Adam Taylor (The Handmaid’s Tale composer), Mckenna Grace (Esther Keyes), Bruce Miller (showrunner/series creator), and more.

The Red Resistance: A Handmaid’s Tale Podcast

On “The Red Resistance: A Handmaid’s Tale Podcast,” Scarlett, Roxy, and Margery unpack new episodes of The Handmaid’s Tale and analyze its themes in our current world. Over 90 episodes up to season 4 are now streaming.

The Handmaid’s Tale Podcast

Podcastica’s “The Handmaid’s Tale Podcast” dives into the TV show’s episodes, one at a time. The podcast covered season 4 in 2021 and chatted with guests. Bruce Miller (The Handmaid’s Tale’s showrunner) joined an episode to discuss Margaret Atwood’s participation in the series, building Gilead for TV, how he gets inside all the characters’ heads, and more.

Escaping Gilead! The Handmaid’s Tale Podcast

Pod Clubhouse presents “Escaping Gilead! The Handmaid’s Tale Podcast.” Caroline and Paul (formerly of the “Daley Review” podcast) recap the TV show’s episodes for seasons 3 and 4. Tune in for over 20 episodes.