Music, Radio & Podcasts - Henry Muhumuza

Sounds and voices that shape my thinking and provide the right rhythm for work and life

Music

Favorite genres: country, pop, and rock. Taking all things into consideration, my favorite artist is Taylor Swift. Kanye West (Ye), despite the controversy, comes in at a distant second.

My Top 3 Songs of All Time

1. You Belong With Me Taylor Swift

The pains of naive unrequited love distilled into three perfect minutes. Catchy tune that demands you sing along every time. Absolute perfection. 10/10

Watch on YouTube →

2. Lights Ellie Goulding

That voice. Ethereal, delicate, magical. Goulding's vocals transform a simple synth-pop track into something transcendent.

3. Paradise Coldplay

Chris Martin and company at their soaring best. The kind of anthem that makes you believe impossible things are within reach.

Favorite Albums

1989 Taylor Swift

The album that cemented Swift's transition from country darling to pop powerhouse. Every track is a statement. "I Know Places," "Blank Space," "Style"—this is what happens when an artist refuses to be boxed in and nails the reinvention.

Graduation Kanye West

Kanye's magnum opus. "Can't Tell Me Nothing," "I Wonder," "Good Morning"—this album redefined what hip-hop could sound like.

My 14 Go-To Songs at the Moment

Songs I can't get out of my head—the ones on heavy rotation that I keep coming back to. Not ranked, just numbered for reference. (Click the titles to read more about each song)

1. Hot N Cold Katy Perry

Peak Katy Perry chaos. The music video is hilarious, which makes the song even better.

Watch on YouTube →

2. You Get What You Give New Radicals

90s optimism bottled into a singalong anthem. Gregg Alexander's one-hit wonder remains timeless—defiant, hopeful, infectious.

3. Can't Help Falling in Love André Rieu, Johann Strauss Orchestra

The Elvis classic reimagined as sweeping orchestral romance. Rieu's strings transform familiarity into grandeur. Perfect instrumental arrangement.

4. Never Gonna Give You Up Rick Astley

Yes, the rickroll anthem. But strip away the meme—this is an absolutely goated beat paired with Astley's impossibly smooth baritone. Unironically brilliant pop.

Watch on YouTube →

5. Upside Down Jack Johnson

Laid-back acoustic sunshine. Johnson's effortless vibe makes even mundane moments feel like a beach day.

6. Pumped Up Kicks Foster the People

Deceptively dark lyrics wrapped in an irresistible indie-pop hook. The whistling alone is iconic.

7. Style (Taylor's Version) Taylor Swift

Sultry, sleek, timeless. Swift channels 80s synth-pop through a modern lens, creating something that feels both nostalgic and fresh. The re-recording somehow sounds even better.

8. Blowing Smoke Gracie Abrams

That voice—delicate, aching, honest. Abrams captures the quiet devastation of relationships unraveling. Hauntingly beautiful.

9. Rather Be Clean Bandit ft. Jess Glynne

Electronic strings meet powerhouse vocals. Glynne's voice soars over Clean Bandit's classical-meets-EDM production, creating euphoric pop perfection.

10. Only Time Enya

Ethereal, meditative, timeless. Enya's layered vocals create a cathedral of sound. Music for introspection.

11. So High Doja Cat

Smooth, hypnotic, effortlessly cool. Doja's early work showcasing her range before she became a pop juggernaut.

12. Lush Life Zara Larsson

Swedish pop excellence. Larsson's commanding vocals over pulsing production—confidence and swagger in three minutes.

13. Man I Need Olivia Dean

Soul-drenched yearning. Dean's voice carries both strength and vulnerability, reminiscent of classic R&B with modern sensibility.

14. So Easy (To Fall in Love) Olivia Dean

Dean again, because that voice deserves repeat appearances. Jazz-inflected soul that feels like sunshine breaking through clouds.

go to my spotify playlist :)

Gospel

In Christ Alone Gospel Hymn

My favorite gospel song. Faith is really important to me, and this hymn captures why.

Radio

Only two stations I return to again and again.

BBC World Service News & Current Affairs

I never miss the live weekly broadcast Weekend every Sunday (0600-1200 UTC)—a masterclass in weekly news review. Articulate guests, informative discussions, intelligent analysis. My favorite BBC journalists are: UK political correspondent Rob Watson and Russia editor Steve Rosenberg (who's also a talented pianist). Bold, articulate, balanced reporting that respects your intelligence.

Stream live →

BBC Radio One Music & Entertainment

Great music all day, fun shows throughout. Radio One Breakfast with Greg James and Work Out Anthems are staples. Pure energy, expertly curated playlists, and personality that doesn't grate.

Stream live →

Podcasts

I find these podcasts informative and interesting. Also useful to drown out noise around me.

Witness History BBC • History

Interesting tales of history and the personalities who made it. Each episode uncovers a moment that changed the world, told by those who were there.

Favorite episodes: "John Logie Baird Invents Television" (the first demonstration of television technology on January 26, 1926) and "Operation Mincemeat" (the brilliant British Army hoax in WWII—a deception successfully pulled off that helped win the war).

Listen on Apple Podcasts →

CrowdScience BBC • Science

The podcast I've been listening to the longest—since 2015. Listeners ask questions, science provides answers. From the mundane to the cosmic, CrowdScience investigates with rigor and curiosity. The gateway drug that got me hooked on science podcasts.

Listen on Apple Podcasts →

Curious Cases Prof. Hannah Fry • Science/Mathematics

Hannah Fry applies mathematical thinking to everyday mysteries. Why do we have fingerprints? Can you predict the future? Fry's infectious enthusiasm makes complex ideas accessible and delightful.

Listen on Apple Podcasts →

The Life Scientific Prof. Jim Al-Khalili • Science

Al-Khalili interviews leading scientists about their life's work and the moments that defined their careers. In-depth, thoughtful conversations that reveal the human side of scientific discovery.

Listen on Apple Podcasts →

Daily Radio Program with Charles Stanley In Touch Ministries • Faith

The late Charles Stanley was such a calm voice and wonderful teacher of the Word. His sermons are measured, thoughtful, rooted in Scripture without pretense. Faith teaching that respects your intelligence.

Listen on Apple Podcasts →

More or Less Tim Harford • Statistics/Numbers

A podcast all about numbers and statistics. Tim Harford dissects claims, fact-checks figures, and reveals how data can illuminate or deceive. Essential listening in an age of information overload.

Listen on Apple Podcasts →

The Reith Lectures BBC Radio 4 • Various

Each year, the BBC invites significant international thinkers to deliver its flagship annual lecture series. Guest lecturers—Nobel laureates, philosophers, scientists, historians—tackle pressing global issues with academic rigor and intellectual depth. The kind of content that rewards careful listening and stays with you long after.

Listen on Apple Podcasts →