I’m a big fan of podcasts, the radio-style programs you download on a smartphone (originally it was mostly iPods) and listen to. I get through about 20 hours a week, which seems like a lot, but when you tot up the time walking around, commuting, washing dishes etc, it mounts up.
I wanted to put up a list of my favourites mostly because when I talk to people about it, I want to send them a list.
Apps
My preferred player is Overcast on iOS, but anything that automatically downloads new podcasts and lets you order them is good. Overcast also provides a ‘smart speed’ mode that removes blank pauses, usually saves 5-10% of time on most podcasts without sounding un-natural.
Podcast list
Generally you can open your podcast app and select “new” or “subscribe”, and type in the name to find them. Otherwise, the links below should get you to the right place and let you find out more.
Daily Tech
- Daily Tech News Show, with my favourite host in the tech sphere, Tom Merritt. A daily dose of news and discussion about tech stuff.
Weekly Tech
- Security now, various security topics, and some good computer-basics in the archive.
- This week in tech, panel show discussing the weeks tech topics.
- This week in Google, about the cross-over of media and tech, sometimes including Google. Often includes Jeff Jarvis and sometimes Kevin Marks.
- Risky Business, a fairly hardcore digital security podcast.
- Shoptalk, A Web Design and Development Podcast with Chris Coyier (of CSS tricks) and Dave Rupert.
- MacBreak Weekly, weekly Apple stuff.
Films
- Empire Film podcast, from the people who do the great magazine. Less about reviews, more about movie news and trivia.
- Kermode and Mayo’s Film Review, the church of Wittertainment.
Misc
- Remainiacs, a weekly dose of sanity in an insane world.
- Bad Voltage, three linux/open-source blokes chat about stuff as though it were in a pub. A well produced pub with segments. One of my favourites, and probably the funniest.
- Destination, an improv comedy podcast, telling the story of a 15-minute journey in real time. Good for a morning commute!
- Bottom line, business discussion with a different panel each week.
- Freakonomics, explores the riddles of everyday life and the weird wrinkles of human nature.
- Infinate Monkey Cage, irreverent look at the world through scientists’ eyes. With Brian Cox (scientist) and Robin Ince (comedian).
- More or Less: Behind the Stats, examines stats (including looking into politicians crap soundbites) to find the truth behind the stats.
- Cordkillers, about the transition from cable-television to internet based viewing.
- Oh No Ross and Carrie, who don’t just report on, but actually join religions, attend spiritual events, undergo “alternative” treatments, partake in paranormal investigations, and more.
If you have any recommendations, please let me know (@alastc) and I’ll try to keep this up to date.