Podcasts

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. It 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 News

• The News Agents, former BBC news people unleashed from the constraints of "auntie".
• Daily Tech News Show, with my favourite host in the tech sphere, Tom Merritt. A daily dose of news and discussion about tech stuff.
• The Vergecast, my favorite tech/news website also does several podcasts. Even better if you are a subscriber as then they are ad free.

Weekly Tech

• Security now, various security topics, and some good computer-basics in the archive.
• Risky Business, a fairly hardcore digital security podcast.
• Accidental Tech Podcast with three Mac nerds talking about various Apple, App, and home tech topics.

Politics & Economics

• The rest is politics with my namesake and Rory Stuart, aiming to "disagree agreeably".
• The rest is money, with Robert Peston and Steph McGovern.
• Prof G Markets with Ed Elson, a sober & relatively progressive take on the current events in the global markets.

Films

• Empire Film podcast, from the people who do the great magazine. Mostly movie news and trivia with a short section of reviews at the end.
• Kermode and Mayo's Take, the church of Wittertainment.

Misc

• More or Less: Behind the Stats, examines stats (including looking into politicians' crap soundbites) to find the truth behind the stats.