Podcasts you like

[peter grimes]

The way the pattern of my life goes these days I have a bit of time to devote to listening to things, instead of reading things. I sincerely miss the reading time, but in a couple of years I should get that back.

So I've been trying to use podcasts to fill the void I used to occupy with reading.

But I need more than the few I currently subscribe to. I'm hoping other people will share podcasts they like, explain why, and perhaps we'll wind up discussing episodes at some point?

I primarily use my local public radio station's app (which is terrible, I hate to admit), for the following:

OnTheMedia: weekly program produced by WNYC discussing trends and topic relating to internet, journalism, information technology, cybersecurity, censorship, and other stuff

RadioLab: semi-weekly program produced by WNYC that's a highly produced examination of some aspect of how science relates to real life. Sometime this podcast makes me cry. :noshame:

OnPoint: daily show produced by WBUR (boston) that spends a whole hour talking about a single topic. A recent one dealt with the Pentagon's program for killer drones, another one dealt with cel-phone vids of cops. Wide-ranging, but topical. Call ins are a feature, but generally it's guest interview style.

ScienceFriday: Weekly show produced by WNYC that talks about various science-related news that has come up in the previous week. Not very exciting, but informative.

I use DoubleTwist for the following:

Dan Carlin's Common Sense: semi-monthly podcast, privately produced, dealing with current events. This guy is INCREDIBLE.

Dan Carlin's Hardcore History: Reddit loves him, and now I know why. His HCH podcasts are anywhere from 2 to 6 hours long each. I've binged on close to 100 hours of this stuff while walking the dog and biking to work. He's not a historian, just a self-proclaimed 'fan of history'. Yet somehow he managed to make me interested in stuff I didn't think I'd be interested in - like Genghis Khan. The first episode spent about 30 mintues talking about different theories of history, and I was already drawn in. I've stayed up late waiting to empty the dishwasher just so I had an excuse to continue listening to his podcasts. I can't recommend him enough.

BillMoyers: a treasure of US journalism, Bill Moyers has wide ranging interests from politics, social policy, science and the environment, education. Sadly, his podcast ended this year. But there are about 100 episodes, mostly timely and topical, to listen to.

 

[LucyDuke]

Welcome to Night Vale. (Credit to Zelig)

Also SciFri and good old This American Life when I remember. And screw you man SciFri is exciting.

 

[BvBPL]

I like On the Media, Overthinking It (which is an examination of popular culture by means of way too much analysis and is very, very funny), and Ice T's Final Level (which is smarter than you would expect).

I listen to a lot of videogame podcasts, including Video Games Hot Dog, Giant Bombcast, Idle Thumbs, Three Moves Ahead (a strategy focused one), Crate and Crowbar, and Big Red Barrel (and BRB UK).

I can't stand On Point. Tom Ashbrook, the host, is such a freaking snob. I was really angry when BUR replaced Chris Liden with Tom Ashbrook.

Also really, really good is Says You, a radio game show of words and whimsy.

 

[sophie]

Nerdist is the only podcast I listen to. Really chews up the hours at work.

 

[Amylase_]

I don't really listen to podcasts, but I am starting to think I should - ya know, to fill up time going to work/places while sitting on the bus/train.
I watch JustKiddingNews on youtube and they recently got a podcast, so I am thinking of checking those out.

 

[sophie]

I don't really listen to podcasts, but I am starting to think I should - ya know, to fill up time going to work/places while sitting on the bus/train.
I watch JustKiddingNews on youtube and they recently got a podcast, so I am thinking of checking those out.

Have you tried Audible? I prefer those to podcasts for the most part.

Nightvale is great. I enjoy Radiolab and Nerdist quite a bit. Sips offers his rambles in podcast format, although I don't know how good those are for people who don't follow his youtube channel.

 

[Wolfbeckett]

My favorites are The Skeptic's Guide To The Universe and Revolutions. I also listen to Penn Jillette sometimes but the quality of his podcast is pretty dependent on if he has a good guest in or a good topic to discuss.

 

[Amylase_]

Have you tried Audible? I prefer those to podcasts for the most part.

Nightvale is great. I enjoy Radiolab and Nerdist quite a bit. Sips offers his rambles in podcast format, although I don't know how good those are for people who don't follow his youtube channel.

No, I haven't :0
Although I've heard lots about it. There's tons of people out there promoting their codes for a free audiobook. Maybe I should check it out. But I always hit the dilemma of what book I should choose to read first haha.

 

[downtown]

I really like podcasts. I have about an hour commute each day, and also run regularly, and I've found that it makes the time go by easier than just music.

I regularly listen to:

The Solid Verbal-A funny college football podcast, but also a regularly informative one.

Shutdown Fullcast-Only runs during football season, but it's not just the funniest college football podcast, but one of the funniest ones, period

My Brother, My Brother and Me-a hilarious comedy advice show podcast that I've been really diggin' on lately.

Sawbones-A spinoff from My Brother, one of the brothers and his wife (a doctor) cover medical history, which is surprisingly interesting.

On long trips, I'll add the BS Report (on basketball only), This American Life, and Stuff You Should Know.

 

[EgonSpengler]

The latest episode of 99% Invisible is about the United States' "Ghost Army" of WWII, a fake armored division that used prerecorded engine noises, inflatable vehicles, and actors pretending to be tank crews to fool the Germans.

Denzel Washington is the Greatest Actor of All Time, Period is Kevin Avery and W. Kamau Bell (formerly of "Siskel & Negro") goofing off, and they usually get around to reviewing a Denzel Washington movie.

Freakonomics Radio, in which a curious economist examines things you might not think to examine.

The Dinner Party Download. Various guests serve bizarre drinks, tell bad jokes, and provide dubious advice. The latest "all music" episode includes Gustavo Dudamel, Lars Ulrich, Carrie Brownstein, Weird Al, and Steve Martin.

The Political Gabfest. CBS News' political director, a writer for the NY Times, and a writer for Slate discuss American politics.

BBC Radio 5 Live: Kermode and Mayo Film Reviews is just what it says on the tin, as they themselves might say.

Maximum Rock n' Roll Radio. The venerable 'zine demonstrates that punk isn't dead. They almost never play the classics - if you want to hear Dead Kennedys or Poison Idea, go play some - instead showcasing new or obscure bands I've usually never heard of (Contradiction; Latex; Ritual Control; The Simpletones; Fugue - to name just a few from a recent episode).