podcasts
I really like podcasts. They’re great to listen to while running, since they won’t influence your stride with a fat bass beat. Plus they make you smarter (or something). Here are my favorites:
The Bugle - This is quite possibly the definition of a perfect podcast. John Oliver and Andy Zaltzman deliver punching, dry wit aimed at the news of the week. Bonus : regular references to cricket, cycling, tennis, and other sports Americans don’t understand.
This American Life - A production of WBEZ in Chicago, this is a fantastic collection of human interest stories. From the outset, that sounds incredibly hokey, but it’s actually really really good. Give it a listen and I’m sure you’ll love it too.
Science Friday - This is a regular feature from NPR. The great thing about SciFri (as the insiders call it) is that each podcast is about 15 minutes long. Perfect bite-size audio for your enjoyment. And this one really does make you smarter.
BusinessWeek (cover stories) - Now that I’m a working man, I like to keep up on what’s going on around my in corporate America. These weekly stories do a good job of balancing technical detail with lightness and humor. The author of each cover story is interviewed for the podcast, so you hear it straight from the horse’s mouth.
Slate - This podcast does something very difficult: provide [mostly] unbiased analysis of current news and politics. The format is casual–it’s recorded around a conference table discussion–but often very insightful.
UC Berkeley - What a wonderful time we live in! Listening to an audio recording of the lecture is almost as good as attending the class (almost) and much more affordable. Great way to stay sharp.
Savage Lovecast - If you’ve ever read Dan Savage’s fabulous syndicated column, you’ll know what to expect. If you don’t know who Dan Savage is, you’re in for a treat. If crass language bothers you, this is definitely not for you.
WNYC Radio Lab - Similar to This American Life, but with a different flavor. A little more creative, a little less polished.
Permalink : Comments (2) : Feb 27th, 2007
August 12th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
[...] podcasts [...]
October 6th, 2008 at 11:56 am
Tad - I have to say thank you for recommending The Bugle podcast. It’s absolutely hilarious and I always look forward to new episodes. I’d have to agree that this may be the definition of the perfect podcast.