10 Great Podcasts

I’ve been listening to podcasts for over 3 years now. Most of my knowledge of the wider world seems to come from them these days. I LOVE them. Sooo, it seems about time that I share with an (almost certainly un)eager world what my favourites are. My faves are obviously skewed by my nationality (British – so there is a number of BBC ones) and interests (there’s no sport – I’m a geek for God’s sake) but caveats and disclaimers not withstanding – here’s the 10.

Mark Kermode and Simon Mayo’s Film Reviews
Film Reviews from the BBC
My favourite of them all. Dr Mark and Dr Simon argue and bicker give vitriolic opinions on this week’s film releases. Often controversial but never dull.

Stuart Maconie’s Freakzone
Alternative Music from the BBC
I’m a big music fan but not a big music podcast fan. Due to licensing restrictions you only get snippets of songs so it’s a bit frustrating. Even so – this is a podcast worth a listen. Full of freaky, bizarre obscurest artists that no-one’s ever heard. And if that’s not enough to whet your whistle then Justin Spear’s University of the Strange surely will. What’s not to like.

Money Talk from fool.co.uk
Personal Finance
I’ve a deep dark secret. I’ve a genuine interest in personal finance. For others with a similar affliction this is a great podcast. Informative and lively chat from the highly engaging David Kuo. A variety of topics means that even though you might not be interested in credit cards, the following week’ topic on mortgages might be just up your street.

Guardian Tech Weekly
Technology from the Guardian newspaper
I find a lot of technology podcasts very unsatisfying. They are dull or amateurish or juvenile or all three. This is one of the exceptions. A lively interchange from the current pod members – Aleks Krotoski, Bobby Johnson et. al. It’s got quite a big focus on gadgets but covers the current affairs and business stuff too.

Dilbert Animated Cartoons
Cartoons of course
The only video podcast (vodcast??) I subscribe too. Daily 10 second bursts of Dilbert, Dogbert and Wally. Nuff said.

Slate Political Gabfest
US Politics from Slate Magazine
My only US podcast. The ever liberal Slate team discuss American politics. I got into this for the election but it’s got a shelf life past that. Emily Bazelon is the star of the show here. It can get a bit low key if she isn’t there to liven things up but she’s a regular contributor so that hardly ever happens.

Wake Up To Money
Business News from the BBC
20 minutes of business news 5 days a week. I love it. Andy Verity and Micky Clarke present. Well balanced and informative even if Micky C is a bit of a 4 wheel drive loving right winger (as I’m sure I will be in the years to come). It’s been a bit gloomy recently since near total collapse of the capitalist system so a strong stomach is required at the moment. It will cheer up eventually I’m sure.

Dr Karl and the Naked Scientist
Science from the BBC
I don’t bother with the Naked Scientist bit but Dr Karl is great. Dr K answers late night science questions from various insomniac scientist wannabees. The questions range from the highly insightful to the deranged but Dr K answers them all with genuine good humour. Worth the listen for the inevitable loon who rings in claiming to have disproved the theory of relativity, gravity or evolution.

Philosophy: The Classics
Philosophy
From Plato to John Stuart Mills – it’s the history of western Philosophy delivered in 15 minutes bite sized chunks by Nigel Warburton. Why would you ever wade through 500 page 18th century philosophical tomes when Mr Warburton will summarise for you.

In Our Time
History of Ideas from the BBC
Take three professor types, add a spoonful of Melvyn Bragg and throw in a History/Science/Philosophy/Literature topic, mix around and deliver 40 minutes worth of cerebral chat. Intense cleverness in a pod – Lovely.