When you can’t find it on Google.

My favorite podcasts

I listen to science, music, and news commentary podcasts on my bus rides to and from work (and often when I’m in my truck). I gave brief mention of my favorites in August with my “This podcast will blow your mind” Radiolab review of their “Limits” episode, but this entry has a  detailed rundown of 10 more of my favorite channels.

Rating podcasts
Rating podcasts in iTunes 10

As the above iTunes screenshot illustrates, I star-rate my favorites and often “Love” them on Last.fm, as well. While my iPod automatically cleans off old podcasts, if I add a podcast to a playlist it won’t get removed and I can later remember to give bands a second listen. I generally don’t like the iTunes podcast interface, though, and the latest episodes often fail to upload.

I have a few others podcasts I listen to occasionally, but these are my dailies. All free, of course, and available on iTunes. I try out new ones from time to time, so feel free to ask my opinion on others that you’ve heard about. I listen to Fresh Air in the car sometimes, so I should probably download that, too. My latest search is for a Creative Commons/public domain music podcast if anyone knows of any (it’s nice to have background music to include in homemade videos or audio pieces that I work on once in a blue moon). Click on the “feed” links to listen to samples on the RSS pages.

  • This American Life (feed) – 1hr, weekly, hosted by Ira Glass and one of the most popular podcasts in the world. Uniquely-crafted special topics. They had a TV version that aired for two seasons, but I’m not sure if you can get those free online or not; I’ve watched one of them and it was okay.
  • Radiolab (feed) – 1hr, once or twice a month from Jad and Robert; they also do 20min shorts occasionally. Very similar to TAL, but I find these even better. Limits and Words are two recent favs. Probably my fav podcast, but they’re in need of funding!
  • The Diane Rehm Show from WAMU and NPR (feed) – 50min daily (closer to 40 if you skip the breaks); also does a Friday 2-hour news roundup, although I rarely have time to listen to that. News topics & guests, author interviews, listener call-ins.
  • On Point with Tom Ashbrook from WBUR and NPR (feed) – 45min daily. Between him and Rehm (they’re both the same format), there’s something fascinating to listen to daily.
  • The Sound of Young America (feed) – 3 to 40min (yes, very random) every other day. Jesse Thorn interviews famous young people (usually younger than 40).
  • Stuff You Should Know (feed) – Anywhere from 20 to 50 minutes, weekly. Chuck and Josh discuss random fascinating topics like biospeleology, cremation, and mirrors.
  • Savage Love (feed) – 50min every Tuesday, call-in relationship advice show from a gay guy.
  • NPR Music Reviews (feed) – 7-8 minute new album reviews every couple of days.

For music (with no to very little commentary):

  • The Album Project (feed) – Weekly alt rock podcast of four or five songs from bands you’ve probably never heard before.
  • KEXP 90.3 FM Podcasts: Song of the Day (feed) – Similar to Album Project. I find about one great song a week. KEXP is a Seattle alternative station.
  • KEXP Music That Matters (feed) – 1hr, every other week. KEXP DJs play indie artist mixes.

If it wasn’t for The Best New Electronic Music podcast on NPR, I wouldn’t have noticed Gold Panda (a band that meticulously mixes their music to produce beautiful dance instrumentals) as soon as I did. This Snow And Taxis video can be downloaded as a free mp3 on their website.


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2 responses to “My favorite podcasts”

  1. Amber Avatar

    Two thumbs up for Gold Panda. I love finding new gems by sponging off my friends’ finds! 🙂

    1. zepfanman Avatar

      Yeah, that one’s a good 5-minute treadmill song. Glad you can apperciate that one (misspelling intentional just because the word sounds better that way).