I personally think topics like this coming up from time to time, even though repetitive in nature, is better. New podcasts are created and discovered all the time, and the most recent topic in...
I personally think topics like this coming up from time to time, even though repetitive in nature, is better. New podcasts are created and discovered all the time, and the most recent topic in that list is 14 days old.
I wonder if there's a way for these sorts of things to be aggregated in future, since there might not always be a courteous person in the comments to help daisychain previous threads together. But...
I wonder if there's a way for these sorts of things to be aggregated in future, since there might not always be a courteous person in the comments to help daisychain previous threads together.
But every implementation i think of just amounts to crawling the title/content for tags, and then checking for other similar posts (with an emphasis on direct post links) so that you can post a "This submission reminds me of these threads:" comment. Which feels more like behaviour for a bot rather than a native feature. Or maybe there's something possible with trusted users eventually
Either way, I think you're right. I've massively enjoyed threads like these because sometimes I catch the threads too early, sometimes I'm not in the mood, other times I'm just busy and missed the burst of activity. So I'm glad there's recap threads popping up.
Besides the like of RadioLab and other big ones, here is my top five: Economic Update - (feed) The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe - (feed) Reply All - (feed) Science Vs - (feed) Polite...
Besides the like of RadioLab and other big ones, here is my top five:
Two great places to start Reply All: #102: Long Distance - A telephone scammer makes a terrible mistake. He calls Alex Goldman. #104: The Case of the Phantom Caller - A woman in New Jersey is...
Two great places to start Reply All:
#102: Long Distance - A telephone scammer makes a terrible mistake. He calls Alex Goldman.
#104: The Case of the Phantom Caller - A woman in New Jersey is getting strange phone calls to her office from unknown numbers. Every time she picks up, she finds herself eavesdropping on the life of a different stranger. Unsure what else to do, she calls in Super Tech Support.
Another plug for Reply All. My personal favorite episode is #109: Is Facebook Spying on You? The episode released in response to the conspiracy that facebook (and google etc) were using our...
Another plug for Reply All. My personal favorite episode is #109: Is Facebook Spying on You? The episode released in response to the conspiracy that facebook (and google etc) were using our microphones to spy on us. Of course, the idea is ridiculous -- we already give facebook enough data that they don't need to! Nevertheless, Alex decides to embark on a mission to personally convince conspiracy believers that facebook isn't listening to their microphones. The episode's both poignant and funny.
That said, Reply All opted to replay fan-favorite episodes for the month of August, so any from that month should be a good place to start.
Depends on what you're looking for but I really like the Please Stop Talking Podcast, it's only for entertainment and nothing else. I'm also a fan of the Co-optional Podcast, which largely deals...
Depends on what you're looking for but I really like the Please Stop Talking Podcast, it's only for entertainment and nothing else. I'm also a fan of the Co-optional Podcast, which largely deals with gaming, but it hasn't been the same since the host passed away.
TotalBiscuit was a unique voice in a world in need of unique voices. One thing I'll say about his life is that he made such an impact in so short a time . . . very few people can say that about...
TotalBiscuit was a unique voice in a world in need of unique voices. One thing I'll say about his life is that he made such an impact in so short a time . . . very few people can say that about their own lives.
What are your interests? Around half of the podcasts I listen to are "general-interest" and the rest revolve around my hobbies and profession. Also are you looking for ongoing shows? There's this...
What are your interests? Around half of the podcasts I listen to are "general-interest" and the rest revolve around my hobbies and profession.
Also are you looking for ongoing shows? There's this trend of limited run shows that dump all n episodes at once and let you listen on your own schedule, but they don't continue to produce content after they end. I'm reluctant to even call those "podcasts" personally but that doesn't mean they aren't interesting and worthwhile in their own right.
And how much content are you looking for? I know of shows that release a new 2-hour episode on a daily basis. That's a little overwhelming. Other shows are just a couple minutes long and update less frequently. There's a bit of an art to finding that sweet spot for however much listening time you have, so you have enough to enjoy but not so much that you fall behind and listening becomes a chore.
Fair questions, I appreciate the thoughtful response. My interests range from the arts (painting, writing, sculpture, etc) to woodworking, architecture, video games, comedy, serial killers (Last...
Fair questions, I appreciate the thoughtful response.
My interests range from the arts (painting, writing, sculpture, etc) to woodworking, architecture, video games, comedy, serial killers (Last Podcast on the Left is one of my favorites, as another Tildesner mentioned) literature. The list just goes on and on. Really I want to know what it is that you're interested in, so I can sample them and see if it might be a good fit for me and my listening time. I have about an hour a day to devote to listening to podcasts. Sometimes I listen for much longer, or not at all. I don't mind if the creators dump hours a day on me; I may only choose to listen to a small fraction of that. To be helpful though, I would say that I like to put on a podcast and just let it play for a while. The shorter form ones are less convenient. So, longer ones are preferred.
Okay, I think you might enjoy these! I tried to pick five that I listen to that haven’t been mentioned in this thread yet, though I didn’t cross-reference the other linked threads. Others have...
Okay, I think you might enjoy these! I tried to pick five that I listen to that haven’t been mentioned in this thread yet, though I didn’t cross-reference the other linked threads. Others have posted some great recommendations here too.
• Playing For Fun - A good-natured dive into a different video game each episode, with a focus on positivity and having fun.
• 99% Invisible - Interesting stories about a range of stuff, usually about the surprising ways design impacts the world around us.
• The Gateway - A limited run exposé from this summer about Teal Swan, a controversial YouTube spiritual guide / cult leader. Trigger warning if you’re sensitive to the subject of suicide. The host has suggested he may release a second season on a different topic next year.
• IRL - Mozilla’s podcast about internet issues and culture. I listen to a lot of web-focused shows that are technically dense and not good for general audiences, but this show is interesting and approachable for everyone.
• Mission to Zyxx - An improvised sci-fi spoof with a different guest each episode. Hilarious show that’s surprisingly adept at building canon. I recommend starting at the beginning of this one.
Sure, here's what's in my lineup: • The Big Web Show - Irregularly updated interview show hosted by Jeffrey Zeldman of A List Apart fame. Guests are usually UX and design experts and there's a...
Sure, here's what's in my lineup:
• The Big Web Show - Irregularly updated interview show hosted by Jeffrey Zeldman of A List Apart fame. Guests are usually UX and design experts and there's a nice blend of interesting new ideas and nostalgia for an older era of web design.
• Boagworld - Discussions about UX and the ins and outs of running a digital agency, from a dryly funny British perspective.
• Security Now - Weekly review of the latest news in security. Steve Gibson has a real knack for explaining arcane concepts in plain English.
• The Social-Engineer Podcast - Monthly discussion about the human side of operational security, with an emphasis on psychology and education.
• Sovryn Tech - Oddball spin on a tech news show. It's a grab bag of current events, history, philosophy, privacy, anarchism, hedonism, and conspiracy. Definitely "out there" but it's entertaining and often a welcome deviation from the mainstream angle. Very NSFW!
• TechSNAP - Deep, deep dive into IT topics like networking and system administration on a weekly basis. Always an interesting listen.
• Threatpost News Wrap - High level review of infosec headlines and best practices.
• The Web Platform Podcast - Technical discussion about the web platform including JS frameworks, application architecture, and build tooling.
Chapo Trap House - dirtbag leftist misc. discussion Cumtown - similar but way more freeform, immature and offensive Dissect - a music podcast that delves deep into a couple of my favorite albums....
Chapo Trap House - dirtbag leftist misc. discussion
Cumtown - similar but way more freeform, immature and offensive
Dissect - a music podcast that delves deep into a couple of my favorite albums. Season one is on My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy by Kanye West and two is on Blonde by Frank Ocean. Three will be on To Pimp a Butterfly, I believe.
Tuned In With Preet Bahara - nice in depth legal podcast by the former United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York
The Normal Show - plug for a show by my buddy Jim. He's a music nerd who sits down with guests he knows and they talk about an era or a genre in each episode. Solid time killer.
In no particular order Freakanomics - talks about econ with a bit of a focus on behavioral econ More or less: behind the stats - looks at stats reported in the news with a focus on the UK and...
In no particular order
Freakanomics - talks about econ with a bit of a focus on behavioral econ
More or less: behind the stats - looks at stats reported in the news with a focus on the UK and analyses/tracks down the truth.
No such thing as a fish - recently go into this, It's the writers of QI in a similar style where facts are mixed in with chitchat.
Hello internet - two dudes talking, more light, kind of fluffy, maybe even flippant?
Unmade podcast - An actual comedy podcast that's funny! at least to me.
Other really good podcasts
intelligence squared, uk and usa version - debates on a wide range of topics usually specific to their respective countries, with the UK one loosely formatted and US version very rigid with fixed times and ringing bells.
Astronomy cast - Includes physics stuff as well, presented by a journalist and scientist
History of Rome - Goes from the founding of the city to the western empiers end iirc ~ 700ADish?
Hardcore histories - Really have to like the host; I'm kind of on the fence, he rambels a lot.
Planet money - weekly econ/american news.
In our time - host with a pannel of experts that discuss a wide range of topics, personally I've listened to more of the history related topics.
+1 to Hardcore Histories. It's great, gives you a very human insight into history, and a well-balanced, multi-perspective view as well. I understand how the host could be a bit love/hate though,...
+1 to Hardcore Histories. It's great, gives you a very human insight into history, and a well-balanced, multi-perspective view as well. I understand how the host could be a bit love/hate though, it's a very slow paced show and you really need to either settle in for the long run or do something else at the same time.
Yeah for sure, I complain but I still really like the topics and depth he covers them in. Favourites would be Blueprint for Armageddon and the King of Kings series.
Yeah for sure, I complain but I still really like the topics and depth he covers them in. Favourites would be Blueprint for Armageddon and the King of Kings series.
If you enjoy Hello Internet I can recommend CGP Grey's other podcast Cortex. Both are somewhat similar but Cortex focuses more on the working lives of the hosts as self employed creative...
If you enjoy Hello Internet I can recommend CGP Grey's other podcast Cortex. Both are somewhat similar but Cortex focuses more on the working lives of the hosts as self employed creative professionals. That might sound too specific and not entertaining but it's a humorous approach to the whole work and productivity thing that I find really enjoyable despite not everything having an obvious use for me.
I tried it when it released and the episodes I listened to they just talked about macs and greys productivity a bit too much for me, though I did enjoy the hosts dynamic.
I tried it when it released and the episodes I listened to they just talked about macs and greys productivity a bit too much for me, though I did enjoy the hosts dynamic.
Although these fall into different well-trodden categories; they all have a similar style which is: long-form and lightly structured/edited (more of a conversation) with a bend towards humor....
Although these fall into different well-trodden categories; they all have a similar style which is: long-form and lightly structured/edited (more of a conversation) with a bend towards humor.
Comedy: My Brother My Brother and Me - bad advice on write-in questions out-there yahoo answers. Bodega Boys - Bronx-based comedians talk about current events and pop culture with shock-jock-style editing/characters/bits. Flop House - review bad movies of the past couple of years. Hosts have an excellent report with each other. Video Games: Giant Bombcast - a 50/50 split between chatting and video games talk. The website only covers games that the individual members are interested in, so opinions flow naturally. Two of the hosts have a 40+ years of combined experience so discussion can be really insightful. Giant Beastcast - same style as the Bombcast, but with different members. 8-4 Play - hosted by English videogame localizers living in Japan. Fun insights on Japan, games and Japanese games. Mega64 Podcast - long-running podcast hosted by a group who has been making videos since the early 2000's. Isn't for everyone, but the hosts are hilarious if their humor clicks with you and there's a massive backlog. History: Sawbones - one of the hosts of My Brother My Brother and Me and his wife (a physician) discuss how medical trends have been treated historically. Well-informed but funny. Revolutions & History of Rome - the only departure from my discussion & humor-based trend. Hosted by one guy who follows the historical arc of major revolutions and the history of the Roman Empire.
Oh and I forgot to add Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness to the history(ish) section. Great entry-level discussion of topics the host is interested in - from the Romanov family to ice skating...
Oh and I forgot to add Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness to the history(ish) section. Great entry-level discussion of topics the host is interested in - from the Romanov family to ice skating to Middle Eastern regimes.
Two of my all-time favourites are one-off or seasonal, not weekly shows: Wooden Overcoats: A hilarious dramatized series about a tiny British island and its booming funeral industry. One of the...
Two of my all-time favourites are one-off or seasonal, not weekly shows:
Wooden Overcoats: A hilarious dramatized series about a tiny British island and its booming funeral industry. One of the only podcasts I like enough that I will fork out money the instant they ask for any.
This Sounds Serious: Sort of a surreal comedy about a murdered TV weatherman and his brother. Can't say much more without spoiling it. Go and listen. I thought this was a one-series thing, but there's a new preview episode in my queue today!
Other favourites that release more often:
The Film Reroll: Movies replayed as a table-top role-playing game using GURPS rules, similar to D&D. They put an amazing amount of effort into these, and it's a ton of fun to listen to. I'm neither a film buff nor a D&D player in any significant degree, but I still love it.
Bad Voltage: Tech news and related discussion, with an emphasis on open source. I started listening to this when a previous favourite, Linux Outlaws, gracefully faded away.
The Dollop: Probably pretty well-known, but still my all-time favourite podcast period. A biweekly podcast released once a week, bringing you humourous recountings of historical events by a non-historian, and another man who has no idea what the topic will be about. Note that the hosts are very far-left by American standards, and although they don't usually dwell long on current political events, that does come up.
Your Mom's House - Comedians Tom Segura and Christina Pazsitzky make fun of weird videos they find on the internet and other shenanigans (usually nsfw) The Last Popcast of the Left - Group of guys...
Your Mom's House - Comedians Tom Segura and Christina Pazsitzky make fun of weird videos they find on the internet and other shenanigans (usually nsfw)
The Last Popcast of the Left - Group of guys cover a range of topics like serial killers, conspiracies, cults, historic events, all with a comedic overtone. Very informative and pretty funny at times
This is Actually Happening - Extraordinary/unusual stories about the human experience. Told in the first person, with no interview or commentary. Ear Hustle - Stories about the prison experience,...
This is Actually Happening - Extraordinary/unusual stories about the human experience. Told in the first person, with no interview or commentary.
Ear Hustle - Stories about the prison experience, told by actual prisoners from inside an actual prison.
Reply All - One of the many tech/internet podcasts out there. The hosts are what make this one worth listening to over the others. Very engaging.
The Black Tapes - Fictional "docudrama" dealing with the paranormal.
Hysteria - News and social commentary with a liberal/feminist slant. Not for everyone of course, but great if you're their target audience.
You should check out some of the Planet Broadcasting podcasts. There's such a variety of podcasts on there; you are bound to find something you will like. My personal favorites are The Weekly...
You should check out some of the Planet Broadcasting podcasts. There's such a variety of podcasts on there; you are bound to find something you will like. My personal favorites are The Weekly Planet and Do Go On.
The Weekly Planet is about movies and comics and TV shows, and is really funny. If you are at all interested in comic book movies or other stuff like that, I would definitely check it out.
Do Go On is a comedy podcast where one of the hosts gives a report while the other two try to derail them at every turn. It's hilarious, and I highly recommend it for anyone interested in a comedy podcast.
Writing Excuses with Brandon Sanderson is wonderful. It feels like your just sitting at a coffee table while these great writers talk shop. And it's always great to hear from Brandon talk about...
Writing Excuses with Brandon Sanderson is wonderful. It feels like your just sitting at a coffee table while these great writers talk shop. And it's always great to hear from Brandon talk about how he writes his novels and his characters. Once he talked about a failed novel project telling the backstory of one of the best characters from Mistborn and went into detail about how the character couldn't work as the main character despite being a favorite side character from before.
In Our Time is consistently excellent. There are hundreds of episodes available. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qykl/episodes/downloads Thinking Allowed. Always interesting, imo. Again, many...
In Our Time is consistently excellent. There are hundreds of episodes available.
Ed: a "top five" is almost impossible to draw up, because my listening habits fluctuate and interest in topics wax and wane over time in. The two I've linked are ever present in my listening choices though.
I would recommend https://exponent.fm/ which expands on Stratechery blog, but they decided to stop it yesterday. Did anyone else to it? If so, what else in the tech analysis area would you recommend?
I would recommend https://exponent.fm/ which expands on Stratechery blog, but they decided to stop it yesterday.
Did anyone else to it? If so, what else in the tech analysis area would you recommend?
I got into audio dramas a while ago (fiction podcasts that generally have a smaller number of episodes, and are well written and voice-acted), and so far, my favourite by far is Limetown. If you...
I got into audio dramas a while ago (fiction podcasts that generally have a smaller number of episodes, and are well written and voice-acted), and so far, my favourite by far is Limetown.
If you like true-crime stuff, you'll probably like Limetown. While it's fictional, it has a pretty similar style. It's done in the form of a documentary: a reporter named Lia Haddock is investigating the unsolved Limetown incident, where an entire small town disappeared. I think that the sound design, writing, and voice acting is great, and there are some really good twists and tense moments.
It's getting a season 2 sometime this year, which I'm really looking forward to!
Previous discussions:
https://tildes.net/~misc/5ez/recommendations_for_a_great_podcast_what_are_you_listening_to
https://tildes.net/~talk/2qz/podcast_recommendations
https://tildes.net/~talk/19g/lets_talk_podcasts_what_are_some_that_you_like_and_why
https://tildes.net/~talk/tl/what_are_your_favourite_podcasts
This is a fair response. Thank you!
I personally think topics like this coming up from time to time, even though repetitive in nature, is better. New podcasts are created and discovered all the time, and the most recent topic in that list is 14 days old.
I wonder if there's a way for these sorts of things to be aggregated in future, since there might not always be a courteous person in the comments to help daisychain previous threads together.
But every implementation i think of just amounts to crawling the title/content for tags, and then checking for other similar posts (with an emphasis on direct post links) so that you can post a "This submission reminds me of these threads:" comment. Which feels more like behaviour for a bot rather than a native feature. Or maybe there's something possible with trusted users eventually
Either way, I think you're right. I've massively enjoyed threads like these because sometimes I catch the threads too early, sometimes I'm not in the mood, other times I'm just busy and missed the burst of activity. So I'm glad there's recap threads popping up.
Besides the like of RadioLab and other big ones, here is my top five:
Two great places to start Reply All:
Another plug for Reply All. My personal favorite episode is #109: Is Facebook Spying on You? The episode released in response to the conspiracy that facebook (and google etc) were using our microphones to spy on us. Of course, the idea is ridiculous -- we already give facebook enough data that they don't need to! Nevertheless, Alex decides to embark on a mission to personally convince conspiracy believers that facebook isn't listening to their microphones. The episode's both poignant and funny.
That said, Reply All opted to replay fan-favorite episodes for the month of August, so any from that month should be a good place to start.
Those are damn good episodes.
Depends on what you're looking for but I really like the Please Stop Talking Podcast, it's only for entertainment and nothing else. I'm also a fan of the Co-optional Podcast, which largely deals with gaming, but it hasn't been the same since the host passed away.
RIP TB, well it's still worth the watch.
TotalBiscuit was a unique voice in a world in need of unique voices. One thing I'll say about his life is that he made such an impact in so short a time . . . very few people can say that about their own lives.
What are your interests? Around half of the podcasts I listen to are "general-interest" and the rest revolve around my hobbies and profession.
Also are you looking for ongoing shows? There's this trend of limited run shows that dump all n episodes at once and let you listen on your own schedule, but they don't continue to produce content after they end. I'm reluctant to even call those "podcasts" personally but that doesn't mean they aren't interesting and worthwhile in their own right.
And how much content are you looking for? I know of shows that release a new 2-hour episode on a daily basis. That's a little overwhelming. Other shows are just a couple minutes long and update less frequently. There's a bit of an art to finding that sweet spot for however much listening time you have, so you have enough to enjoy but not so much that you fall behind and listening becomes a chore.
Fair questions, I appreciate the thoughtful response.
My interests range from the arts (painting, writing, sculpture, etc) to woodworking, architecture, video games, comedy, serial killers (Last Podcast on the Left is one of my favorites, as another Tildesner mentioned) literature. The list just goes on and on. Really I want to know what it is that you're interested in, so I can sample them and see if it might be a good fit for me and my listening time. I have about an hour a day to devote to listening to podcasts. Sometimes I listen for much longer, or not at all. I don't mind if the creators dump hours a day on me; I may only choose to listen to a small fraction of that. To be helpful though, I would say that I like to put on a podcast and just let it play for a while. The shorter form ones are less convenient. So, longer ones are preferred.
Again, thank you.
Okay, I think you might enjoy these! I tried to pick five that I listen to that haven’t been mentioned in this thread yet, though I didn’t cross-reference the other linked threads. Others have posted some great recommendations here too.
• Playing For Fun - A good-natured dive into a different video game each episode, with a focus on positivity and having fun.
• 99% Invisible - Interesting stories about a range of stuff, usually about the surprising ways design impacts the world around us.
• The Gateway - A limited run exposé from this summer about Teal Swan, a controversial YouTube spiritual guide / cult leader. Trigger warning if you’re sensitive to the subject of suicide. The host has suggested he may release a second season on a different topic next year.
• IRL - Mozilla’s podcast about internet issues and culture. I listen to a lot of web-focused shows that are technically dense and not good for general audiences, but this show is interesting and approachable for everyone.
• Mission to Zyxx - An improvised sci-fi spoof with a different guest each episode. Hilarious show that’s surprisingly adept at building canon. I recommend starting at the beginning of this one.
"Web-focused shows that are technically dense" sounds interesting. Is there anything in particular you would recommend?
Sure, here's what's in my lineup:
• The Big Web Show - Irregularly updated interview show hosted by Jeffrey Zeldman of A List Apart fame. Guests are usually UX and design experts and there's a nice blend of interesting new ideas and nostalgia for an older era of web design.
• Boagworld - Discussions about UX and the ins and outs of running a digital agency, from a dryly funny British perspective.
• Security Now - Weekly review of the latest news in security. Steve Gibson has a real knack for explaining arcane concepts in plain English.
• The Social-Engineer Podcast - Monthly discussion about the human side of operational security, with an emphasis on psychology and education.
• Sovryn Tech - Oddball spin on a tech news show. It's a grab bag of current events, history, philosophy, privacy, anarchism, hedonism, and conspiracy. Definitely "out there" but it's entertaining and often a welcome deviation from the mainstream angle. Very NSFW!
• TechSNAP - Deep, deep dive into IT topics like networking and system administration on a weekly basis. Always an interesting listen.
• Threatpost News Wrap - High level review of infosec headlines and best practices.
• The Web Platform Podcast - Technical discussion about the web platform including JS frameworks, application architecture, and build tooling.
In no particular order
Other really good podcasts
I need to get myself a Honey Prawns shirt.
+1 to Hardcore Histories. It's great, gives you a very human insight into history, and a well-balanced, multi-perspective view as well. I understand how the host could be a bit love/hate though, it's a very slow paced show and you really need to either settle in for the long run or do something else at the same time.
Yeah for sure, I complain but I still really like the topics and depth he covers them in. Favourites would be Blueprint for Armageddon and the King of Kings series.
If you enjoy Hello Internet I can recommend CGP Grey's other podcast Cortex. Both are somewhat similar but Cortex focuses more on the working lives of the hosts as self employed creative professionals. That might sound too specific and not entertaining but it's a humorous approach to the whole work and productivity thing that I find really enjoyable despite not everything having an obvious use for me.
I tried it when it released and the episodes I listened to they just talked about macs and greys productivity a bit too much for me, though I did enjoy the hosts dynamic.
Although these fall into different well-trodden categories; they all have a similar style which is: long-form and lightly structured/edited (more of a conversation) with a bend towards humor.
Comedy:
My Brother My Brother and Me - bad advice on write-in questions out-there yahoo answers.
Bodega Boys - Bronx-based comedians talk about current events and pop culture with shock-jock-style editing/characters/bits.
Flop House - review bad movies of the past couple of years. Hosts have an excellent report with each other.
Video Games:
Giant Bombcast - a 50/50 split between chatting and video games talk. The website only covers games that the individual members are interested in, so opinions flow naturally. Two of the hosts have a 40+ years of combined experience so discussion can be really insightful.
Giant Beastcast - same style as the Bombcast, but with different members.
8-4 Play - hosted by English videogame localizers living in Japan. Fun insights on Japan, games and Japanese games.
Mega64 Podcast - long-running podcast hosted by a group who has been making videos since the early 2000's. Isn't for everyone, but the hosts are hilarious if their humor clicks with you and there's a massive backlog.
History:
Sawbones - one of the hosts of My Brother My Brother and Me and his wife (a physician) discuss how medical trends have been treated historically. Well-informed but funny.
Revolutions & History of Rome - the only departure from my discussion & humor-based trend. Hosted by one guy who follows the historical arc of major revolutions and the history of the Roman Empire.
Oh and I forgot to add Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness to the history(ish) section. Great entry-level discussion of topics the host is interested in - from the Romanov family to ice skating to Middle Eastern regimes.
Two of my all-time favourites are one-off or seasonal, not weekly shows:
Other favourites that release more often:
Your Mom's House - Comedians Tom Segura and Christina Pazsitzky make fun of weird videos they find on the internet and other shenanigans (usually nsfw)
The Last Popcast of the Left - Group of guys cover a range of topics like serial killers, conspiracies, cults, historic events, all with a comedic overtone. Very informative and pretty funny at times
The Official Podcast and SuperMegaCast
This is Actually Happening - Extraordinary/unusual stories about the human experience. Told in the first person, with no interview or commentary.
Ear Hustle - Stories about the prison experience, told by actual prisoners from inside an actual prison.
Reply All - One of the many tech/internet podcasts out there. The hosts are what make this one worth listening to over the others. Very engaging.
The Black Tapes - Fictional "docudrama" dealing with the paranormal.
Hysteria - News and social commentary with a liberal/feminist slant. Not for everyone of course, but great if you're their target audience.
I'd recommend Stuff You Should Know. Great if you want a chilled out casual podcast.
You should check out some of the Planet Broadcasting podcasts. There's such a variety of podcasts on there; you are bound to find something you will like. My personal favorites are The Weekly Planet and Do Go On.
The Weekly Planet is about movies and comics and TV shows, and is really funny. If you are at all interested in comic book movies or other stuff like that, I would definitely check it out.
Do Go On is a comedy podcast where one of the hosts gives a report while the other two try to derail them at every turn. It's hilarious, and I highly recommend it for anyone interested in a comedy podcast.
Writing Excuses with Brandon Sanderson is wonderful. It feels like your just sitting at a coffee table while these great writers talk shop. And it's always great to hear from Brandon talk about how he writes his novels and his characters. Once he talked about a failed novel project telling the backstory of one of the best characters from Mistborn and went into detail about how the character couldn't work as the main character despite being a favorite side character from before.
Here's the website if anyone's curious: https://writingexcuses.com/
In Our Time is consistently excellent. There are hundreds of episodes available.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qykl/episodes/downloads
Thinking Allowed. Always interesting, imo. Again, many many episodes available for download
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qy05/episodes/downloads
Ed: a "top five" is almost impossible to draw up, because my listening habits fluctuate and interest in topics wax and wane over time in. The two I've linked are ever present in my listening choices though.
Honourable mention goes to Lives In A Landscape
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006rcd7
and Short Cuts
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01mk3f8/episodes/downloads
Street fight! It's an "anarcho-comedy" humor / politics radio show which releases as a podcast too.
I would recommend https://exponent.fm/ which expands on Stratechery blog, but they decided to stop it yesterday.
Did anyone else to it? If so, what else in the tech analysis area would you recommend?
I got into audio dramas a while ago (fiction podcasts that generally have a smaller number of episodes, and are well written and voice-acted), and so far, my favourite by far is Limetown.
If you like true-crime stuff, you'll probably like Limetown. While it's fictional, it has a pretty similar style. It's done in the form of a documentary: a reporter named Lia Haddock is investigating the unsolved Limetown incident, where an entire small town disappeared. I think that the sound design, writing, and voice acting is great, and there are some really good twists and tense moments.
It's getting a season 2 sometime this year, which I'm really looking forward to!
Comedy: My Dad Wrote a Porno
Thriller: Alice Isn't Dead
Dark Comedy: Welcome to Nightvale
"My Dad Wrote a Porno" is out there! truly hilarious stuff!