# I need some good podcasts **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 25, 2010, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-some-good-podcasts/540665 "2010-05-25T02:53:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![tr0psn4j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-some-good-podcasts/540665/21 "2010-05-26T16:00:00Z")
TWIG (This Week in Google) is good. TWIT (This Week in Tech) aint bad either. ---
**Author:** ![ScatteredFrog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@ScatteredFrog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ScatteredFrog)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-some-good-podcasts/540665/22 "2010-05-26T16:05:58Z")
My faves, mainly podcasts of radio shows: _Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!_ from NPR _Off The Hook_ - a hacker panel discussion from the staff of the magazine _2600_ _Off The Wall_ - the editor of _2600_ discusses mainly world issues _Fab Fourum_ - if you’re a Beatles fan, this is a MUST. Good panel discussion. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-some-good-podcasts/540665/23 "2010-05-26T16:19:52Z")
There are a lot of British comedians that do podcasts. I haven’t listened to most of them, but if you’re into that sort of thing, be sure to track down and listen to the Ricky Gervais XFM shows and podcasts, and be prepared to meet Karl Pilkington. One I have listened to is Richard Herring’s “As It Occurs To Me” (Pause for shouts of “aiotmuh”). It’s OK. Basically he writes an hour’s worth of new comedy every week, and then records it in front of an audience with a couple other people and puts it out on the internet with no editing. Not for the easily offended. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-some-good-podcasts/540665/24 "2010-05-26T16:24:31Z")
I listen to (too) many podcasts. Many have already been mentioned. Some that have been mentioned I have tried and hated. Here are a few that have not been named yet: **[Geologic Podecast](http://www.geologicpodcast.com/)**: George Hrab is a musician, philosopher, and skeptic. Weekly he muses about all sorts of topics. One of my favorite parts is when he calls his mother and interviews her or has her interpret rap/hip-hop lyrics. **[The Skeptic’s Guide to the Universe](http://www.theskepticsguide.org/)**: Harcore science. Several Novellas, Evan Bernstein, and Rebbecca Watson discuss science. Probably my favorite podcast. **[The Sick and Wrong Podcast](http://www.sickandwrongpodcast.com/sw.photos.htm/)**: Humor, but only if disgusting, vile, filthy topics are your thing. My second favorite podcast. Dee and Wackerlee rift for an hour weekly. **[Double Feature Podcast](http://www.doublefeatureshow.com/)**: Eric Ingrum and Michael Koester watch and discuss two movies. Sometimes the movies seem to go together, other times the connection is surreal. They also do crazy things like watching all of the **Hellraiser** movies back to back to back…then discussing them. **[The Splendid Table](http://splendidtable.publicradio.org/)**: Another of the NPR related podcasts. Lynne Rossetto Kasper discuss eating, etc. Thumbs up to **Skeptoid** , **The Moth Podcast** , and **This American Life** , already mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-some-good-podcasts/540665/25 "2010-05-26T17:26:27Z")
I wanted to mention a couple of CBC podcasts you might not have heard of - [Quirks and Quarks](http://www.cbc.ca/quirks/podcast.html) which is a great weekly science digest kind of show. [The Vinyl Cafe](http://www.cbc.ca/podcasting/includes/vinylcafe.xml) is based around a great set of ongoing stories about Dave. Full live shows feature an indie folk musician, local stories and history. It has been compared to a Canadian version of The Prairie Home Companion… ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Who](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Doctor\_Who](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Who)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-some-good-podcasts/540665/26 "2010-05-26T17:34:22Z")
For college football fans: The Solid Verbal is the best CFB podcast out there. Far superior to ESPN’s CFB podcast. Also, if you are an iphone user and also a commuter, let me recommend: Stitcher Radio (it’s free!). I would link to their site, but it appears to be down for maintenance. Stitcher is the most used app on my iPhone. Essential for my commute. ---
**Author:** ![melodyharmonius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/melodyharmonius/32/21310_2.png) [@melodyharmonius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/melodyharmonius)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-some-good-podcasts/540665/27 "2010-05-26T17:51:03Z")
Here’s a peek at my current podcast list - some are repeats of others, but just so you get the total pic: APM: A Prairie Home Companion (it’s just the ‘This Week in Lake Wobegon’ part) The Clockwork Cabaret (local 2 hour podcast of 3 silly people and their steampunk musicality) A Comicbook Orange - semi-regular update of comicbooks - video format NPR: All Songs Considered - one of my favs, covers all sorts of genres and events like South by Southwest. Love when he does the compilation shows with guest hosts. NPR: Car Talk - makes me feel like I’m back home NPR: Sunday Puzzle - only 5 minutes long - but I love when I get some right. NPR: Wait, Wait - mentioned by several NPR: World Cafe - love this one too - some interviews are really interested Onion News Network - video format - fun for a quick break This American Life -mentioned by several as well I had more - but this keeps me pretty busy. Hope you found something useful! ---
**Author:** ![TheBori](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ee7513/32.png) [@TheBori](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheBori)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2010, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-some-good-podcasts/540665/28 "2010-05-26T19:39:14Z")
For Science Fiction short stories: StarShipSofa EscapePod p.s. I narrated some of the stories. ---
**Author:** ![GameHat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ed655f/32.png) [@GameHat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GameHat)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-some-good-podcasts/540665/29 "2010-05-27T00:22:35Z")
> [@HazelNutCoffee](#): > > If you like This American Life you’d probably enjoy The Moth podcast. Granted it’s only updated once a week and the stories are less than 10 minutes, but they usually have good stuff. Thanks for the recommendation, I’ve gotten through the five casts that I can see on iTunes. “Extraordinary Mother” had me in tears, though I could have done without the nasty sex story in “StorySLAM Favorites”. Oh well. I look forward to the next update. ---
**Author:** ![GameHat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ed655f/32.png) [@GameHat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GameHat)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-some-good-podcasts/540665/30 "2010-05-27T00:30:27Z")
> [@NAF1138](#): > > Hardcore History is brilliant, but only updates about every 45 days. When it does update it’s great. If you are into politics the host of Hardcore History also does a political podcast called Common Sense, which is explicitly non partisan (anti partisan even), if very slightly right wing leaning. It’s interesting, but not for everyone. Thanks for the recommendation, Based on the few casts each I’ve listened to, Hardcore History and Common Sense aren’t “very slightly right wing leaning”, they **are** right wing leaning. Probably more of a Libertarian bent, but oh well. This was a bit of put off at first. That said, Carlin is intelligent and reasonable so I still did enjoy them. I’m quite a lefty, so these are nice because it’s usually a view that I disagree with but Carlin seems honest and avoids (from what I’ve heard so far) the worthless inflammatory rhetoric that both extremes tend to spout on most talk radio. I do kinda hate his “radio” voice which to me sounds like the worst of AM talk radio incendiaries. Oh well. It’s much less pronounced in Hardcore History. I’ll stick with both of these for a bit. Between the two I suspect Hardcore History will stay on my list, but we’ll see. Thanks for a good recommendation. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-some-good-podcasts/540665/31 "2010-05-27T12:47:32Z")
> [@TheBori](#): > > For Science Fiction short stories: > StarShipSofa > EscapePod > > p.s. I narrated some of the stories. I listen to **Escape Pod**!! Sadly, Steve Eley (the original host) has moved on and a new era is beginning. The production values of the podcast are excellent. Care to share which stories you read? Episode number? ---
**Author:** ![Mauvaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mauvaise/32/11084_2.png) [@Mauvaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mauvaise)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-some-good-podcasts/540665/32 "2010-05-27T13:21:31Z")
I’ll add to the group suggesting Wait, Wait and Car Talk (and I don’t even particularly like cars and I love these guys). Also, my recommendation (for anyone reading this thread): The Tobolowsky Files: beautiful, funny, and poignant - sometimes at the exact same moment. ---
**Author:** ![Icerigger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icerigger/32/432_2.png) [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-some-good-podcasts/540665/33 "2010-05-27T13:40:45Z")
If you are of an atheist bent there is: The Atheist Experience The Non Prophets Reasonable Doubts The Bible Geek For military topics: The Pritzker Military Library For Hot sex action: Savage Love I want your Sex ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-some-good-podcasts/540665/34 "2010-05-27T15:59:51Z")
> [@GameHat](#): > > Thanks for the recommendation, > > Based on the few casts each I’ve listened to, Hardcore History and Common Sense aren’t “very slightly right wing leaning”, they **are** right wing leaning. Probably more of a Libertarian bent, but oh well. This was a bit of put off at first. That said, Carlin is intelligent and reasonable so I still did enjoy them. I’m quite a lefty, so these are nice because it’s usually a view that I disagree with but Carlin seems honest and avoids (from what I’ve heard so far) the worthless inflammatory rhetoric that both extremes tend to spout on most talk radio. > > I do kinda hate his “radio” voice which to me sounds like the worst of AM talk radio incendiaries. Oh well. It’s much less pronounced in Hardcore History. > > I’ll stick with both of these for a bit. Between the two I suspect Hardcore History will stay on my list, but we’ll see. Thanks for a good recommendation. Glad you like them. I think the more you listen to Carlin’s political podcast the harder it to classify him as right wing, but that’s me. I don’t agree with him most of the time either but I like the different perspective that he brings to the table. This history podcast, I feel, has much less of a political bent, and up until the recent episodes focused more on the human aspect of history. His episodes about the Eastern Front in WWII and the Punic Wars are some of the most fascinating and entertaining “radio” I have ever heard. ---
**Author:** ![Icerigger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icerigger/32/432_2.png) [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-some-good-podcasts/540665/35 "2010-05-27T16:17:52Z")
I think his Eastern Front series was great. As an American I was taught we won WW2 but it’s clear the Western Front and the air war was just a side show. The most brutal fighting the world has ever seen, the Russians shot over 600,000 of their own troops for “desertion”. ---
**Author:** ![puddleglum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puddleglum/32/137_2.png) [@puddleglum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puddleglum)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-some-good-podcasts/540665/36 "2010-05-27T19:05:17Z")
Econtalk is good if you like economics. ---
**Author:** ![TheBori](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ee7513/32.png) [@TheBori](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheBori)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-some-good-podcasts/540665/37 "2010-05-28T02:55:59Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I listen to **Escape Pod**!! Sadly, Steve Eley (the original host) has moved on and a new era is beginning. The production values of the podcast are excellent. > > Care to share which stories you read? Episode number? Here are the links: EscapePod – [Episode 235 – On the Human Plan](http://escapepod.org/2010/01/23/ep235-on-the-human-plan/) EscapePod – [Episode 220 – Come All Ye Faithful](http://escapepod.org/2009/10/15/ep220-come-all-ye-faithful/) EscapePod – [Episode 212 – Skinhorse Goes to Mars](http://escapepod.org/2009/08/20/ep212-skinhorse-goes-to-mars/) StarShipSofa – [Episode 122 – The Clapping Hands of God](http://www.starshipsofa.com/20100223/aural-delights-no-122-michael-f-flynn/) StarShipSofa – [Episode 120 – Pulp Cover](http://www.starshipsofa.com/20100209/aural-delights-no-120-gene-wolfe/) StarShipSofa – [Episode 94 – The Empire of Ice Cream](http://www.starshipsofa.com/20090722/aural-delights-no-94-jeffery-ford/) StarShipSofa – [Episode 87 – Of a Sweet Slow Dance in the Wake of Temporary Dogs](http://www.starshipsofa.com/20090603/aural-delights-no-87-adam-troy-castro/) [WARNING: Explicit Content] I hope you like them. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-some-good-podcasts/540665/38 "2010-05-28T12:54:52Z")
^^COOL!! Great job, dude! I immediately recognized two of the escapepod stories, and I’m listening to the third tonight. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-some-good-podcasts/540665/39 "2010-05-28T16:26:52Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I listen to **Escape Pod**!! Sadly, Steve Eley (the original host) has moved on and a new era is beginning. The production values of the podcast are excellent. > > Care to share which stories you read? Episode number? TheBori, you should tell us what it’s like to narrate a book, and how you got started, and how you decide how to handle different characters (or start a thread)! We’re so proud of ya… ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-some-good-podcasts/540665/40 "2010-05-28T16:36:42Z")
I second the request! Also, are you paranoid about your voice? A friend of mine has been a radio dj for decades and she is wacky about “protecting” her voice. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-some-good-podcasts/540665.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-some-good-podcasts/540665.md?page=3)