TBL Picks - Podcasts

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My work allows me to listen to a the odd Podcast, whilst working with heavy machinery.  Well, OK, maybe the boss doesn't know, but anyway, I get most of my information and entertainment from a couple of choice Podcasts.  I normal shun radio and TV, mainly because to listen and watch you have to run your life by someone else's schedule and listen to Green Day, and really I have enough trouble keeping up with my own schedule.  So the ability to take Podcasts with me on an iPod, gives me the practical freedom I crave.

If you haven't heard of, or listened to, many Podcasts, I urge you to check out a couple.  There is such a variety, and if you have an interest in any topic, I'm sure you should be able to find something worth listening, or watching.  In the interest of public awareness I thought I might put together a list of five of the Podcasts I check out, in an effort to promote some good entertainment, oh and you might learn stuff from them too.

As a side note, the term "Podcast" comes from the iPod as it was one of the dominant mp3 players in the market.  A "Podcast" is known by other names depending on the people producing them.  You do not need an iPod to be able to listen to them.  One of the easiest ways to access Podcasts is through iTunes, if you are interested, I'll run through the getting of said Podcasts in the a future post.

1. this WEEK in TECH (TWIT) - TWiT.TV

TWIT was one of the first Podcasts, or Netcasts, that I found, and got into.  Surprisingly it is a tech podcast, but don't let that stop you, as TWIT is a round table discussion with some of the top personalities in the tech world.  Meaning that you get an interesting and entertaining hour or so of tech talk radio.  Personalities such as Patrick Norton, John C. Dvorak, Kevin Rose and Will Harris talk about the week's tech issues and events.

TWIT is the first show in Leo Larpote's TWIT.tv network that I found, and even after a couple of years, it is still at the top of my listening list.  There are only two other programs that I regularly get of Leo's, so don't think I'm a fan boy, but all of the netcasts Leo does are of a high quality and are a nice way to get a taste of what Podcasting, sorry, Netcasting can be.


2. The Totally Rad Show - Revision3

OK, I will will be getting to the small independent one man Podcasts soon, I'm just trying to show the quality of the medium first.  Revision3 is pretty close to being an online TV station, and I believe that is their aim.  Because of this, Revision3's shows are video, with some audio versions, and are well produced and delivered.  These guys are aiming for your TV time attention, for the young professional audience.  Really worth checking out some of their other shows.

I'm trying to to watch more of their shows, but lack of TV time is holding me back.  The Totally Rad Show is one that I check out regularly, which features three guys around my age talking about everything Rad.  Their own description is apt:

"The Totally Rad Show is the summer blockbuster of geek news shows. Every week, hosts Alex Albrecht, Dan Trachtenberg, and Jeff Cannata rip into the world of movies, video games, tv, comics, and more and pull out what's rad." - http://revision3.com/trs/

Always check out the opening intro's, as the three of them act out scenes from movies, very Rad.


3. The Sword and Laser - Veronica Belmont, Tom Merritt

TSAL is a great example of how a Podcast can provide for the niche audience, OK, it's a big niche audience, but still niche.  Now even though Veronica and Tom aren't really amateurs in the Podcast/Tech space, this is a nice little Podcast based around Sci-fi and Fantasy books.  This is a great example of two friends sitting down to discuss a topic they like, in a informal style.  Personally I cannot think of a better reason for a podcast.

The show is sort of the Oprah Book Club for Geeks of Sci-fi and Fantasy, without the Oprah, thank goodness.  It is light and funny, drawing on comments and questions from the website's forum and building on them.

This style really shows the strength of Podcasting, which is to focus on information rather than star wipes.  Also shows how a Podcast can cater to the niche audiences that just can't be catered to by the mainstream Radio or TV on the global scale.  And I guess that this is the charm of the Podcast, catering to the niche factor for anybody with a computer.

4. Podnutz - Steve Cherubino

I only found Podnutz recently and I'll say that it doesn't have the style of some of the previous recommendations.  But this is why Podcasts work, because if you have the content/information, you will find a audience.  With the byline of "DIY Computer Repair Podcast", Podnutz is a great series of interviews with professionals and amateurs that are doing stuff in the industry, and providing resources for the rest of us in this crazy mixed up computing world.

Although Podnutz is pitched at those in the industry, I found that most of the content is more suited to Newbies and older ones getting into the field.  Lots of home PC information here, so not much discussions on TCP/IP Stacks, or router mods.  I haven't been checking the Podnutz Daily live shows on Ustream, but I'm enjoying the interview series and suggest you check it out.


5. 1UP Yours - 1UP Network (Videogames)

This is a Video gaming Podcast for us adults, who were the original gamers, and want the game news from other adults, not kids.  Garnett Lee, Shane Bettenhausen and John Davison take a couple of hours on a Friday night and recap the week in gaming, with a bottle of something. Don't try and tell me this is not the best way to recap a week.  There are others as well from around the gaming media and even the odd special guest from the Industry.

This is a great Podcast if you would like to be entertained while being informed.  I also find these guys pretty honest in their views and reviews of games. Happy to call out the time wasters, even if it is against the publicity grain.  The laid-back round table approach seems work as the best way to discuss subjects that are no longer just the realm of the 10 y.o's.



These are by no means the only, or the best, from the Podcasting world.  They are just a couple that jumped out when I glanced at iTunes.  There is truly something for everyone.  After asking my people on twitter @timelady came back with five I haven't heard of, apparently Stephen Fry is doing one now.

What are your favourites?  let's share the best around.....  
Jason Remnant

Comments

[Jason]

Yeah was going to have Diggnation but the last couple of episodes have been terrible.