Please Tell Me Some Good Podcasts [Archive]

mrund

5th April 2008, 10:05 AM

I've been laid low all day with a cold. To entertain myself while unable to read, I've listened to podcasts, and when I ran out of shows I subscribe to I started checking out Podcast Alley's top-10. Unfortunately, most people being morons after all, the top-10 aren't any good.

Please tell me your favourite podcasts with a sentence or two explaining what they're about, and I'll list them on my blog! It needn't be just ones about skepticism and science.

http://scienceblogs.com/aardvarchaeology/2008/04/lets_find_some_good_podcasts.php

zooterkin

5th April 2008, 10:31 AM

Please tell me your favourite podcasts with a sentence or two explaining what they're about, and I'll list them on my blog! It needn't be just ones about skepticism and science.

I'd recommend browsing through the BBC podcasts (http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/podcasts/directory/genre/). Quite a range of programmes, from comedy to current affairs to sport to science to film reviews. Some even have some sceptical content, most notably the topical comedy programme, The Now Show, which often has digs at such topics as 'Dr' Gillian McKeith.

articulett

5th April 2008, 11:25 PM

http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?t=95495&highlight=podcast

This thread lists many of my favorites...

Also:
http://geologicpodcast.com/
http://www.nonprophetsradio.com/
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/allinthemind/
http://reasondriven.blogspot.com/
http://www.drzach.net/podcast.htm
http://pipes.yahoo.com/pipes/pipe.info?_id=6DLRYYLO3BGfTM83JphxuA
http://triplej.net.au/safran/
http://brainsciencepodcast.com/
http://www.infidelguy.com/
http://mnatheists.org/
http://mindcore.podbean.com/
http://www.theskepticsguide.org/skepticsguide/podcastinfo.asp?pid=47
http://www.sciencefriday.com/video/
http://www.thenakedscientists.com/
http://hellboundalleee.blogspot.com/
http://ffrf.org/radio/
http://www.nyas.org/snc/podcasts.asp?PartnerCD=iTunes&TrackCD=pcast
http://www.nsta.org/publications/laboutloud.aspx
http://www.mrdeity.com/
http://www.inoculatedmind.com/
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/scienceshow/
http://www.pointofinquiry.org/

stephenenelson

8th April 2008, 09:27 PM

Well, since you asked, there's the one I'm on, the Skeptical Viewer. Apparently I can't post URLs quite yet, so do a search for "Skeptical Viewer" on iTunes and you'll find it.

We take a skeptical look at the Ghost Hunters and other paranormal TV shows. I do my best to be the friendly hardline skeptic.

articulett

8th April 2008, 09:32 PM

articulett

10th April 2008, 04:14 PM

It's a great podcast, stephenelson, I highly recommend it.

NeilC

11th April 2008, 05:28 AM

I'll second the BBC podcasts. They are often a cut above the rest and usually very well produced too.

Ones of interest include:

-Material World and Science in Action - cover some good science. Not vastly deep but pretty good.
-Thinking Allowed is a personal favorite - all manner of interesting subjects (mostly sociological in bent) covered by the intelligent and urbane Laurie Taylor
-The Instant Guide is good - 8 mins on a chosen topic in a Q&A format with the answers coming from good correspondents who are expert in their field. You get to learn the salient points on a wide range of issues, mostly geopolitical.

abkaiser

29th April 2008, 11:31 AM

I just posted this in the parent forum, but since you asked I'll add this link here as well:

Digital Bits Skeptic (http://www.dbskeptic.com/). DBS is a collection of reader-submitted essays, reports, opinions and analyses about topics important to the skeptical and critical thinking world.

Skeptiger

30th April 2008, 10:38 AM

As a podcast addict myself, thank you articulett for the list. Like I haven't already got 17 days and 8 hours worth of podcasts on my ipod to listen to already :(

I also rate the Are We Alone podcast from the SETI Institute (sorry, I can't post links yet either)

kmortis

10th July 2008, 06:22 PM

<cough>radiolab</cough>

Somewhere around here, I posted a Great Big Listtm of the podcasts that I was subscribed to at the time. If I find them, I'll cross post.

ETA: Found it. (http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?postid=2345058#post2345058)

ServiceSoon

10th July 2008, 06:33 PM

WWW.CATO.ORG :blush:

Dr. Trintignant

10th July 2008, 09:36 PM

Please tell me your favourite podcasts with a sentence or two explaining what they're about, and I'll list them on my blog! It needn't be just ones about skepticism and science.

www.skeptech.net! We look at the intersection of skepticism and technology.

Ok, that's my podcast, along with a friend, and we only have three episodes so far, and we're still getting the hang of things so they're not nearly as exciting as they should be. But they aren't bad, and they're getting better--I promise!

- Dr. Trintignant

kmortis

11th July 2008, 05:32 AM

www.skeptech.net! We look at the intersection of skepticism and technology.

Ok, that's my podcast, along with a friend, and we only have three episodes so far, and we're still getting the hang of things so they're not nearly as exciting as they should be. But they aren't bad, and they're getting better--I promise!

- Dr. Trintignant

You don't seem to be listed on iTunes, but I'll get what you got and try to remember to download new episodes.

IIRC, don't you have to have a minimum number of casts before iTunes will pick you up?

kmortis

11th July 2008, 05:37 AM

WWW.CATO.ORG :blush:

No need to be embarrased. There's nothing wrong with CATO. IF you're a Libertarian, you can get some neat ideas, and if not, you can learn what CATO is putting out so you can research it on your own and possibly refute it.

Jumile

11th July 2008, 02:34 PM

You don't seem to be listed on iTunes, but I'll get what you got and try to remember to download new episodes.
Remember? That's just crazy talk! :) The iTunes Store is useful, but not mandatory.

It's very easy to subscribe to this podcast directly from the SkepTech website. Particularly if you're using Firefox:

Visit http://skeptech.net/
Look at the little RSS icon in the URL bar (looks like a square, orange volume control) and click on it.
It should present you a screen asking you which RSS reader you want to use to read this blog. Just copy the URL shown (http://skeptech.net/?feed=rss2) into your clipboard
Open iTunes and go to Advanced > Subscribe to Podcast
Paste the clipboard contents into the box that pops up, then click OK.

Ok here's the short version: open iTunes, go to Advanced > Subscribe to Podcast and paste http://skeptech.net/?feed=rss2 into it. Job done. :)

You can do this for just about any podcast, providing it has a blog-style page. It works for IE7, too, IIRC.

Dr. Trintignant

11th July 2008, 03:36 PM

You don't seem to be listed on iTunes, but I'll get what you got and try to remember to download new episodes.

IIRC, don't you have to have a minimum number of casts before iTunes will pick you up?

I believe we've been approved for iTunes (my partner handled that bit), but to be honest I never use it and don't know what needs to be done. It's possible that our current episodes aren't even up there yet. I'll find out what needs to be done there, though, since I know it's pretty important for some people. Anyway, thanks for checking us out! Like I said, it's pretty early on so we're still trying to get into a groove. And we're very, very open to suggestions for improvement.

- Dr. Trintignant

Dr. Trintignant

11th July 2008, 03:42 PM

It's very easy to subscribe to this podcast directly from the SkepTech website. Particularly if you're using Firefox:

Heck, you know this stuff better than I do! Thanks for providing the instructions. Amazing how much of this stuff is "automatic". Still, being on the iTunes store would be nice... one more thing for my to-do list.

- Dr. Trintignant

articulett

13th July 2008, 08:00 PM

It's a good show Dr. Trintignant! Thanks. I couldn't find and RSS link... do you have one?

Lisa Simpson

13th July 2008, 08:14 PM

If you like The Daily Show, check out The Bugle. While it's not technically a 'skeptics' podcast, it's pretty damn funny.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/us_elections/the_bugle/

articulett

13th July 2008, 09:05 PM

I didn't know John Oliver had a podcast! Hooray.

Dr. Trintignant

14th July 2008, 01:53 AM

It's a good show Dr. Trintignant! Thanks. I couldn't find and RSS link... do you have one?

Thanks! The RSS link is at the top of the page on the right--it's a little hard to see, but it's there (or here's (http://skeptech.net/?feed=rss2) a direct link). But easier yet is to just click the feed button in either Firefox or IE7 (Jumile gave the instructions above).

We should be interviewing Yau-Man Chan (of Skeptologists and Survivor fame) within an episode or two, so keep an eye out.

- Dr. Trintignant (AKA Scott)

articulett

14th July 2008, 03:57 AM

Thanks Scott...

I got it!

Rocko

14th July 2008, 05:01 AM

kmortis

14th July 2008, 03:07 PM

Remember? That's just crazy talk! :) The iTunes Store is useful, but not mandatory.

It's very easy to subscribe to this podcast directly from the SkepTech website. Particularly if you're using Firefox:

Visit http://skeptech.net/
Look at the little RSS icon in the URL bar (looks like a square, orange volume control) and click on it.
It should present you a screen asking you which RSS reader you want to use to read this blog. Just copy the URL shown (http://skeptech.net/?feed=rss2) into your clipboard
Open iTunes and go to Advanced > Subscribe to Podcast
Paste the clipboard contents into the box that pops up, then click OK.

Ok here's the short version: open iTunes, go to Advanced > Subscribe to Podcast and paste http://skeptech.net/?feed=rss2 into it. Job done. :)

You can do this for just about any podcast, providing it has a blog-style page. It works for IE7, too, IIRC.

Sweet! Got it. I'll get it transferred over to my player soon...IOW, it'll be listened to within the next two days. If I like it, I'll download all the back episodes as well.

articulett

14th July 2008, 06:46 PM

Soccer Girl's brief first vodcast of TAM is up
http://media.podshow.com/media/369/episodes/117035/soccergirlincorporated-117035-06-28-2008.m4v

(featuring phil plait)

Flaherty

15th July 2008, 08:01 AM

Expanding the definition of Skeptical Podcast to include any reality-based program, I nominate Car Talk as the greatest podcast in the history of the world.

kmortis

15th July 2008, 10:21 AM

Sweet! Got it. I'll get it transferred over to my player soon...IOW, it'll be listened to within the next two days. If I like it, I'll download all the back episodes as well.

I listened to it last night. I liked it. When I get home from work tonite, I'll start downloading all the other podcast. Keep it up.

Blue Mountain

15th July 2008, 10:47 AM

I'm surprised Skepticality hasn't been mentioned yet: www.skepticality.com

I also enjoy AstronomyCast: www.astronomycast.com

The CBC (Canada) has a lot of podcasts: http://cbc.ca/podcasting

borealys

15th July 2008, 11:20 AM

The CBC (Canada) has a lot of podcasts: http://cbc.ca/podcasting

Quirks and Quarks, their popular science show, is a pretty good one. I also get all of the various Radio 3 podcasts for new folk/pop/indie music.

TiaH

15th July 2008, 03:56 PM

The ABC (Australian Broadcasting Company) has lots of good podcasts.
I like All in the Mind and The Science Show.

Olowkow

16th July 2008, 08:30 AM

I didn't seem to find "Non Prophets" and "Atheist Experience" in the lists, two of my favorites, through ITunes.
Also, check ITunesU/science, lots of lectures from various universities by famous scientists.
"Cell podcast", excellent, "Dan Carlin's Hardcore history", very good, but too few. He is related to George Carlin, can't remember how.

ETA: for Spanish speakers, there are two absolutely excellent podcasts that are no longer in production, but I think they are still archived:
Vanguardia de la Ciencia and El Sueño de Arquímedes. Ángel Lozano Rodriguez and his team just did a wonderful job with these. Very sad day when they quit.
And for Francophones: Ciel et Espace is very well done.

skepticality

16th July 2008, 11:30 AM

Thanks Blue Mountain!

I wasn't going to toss my own show into the thread, since that seemed a bit gauche. So, it was good to see that SOMEONE listens now and then...

:eye-poppi

I'm surprised Skepticality hasn't been mentioned yet: www.skepticality.com (http://www.skepticality.com)

I also enjoy AstronomyCast: www.astronomycast.com (http://www.astronomycast.com)

The CBC (Canada) has a lot of podcasts: http://cbc.ca/podcasting

kmortis

17th July 2008, 05:18 PM

Thanks Blue Mountain!

I wasn't going to toss my own show into the thread, since that seemed a bit gauche. So, it was good to see that SOMEONE listens now and then...

:eye-poppi

What is this ske-pitc-al-itee that ya'll are talking about? It sounds interesting, I sure do wish that someone could inform me more.

In "the biz", Derek, this is called a "soft-ball question". I fully expect some bling, if ya know what I mean. ;)

ServiceSoon

20th July 2008, 05:02 PM

No need to be embarrased. There's nothing wrong with CATO. IF you're a Libertarian, you can get some neat ideas, and if not, you can learn what CATO is putting out so you can research it on your own and possibly refute it.I am mostly embarrased considering the political philosophy of the people that are here. Considering your comment, you can clearly understand my concern.

skepticality

20th July 2008, 05:22 PM

I kinda like that spelled out way of saying our show name. Maybe that should be our next T-Shirt! :)

What is this ske-pitc-al-itee that ya'll are talking about? It sounds interesting, I sure do wish that someone could inform me more.

In "the biz", Derek, this is called a "soft-ball question". I fully expect some bling, if ya know what I mean. ;)

kmortis

20th July 2008, 09:39 PM

I am mostly embarrased considering the political philosophy of the people that are here. Considering your comment, you can clearly understand my concern.

Somewhat, although I'd listen to it, Rush and Air America all for the reason of research. One of the political philosophies of those I just listed I agree with, but I ain't saying. ;)

I kinda like that spelled out way of saying our show name. Maybe that should be our next T-Shirt! :)

Sweet! I contributed! :D

kmortis

25th July 2008, 09:24 AM

Yeah, the Bugle is excellent. Also good - the Naked Scientists, Are We Alone (the SETI podcast), Astronomy Cast, Quackcast, Science Talk, The Word Nerds, This American Life, and Russell Brand's Radio 2 show.

The Skeptics Guide To The Universe is still the highlight of my podcast week though.

Somehow I missed this the first time around, but if you're going to listen to the Word Nerds, you also have to subscribe to Podictionary (http://podictionary.com/). Charles Hodgson takes a word a day and investigates the etymology of it. He does both a daily (http://feeds.feedburner.com/podictionary?format=xml)and a weekly summary podcast (http://feeds.feedburner.com/PodictionaryWeekly) that is a culmination of the dailies.

He's kind of the nightly news to the Word Nerds Nightline.

PixyMisa

25th July 2008, 08:11 PM

As a podcast addict myself, thank you articulett for the list. Like I haven't already got 17 days and 8 hours worth of podcasts on my ipod to listen to already :(
Ha, piker!

114 days on my iPod, 215 days in iTunes. :)

And that's after losing a whole lot when my old PC died. :(

kmortis

26th July 2008, 09:32 AM

Ha, piker!

114 days on my iPod, 215 days in iTunes. :)

And that's after losing a whole lot when my old PC died. :(

That's how I was until I found Podcast Anonymous.

Hi, I'm KMortis and I'm a podcast addict.

"Hi, KMortis."

I've only listened to podcasts that I've been subscribed to for over a fortnight.

<low clapping>

I'm working on not subscribing to any new ones for the next month. They're so easy...tempting...that...shiny...grey...

* kmortis breaks out in a cold sweat

...button. subscribe

Subscribe

SUBSCRIBE

SUBSCRIBE!!!!!!!!!!

"that's ok, let it all out"

Thank you, I'm feeling better now.

"Ok, that was KMortis. Pixy Misa, you would you like to say anything?"