My Big Fat Podcast Addiction Part I
Mar. 8th, 2007 09:54 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
razzleccentricWhile I am still in mourning for Penn Radio (even the website is gone already), I'd like to take a moment here to consider and applaud all of the other marvelous podcasts that I enjoy on a weekly basis.
I lost most of my interest in radio after bidding WMNF in Tampa farewell. My extensive drive-time in Kentucky has been made bearable only by the application of interesting podcasts. I like audio books, but listening to the same voice drone on and on gets to me after a while. I like music, but eventually even the most perky stuff starts to make me sleepy.
It was, therefore, a revelation of earth-shattering proportions to discover podcasting. Hours upon hours of customizable listening pleasure, enjoying the topics/music of MY choice, in mp3 format, in my car, for FREEEEEEEEEEE. It's such a mind-blowing deal, I'm still suspicious. Can the internetz really be THAT cool??? Yes, apparently they can.
At this point I consider myself a Podcast Connoisseur of the formats I like best. I've listened to A LOT of podcasts that I DO NOT like. Penn's show, for example, was the only "talk radio" kind of podcast I ever liked - because I like Penn himself, his personality, his humor, and his freethinking nut point of view. I'm fairly certain there are no other sharp, funny, optimistic, carny-trash atheists doing a talk show out there - but if you know of any, please prove me wrong!
Other than Penn (weep), I listen almost exclusively to 1) Skeptical; 2) Science; 3) Health & Medicine; and 4) Celtic Folk Music podcasts - although I've just discovered a couple 5) Food & Cooking podcasts that I like.
Because it's my journal, I'm going to share my podcast loves with you. Soooo lucky!
SKEPTICAL PODCASTS I NEVER MISS:
Skeptic's Guide to the Universe
The New England Skeptical Society puts out a boffo podcast weekly, covering all manner of pseudoscientific topics and current news. The group is pretty entertaining and they have some nice running pieces like "Science or Fiction?" the skeptical puzzle of the week, and guest essays from the always-amazing James Randi.
Point of Inquiry
The Center For Inquiry's weekly podcast that really started me down the podcast path. Host DJ Grothe covers research on pseudoscience, alternative medicine, and religion & secularism. They have some of the best interviews - Steven Pinker, Peter Singer, Barbara Forrest, etc. Totally top notch and professional.
Skepticality
The production of this one has been spotty at times (for good reasons) and I'm hoping they'll set a firm schedule eventually. Skepticality is now the official podcast of SKEPTIC magazine, so with Michael Schermer lending a hand they should really kick some bunk. Recently they've had some excellent interviews from The Amazing Meeting.
I ALSO LIKE...
The Tank
The Australian Skeptic Society's Mystery Investigators put on a very good podcast with great interviews and analyses of pseudoscience/paranormal claims. Sadly, the show has been on haitus since November. I hope they come back!!!
I DO NOT LIKE...
Atheist Viewpoint
For the love of not-god, would it kill the American Atheists to get a decent microphone??? I'd really like to listen to their show, but the sound quality is so wretched I can't stand it. And I hate Ellen Johnson's voice. It's sad when potentially good podcasts are ruined by technical/performance failures.
I'M GONNA TRY...
The Triad of Reason
I wasn't crazy about The Infidel Guy; sometimes he was OK, sometimes I got sick of listening to him drone. His debate shows put me to sleep. But this new combo-podcast of IG, The Debate Hour, and Faith & Freethought looks interesting. Their most recent show is a Phil Plait interview, and I adore listening to Plait. I wish *he'd* start a podcast...
I'll delve into the other subject areas later. Podcast recommendations always welcome!
I lost most of my interest in radio after bidding WMNF in Tampa farewell. My extensive drive-time in Kentucky has been made bearable only by the application of interesting podcasts. I like audio books, but listening to the same voice drone on and on gets to me after a while. I like music, but eventually even the most perky stuff starts to make me sleepy.
It was, therefore, a revelation of earth-shattering proportions to discover podcasting. Hours upon hours of customizable listening pleasure, enjoying the topics/music of MY choice, in mp3 format, in my car, for FREEEEEEEEEEE. It's such a mind-blowing deal, I'm still suspicious. Can the internetz really be THAT cool??? Yes, apparently they can.
At this point I consider myself a Podcast Connoisseur of the formats I like best. I've listened to A LOT of podcasts that I DO NOT like. Penn's show, for example, was the only "talk radio" kind of podcast I ever liked - because I like Penn himself, his personality, his humor, and his freethinking nut point of view. I'm fairly certain there are no other sharp, funny, optimistic, carny-trash atheists doing a talk show out there - but if you know of any, please prove me wrong!
Other than Penn (weep), I listen almost exclusively to 1) Skeptical; 2) Science; 3) Health & Medicine; and 4) Celtic Folk Music podcasts - although I've just discovered a couple 5) Food & Cooking podcasts that I like.
Because it's my journal, I'm going to share my podcast loves with you. Soooo lucky!
SKEPTICAL PODCASTS I NEVER MISS:
Skeptic's Guide to the Universe
The New England Skeptical Society puts out a boffo podcast weekly, covering all manner of pseudoscientific topics and current news. The group is pretty entertaining and they have some nice running pieces like "Science or Fiction?" the skeptical puzzle of the week, and guest essays from the always-amazing James Randi.
Point of Inquiry
The Center For Inquiry's weekly podcast that really started me down the podcast path. Host DJ Grothe covers research on pseudoscience, alternative medicine, and religion & secularism. They have some of the best interviews - Steven Pinker, Peter Singer, Barbara Forrest, etc. Totally top notch and professional.
Skepticality
The production of this one has been spotty at times (for good reasons) and I'm hoping they'll set a firm schedule eventually. Skepticality is now the official podcast of SKEPTIC magazine, so with Michael Schermer lending a hand they should really kick some bunk. Recently they've had some excellent interviews from The Amazing Meeting.
I ALSO LIKE...
The Tank
The Australian Skeptic Society's Mystery Investigators put on a very good podcast with great interviews and analyses of pseudoscience/paranormal claims. Sadly, the show has been on haitus since November. I hope they come back!!!
I DO NOT LIKE...
Atheist Viewpoint
For the love of not-god, would it kill the American Atheists to get a decent microphone??? I'd really like to listen to their show, but the sound quality is so wretched I can't stand it. And I hate Ellen Johnson's voice. It's sad when potentially good podcasts are ruined by technical/performance failures.
I'M GONNA TRY...
The Triad of Reason
I wasn't crazy about The Infidel Guy; sometimes he was OK, sometimes I got sick of listening to him drone. His debate shows put me to sleep. But this new combo-podcast of IG, The Debate Hour, and Faith & Freethought looks interesting. Their most recent show is a Phil Plait interview, and I adore listening to Plait. I wish *he'd* start a podcast...
I'll delve into the other subject areas later. Podcast recommendations always welcome!
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2007-03-08 04:13 pm (UTC)I just signed up for Skeptic's Guide...
Date: 2007-03-08 04:53 pm (UTC):-)
Re: I just signed up for Skeptic's Guide...
Date: 2007-03-09 02:53 am (UTC)So far I haven't found a nutrition one that I like, and I don't listen to environmental ones because they're too depressing.
Re: I just signed up for Skeptic's Guide...
Date: 2007-03-09 03:33 pm (UTC)Re: I just signed up for Skeptic's Guide...
Date: 2007-03-09 03:13 am (UTC)http://grist.org/podcast/weekly/2007/03/05/
no subject
Date: 2007-03-08 07:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-03-09 02:51 am (UTC)