Fun

The 71 Best Podcasts – Confessions of a Podcast Addict

They say that the first step in dealing with an addiction is admitting that you have a problem. I have a problem. The list of 71 podcasts below are shows that I listen to or watch. I do occasionally skip an episode but generally consume every episode of the following shows. I do actually subscribe to more shows than this but I did not include any show that does not come out regularly or has not come out recently.
How do I listen to so many shows? I listen mostly on my iPhone at double speed which means that it is easier for an audio show to get my attention than a video show.
There are of course other podcasts out there that are terrific but honestly… I feel I am doing my part. So the list has no knitting podcasts or sports podcasts but clearly reflects my personal interests. But I listen to an awful lot of podcasts so I think my opinion has some merit. It is easier to get on my list if your show is short because of the number of shows I subscribe to.
I put my favorites in bold. This list is subject to change but these favorite podcasts are the ones I am most committed to.
Yes, I did include my 4 podcasts, but what did you expect?

Technology

Business

English

  • Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing rss – audio – Mignon Fogarty  is the head of the Quick and Dirty Tips network and her show is the flagship content.
  • podictionary – for word lovers – dictionary etymology, trivia & history rss – audio – This show is for real word nerds and I learned about from the wonderful but podfaded Word Nerds podcast. I is for people who love to know where words come from.

History

  • The History of Rome rss – audio – This is probably one of my two favorite podcasts. A show that can come out so regularly and come out with such high quality episodes is admirable.
  • Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History rss – audio – Dan’s show is much less frequent but another popular show for history buffs.
  • BBC History Magazine rss – audio – This show is a new addition for me and I find it a bit hit and miss.

Productivity

  • Get-It-Done Guy’s Quick and Dirty Tips to Work Less and Do More rss – audio – Any show that uses examples of dealing with your zombie army to illustrate for how to manage your time is a must listen for me. This is probably my other favorite podcast.
  • The Bigg Success Show rss – audio – George and Marilynn are friends and I enjoy their daily short take on life. The laughter can be a bit canned.
  • David Allen Company Updates rss – audio – This podcast is from the people behind the GTD (Get Things Done) system.

Comedy

  • Dilbert Animated Cartoons rss – video – This show is short and funny for geeks like me.
  • Onion Radio News rss – audio – This show is occasionally crude, often politically incorrect and almost always funny.
  • The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd Official Podcast rss – audio – Grab your secret decoder ring for this family friendly, educational and mostly just funny show. Grant Baciocco & Doug Price are the podcasters most deserving of their own network TV show.
  • The Radio Adventures Of Dr. Floyd Video Podcast rss – video – …and they make good puppeteers also
  • APM: A Prairie Home Companion’s News from Lake Wobegon rss – audio – Garrison Keiler is still funny after all these years as he broadcasts the monologue about his mythical hometown.
  • Scam School rss – video – Spiky-haired magician Brian Brushwood is either the podcasters most likely to scam you for a beer or most likely to get arrested… depending on the episode.

News

Travel

  • Amateur Traveler Podcast – the best places to travel to rss – enhanced audio – The Amateur Traveler is an interview show focusing on travel destinations. This is my show.
  • Amateur Traveler Video rss – video – This again is my podcast which shows videos from my travel.
  • This Week in Travel rss – audio – I swear this is the last travel show I do. This Week in Travel is a roundtable discussion with Gary Arndt, Jen Leo, a guest and I looking at travel news.
  • Betty in the Sky with a Suitcase! rss – audio – Betty N. Thesky is a flight attendant with a major airline who records crazy stories about air travel.
  • Fly With Me rss – audio – Joe d’Eon is a pilot for a major airline that also records stories on air travel. Joe got Betty (above) started in podcasting.
  • WOR – Arthur Frommer rss – audio – Arthur and Pauline Frommer are each a font of knowledge on travel, although the questions they get asked on this call-in show do get a bit redundant.
  • Peter Greenberg Worldwide rss – audio – I have no desire to travel as much as Peter Greenberg does. Peter has great guests from the travel industry as he broadcasts from a new destination each week.
  • Redbelly Radio rss – audio – This is another great company podcast from Southwest Airlines.
  • TravelCommons rss – video – My friend Mark Peacock talks about life as a road warrior business traveler.
  • Travel with Rick Steves rss – audio – Rick Steves interviews his guides or authors. The content is great but the show has two musical segments I fast forward through since he is repurposing his radio show.
  • Home Based Travel Agent Podcast rss – audio – This is obviously a niche show by my friends Barry Kantz and Lorene Romero.
  • Travel in 10: 10 Minute Travel Podcast rss – audio and video – David Brodie, yes another travel podcaster friend of mine, does a show that is travel destination focused.
  • ontravel.com rss – audio – Veteran travel journalists Paul Lasley and Elizabeth Harrington host perhaps the shortest travel show.
  • The Indie Travel Podcast rss – enhanced audio – My friends Craig and Linda are Kiwis who host perhaps the best travel podcast for the backpack and hostel crowd.
  • Heather on her travels Podcasts rss – audio – Heather may have gotten her podcasting start on the Amateur Traveler but now has her own new travel show.
  • TravellingTwo: Bicycle Touring Around The World » Radio Shows rss – audio – Andrew and Friedel may have gotten their podcasting start on the Amateur Traveler but they now host a show about bike travel.
  • Galavanting rss – video – Kim Mance and her crew have one of the nicest looking video travel shows. At times the conversation seems scripted… just like on the Travel Channel which would do well to bring these ladies on board.
  • TIPS FOR TRAVELLERS: The Travel Destination Podcast rss – audio – Gary Bembridge does a travel show targeting more of the POSH style of travel like crossing the atlantic on the QE2. Gary always gives practical tips.
  • Lonely Planet Travelcasts rss – audio – This show is a bit hit and miss for my tastes as they try to cover the more unusual side of travel.
  • Hostelworld.com Podcasts rss – audio – This is another travel podcast targeting the backpack and hostel crowd.

Faith

  • The Bible Study Podcast rss – audio – OK, this is the last of my podcasts. The goal of this podcast is to cover the bible without all the politics.

Photography

  • Typical Shutterbug Podcast rss – audio – Victor Cajiao takes his congenial podcast ways (Typical Mac User podcast) and applies them to his hobby of photography.

Music

  • Accident Hash rss – audio – CC Chapman’s oldest podcast is this music show that looks at more independent bands. CC gets excited about music also.
  • Build the Church rss – audio – Podcaster Mark Linder knows I hate the opening and closing of this contemporary Christian music podcast, but I loved the music… usually. Mark’s show runs the gamut from blues and soft rock to head banging and rap.

Storytelling

  • Griddlecakes Radio rss – audio – Ron Ploof is a story-teller and this highly produced podcast shows that the art of story telling is not dead.

Author: chris2x

One man's view of life in Silicon Valley from Chris Christensen - a podcaster, blogger, programmer, entrepreneur

61 Comments

  1. Great “Who’s Who” of modern podcasting. I only wish my stuff were good enough to make the list. Oh well, just more motivation.
    p.s. I thought “2 guys around the world” was a worthy travel video podcast. I know they’ve podfaded, but they left a great body of work.

  2. Great list Chris and of course I’m honored to appear twice. Although I think I found two or three new shows here that probably just sucked more time out of my schedule.

  3. Cool! Thanks for the list… I will check some of these out. I only listen to 4 podcasts regularly and 1/2 of them are yours. 🙂

  4. Thanks, I’m going to have to check out a bunch of these! So far I like Griddlecakes. If you like storytelling you should definitely check out Vinyl Cafe Stories. Stuart McLean is a phenomenal storyteller and has been on CBC Radio for years. His stories are also published in book format, and the radio show has just started appearing as weekly podcasts. The show format also highlights some up-and-coming musical talent and includes worthy stories submitted by listeners.

  5. Thanks for the mention, Chris. Honored to be a part of this list with some of my favorite podcasts. One minor correction, Mac Power Users publishes two shows a month. Thanks again!

  6. Pingback: Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-05-09 | NotYourAverageWriter
  7. If you want to include another ‘Faith’ podcast then you might consider adding my daily devotional, Light In The Darkness, which is heavy on scripture and light on commentary. Maybe. I know, who courts competition, but some plant and some water, and God brings the growth which is what it’s all about. Thanks.
    James Messick
    lightinthedarkness.net

    1. I will check your show out James. Of course there is the natural question of what made you think that a guy who subscribes to more than 71 podcasts really needs more. 😉

  8. Well, what we ALL need is more time to LISTEN to the podcasts that we subscribe too. :-p

  9. Great list Chris, you included most of of my don’t miss podcasts Including Marketing Over Coffee, Susan Bratton’s Dishy Mix, The great GSPN LOST podcast, The Inbound Marketing Video Podcast, Internet Business Mastery, For Immediate Release and Mitch Joel’s Six Pixels of Separation.
    Jay Berkowitz
    Ten Golden Rules

  10. Thanks so much for including The Bigg Success Show on your list! George & I are BIGG fans of yours too. So funny how a little over 2 years ago, we walked up to you at the New Media Expo with wide eyes trying to figure out how in the heck to even start producing a podcast. Your helpful suggestions helped us launch. You are the BEST!

  11. Awesome list, Chirs! It’s weird how similar our podcast tastes are. I see many of my favorites on your list. Although I don’t do 71 shows! Not that you need more, but I didn’t see Duct Tape Marketing or The Moth. I also recently discovered Radiolab. The jury is still out on that one.

  12. Thanks for the mention Chris – Yes once you start listening to other people’s podcasts, you do start to think – I could do that too. I listen to yours & other travel podcasts on my walk to work but I generally get through them quicker than new ones come out so it’s nice to have a few more recommendations to work my way through

  13. Thanks for the list. I am always looking for good shows. I recently pared my listening down from 90+ shows to just over 50. I now have room to listen to some of these you mentioned that I have not heard before. Probably about half of your list has been on mine at some point.

  14. Thanks for the great list. I look forward to many hours of wondering through more tech, history, business…well…and more!

  15. Great list, all right. I’m new to the podcasting ‘field’ and produce a 10-minute take off on public radio called “The Inverse Delirium.” Perhaps you’d like to give it a shot?!? Thanks.

  16. Thanks for the list. I listen to a lot of podcasts and several of these are already in my routine. I also listen to The Moth and Radiolab, as well as Dinner Party Download, How Stuff Works, and Wiretap.
    If any one is interested in a podcast fill with new indie music and quality underground literature you can check out my podcast at orangealert.net

  17. Don’t forget that you can also get great audiobooks by podcast as well from authors such as Scott Sigler, J.C. Hutchins, Mur Lafferty and Jeff Lane (that’s me).
    Please check out my novel This Paper World available on iTunes or my website jefflaneaudiobooks.com . Let me know what you think!

  18. Hey Chris
    A fantastic piece of content.
    Can I add – The Psychotic Hour – a small group of mind bending Canadians with humour that makes Monty Python look like a funeral oration! – full disclosure one of them is a friend of mine – no economics!
    I will work through the list and learn
    Thanks again
    John

  19. Chris, just wondered . . did you ever check out my Inverse Delirium podcast? (Tried to find an email on here to ask directly, but couldn’t) Just curious, and would love any feedback. Thanks again.

  20. I’d like to think that the 8iFY Podcast has done a pretty good job digging in to the lives of entrepreneurs like Michael Cloran, SEO Guru Jeremy Dearringer and James Paden. Would love your thoughts and insights on how to improve as well. 8iFY Entrepreneur Interview Podcasts

  21. If anybody is interested in a podcast that features the “best of” from other podcasts each week, check out the “Brain Food Dude” podcast.
    Thanks again for all your recommendations Chris, as a fellow podcastoholic, this post has become a great resource.

  22. Hi Chris,
    How about a top VIDEO podcasts list. I actually prefer to watch vdeio podcasts with graphics, charts diagrams etc.
    Thanks
    L

  23. you missed the podcasts on the Dailystooge network over at http://www.dailystooge.com. Firstly there is THIS WEEK IN BULLSHIT hosted by The All New Stooges (formerly on Sydney’s 2RRR 88.5fm radio Station) and BACK TO THE FACTS hosted by The Big Boys the weekly movie trivia and fun facts podcasts. You can find them both here: http://dailystooge.com/?cat=23. Two more podcasts launching the in the next month.
    From Ric The Real Stooge
    WELCOME TO THE STOOGE REVOLUTION

  24. No science related podcasts on the list? Typical Apple user.
    Big Picture Science (SETI)
    Science Friday (NPR)

  25. Hello, i stumbled across your list here and wd be honored to be considered for future ones. My name is Evan Harris and I am a local actor/improviser/writer in Greenville, SC and i host a podcast with fellow local comedian/writer/.improviser Jason Underwood called The Bearded Ones(search beardedone on stitcher). We talk mainly geek centric, but its for a free form covnersation podcast with news, personal stories, geek stories and improvised sketches.
    Thank you for your consideration!

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