CB Tech Loves: Podcasts

I’m not a radio person. In fact, I don’t remember the last time I listened to music on the radio. While driving in my car I either have NPR playing or a podcast going, often times the podcast is “This American Life” from NPR. There’s something a little different about podcasts compared to broadcast programming. It’s not the horrible audio quality found in many of the so-called shows that I enjoy; I avoid those podcasts like the plague. For me, listening to a podcast is like sitting around at a party with friends and picking up on a conversation I’m not involved in.

There are two sides to the podcast world, at least in the broadest of senses. On the one hand you have near professional work being done by the media types. On the other you have average people sitting around and talking about what it is they love. There are gems to be found in each category. Whether you’re into tech news, Disney, gothic subculture, aircraft shows, handblown glass, or a plethora of other possibilities you will always find a podcast to enjoy. So, here’s a rundown of 5 casts I love. If you haven’t heard any of them, give it a try, you may find something great.

Buzz Out Loud from CNET

Currently Tom Merritt and Veronica Belmont are sans Molly, who is out on maternity leave. But don’t let the absence of a co-host stop you from tuning into the best daily tech podcast on that there interweb. There’s no reason to mess with a formula when it works, and BOL’s classic take on podcasts works well. The show is personable and enjoyable to listen to, and while the tech news may get heavy for true novices it’s never overbearing. Tom is especially adept at keeping things in the English language while still filling your head with knowledge. I never leave my house in the morning without the latest BOL downloaded. This also explains why I don’t leave my home on the weekends.

The Lost Podcast With Jay And Jack

This is a perfect example of average guys putting together a great program. There are two episodes each week: one on Thursday that recaps the previous night’s episode; one on Mondays that gives a review of the episode and looks forward to the next night of ‘Lost.’ Not only do Jay and Jack interact in a way that reminds me of how I discuss the ABC show, but they bring listeners in via voicemail. You can share your theories, no matter how crazy, and it’ll be aired. In fact, the crazier the theory the more likely it is to appear.

Achievement Junkie

There are a lot of video game podcasts. Personally I have over 10 in my regular rotation each week. Achievement Junkie is fairly simple; it’s just Nelson and Natalie talking about games (mostly Xbox 360 stuff). While there are good podcasts from the major game news sites, listening to these two talk reminds you that there is intelligence in the gaming community. As a gamer I know that full well, but for an outsider Achievement Junkie is a great way to see into this world. Nelson and Natalie are gaming geeks of the highest order, and it’s no wonder that they appear at the top of the gaming list on iTunes.

Mugglecast: Harry Potter Podcasting

I’m still not entirely sure how this got on my iPod originally. It’s true I enjoy the books, but not enough to warrant listening to a weekly podcast. My wife is far more likely to listen to this one, and yet here I am each week listening Mugglecast is done in a talk show style, almost like ‘The View’ except nowhere near as annoying. Andrew, Micah, Laura, Jamie, and the rest of the group sit around and dispense with the latest theories and “squee” over HP news. Actually, there’s practically none of that “squee” crap here. It’s probably why I continued to listen. For those who don’t know, adult Harry Potter fans can be a bit insane. This group is a major exception and even if you’re not into the Potterverse they’re worth a listen.

Weekly Blend Audio Show

It’s funny, I thought about not including CB’s very own podcast in my roundup. Honestly though, I only listen to a few entertainment podcasts each week. Many of them split their focus between movies, TV, games, and other forms of entertainment. What Rafe and Margaret bring to the table is a movie podcast, which on occasion gets sidetracked into television. There’s plenty of news to satiate my desire to know things about upcoming films I should really care less about. As the show matures I’ve found the stricter format of previous months has begun to find a balance with the banter. Lately, the banter has been mostly on-topic. But what makes podcasts great is listening to people who love what they’re talking about go off on a tangent now and then.. Weekly Blend really is one of the better movie podcasts out for your consumption, and more people should be listening.

No, these aren’t my top 5. They are just five podcasts from different areas of the world I find enjoyable. Up until this past year I rarely listened to these things. Being bored at work sparked an interest in this phenomenon known as podcasting. Now I don’t go a day without a dose of Leo Laporte and the rest of the twits. It’s free from the constraints found on radio. When you download a podcast, whether good or bad, you get to see how your fellow geeks see the world. It’s grown into an exciting aspect of Web 2.0. If you’re ever bored with music and need something different to try out, head to the iTunes Music Store and browse through the podcasts. Just beware that you may get sucked in, and for that I say, “You’re welcome.”

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