On Podcasts

For the past couple of years I’ve been listening to a lot of podcasts. In fact, the list of podcasts I listen to has grown a great deal over the past six months. Today, I was thinking about all the podcasts I subscribe and listen to and noticed that I listen to podcasts more than I watch TV these days, which is a pretty big deal as I am a TV junkie. I listen to them to and from work, while at work, and while I’m watching baseball at night.

While I listen to a lot, I realize that podcasting is still outside of the mainstream. I think one of the biggest turning points for podcasts came when everyone started talking about Serial Podcast. It became so mainstream that it even garnered an SNL parody. While Serial is an exception to the rule, there are a ton of great podcasts out there, so I thought I’d give a list of the ones I subscribe to. Some have ended their run, but are still great to go back and listen to anyway.

Accidental Tech Podcast – This is a great technology (mostly Apple news and discussions). The podcast features Marco Arment, John Siracusa and some other guy (Casey Liss). 1
Clockwise – This is a quick 30 minute podcast where 4 people discuss 4 different topics in technology weekly.
The Dead Authors Podcast – Comedian Paul F. Tompkins plays H.G. Wells and interviews dead authors.
Doug Loves Movies – America’s favorite stoner comedian invites comedians and actors to play games revolving around movies. Very funny.
Fat Man on Batman – a podcast from director Kevin Smith on all things comics
Go Bayside – Comedian April Richardson invites a guest to watch and discuss each episode of Saved by the Bell. One of my personal favorites.
Harmontown – Community creator Dan Harmon rambles (comedically) in front of a live crowd each week.
How Did This Get Made – A podcast that asks what we all wanted to know, how did this (each episode is a different movie) movie get made? Very funny.
I Was There Too – Another movie podcast that interviews actors who had small parts in major movies
The Incomparable – Movies, books, comics, TV. Anything is on topic on this great podcast.
Kevin Pollak’s Chat Show – Comedian and character actor Kevin Pollak interviews a wide-range of guests.
Kumail Nanjiani’s The X-Files Files – Comedian Kumail Nanjiani re-watches X-Files with guests and discusses. 2
Maltin on Movies – Critic Leonard Maltin and comedian Baron Vaughn discuss, what else, movies.
The Rebound – Another tech podcast.
Nerdist – Chris Hardwick interviews actors, musicians, comedians, and people he finds interesting. Excellent podcast.
Reconcilable Differences – Merlin Mann and John Siracusa talk about life. Great podcast.
Tacos & Chocolate Milk – Rappers Tonedeff and Pack FM (sometimes) podcast about everything from life, movies, rap music, and comedy.
Talk Salad and Scrambled Eggs – Director Kevin Smith and comedian and writer Matt Mira talk watch and talk about Frasier. 3
The Talk Show with John Gruber – The Apple podcast from Daring Fireball’s John Gruber.
Today We Learned – Random facts and interviews with famous people.
Top Four – Marco Arment and his wife Tiffany give their top four (each episode is a new topic)
TV Talk Machine – Jason Snell and Tim Goodman of The Hollywood Reporter break down the latest TV News.
Unjustly Maligned – Each week is a new discussion of a book, movie, band, comic, TV show that is generally maligned.
Upgrade – A great tech podcast.
You Made it Weird with Pete Holmes – Comedian Pete Holmes has lengthly discussions with celebrities.
TeeVee – TeeVee is a podcast that spans a variety of TV shows, everything from Game of Thrones and Doctor Who Recaps and more.
Comedy Bang Bang – You may have seen the show. Listen to where it all started.
The Black Tapes Podcast – A paranormal story told in the style of Serial Podcast.

Others that I listen to less often:
By the Way, In Conversation with Jeff Garlin
Bullseye with Jesse Thorn
Robot or Not 4
Still Untitled: The Adam Savage Project
The i Word: An Image Comics Podcast
The Incomparable Game Show Podcast 5

There have been others I’ve listened to that have ended that are no longer in my Overcast subscription list.

  1. An inside joke on the podcast.
  2. Also considered a contributing factor in the new upcoming revival season.
  3. and The Terminator.
  4. This is a very shot podcast where Jason Snell and John Siracusa discuss what is and isn’t a robot
  5. The Incomparable regulars play a game. The Balderdash ones are especially funny.