2011-03-09

My favourite podcasts

I've been meaning to do a post like this for a while, listing a bunch of podcasts that I follow. After just finishing the post, I can see why I've been putting it off... Jeez, so much work! :)

The URLs are copied right from my iTunes, so hopefully they'll work for you. Copying the name into the iTunes podcast directory should get you right to these podcasts.

Here they are, by some sort of categorical order...

Music podcasts:

CBC Radio 3
-From the national broadcaster, it's a weekly podcast of Canadian independent music. CBC Radio 3 has a bunch of great podcasts, but I find that one is plenty of listening. The R3-30 is a chart show of the latest Canadian tunes that's worth checking out as well.

[Show link]

Average length: 50-60 mins

NPR: All Songs Considered
-Pretty hip podcast that covers mostly indie rock and electronic music. They'll do theme shows like Holiday songs, Best of the Year, Best of the Year (so far), A nostalgic look at the 90s, and so on. SXSW is coming up, and their coverage is great.
Maybe I'm just not in touch when an era when this terminology was more popular, but everything is a "record" with them. An album is a "record". A single is a "record"... It does make the hosts sound their age, but don't let that hold you back, they know what they're talking about.

Average length: 35-50 mins for standard show, 60-90+ mins for special shows

[Show link]



Pro audio:

AES Journal podcast
-Short podcast from the Audio Engineering Society talking about the studies in their latest journal. Super technical stuff and really only for audio engineers.

Average length: 5 mins

[AES link]

Ryan on the Radio: The Producers
Ryan Drean interviews radio imaging producers and the top voice over talent. I love the tech talk and sometimes producers will post screen shots of their Pro Tools sessions and plugin sessions. Audio nerd stuff here.

Average length: 60 mins (in two parts)

[Show link]

Sound on Sound
An analog to the popular pro audio magazine, the two charming hosts talk about what's in the latest issue as well as answer listener questions. A light tone to some serious tech stuff.

Average length: 30-35 mins

[Magazine link]



CBC podcasts:

The Age of Persuasion
-Host Terry O'Reilly takes you on a tour through the history of advertising. A bit much on the side of ad-porn, but there are some interesting nuggets throughout, though I would prefer a more critical rather than whimsical look at the ad world. An entertaining and informative listen.

Average length: 26:30

Backbencher
-A radio drama about a small town Nova Scotia MP trying to make it in the "snakepit" of Canadian politics. A bit cheesey (I'm sensing a trend here), but a solid show.

Average length: 26:30

Ideas
-The title says it all. Philosophy, religion, culture, technology, social issues. A must for thinkers. Some of the shows can be hit and miss, but the good ones are really good.

Average length: 53 mins

WireTap
-Probably my favourite radio show right now. Hilarious, dry, witty, and thought provoking. I've been listening to this show for years, and it just keeps getting better. Listen to at least a couple episodes, you'll thank me.

Average length: 26:30

The National: Rex Murphy
-A dose of cranky truth from Rex Murphy and his mind like a steel trap.

Average length: 3 mins



Baseball

Fangraphs Audio
-Unabashedly nerdy baseball podcast from a Sabermetric point of view. For serious baseball enthusiasts only.

Average length: 35-45 mins

[Site link]



Other

The Onion Radio News
-Maybe I should have put this one first. If there's one off this list you need to hear, it's this one. Hilarious.

[The Onion]

Average length: 45s

No Agenda
-Ok now, we're getting further away from the music pov of this blog, but I still think this is worth sharing. My friend B Matt suggested this show after we discussed a mutual interest in the crackpot site The Vigilant Citizen (which as of this writing appears to have been suspended). No Agenda is a similarly crackpot program. I find myself rolling my eyes at some of the content (ie vaccines = mind control), but it's entertaining and refreshing to hear a point of view that isn't just the usual MSM talking points.

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