Podcasts are amazing. I listen to them when I do the dishes, when I'm driving by myself in the car, when I'm going for a run, and pretty much any time when I'm doing mindless work. I've come to rely on podcasts quite a bit for my entertainment/learning/information. I've found that since I've started using podcasts (as opposed to simply listening to the radio) I'm consuming more far more information than I ever did previously.
I often find so much valuable (or at least interesting) information through listening to my podcasts, allow me share my current subscriptions. I recommend all of them. If you have a favorite podcast that isn't on my list, feel free to throw it in the comments. I'm all for more quality shows.
Education
- Bit by Bit (SEEDlings): Bob Sprankle, Alice Barr, and Cheryl Oaks (all from Maine) meet weekly, generally with a different special guest each episode, to discuss education and education technology. Usually includes good discussion of educational uses of technology and they share lots of potential tools to use in the classroom. (~1 hr.; posts weekly)
- EdTech Posse: Rob Wall, Rick Schwier, Heather Ross, Alec Couros, and Dean Shareski get together to discuss "learning, education, teaching and technology." I've only caught one episode so far, but I really enjoyed it. The hosts of the show are all involved in teacher education, which brings a different perspective to the discussion. Perhaps it's a little more academic, but it's not presented in a way that was off-putting or ivory tower-ish. (~1 hr.; posts now and then)
- Moving at the Speed of Creativity: Wes Fryer creates this podcast, which frequently features recorded sessions from education conferences around the world. Sometimes the sessions aren't of great interest to me and I skip them, but I've heard many very interesting and thought provoking presentations through this podcast. (time varies, usu. < 1 hr.; posts at least once/week)
- The Practical Principals: This currently sits as my favorite education-related podcast- which is odd since it's aimed more towards the principal crowd than the teachers. Scott Elias and Melinda Miller star as the Practical Principals relaying advice and tools to maintain your sanity. They're personable, funny, and extremely knowledgeable. It's a must suscribe. (~1 hr.; posts monthly-ish)
- Always On: I actually haven't listened to an episode of this podcast; though it comes highly recommended from Scott Elias (of the Practical Principals). The most recent episode is on my iPod but I just recently subscribed and haven't gotten to it yet.
Science
- 60-Second Science: A quick bite of recent news in science. (60 seconds; posts weekdays)
- 60-Second Earth: Same idea as 60-Second Science, but with a focus on Earth Science. (60 seconds; posts weekly)
- Bytesize Science: Put out by the American Chemical Society, this podcast is a fairly recent addition for me. Each episode focuses on one topic; going over scientific information in a way suitable for middle and high school students. I haven't used this in my class yet, but it would be appropriate for such use. (~5 min.; posts every couple weeks)
- Krulwich on Science: Long-time science correspondent Robert Krulwich explains recent scientific discoveries and science and current events in an accessible and interesting way. I found this podcast through my exposure to RadioLab, which Robert Krulwich co-hosts (see below). (5-8 min.; posts weekly)
- NOVA | PBS: The podcast for the PBS television show. Includes interviews and information that relates to the topic of the TV (though you don't need to watch the show to enjoy the podcast). (~10 min.; posts weekly)
- Quirks & Quarks: A CBC-radio show where the host (Bob McDonald) interviews guests about current events in science. You can subscribe the show split into its segments or all together. I personally like the segments, but the option is nice too. (1 hr.; posts weekly)
- RadioLab: Favorite. show. evar. Each show focuses on one idea (i.e. morality, sleep, stress) and investigates it from a variety of angles. Amazingly well produced, interesting, and easy to understand. Hosts Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich have great rapport and make the show auditorially stimulating. It's so good I have every RadioLab show permanently saved to my .mp3 player. All other podcasts get deleted after one listen. Download them all. You won't be sorry. (1 hr., weekly during the season)
- Science Friday: Ira Flatow hosts this call-in current events in science show every Friday afternoon. I love the show but never can stick out 2 hours in front of a radio. The podcasts downloads each segment individually. I enjoy getting it broken down into smaller parts so I don't feel like I have to sit down for 2 hours to listen to the show in its entirety. The show also has it's own twitter profile: @scifri (2 hrs.; posts weekly)
- Science Talk (SciAm): Host Steve Mirsky discusses recent events in science, often through interviewing scientists or recording presentations. (1 hr.; posts weekly)
Other
- Baseball History Podcast: A homey yet well done podcast that showcases the biography of one player each week. Includes Hall of Famers, Negro Leaguers, and some other lesser known players. It's an entertaining and informative rundown of that players career. Excellent for me since I like baseball, yet my baseball knowledge pre-1988 is pretty limited. (~7 to 15 min.; posts weekly)
- Car Talk: The NPR Saturday morning call-in radio show. It's funny, entertaining, and informative. If I'm behind in my podcasts I'll skip this one, but that's only happened once or twice in the last six months. (1 hr.; posts weekly)
- Planet Money: I believe Clay Burell pointed me towards Planet Money back in September or October when the financial crisis really started to gather steam. The hosts of Planet Money make it their goal to explain the complex happenings of the financial world in simple and entertaining ways. I definitely understand the financial crisis waaaay better than I ever would've without this podcast. (~20 min.; posts Mon-Wed-Fri)
- Sports with Frank Deford: The popular sports writer pontificates on various subjects of sport. Quick and interesting. Frank Deford has the honor of being one of the very few "famous" people I've actually met. He was giving a talk at my college and came into one of my classes to answer some questions. (~5 min.; posts weekly).
- This American Life: An award-winning radio show which brings different stories around a single topic each week. Generally very interesting and well produced. It's one of the podcasts I look forward to listening to the most each week. (1 hr.; posts weekly)
If you have a podcast you look forward to every time you turn on your iPod, please let me know what it is, even if it doesn't fall in the science or education categories.
I'm not nearly as good about listening to my podcasts, but definitely a fan.
Some that aren't on your list AND keep me hitting the error message saying, "Yes, keep me subscribed."
Ted Talks -- So that I don't have to look for the cool talks on the website. Just search my iTunes for them. (~18 min, 5 times a week)
The Moth -- Stories told live, without notes. This American Life uses their stuff sometimes. (~15 min, weekly)
The Current Song of the Day -- MPR started The Current while I was in college. Daily song download. I don't like everything, but half of my favorite songs last year I first got here. (a song a day)
Piano Jazz Shorts -- I listen to Piano Jazz when I need to eat comfort food. I don't like how the podcast only gives excerpts of the program, but I don't listen it for the content as much as the general soothing tones.
Football Weekly: Writers for The Guardian (UK) do a 1-hour show twice a week rounding up the soccer action from the England, Germany, and Spain.
Savage Love: Dan Savage, whose weekly column appears in The Onion AV Club as well as newspapers nationwide, take calls from listeners and dispenses sex/relationship advice.
Islamophonic: Riazat Butt from The Guardian presents a monthly show on contemporary issues in Islam, particularly as they pertain to young Muslims in the UK.
Real Time with Bill Maher: HBO just uploads the audio from his weekly show to iTunes for free. Since I don't have HBO anymore, this is a great way for me to keep up with one of my favorite shows from that channel.
Oddly (or perhaps, embarrassingly) enough, I don't listen to any education podcasts on a regular basis (though I have listened to Scott's Practical Principals show before). Maybe I'll take a few cues from your list.
Nice suggestions! I'll definitely have to check some of those out. Maybe when over spring break when I'll have a little more time to take in podcasts.
@Damian: I wouldn't be embarrassed about not listening to education-related podcasts on a regular basis. To be honest, most of my education podcasts are what I listen to once I've caught up on everything else. Perhaps it's because the education podcasts are more "homemade" and lack that finished production most of the others have.
Thanks for adding Always On to your list! Katie and I are hoping to provide a practical resource for teachers who use laptops in the classroom. I'll be interested to hear your take as we get a few episodes under our belt.
It seems you and I share similar tastes in podcasts - many that make your list are also some of my top favorites. A couple to add:
American Public Media's Future Tense (http://www.publicradio.org/columns/futuretense/) is a great source of short updates on current technology hot topics.
The Apple Learning Interchange Conference Connections (http://edcommunity.apple.com/ali/collection.php?collectionID=373) podcasts conference sessions from education and technology conferences from around the globe.
Make Magazine (http://blog.makezine.com/archive/make_podcast/) just for the sheer fun of seeing what they'll come up with next!
Michelle
Thanks for mentioning SEEDlings. We're glad you're enjoying the shows. You have a terrific list here too. Thanks for sharing it.