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BLOG  |  JULY, 2009

What Are You Listening To?

July 22, 2009 at 11:00 am
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I've been enjoying many posts lately that fit into the "recommended reading" category- posts that list links to articles and/or books and explanations of why they're worth checking out (it's a content strategy).

But I also listen to many audiocasts and would love to know what people in my network are listening to; I bet there's some great stuff out there that I don't know about. To break the ice, I thought I'd try putting out a list of audiocasts that I've been listening to lately and what I like about them:

In Our Time with Melvyn Bragg
This is a weekly, one-hour audiocast produced by the BBC. Melvyn Bragg will gather several academics to discuss various ideas that tend to cover history, philosophy, religion, etc. Usually a very spirited conversation with lots of great insights from Bragg and his guests.

OnPoint with Tom Ashbrook
This is a daily audiocast produced by NPR and broadcast out of WBUR in Boston. The program airs twice each morning, each a one-hour topic with guests and discussion. The program covers lots of stuff from current events to science, literature, philosophy, politics, etc. The host is a fantastic moderator and brings in top-notch guests. One of Friday's broadcasts is always devoted to a review of the week in the news. A great way to stay abreast of all things current.

To the Best of Our Knowledge
A weekly PRI audiocast that describes itself as an "audio magazine of ideas," TBOOK puts out two one-hour programs a week covering all kinds of topics but organized by a specific theme (recent ones have been "There's No Place Like Home," "How We Remember," and "Animal Minds") and comprised of interviews and audio documentary. Excellent production.

The Spark
A weekly CBC Radio audiocast hosted by Nora Young that describes itself as an "ongoing conversation about technology and culture." That pretty much says it, but they get props for always being on the cutting edge of current tech trends- not in terms of products, though, but in terms of cultural shifts. Pretty good stuff.

Radio Lab
This one-hour audiocast is produced by WNYC radio, who release five new episodes each season. Hosted by Jad Abumrad and NPR science correspondent Rober Krulwich, RadioLab brings intricately produced shows where "science meets culture and information sounds like music." This broadcast is truly unlike any other that I have heard and sets the bar for radio production very high. It is truly a treat to experience!

Speaking of Faith with Krista Tippett
A weekly, one-hour audiocast from APM hosted by Krista Tippet that uses interviews to discuss religion, meaning, ethics, and ideas in an all-inclusive and sensitive way.

So that's my current list. What's yours? Reblog it and add your picks...


Comments
Tripp Young | July 22, 2009 1:01 PM

Sound Opinions is a weekly that covers the latest music news. They usually have very good album reviews and exclusive artist interviews. The show's creators, Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot, are very insightful rock music critics who have a breadth and depth of knowledge about the music industry.
Alex | July 22, 2009 3:59 PM

This American Life and Marketplace are favs of mine.
DJ | July 24, 2009 7:57 AM

There is a ton of amazing content available at iTunes U. Essentially, you get to audit courses from some of the best universities (Stanford, MIT, etc.) in the country for free!