I have been infected with podcast mania.
Initially, I wasn't interested in podcasts. I'm reasonably modern: not afraid of computers, own an iPod, have played games on the Wii. But I often don't bother with whatever new thing has come around the bend; we're just so cluttered with stuff and media already. A lot of the time, I don't think I'm missing much. Sometimes, I feel like a dork later on when I discover how simple or helpful a new trend or technology turns out to be.
So I finally looked into podcasts. It seemed easy and interesting. In a lightning-flash of time a world of knowledge and opportunity opened up before me. Thanks to Barnes and Noble's Meet the Writers Podcast, I finally know how to pronounce Fight Club author Chuck Palahniuk's last name. After listening to episode 98 of Grammar Girls' Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing —"For Whom the Grammar Tolls" — I have, for the first time in my life, a useful way to confidently choose between "who" and "whom."
And so I keep downloading more and more. My iTunes podcasts list grows (312 right now), and with its expansion my number of listened-to episodes drops. One day, I downloaded earfuls of sermons and faith-related podcasts. Today? History and biography.
Lots of podcasts are mediocre, and often you have to overlook the advertising and unnecessary musical interludes. But some are quite educational and interesting at the same time, or at least are good for a laugh. Following are some suggestions from a novice listener. I'm also including podcasts I look forward to enjoying sometime, but whose quality I can't vouch for just yet.
1. Stuff from back in the day, today! Listening to poems read aloud is more enjoyable than you might think, especially when the readers are British. I've tried, and enjoyed, Classic FM Love Poems, Classic Poetry Aloud and the Intro to Poetry Podcast.
Looking forward to: Some old radio shows, mostly Agatha Christie mysteries and sci-fi stories. The Classic Tales Podcast, featuring works by G.K. Chesterton, Robert Louis Stevenson and others. Some free LibriVox public-domain audiobooks.
Article comments
1 - dOgBOi
I love podcasts, and I've thought about starting my own. But you're right, their are a lot of mediocre podcasts out there, and I don't want to just be another mediocre podcaster. My favorites are Gadgettes (a look at gadget news from a woman's perspective. I know, I'm a guy, but this I listen to because I appreciate snarkiness, and these gals have a lot of it) and GeekBrief.tv. Some of the NPR podcasts are awesome as well.
Separating the wheat from the chafe is part of the fun, in my opinion.