In traveling from my home
to the store, I spend at least an hour a day in the car. I find that one of the
best ways to make the time go by fast is to enjoy a podcast. If you have a
smart phone, you can download them easily and free. Here’s a look at some of my
favorites:
The Moth
This is my very favorite podcast.
Professional and amateur storytellers get up before a live audience and tell
true stories. Most of these stories are extremely well told. Sometimes they are
so good that you’ll stay in your car even after you’ve reached your
destination, because you are so spellbound.
Radio Lab
Each episode delves into
some phenomenon. It’s usually a societal issue, or a scientific question. They skip all around in search of an
answer. They mix sounds and music with the narrative, and it can mesmerize the listener.
It’s really thought provoking and well done.
This American Life
This show is the father of
all great podcasts. Each week is a fascinating one-hour morality play. Like
Radio Lab, they mix in voices, various sounds and music. It’s very rarely less
than fascinating.
Ted Talks
Most people are probably
familiar with Ted Talks. These are lively lectures, featuring leading
innovators and ground-breaking ideas. Usually they are quite interesting.
History of World War II
I’m a World War 2 history
buff, but there is still an awful lot that I do not fully understand about the
conflict. This podcast is filling in a lot of the blanks for me. So far there
have been a hundred episodes, and they have not yet gotten to the invasion of
Russia, or the bombing of Pearl Harbor, which prompted the US to get into the
war.
The speaker and sole
creator of the podcast, Ray Harris Jr. is not a polished speaker. He does not
have a good radio voice, and he puts the emphasis on the wrong words. Despite
this deficit, you soon overlook the verbal quirkiness, because the material is
so interesting, and his research is so thorough. It takes him forever to put up
new episodes, but this won’t be a handicap to you as a new listener, until you
catch up with the 100 episodes he’s put up already. Hopefully me, and Ray will
live long enough to get to the end.
Real Time With Bill Maher
I
watch Real Time each week, so why do I listen to the Podcast? Well, the podcast
contains extra features. First there’s “2 Minute Maher” which broadcasts
previously unheard outtakes from the opening monologue of each week’s show.
Then they play the whole episode. I usually skip that since I’ve already
watched it at home. But if I missed some or all of it, it’s a good was to hear
it. After that, they have “Overtime”. All the guests stick around for a few
more minutes to answer questions from the audience. This is all very entertaining
and lively for Real Time fans.
