Have you ever wondered what your favorite MakeUseOf authors listen to when they want to learn something new, hear a good story, or just be entertained? I recently invited the team to discuss their favorite podcasts, and we've rounded up the best ones so you can see for yourself.
A podcast is a digital audio program that you can download from the Internet. It is the radio for the digital world. No more waiting until it airs, and don't miss it because your schedule changed. While podcasts have been around for many years, it is a format that continues to grow and find new audiences all the time.
The MakeUseOf team called over 50 podcasts that we listen to regularly. There were six featured podcasts that caught the attention of more than one of us, and 14 more gems are still in production in 2015 that our staff members wanted to highlight.
We start with the top six...
Produced by: Roman Mars, in collaboration with Radiotopia by PRX.
Recommended by: Justin Pot, Tina Sieber and I (Jessica Coccimiglio).
What makes it unique: Have you ever wondered what makes a great flag, how the hashtag (or "octothorpe") came to be, or when the first designed object came about? Roman Mars, the 99% invisible The team and their guests explore all of these questions through the lens of design. For a track that most people consider purely visual, this is an audio experience worth listening to.
Produced by: NPR
Recommended by: Justin Pot, James Bruce and me.
What makes it unique: Planet money is the place to go for entertaining explanations on economic and monetary issues. Hosts Adam Davidson, David Kestenbaum, and their guests help you understand the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement, what happens when employee salaries aren't secret, why we can't bet on the election, and much more.
Produced by: Stephen Dubner, in collaboration with WNYC
Recommended by: James Bruce, Tina Sieber and myself.
What makes it unique: Freakonomics , the radio show based on the bestseller of the same name, looks at the dark side of everything. Host Steven Dubner (and guest co-author Steve Levitt) explores everything from how to win a Nobel Prize, to why belts became more popular than suspenders despite being less functional, to better ways to fight terrorism. . The show will pique your curiosity and cover stories from all sorts of angles you never would have thought of.
Produced by: NPR
Recommended by: Justin Pot and James Bruce.
What makes it unique: Invisibility (Latin for “all things unseen” explores the intangible forces that affect how humans behave. From what life would be like without fear, to how to become Batman, to the power of categories, hosts Lulu Miller and Alix Spiegel uses both narrative storytelling and scientific inquiry to unravel the mysteries of the human mind.
Produced by: WBEZ Chicago Public Media
Recommended by: Justin Pot and James Bruce.
What makes it unique: The hosts of This American Life Weekly podcast about current events in America. It's deep journalism and fantastic storytelling. In each episode, they delve into a new topic to help us understand everything from a Jeep dealership's struggle to sell 129 cars in a month, to what happens when kids from a failing public school visit kids from a failing public school. wealthy private estate just three miles away, for How the lives of two 43-year-old daughters change when they find out they were switched at birth.
Produced by: Tim Ferriss
Recommended by: Mark O'Neill and Rob Nightingale.
What makes it unique: On The Tim Ferriss Show , same name Tim Ferriss (best-selling author of The 4-Hour Workweek ) has deconstructed how world-class artists (in everything from investing, to sports, to art) achieve their goals. Episodes like “Thomas Edison's Formula for Greatness“, “'The Iceman', Wim Hof“, and “A Chess Prodigy About Mastering Martial Arts, Chess and Life.” It will give you practical ideas and strategies to apply in your own life and become a great achievement.
The list continues with podcasts chosen by a member of the MakeUseOf team. The following capsules may not be as universally loved as the previous ones, but they are still highly recommended.
Produced by: The BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation)
Recommended by: Christian Cawley
Who should listen: Anyone who likes interviews, funny jokes and British accents.
Produced by: WNYC
Recommended by: Justin pot
Who should listen: People who want to learn how media is made, and the problems in it.
Produced by: Jerod Morris and Demian Farnworth, with Copyblogger
Recommended by: Saikat Basu
Who should listen: Writers, marketers, and web content producers who want to hone their craft.
Produced by: the bbc
Recommended by: Daniel Price
Who should listen: Curious people who like to laugh..
Produced by: a little funny
Recommended by: Dave Parrack
Who should listen: Gamers, geeks and fans of pop culture.
Produced by: Sarah Koenig and Julie Snyder in partnership with WBEZ Chicago and This American Life
Recommended by: James Bruce
Who should listen: Lovers of crime drama, law and order, and long-running serial storytelling.
Produced by: Sarah Koenig and WBEZ Chicago
Recommended by: Tina Sieber
Who should listen: Those who can't shake the wanderlust.
Produced by: NPR
Recommended by: Tina Sieber
Who should listen: Fans of TED Talks and anyone else who loves great ideas.
Produced by: art bell
Recommended by: Ryan Dube
Who should listen: Science nerds who love mystery..
Produced by: Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage
Recommended by: harry guinness
Who should listen: Fans of Myths .
Produced by: Virginia Foundation for the Humanities
Recommended by: Bertel King Junior
Who should listen: Anyone who wants a better understanding of American history.
Produced by: W. Kamau Bell and Kevin Avery
Recommended by: Bertel King Junior
Who should listen: Movie lovers, Denzel Washington fans (and not fans who need to be shown the light).
Produced by: Rhonda Patrick, Ph.D.
Recommended by: Kannon Yamada
Who should listen: Anyone who wants to understand the science and technology that drives health and fitness studies.
Produced by: life partially examined
Recommended by: Rob Nightingale
Who should listen: Humans who like to philosophize..
Eager to listen to these capsules, but not sure how? Check out our podcast app and manager guides for iOS 6 The Best iOS Podcast Apps for iPhone and iPad 6 The Best iOS Podcast Apps for iPhone and iPad A podcast is like a radio show that you listen to at your convenience, and a good podcasting app can help make the experience that much better. Learn More, Android App Showdown 4:What Is The Best Android Podcast App? 4 App Showdown:What Is The Best Android Podcast App? There are great podcast apps available for Android, whether you're willing to pay for an app as good as you'd find on an iPhone or want a polished free app. Read more, Windows What is the best podcast manager for Windows? What is the best podcast manager for Windows? A desktop app is still the best option for playing podcasts on your Windows PC. Whether or not you have an Apple device, you'll find a great solution in this roundup. Read More audio players are available. All shapes and sizes, from iTunes alternatives to lightweight apps. Which lightweight music player should you choose? Read more . Don't forget that some podcasts are actually videos that you can watch on YouTube, Twitch, or with the right podcaster!
Obviously, we're fans of NPR, the BBC and WBEZ Chicago, and they're masterful storytellers. That said, one of the best things about joining the podcast listener's club is that once you start listening, you'll find it much easier to discover new podcasts you'll like.
Podcast hosts sometimes recommend new ones at the end of their show or on their websites. That said, if you're a long-time listener looking for something new, you can rely on apps and tools to find fresh podcasts. What is the best way to find new Podcasts? What is the best way to find new podcasts? Finding good podcasts requires some research. Word of mouth is still the best way to discover the next great podcast. If the vines are silent, here are a few more ways to find new podcasts. Read more.
We've got several more roundups of podcasts to share, including a collection of 10 podcasts for book lovers Listen Up, Book Lovers:10 Of The Best Podcasts For Bibliophiles Listen Up, Book Lovers:10 Of The Best Podcasts For Bibliophiles If Ever Looking for great book recommendations, these podcasts will keep your “read” list complete and offer some insightful commentary on the lives of authors around the world. Read more, eight podcasts about the world of finance Top 8 podcasts about the world of finance Top 8 podcasts about the world of finance Which finance-based podcasts will help you get obscenely rich? We take a look at some of the best. Read More 6 Podcasts to Listen to for Novelists, Screenwriters, and Storytellers 6 Podcasts to Listen to for Novelists, Screenwriters, and Storytellers Are you stuck in a writing slump? Have you run out of story ideas? Are you puzzled and confused about the publishing industry? Do you need guidance to become a professional blacksmith? There are many... Read More Let's Talk Productivity:7 Must-Listen Podcasts for Awesome Work. Let's Talk Productivity:7 Must-Listen Podcasts for Awesome Work. Let us talk about productivity or let these seven types of life. hackers talk about the little things we can do to work awesome. Plug in...sit back...and listen. Read More Top Podcasts to take your Biohacking to the next level. Top Podcasts to take your biohacking to the next level. Read more, and 10 podcasts for gamers Attention gamers! Here are the top 10 gaming podcasts Attention gamers! Here are the top 10 gaming podcasts Video games were one of the first mediums to include all podcasts, and now there are a plethora of gaming podcasts to choose from. Here are 10 of the best. Read More
Now, it's your turn, as we'd love to hear about your favorite podcasts. What cool pods did we miss from our list? Make your case in the comments below.!
