I am asking you to share with us a podcast you love, preferably book related, but not necessarily so. Give us the link, of course, and share with us details about that podcast and why you enjoy it so much. If you have a couple or three favorites, share them all!
I blogged about podcasts a couple of months ago, but since they are the topic of choice this week, I will gladly write about my love for them again. For the past six months podcasts have kept me sane, entertained me, educated me and have added substantially to my TBR pile.
Since switching jobs six months ago, I have found myself desperately trying to adjust to “cubieville”. For those of you lucky enough to not know what this means let me fill you in. Cubieville is the type of large office that is broken up into cubicles. Workers have “walls” but no real privacy. This does not stop people from behaving as if they had complete privacy. Just as cell phone users hold private conversations in very public places, cubieville works tend to forget other people can hear every noise he/she makes. I have grown people around me who consistently sniff, cough, hack, and snort like they are back in grade school. I have co-workers who not only talk loudly on the phone, but give out very personal information while on the phone. Hint, to male cubieville workers, it is probably not a good idea to talk sweet nothings to your mistress, all the women in your office will treat you like the dog you are! But I digress; I am not used to such a noisy atmosphere. My IPod is a blessing as it has stopped me from standing up and screaming when the unnecessary noise becomes deafening.
I started downloading podcasts because I missed National Public Radio, I could have just as easily listened to music. Talk of The Nation and Science Friday are two of my favorite podcasts. Next I moved to How Stuff Works and their two most popular podcasts; Stuff you should know, and Stuff mom never told you. These are educational but highly entertaining. Ask the Naked Scientist, Scientific America and other science podcasts have me scribbling down notes and adding titles to my TBR pile, but if I had to pick just one Podcast about books to share it would be NPR’s Book Tour. Sadly it looks like it is no longer being produced (I would love to start a letter writing campaign to bring it back) but still, it should not be missed. Here authors read from their own works then take questions from a live audience. I would have never ever considered reading G. Xavier Robillard’s satirical book Captain Freedom: A Superhero’s Quest for Truth, Justice, and the Celebrity He So Richly Deserves had I not heard this podcast. I did not remember downloading this episode but within two minutes of listening to Robillard’s story I was hooked; I came home and shared this gem with my son who quickly went out and found the book.
Podcasts are a blessing to me and keep me informed and updated on science and politics. They make me laugh and make me think. I am not sure I would get thru a work day without them. Now I am off to clean the house while listening to Ask the Naked Scientist. I look forward to reading my fellow geek’s podcast picks.
The View From Sari's World 
I too listen to podcasts to drown out the noise of working in 'cubieville'. I listen to a couple of Australian science shows that sound similar to the Science Friday one you mention – I like to think I am learning something while being a drone.
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What would we do without podcasts, eh? I don't think I would be able to concentrate on my work though, if I was listening to my iPod in the meantime. But anything beats having to listen to blabbing (and worse) around you!I'll be checking out your tips 🙂
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It's not exactly "riveting", per se, but I enjoy the NY Times weekly books podcast. Here's the URL: http://www.nytimes.com/ref/books/books-podcast-archive.html?ref=booksCool blog – I'm a follower now…Greghttp://thenewdorkreviewofbooks.blogspot.com
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Greg,Thanks for the comment. I just recently changed my blog's format. I am pleased with the changes. Thanks for the tip, I have subscribed to the New York Times. Gnoegnoe, I almost added my experience with various podcasts in my post, but felt it would run the essay a little long. In the beginning I tried downloading German langue lessons but found I was concentrating on the lessons more than my work. Other podcasts did not work for me as the speakers voice would pull my attention away from work. There is a fine balance between passive listening and active listening.Bernadette; Have you listened to the Australian podcast on Medieval fairs? I cannot recall the name of the podcast, but I do remember laughing out-loud because the speaker was reading from a list of medieval fairs that were taking place in Australia then proceeded to talk about stores that sold costumes. I will see if I can find the science podcasts you mentioned. Just like you, I need to feel I am learning as I sit and push paper and crunch numbers. Drone is a very good definition of how I feel most days. I will be glad when I finish my degree and move to do something I love. For now I worship my Ipod!
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Sari I think this is the link to the Australian science show on radio national:http://www.abc.net.au/rn/scienceshow/Radio national also run a daily book show and that is my favourite podcast:http://www.abc.net.au/rn/bookshow/default.htmIf you check them out let me know what you think, I hope the links work I know I sometimes have trouble accessing media links in other countries because of their copyright protections.
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Hey Bp, Thanks for the links! They do work and I have saved them to my hard drive. I cannot download them to my Ipod Touch, but I can listen on my computer. I find I use my computer as a radio on the weekends while I clean house. These podcasts are a nice addition to my science collection.
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