TOREN’S GUIDE TO ENJOYABLE PODCASTS
In case you don’t know:
Podcasts are like radio shows in mp3 format, great to listen to while you draw, etc.
Podcasts have websites where you can download episodes.
They also have RSS feeds which you can drop directly into iTunes (or similar audio programs) and the program will automatically download any new episodes as they’re released.
All these podcasts are free unless otherwise noted.
MY PODCAST!
Caustic Soda
http://www.causticsodapodcast.com/
feed: http://www.causticsodapodcast.com/feed/podcast/
Weekly podcast featuring me and 2 friends. Each week we talk about a different morbid, disturbing, or just plain weird topic and examine it scientifically, historically, in pop culture and current events.
For example:
Tentacles http://www.causticsodapodcast.com/2010/08/02/tentacles/
Bears http://www.causticsodapodcast.com/2010/12/05/bears/
Jehovah http://www.causticsodapodcast.com/2010/06/20/jehovah/
Not for the squeamish or easily offended!
COMEDY
Judge John Hodgman
Parody of “People’s Court” with actor/author/comedian John Hodgman resolving disputes between listeners via skype. 5/5 stars.
www.maximumfun.org/shows/judge–john–hodgman
The SeanPodCanadian comedian Sean Cullen records live, usually with a guest. Includes an improvised song or two. TIP: the first few, which are only about 10 minutes each and are Sean alone rambling, are not usually as good as the more recent live ones. theseanpod.blogspot.com/
Illusionoid
Improvised campy and ridiculous sci fi “radio” dramas (often live). TIP: start with the Sean Cullen ones (“Silent Night, Holy Shit” and “Identical Quinn”) www.illusionoid.com/
Doug Loves Movies
Comedian who talks about movies and has famous actors and comedians guest. TIP: start with episodes that have guests that you know and like.
http://douglovesmovies.com/
Never Not Funny
Comedian Jimmy Pardo & cohost interview actors & comedians. Only the first 20 minutes of each episode is offered free.
http://pardcast.com/blog/
http://pardcast.libsyn.com/
The Bugle: Audio Newspaper for a Visual World
Very funny take by two Brits on current events.
http://www.thebuglepodcast.com/
http://podcast.timesonline.co.uk/rss/thebuglemp3.rss
Horsetrack Hooligans. 
Oftentime guests on Caustic Soda, Warren, Jordan and Chris are three dudes who talk about dudely things. No themes or gimmicks, except Predator comes up often, and oh yes, I suppose they record after hours at Horsingham Downs. www.horsetrackhooligans.com
The Greatest Movie Ever
Another movie “review” podcast. Paul Chapman (sometimes known as the Almighty Gooberzilla) is a screenwriter and film guy who knows his stuff. He and a guest (sometimes his mother) talk about a single episode each episode. Avoids the pitfalls of many other movie podcasts, such as having too many know-nothings talking at the same time, and wasting time on listener mail and other nonsense. TIP: Start with the movies you know and love (or hate). Note: sound quality varies from episode to episode. http://gmepodcast.com/
How Did This Get Made?
Yet another Movie “review” podcast. This one has the benefit of the speakers being in the film industry and/or professional comedians, such as Kevin Smith, Brian Posehn, Weird Al, Patton Oswalt, etc. TIP: Listen to the “Punisher War Zone” episode and be astonished. http://www.earwolf.com/show/how-did-this-get-made/
Sneaky Dragon!
Ian and David talk about nothing in particular. Check out the episode with me, Toren Atkinson, in which Star Trek and cartoons are discussed. http://www.sneakydragon.com/
INFORMATIONAL & EDUCATIONAL
Science Weekly
What it sounds like. From The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/series/science
More or Less: Behind the Statistics
If you are fascinated with stats like I am, but am not a mathematician, like I am not, you may enjoy this podcast from the BBC which debunks stats myths that we constantly hear about in the news etc. Useful if you’re trying to get your mom to stop playing the lottery. www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/moreorless
Stuff You Should Know
Josh & Chuck talk about interesting things in a casual yet informative half hour.
http://science.howstuffworks.com/stuff-you-should-know-podcast.htm
Stuff You Missed in History Class
What it sounds like.
http://blogs.howstuffworks.com/category/stuff-you-missed-in-history-class/
This American Life
“each week we choose a theme and put together different kinds of stories on that theme. We’re not a news show or a talk show or a call-in show. We’re not really formatted like other radio shows at all. Instead, we do these stories that are like movies for radio.”
http://www.thisamericanlife.org/podcast
Radiolab
Overproduced, but great stories. “Radiolab is a show about curiosity. Where sound illuminates ideas, and the boundaries blur between science, philosophy, and human experience.” http://www.radiolab.org/
Useless Information Podcast
Author Steve Silverman tells strange but true stories.
http://uselessinformation.libsyn.com/
Skeptics Guide to the Universe
Casual & funny rogues gallery of skeptics debunk bigfoot sightings, 2012 hoaxes, vaccination deniers, etc. For serious nerds.
http://www.theskepticsguide.org/
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