Good Geek Guide

While I’m working on the human edited podcast directory, basically a guide of podcasts I like and have reviewed instead of an automated one, can I point you in the direction of a directory that is between the two ideals.

The Digg Podcast directory seems to have been launched as part of the latest design refresh and, although slightly clunky is a very good way of finding the best podcasts. Especially given that there doesn’t seem to be any method to the iTunes directory madness.

In the meantime here is a list of the podcasts I’m currently listening to on my iPod (the short description underneath isn’t an example of what a review might be. These are podcasts I listen to regularly and like a lot, not ones I’m trying out to write about for the first time):

BBC Radio Newspod
One of only a small handful of daily podcasts I currently subscribe to. It gives you a roundup of news from across the BBCs radio and television network.

Digital Planet
One of the best tech podcasts out there. Not particularly ground breaking in terms of bleeding edge stories but does provide a useful insight into the current world of technology. Plus it features Bill Thompson which is always a bonus.

In Our Time
If you want your brain to hurt then listen to this every week. It’s the sort of programming the BBC does better than anyone else in the world.

Jamie’s Podcast
It’s Jamie Oliver cooking on a podcast. Sometimes it features video but more often its a reasonably packaged series of programmes looking at different styles of cooking.

MacBreak Weekly
If you’re a fan of the Apple Macintosh, digital media or anything to do with the pretty white boxes Apple churns out then this is one for you.

Newsnight
The best news programme on British television. Jeremy Paxman and others look at whats happening in the world with the ever brilliant hand of BBC impartiality.

Russell Brand
Funny dandy like geezer with a flair for language and being funny.

Snowmail Podcast
Only very short but worth every second of your time. Jon Snow is one of the best journalists and broadcasters on British television.

Start the Week
A look at culture with the ever wonderful Andrew Marr every Monday morning.

this WEEK in TECH
The first stop in technology with Leo Laporte, John C Dvorak.org/blog and all the other tWiTs.

Today programme podcast
A daily look at whats happening in the news with a John Humphreys interview.

This isn’t all though

As you can see from this list, with the exception of the Today podcast they’re all weekly at best. This is because I sometimes can’t update my iPod every day for one reason or another, so daily podcasts tend to build up and get out of date very quickly.

The list above isn’t the complete one either, it’s a list of the podcasts currently on my iPod, there are others that I’ve already listened to this week or are currently off the air.

I also regularly subscribed to podcasts, listen to an episode or two, decide it isn’t for me and then unsubscribe.

This is where the idea for the human podcast review comes in. I’m going to scour iTunes and other podcast directories for shows (from big media to bloke in his room) to listen to.

When I’ve listened to it I’ll write a review based on a number of criteria including ‘how quickly does it get annoying?’, ‘does the voice make me want to stick hot pokers in my ears?’ and ‘does it actually have a theme or are they just rambling?’.

Now rambling isn’t a bad thing and a podcast won’t necessarily lose marks because of a ramble BUT if the ramble is pointless and not funny or interesting then it will get marked down.

If you have a podcast you’d like to hear my pointless opinions on then email ryan@upyourego.com with the details.

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