(Below is a list of my current 10 favorite podcasts. The iTunes podcasts links to subscribe are linked to the titles.) I’ve also included samples of some shows of ones that are also on SoundCloud.
1. Brilliant Idiots – Charlamagne the God, Andrew Schulz
Charlamagne Tha God (MTV2’s Guy Code, MTV2’s Uncommon Sense, Power 105.1 Radio Personality) and Andrew Schulz (MTV2’s Guy Code, stand-up comedian) are The Brilliant Idiots. Each week, they explore issues they describe as “often idiotic, sometimes brilliant and always hysterical.”
New releases: Thursdays
https://soundcloud.com/thebrilliantidiots/1-fish-2-fish-3-fish-catfish-ft-nev-from-catfish
2. The Monday Morning Podcast – Bill Burr
Listening to a hilarious 40-year-old man rant his ass off for an hour a week is well worth it. Comedian Bill Burr covers sports, relationship advice and occasionally politics in a pessimistic manner that somehow puts a smile on your face. Also, I’ve never been more entertained listening to his self-read advertisements.
New releases: …no surprises here, Mondays.
3. TED Radio Hour – NPR’s Guy Raz
The TED Radio Hour is a journey through ideas: astonishing inventions, fresh approaches to old problems, new ways to think and create. Based on the highly-popular TED Talks given by riveting speakers, each show is centered on a common theme – such as the source of happiness, crowd-sourcing innovation, how we love or what we fear, all packed into an hour of great content, hosted by Guy Raz.
New releases: Thursdays
4. The Tim Ferriss Show – Tim Ferriss
Tim Ferriss is a self-experimenter and bestselling author, best known for The 4-Hour Workweek. Newsweek calls him “the world’s best human guinea pig,” and The New York Times calls him “a cross between Jack Welch and a Buddhist monk.” In this show, he deconstructs world-class performers from eclectic areas (investing, chess, pro sports, etc.), digging deep to find the tools, tactics, and tricks that listeners can use.
New releases: Sporadic, but once or twice a week
5. Serial – This American Life
It’s Baltimore, 1999. Hae Min Lee, a popular high-school senior, disappears after school one day. Six weeks later detectives arrest her classmate and ex-boyfriend, Adnan Syed, for her murder. He says he’s innocent – though he can’t exactly remember what he was doing on that January afternoon. But someone can. A classmate at Woodlawn High School says she knows where Adnan was. The trouble is, she’s nowhere to be found.
Serial is hosted by Sarah Koenig. Serial unfolds one story – a true story – over the course of a whole season. The show follows the plot and characters wherever they lead, through many surprising twists and turns. Sarah won’t know what happens at the end of the story until she gets there, not long before you get there with her. Start with Episode 1 and get lost in the story and form your opinion if Adnan is innocent or guilty.
https://soundcloud.com/serial/episode-01-the-alibi?in=serial/sets/serial-podcast
6. The Bugle – John Oliver, Andy Zaltzman
John Oliver and Andy Zaltzman, the transatlantic region’s leading bi-continental satirical double-act, leave no hot potato unbuttered in their worldwide-hit weekly topical comedy show.
If you enjoy try humor and British accents, this is right up your alley. These extremely quick-witted satirists talk plenty of US and UK politics and sports.
7. Stuff You Should Know – HowStuffWorks’ Josh Clark, Chuck Bryant
How do water slides work? How do spiders work? Join Josh and Chuck as they explore the Stuff You Should Know about everything from genes to Feng Shui to Trickle-Down Economics to the Galapagos in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com.
8. The Beige Phillip Show – Dante Nero
The Beige Phillip Show aims to restore male and female sex roles to a healthier and happier state. Continuing the movement started by Patrice O’Neal (R.I.P.), and Dante Nero of The Black Phillip Show. With the passing of the late Patrice O’Neal, Dante has revived the show with the support and request of the Black Phillip audience and has brought in co-hosts Mara Marek and Harry Terjanian for relationship and comical support.
New releases: Tuesdays
9. StartUp – Gimlet Media
Ever wanted to see the inner workings, the ups and the downs of a start-up company without having to take the risk yourself? The StartUp podcast is just that. In Season 1, they profiled themselves, Gimlet Media, a start-up media company, specializing in creating great content podcasts. Now, in Season 2, they are profiling two women building a dating company in the male-dominated world of startups.
New releases: Thursdays
10. The Champs – Neal Brennan, Moshe Kasher
The Champs is hosted by comedians Neal Brennan (co-creator of Chappelle’s Show) and Moshe Kasher (author of Kasher in the Rye). In their 60-90 minute episodes filled with brilliant vulgarities and always-interesting guest interviews, The Champs don’t have a dull moment. Though they do not update their catalog as often, the previous episodes are definitely worth a listen.
CULTIVATED INFLUENCE 