Ask Me Another (NPR)"Ask Me Another blends brainteasers and local pub trivia night with comedy and music into a rambunctious hour-long show.
Fantastic for keeping me awake on my two-hour commute to work. The trivia is fun, but it's really the interactions (and awful puns) that make AMA so much fun. Plus, there are usually celebrity guests!
Click (BBC)“the best debate on global technology, social media and the internet,” or “your guide to all the latest gadgets, websites, games and computer industry news”
Fun and conversational updates on technology.
Discovery (BBC)"Explorations in the world of science."
'Explorations' is exactly the right word for Discovery. The podcast spends about 20 minutes exploring random issues in science, from editing the genome to Einstein's refrigerator patent.
Faith Middleton Food Schmooze (NPR)
Faith and her foodie friends talk about food, share recipes, review cookbooks, and make you SUPER hungry.
"...surprising conversations that explore the riddles of everyday life and the weird wrinkles of human nature... with Nobel laureates and provocateurs, social scientists and entrepreneurs"
Fresh Air (NPR)
"Hosted by Terry Gross, the show features intimate conversations with today's biggest luminaries."
Interviews and other interesting tidbits on a variety of contemporary subjects. Terry's interviews are great (and it seems like she's interviewed everyone at some point...)
Graham Norton (BBC)"Graham hosts a vibrant Saturday mix of music, problems and celebrity chat."
Graham Norton is a talk show host for the BBC (pretty much the best talk show host ever, check him out)... and this is his podcast.
"...illuminate the mysteries and challenge the controversies behind the science that's changing our world."
More quick stories about random scientific discoveries and problems.
NPR Books (NPR)A mix of 4-5 minute reviews and 20-30 minute interviews with authors.
NPR Interviews (NPR)Gathers together a host of interviews from other NPR podcasts: scientists, authors, actors, politicians, comedians, regular people.
NPR Movies (NPR)5-10 minute reviews of upcoming movies, including many movies I otherwise would never have discovered. Also gathers together movie topics from other NPR podcasts.
NPR Politics (NPR)"...where NPR's political reporters talk to you like they talk to each other. With weekly roundups, quick takes on news of the day, and reporting from the campaign trail, you don't have to keep up with politics to know what's happening this election year. You just have to keep up with us."
A relaxed, conversational, and well-informed take on current American politics.
NPR Technology (NPR)Quick 3-5 minute updates on new advances in technology.
Quick, 5-10 minute updates on current politics and social issues around the world.
Science Hour (BBC)
"Science, health and technology news and highlights of the week."
More science! I think I'm noticing a trend. This one gets a little deeper into the subjects it covers.
Seriously... (BBC)"A rich selection of documentaries aimed at relentlessly curious minds. No subject is too strange, no idea too weird."
TED Radio Hour (NPR)
"The TED Radio Hour is a journey through fascinating ideas: astonishing inventions, fresh approaches to old problems, new ways to think and create. Based on Talks given by riveting speakers on the world-renowned TED stage..."
Unlike the Ted Talks podcast below, this gathers together several TED talks on similar topics, and knits them together with interviews and new information.
Ted Talks Audio
Audio from new and popular TED Talks. These can be a little frustrating if the TED presenter uses a lot of visual information in their talk.
Wait Wait Don't Tell Me (NPR)
"NPR's weekly current events quiz. Have a laugh and test your news knowledge while figuring out what's real and what we've made up."
Very similar to Ask Me Another (I couldn't tell the difference until I moved from radio to podcast).
