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Ask HN: programming and science related podcasts?

23 points by almost ↗ HN
I'm looking for some interesting pod casts to listen to while traveling. Anything interesting really, especially science or programming related but not limited to those.

Also, any suggestions for good podcast software for Linux? Command line based would be ideal (I really don't see the need for a GUI on something that simple).

Any ideas? What's on your mp3 player?

17 comments

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paulgb
Not hacking related, but I found the More or Less podcast quite interesting. It's by the author of The Undercover Economist, and focuses on the same issues as the book.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/podcasts/moreorless/

It's off the air for a few months, but you can still access some back-episodes (unfortunately, not all of them).

Edit: for software, I use rhythmbox.

almost
Brilliant! I listen to this on Radio 4 and was I looked down the list of Radio4 podcasts and didn't see it. Guess the list I was looking at wasn't complete.
rubing
check out the phoneloser's podcast it's really cool. the leader RCPB is crazy. they say he's the one who killed jon benet ramsey. he hijacks phone networks and stuff, he's kind of like a kevin mitnick.
petercooper
I wasn't really all that interested in astronomy, but I was hassled over and over to listen to http://www.astronomycast.com/

And.. I'm won over. Each show is on a different topic (many just physics/quantum related, not "astronomy" per se) and they're a joy to listen to. I've definitely had a quality of life improvement since subscribing to this one.. and I even know what variable stars, weak and strong nuclear forces, and ion engine are! :)

matt1
Not a podcast, but something you should absolutely listen to if you haven't already:

Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything http://www.amazon.com/Short-History-Nearly-Everything/dp/076...

It's by far the most entertaining, enjoyable, and well written science text I've ever read/listened to. You can download it on iTunes -- go with the unabridged. I listened to the abridged one first and liked it so much I downloaded and listened to the unabridged one... twice. And then proceeded to listen to four of his other non-science books.

Get on the Bill Bryson train. You won't be disappointed.

someperson
I agree Astronomy Cast is awesome.

365 Days of Astronomy is worth a look (10min podcast everyday of 2009, the international year of astronomy) http://365daysofastronomy.org/

Great podcast about Psychology http://www.abc.net.au/rn/allinthemind/default.htm

Starstuff is also pretty good http://www.abc.net.au/science/starstuff/

Planetary Radio (Planetary Society podcast) is great http://www.planetary.org/radio/

Science Talk (Scientific American) is pretty decent http://www.sciam.com/podcast/podcasts.cfm?type=science-talk

ricree
In addition to SGU and Astronomy Cast, both of which are excellent, you might want to check out the Nature Podcast ( http://www.nature.com/nature/podcast/ ). It's gives a good overview of new science news, and often includes interviews with the researchers.

Also, SE Radio is an excellent programming podcast. http://www.se-radio.net/

Finally, it isn't a science or engineering podcast, but I just started listening to the History of Rome podcast, and I'm really enjoying it so far. http://thehistoryofrome.typepad.com/

knapr
I'm actually working on a podcast aggregator/recommender site right now, it will launch within 1-2 weeks, as soon as I finish it. I have plans for how to make money from it and my reason for creating it is, there are loads of podcast-sites out there but very few(or none) helps you to actually find the good ones.

In the meantime check out: http://www.se-radio.net/ for very good podcasts about software, I think the guys doing it are german but their english is good.