I commute. 75 minutes each way, every day. That’s 2½ hours every day of otherwise slack time which I like to fill in with some sort of learning, which come from various podcasts I’ve picked up over the years. Here’s my current list, in alphabetical order…
Agile Uprising
Topics: Software, Agile
Website: http://podcast.agileuprising.com/
Interviews with a lot of the agile manifesto authors, plus a lot more about working and managing agile software projects.
Bad Voltage
Topics: Technology, Open Source, Politics
Website: https://www.badvoltage.org/
Jono, Stuart and Jeremy talk about whatever interests them, which often involves technology, open source, Linux, politics, music or whatever else is on their mind. This podcast is the spiritual successor to LUG Radio, which I listened to religiously until it ended(ish) around 2008 (10 years ago!)
Feeling Good
Topics: Behavioural Science, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Website: https://feelinggood.com/category/dr-davids-blogs/feeling-good-podcast/
Dr Burns talks about a lot of topics related to communication and understand. This podcast was recommended to my be @Jtf a couple of months ago, and it has rapidly become one of my favourites. A good place to start is Episode 65: The Five Secrets.
HTTP 203
Topics: Web technologies, Javascript
Website: https://developers.google.com/web/shows/http203/podcast/
The name of the podcast refers to the HTTP response indicating “Non-Authoritative Information”, which is pretty apt. It’s fun banter between Jake and Surma, two members of the Google Chrome development team.
Late Night Linux
Topics: Linux
Website: https://latenightlinux.com/
Late Night Linux is a podcast that takes a look at what’s happening with Linux and the wider tech industry. Every two weeks, Joe, Jesse, Ikey and Félim discuss the latest news and releases, and the broader issues and trends in the world of free and open source software. Expect drinking, swearing, strong opinions and Ikey being told to shut up about Solus.
More or Less: Behind the Stats
Topics: Statistics, General News
Website: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02nrss1/episodes/downloads
OK, I listen to a show about statistics. It’s actually really good! Tim Harford and his team make it a really engaging topic as they rip apart inaccurate numbers reported in the news.
Software Engineering Radio
Topics: Software Engineering
Website: http://www.se-radio.net/
Software Engineering Radio is a podcast targeted at the professional software developer. It features interviews with experts from the software engineering world about the full range of topics that matter to professional developers.
The Infinite Monkey Cage
Topics: Science, Brian Cox’s Hair
Website: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00snr0w/episodes/downloads
Brian Cox and Robin Ince host a science/comedy podcast that explores important questions such as “are strawberries alive?”.
The Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe
Topics: Science, Scepticism
Website: https://www.theskepticsguide.org/
My longest lived podcast. I’ve been listening to this for over 10 years now. I initially found the SGU logical fallacies page, and graduated to the full podcast a year later. Still one of my favourites.
Troubleshooting Agile
Topics: Software development, Agile
Website: https://soundcloud.com/troubleshootingagile
Jeff and Squirrel, two CTOs of a company I previously worked at, combine to from mega-agile-CTO in a Voltron style. Troubleshooting Agile is a problem-solving session for agile teams. Jeff and Squirrel look at common problems agile teams face and provide practical, immediately useful advice for getting back on track.
You Are Not So Smart
Topics: Psychology, Neuroscience
Website: https://youarenotsosmart.com/podcast/
Dave McRaney is awesome as he explores all the various quirks of our brain and psychology. I only started listening to this 6 months ago, and I had to spend the next 4 weeks going over the full back catalog.
Voice of XTC
This podcast doesn’t exist. I’m thinking about trying it, though…
Your Favourites
The above are all my favourites (that I’ve discovered so far). What’s missing? What are your favourites?
Renaissance Developer 