Regular readers of this blog may get the impression that I only think about issues regarding blindness. I have a total vision impairment and, therefore, I do think a lot about blindness but I also enjoy scientific skepticism, humanism, and lots of subjects unrelated to disability in general and blindness in particular. I enjoy a lot of podcasts for both information and entertainment and, from time to time, friends ask me to recommend podcasts to them. Here is a partial list of the podcasts to which I listen regularly. I’ll add and update this page from time to time but the original list are definitely my favorites.
My Favorite Podcasts
These are my favorite podcasts, they are listed in the order which I thought of them and are not listed in order of preference so, don’t assume the ones at the top are somehow “better” than the others.
The Pod Delusion
The Pod Delusion is about “interesting things” and is the podcast to which I occasionally contribute. Pod Delusion is special in that we have more than 125 contributors who do pieces six to eight minutes long about subjects we each find interesting. Thus, there are no deadlines nor assigned topics but, rather, a large team of contributors working on things of special interest to ourselves. The result is the two time Occam Award winning program that I always find interesting and entertaining. Pod Delusion is a weekly podcast that drops on Thursdays and I recommend it above all other podcasts in the world of scientific skepticism, humanism, science and liberal/lefty politics. Pod Delusion is published by the British Humanist Association.
Be Reasonable
Be Reasonable is a new podcast in the world of scientific skepticism hosted by Michael Marshall and Hayley Stevens. I find this podcast to be of special interest in that it presents interviews with people who hold beliefs far outside of the world view of the hosts. They’ve had everything from flat Earth proponents to a woman who thinks she can live on air alone to a serious anti-abortion protestor. As my own set of friends includes other skeptics and humanists who share my view of things, fundamentalist Christian preachers, scientists and intellectuals, junkies and petty criminals, artists and musicians and virtually any sort of person who treats me nicely. Readers of my blog know that I’m interested in the science and philosophy of empathy and mattering and Hayley and Marsh deliver such in a great way. The pair of hosts treat every guest, people with beliefs far away from their own and distant from the mainstream, with respect and dignity. Be Reasonable is a monthly podcast published by Merseyside Skeptics Society.
Token Skeptic
Token Skeptic is a long form interview show hosted by the awesome Kylie Sturgess. Kylie’s guests come from a variety of backgrounds, including scientists, feminists, philosophers, skeptics, science communicators and others of interest to her listeners. Kylie’s interviews are smart, fast, interesting and comprehensive. I enjoy learning and I usually enjoy learning something knew when I listen to Token Skeptic. This podcast drops whenever Kylie has a new one completed and she publishes it herself.
Skeptics With A “K”
Skeptics WIth A “K” (SWAK) is hosted by Mike, Marsh and Colin of the Merseyside Skeptics Society. In each episode, the three hosts each bring a story they’ve researched, present it and the guys take a humorous look at outrageous claims. Marsh and Mike Hall are two of the nicest guys I know in the community of skeptics and I really enjoy their show. SWAK never fails to make me laugh nor does it fail to make me think. It drops bi-weekly and is also published by MSS.
Skeptoid
Skeptoid is a weekly look at a single subject of interest to skeptics, science enthusiasts, educators and much more. It is hosted by convicted felon Brian Dunning and is the most well researched and produced podcast in this community. It is published by Dunning himself every Tuesday and is usually the first podcast I’ll select when I’ve noticed it has arrived in my pod-catcher.
Inkredulous
Inkredulous is yet another podcast from the Merseyside Skeptics Society. It is a phony, comedy game show about issues of interest to people in the skeptics movement. It is hosted by the terrifically entertaining and really nice guy, Andy Wilson (@InKredulosi) on Twitter) and the contestants are selected from the most amusing people in the community. Michael Marshall is never allowed to win and the program often features the amazingly funny and talented Brian Thompson of the James Randi Education Foundation. Inkredulous drops whenever Andy has finished a new episode so you should subscribe to it and get it whenever a new one shows up.
Oh No Ross and Carrie
Oh No Ross and Carrie (ONRAC) is hosted by the forever terrific Carrie Poppy and Ross Blocher. The pair met at the Los Angeles based Independent Investigations Group (IIG) that performs investigations of improbable claims. Ross and Carrie take the idea a step further and go out and try to experience weird things so we listeners “don’t have to.” They’ve tried some fun and pleasant sounding investigations, hanging out with a UFO based religion for instance but they also will perform some really painful sounding tasks so they can describe the experience. ONRAC is published by Ross and Carrie and comes out twice per month.