Jennifer L. Bowie, Ph.D.

Usability researcher and designer, technical communicator, researcher, writer, teacher, podcaster, and digital & print media designer

Some Podcasts to Consider

I put this list together as suggestions for my students to listen to when I assigned them a podcast. The list may be helpful to others too, thus I am putting in up on my portfolio.

Check out some great Parsec nominated podcasts at: http://parsecawards.com/2010finalists

WhatTheCast: The podcast of our guest speaker "A podcast where geek-culture meets the real world … from the minds behind Dragon*ConTV. Everything from movies, television, science and news. Sometimes serious, mostly funny, always a little off-center". Nominated for a Parsec. Available on iTunes or http://www.whatthecast.com/

Escape Pod: The Sci-Fi short story podcast. Very popular. Available on iTunes or http://escapepod.org/. Feel free to check out the story I o-read for: EP169: How I Mounted Goldie, Saved My Partner Lori, and Sniffed Out The People’s Justice. It is rated R, so if that bothers you feel free to go with another podcast or another Escape Pod episodes (most are G or PG).Or consider the sister podcasts:

Pseudopod: A short story horror podcast. Available on iTunes or http://pseudopod.org/
Podcastle: A fantasy short story podcast. Available on iTunes or http://podcastle.org/)

Grammar Girl (a fav of mine) or another Quick and Dirty Tips podcast:

Get-It-Done Guy: quick and dirty tips to work less and do more (Time management. I enjoy this one)
Money Girl: quick and dirty tips for a richer life
Mighty Mommy: quick and dirty tips for practical parenting
Legal Lad: quick and dirty tips for a more lawful life
Traveling Avatar: quick and dirty tips for a better second life
Mr. Manners: quick and dirty tips for a more polite life
T he Public Speaker: quick and dirty tips for improving your communication skills
The Digital Marketer: Quick and dirty tips for growing your business with digital tools. Has ended, but the episodes are still good.
Nutrition Diva: quick and dirty tips for eating well and feeling fabulous

TED Talks: From the TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) conference, these audio or video podcasts (most are available in both formats) include some of the world's "most fascinating people: Trusted voices and convention-breaking mavericks, icons, and geniuses" (ITunes). Available on iTunes or www.ted.com/talks

I Should Be Writing: A "podcast by a wanna-be writer for wanna-be writers. Let my stack of rejection letters and battle scars benefit you." (Site) Available on http://shouldwrite.blogspot.com/or iTunes.

I'd Rather be Writing/ Tech Writer Voices: A podcast "about the latest trends in technical communication. I interview tech writing luminaries around the world as well as record STC presentations and other audio content." Available at http://www.idratherbewriting.com/category/techwritervoices/ or iTunes.

Dragon Page: Cover to Cover: "Conversations with the creators of the best in science fiction and fantasy. If you love SF literature, are an author or aspire to become one, you'll enjoy this podcast." http://www.dragonpage.com/ or ITunes

The Geologic Podcast: A more personal/personality based podcast by a singer, drummer, and skeptic. Often amusing. http://www.geologicpodcast.com/ or iTunes.

Astronomy cast: (a very popular podcast): "Astronomy Cast takes a fact based journey through the cosmos as it offers listeners weekly discussions on astronomical topics ranging from planets to cosmology" (their site). Available on iTunes or http://www.astronomycast.com/about/

Boagworld.com web design podcast: ""This podcast aims to provide news and advice on website design and management without overwhelming you with techno babble! Hopefully it has something for everybody, whether you design, develop or run websites on a daily basis." (their website) Available on iTunes or http://www.boagworld.com/podcast/index.html

Talking Traffic: "Traffic, Transportation, and Mobility Issues for the Everyday Person"

Screen Space (mine): A podcast about web, blog, and new media design for the everyday and non-expert user.

Design Critique: Products for People: "Encouraging usable products for a better customer experience."

By Women. For Women.: "These podcasts feature interviews with current Seal Press authors and the topics range from childbirth options to dealing with the death of a parent, from the issues facing transgender women today to training for a marathon."

Virgin Worlds #70: http://www.virginworlds.com/podcast.php?show=1&ep=107: This is a great podcast on how to do podcasts. Normally the podcast is about gaming.

Midwest Teen Sex Show: This is a video podcast with a large audience that looks at teen sexuality concerns with a light and humorous manner.

Podictionary: A Podcast for word lovers: Is a "word of the day" podcast where Charles Hodgson goes into the background for the word, often including interesting stories. Available on iTunes or http://podictionary.com/index.php

12 Byzantine Rulers: The History of The Byzantine Empire: Limited series podcast of the soap opera-like Byzantine Rulers. Fun and educational.

Diary of a Shameless Self-Promoter: "Zen marketing for all self-promoters, from the timid to the fearless". This covers a lot on social media and networking. http://heidimiller.libsyn.com/ or iTunes.

Design Critique: Products for People: "Encouraging useful and usable designs for a better customer experience." A good design and usability podcast with a focus on product design and critique. At http://designcritique.net/ or iTunes.

SOUND IN THE MACHINE: "a podcast for technological sound". Focuses on sound issues. Done by a past student of mine. At http://soundinthemachine.org/ or iTunes.

UIE Brain Sparks: User interface engineering with Jared Spool (was SpoolCast).

UXpod: “Designing for Humans;” user experience podcast.

Web Axe: Practical web design accessibility tips.

The Digital Marketer: Quick and dirty tips for growing your business with digital tools. Has ended, but the episodes are still good.

Mind Share/Social Media Marketing Strategies: The psychology of social media: “Learn how to leverage human psychology and social media technology to become world famous… build social presence, get attention, and sell more” (iTunes). These are quick, interesting podcasts. So far there are only a few.

SitePoint: “News opinion, and fresh thinking for web developers and designers. The official podcast of sitepoint.com” (their site).

Social Media Podcast: “The latest news and forthright opinion on what’s happening in social media, covering topics like Twitter, blogs, social networks and podcasts. Featuring interviews, opinion and rants from some of the leading names in social media” (from the website). The podcaster is from the UK and you may like the accent or not.

Inside Mac Radio: News and updates from the Mac community

This week in Tech: Latest trends in tech (Leo Laporte). “Winner of 'Best Video Podcast'” in the 2009 People's Choice Podcast Awards” (their website).

Skepticality: The official biweekly podcast of The Skeptics Society’s Skeptic magazine. “Our podcast is here to bring you relevant, under reported current events, as well as in-depth discussions from a scientific, critical, skeptical, and humorous point of view.”

The Skeptic Zone: “The Podcast from Australia for Science and Reason” (from their website).

Token Skeptic: A “weekly look at superstition, paranormal belief and the science behind it all. The podcast covers a range of ideas and issues, stemming from psychology, philosophy and ethics, science, critical thinking, literacy and education. I really enjoy doing interviews!” (from his website).

My history can beat up your politics: According to the iTunes blurb, this podcast discusses politics in the context of history. This is a fairly neutral political podcast. May also be good for those looking for something neither left nor right.

Slate’s Political Gabfest: Rated highly on iTunes. The three hosts, from Slate magazine, discuss politics.

JapanesePod101.com: The “Fastest, Easiest, and Most Fun Way" to learn Japanese (their site)..

Jordanian Arabic Language Lessons: “A series of Arabic language lessons designed for Peace Corps Volunteers and students gives listeners the basics of the language. Peace Corps' Coverdell World Wise Schools provides free educational materials based on the Peace Corps Volunteer experience” (their site).

Midwest Teen Sex Show: This is a video podcast with a large audience that looks at teen sexuality concerns with a light and humorous manner. This could make an interesting podcast to rhetorically analyze.

Rookie Designer: “Tips & techniques to secure and keep a design job.”

The InDesigner: (video) InDesign advice and help for designers.

Tips from the Top Floor: Digital photography tips.

5 Minutes with Wichita: “Humorous Interviews with Bluegrass Stars and stuff.” This series seems to have stopped but the short, quick interviews are funny.

Small World: Bazooka Joe interviews everyday people.

Infected: This is one of many podcast novels by Scott Sigler. The book is also in print form. The novel is in the horror genre, and language in the novel and site is not appropriate for all ages. Sigler was the first to podcast a novel, and has done so successfully, becoming a New York Times best seller from the audience he gathered podcasting and the resulting book contracts. Find out more and about his other podcast novels on Sigler's site.