What to listen to from podcasts on the rest of the weekend

I have been listening to podcasts since 2010. I’ll tell you about the programs I found then and explain why I like to return to them after many years. If you would like to diversify the information diet and take a break from the ubiquitous epidemic newsPodcasts are what you need.


William Brawley, CC BY

I discovered the podcast format by accident. I wanted to find something similar to colloquial broadcasts, but without policy analytics and that’s all. The first thing that came to mind was the music programs, because I listened and listened to a lot of things (at that time I couldn’t even imagine that I would help the guys from SXSW select projects for participation in the IT part of the festival).

It took a long time to search. A few hours later I came across Hood hype. At that time it was a “gun” – with covers for each issue, chat and live video broadcasts from the studio. Unfortunately, the podcast was closed after a few years, but a lot of issues came out, and they are really cool. Why am I all this: “Hudhayp” was recorded by amateurs, and I realized that I had to dig further – there should be more conversational programs and, of course, not only on the topic of music.

Back to work

In 2011, it was already clear that anything was discussed in English-language podcasts. Then the first web radio stations began to appear, and I was very happy when I found a couple of interesting programs on one of them. It was Back to Work and Hypercritical – at 5by5. This project was raised by Dan Benjamin – now a true legend of podcasting. Like the guys from the aforementioned program about hip hop culture, he started as an amateur and, in parallel with the launch of web radio, was engaged in development (it was his profile even before podcasting), plus he led a couple of projects like Hivelogic.

A.Dan Benjamin, Founder of 5by5 / Screenshot streaming on youtube

When Apple launched the first version of the iTunes storefront, where you could find music and conversational podcasts, Dan launched several programs at once. One, along with Merlin Mann. He was already widely known as a GTD expert at that time, he published books, had a mega-popular blog 43 Folders and even a podcast You Look Nice Today (deserves a separate story). But despite his status as a web celebrity, Merlin agreed to collaborate with Dan.

And they started (and still continue!) To record Back to work.

A.Merlin Mann, Co-Chair Back to Work / Alex erde, CC-BY-2.0

What is important to know about the podcast: This program is not about motivation, there are no notorious speeches about the round-the-clock haslhard and calls to join the ranks of workaholics. Merlin is not the kind of person who will preach “easy ways to change lives.” In the podcast, he shares his experience, discusses a lot and tries to help listeners figure out how to optimize your time, manage it and not waste your time. Dan, in turn, has already become a professional presenter – he complements the conversation, helps Merlin and sometimes shares the difficulties that he faces in working on his projects (in addition to web radio, he also hosts podcasts fireside.fm)

How to get started listening: For me, this is the most difficult question when it comes to new podcasts. Back to Work already has 468 issues, so for starters I will recommend only a couple of them that are most suitable for getting to know the program:

Hypercritical

For those who will not have enough Merlin, there is John Syracuse. Level 80 geek, programmer and critical thinking guru. He started with enterprise development and published at Ars Technica.

A.John Syracuse, Co-Chair, Hypercritical / Usethis.com
It was the beginning of the 2000s, and then Mac OS X reviews became its hallmark – annual longreads with a detailed analysis of new products and possible problems with them. For 15 years, John has become one of Apple’s most respected software and hardware analysts, and Dan Benjamin has not missed the opportunity to interview him. The conversation with John and Gabe Newell from Valve was one of the first records on 5by5. Dan later persuaded John to try to launch a joint transfer, which they called Hypercritical.

What is important to know about the podcast: Unfortunately, it is closed, but the good hundred issues that still managed to be recorded are available, and you can listen to them without much haste. It will appeal to those who like hours of conversation and analysis of IT products. Everything is discussed here – from the appearance of gadgets to usability, firmware and the internal structure of individual components. John gravitates to critical thinking, and Dan returns the conversation in a constructive way.

How to get started listening: To many, the podcast will seem boring, but I recommend trying. Here are two (even three) issues that will not leave you indifferent:

  • The wrong guy + The scorpion and the frog – John delivers the official biography of Steve Jobs with the author of this book, which was released immediately after the death of the legend. He gives solid arguments and gives a different view of Steve’s life.
  • Worse and more universe – “classic Syracuse” about 1000 and 1 nuances of toasters and why existing models These devices are not worthy of consumer attention.

P.S. If you would like not to limit yourself to listening and launch your technological podcast (personal / corporate / any), I will be happy to help with this – from organizing remote recording (it will not be superfluous) to processing audio and publishing. Feel free to write in PM here or on facebook.

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