For several months now have I been a regular listener of a number of podcasts and I have tried out dozens more.
A podcast is the audio version of a weblog, the term "amateur radio" in the non-technical sense might be appropriate to describe the idea; except that podcasts are pre-recorded and downloaded as (usually) MP3 files.
I use iTunes to subscribe to podcasts. The iTunes music store has a "department" for podcasts, all of which are free. Alas, it doesn't always work very well, but I won't be talking about the technical side of things here.
According to the hit list in iTunes most podcast listeners listen to podcast versions of conventional radio or special podcast releases of television shows (sound only), but after listening to those for a bit I found them as boring as continental radio. The commercial guys just don't get it! The amateurs are MUCH better.
Some podcasts are recorded college lectures, which I think is a very good idea, especially when such lectures are a bit adapted for an audio-only environment. Some podcasts I subscribe to cover specific subjects, others are more general. Many podcasts are political... some are really really bad.
My favourite podcasts follow as a list, and there is one honorary mention for worst promising podcast (a podcast with a nice premise but idiotic hosts). All these podcasts can be found in the iTunes music store (for free).
And my top podcast tips are:
1. Israelisms
Charley and Carol Warady moved to Israel in the 90s and started podcasting about seven or so months ago. Every week they release an episode, about 40-50 minutes long with a few shorter on-the-road specials mixed in.
Israelisms covers politics and culture in Israel. A really well done podcast, Israelisms offers humour and different political views, with Charley being a more left-wing comedian and Carol, I think, a more centrist nurse. Their daughters Samantha (right-wing) and Arielle sometimes join the cast.
Certainly my favourite podcast I listen to it every week after shul.
Rating: 100%
Type: General/Politics
Episodes: 40-50 minutes (full)
2. Matt's Today in History
Matt's Today in History is a short episode podcast, a few minutes a day, usually every day. As the title implies Matt summarises a historic event on the day.
What makes this podcast special is not so much Matt's interest in history or its educational value (although both are present), but Matt's style. It is a _very_ comfortable podcast. It's fun listening to Matt, who has a very good podcast voice and speaks in exactly the right rhythm. He also seems very involved with the medium itself and often gives useful pointers for the podcast-interested.
Not the best history-related podcast (see below) Matt's Today in History is nevertheless my second-favourite podcast on the general scale.
Rating: 90%
Type: History
Episodes: 5-10 minutes (short)
3. History According to Bob
This one is a close call. Professor Bob Packett's podcast is one of the two best history podcasts, the other being David Kalivas' series of lectures, and it wins here because there are more episodes and because Bob Packett has a really good sense of humour. A professional teacher, Bob Packett presents himself as someone very knowledgeable in history but with an understanding of what particular facts seem funny today. He sometimes misses what non-historians might find funny but he is never boring for any length of time.
This podcast often covers history that did not happen on a specific date and the episodes are longer than Matt's. Bob sometimes has multi-part episodes.
Rating: 80%
Type: History
Episodes: 10-30 minutes (medium)
4. David Kalivas' World History Podcast
This podcast is a series of lectures by another history teacher. More detailed than Bob's episodes this seems a fully professional history series. David Kalivas sometimes tries to inject humour but fails (compared to Bob Packett) and occasionally tries to explain some historic linguistics which he also isn't too comfortable with and it shows.
But nevertheless, this is possibly the best history podcast; certainly for its material and presentation and losing points only for its lower number of episodes and direct comparison to History According to Bob.
Rating: 70%
Type: History
Episodes: lectures (full)
5. Israellycool Podcast
The podcast of the Israellycool weblog is entertaining, politically relaxing (if you are on the right), and sometimes funny (although David sometimes tries too hard to be funny).
This is a politics podcast and David's rants in it have become well-known among many listeners to (English-language) Israeli podcasts.
Rating: 60%
Type: Politics
Episodes: 30-40 minutes (full)
6. Archaeology Channel
Amazingly boring but very well done this podcast is a news report of archaeological discoveries. Anyway, I listen to most of these podcasts in bed (except Israelisms) and this one sure helps me sleep.
Now, it is an excellent podcast. It must be boring, it's archaeology news! There are no last-minute additions, no real news bulletins, and no very hot stories. But it's entertaining and short and it keeps one informed.
Rating: 50%
Type: Archaeology/History
Episodes: 10-15 minutes (news)
7. Stone Pages Archaeo News
Same as above but with stronger accent.
Also boring but well done, same kind of news, why this particular subject has more than one podcaster supporting it in the same way is something I found quite surprising. But I like it, so why not.
Rating: 40%
Type: Archaeology/History
Episodes: 10-20 minutes (news)
8. podictionary
Explains a word a day. Entertaining, short, and sometimes educational this podcast is useful for those interested in the English language and for those who want more daily short podcasts.
Rating: 30%
Type: Language
Episodes: 5-10 minutes (short)
9. A Saudi Life
A podcast about life in Saudia Arabia by a Saudi Arabian. Now, I enjoy learning about Saudi Arabia, although I sometimes think it doesn't really help me to learn that Saudi Arabians don't like Israelis, don't like Kuwaitis, don't like Iraqis, don't like Bahrainis, don't like Palestinian Arabs unless they remain in Palestine, but do like the Lebanese for some reason.
The author/podcaster, who names himself just "Saudi" is, however, well-educated, tolerant, and understands who his audience are. His English is clearly well-learned and easily understood if a bit accented.
Rating: 20%
Type: General/Politics
Episodes: 20-40 minutes (medium)
10. The Word Nerds
A very professionally done show covering interesting subjects in a sometimes lightly boring way. Two or three teachers discuss English, German, and general language trends and history.
I would enjoy this particular podcast much more without the music they use in two two-minute breaks!
Rating: 10%
Type: Language
Episodes: 30-40 minutes (medium)
And my disfavourite:
The Skeptic Tank
Two self-declared "sceptics" who make fun of the poor nuts who believe in the paranormal but demonstrate again and again that they are just as prone to believing political conspiracy theories.
They often invite members of an Australian sceptics association and interview them, trying to steer the conversation towards their pet conspiracy theory (it has to do with George Bush and oil) while the interviewed tries to stay on-topic.
I enjoyed this podcast for a while but couldn't stand the arrogance any more, so I unsubscribed.
Rating: 0
Type: General/Science
Episodes: 30-40 minutes (medium)