So that’s it. Those are the podcasts I’m listening to as of mid-2015. That’s a total of 74 for your listening pleasure. And just to sum everything up, I’m copying & pasting my 22 über favourites into this one post. There’s nothing new here. I just put all the “heart” entries in one place. Enjoy!

package_favorite  The Bugle (info )

  • Rating: 3/3
  • Frequency: weekly
  • Duration: 60 minutes
  • Content: frequent strong language (bleeped)

In The Bugle, comedians John Oliver and Andy Zaltzman riff on current events.

package_favorite  Caustic Soda (info )

  • Rating: 3/3
  • Frequency: weekly
  • Duration: 60–90 minutes
  • Content: frequent strong language, some adult or disturbing content

From bones to sexism, from heroin to “kids who kill,” this podcast talks about just about everything. Lots of laughs.

package_favorite  Common Sense with Dan Carlin (info )

  • Rating: 3/3
  • Frequency: sporadic (mostly monthly)
  • Duration: 60 minutes
  • Content: family friendly

Here, Dan Carlin talks about the news of the day.

package_favorite  Current Geek (info )

  • Rating: 3/3
  • Frequency: weekly
  • Duration: 60 minutes
  • Content: very occasional mild language

Another Frogpants show where Scott and Tom have various guests to discuss the week’s geek news. The pop quiz segment is the best.

package_favorite  Daily Tech News Show (info )

  • Rating: 3/3
  • Frequency: weekdays
  • Duration: 45–60 minutes
  • Content: family friendly

And another Frogpants show! Tom brings on a rotation of guests and discusses current tech news. Tom does a great job of explaining complex topics and is very balanced in his approach.

package_favorite Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History (info )

  • Rating: 3/3
  • Frequency: sporadic (lately every few months)
  • Duration: multiple hours
  • Content: no offensive language, some disturbing content

Dan’s oral essays on historical events. He just wrapped up a tremendous six-part series on World War I. I really enjoy this one.

package_favorite  The Dice Tower (info )

  • Rating: 3/3
  • Frequency: weekly
  • Duration: 60–90 minutes
  • Content: family friendly

The ur-podcast of boardgaming; the granddaddy. If you enjoy boardgaming, then this is the one podcast you need to follow. I discover so many great games through this podcast, and it’s funny to boot. A must for boardgamers.

package_favorite  Film Sack (info )

  • Rating: 3/3
  • Frequency: weekly
  • Duration: 60–90 minutes
  • Content: occasional mild language

My favourite movie review podcast. As a rule, they only review movies available via streaming. The four hosts are hilarious and have a great time together. I love this show.

package_favorite  Flip the Table (info )

  • Rating: 3/3
  • Frequency: monthly
  • Duration: 60 minutes
  • Content: family friendly

A hilarious show that reviews cheesy old boardgames. They end every episode with an even funnier “battle of wits” game show. So many laughs! I love this podcast.

package_favorite  Freakonomics Radio (info )

  • Rating: 3/3
  • Frequency: weekly
  • Duration: 45–60 minutes
  • Content: family friendly, occasional adult topics

The authors of the book Freakonomics explore a huge variety of topics from the perspective of economists. Some really great stuff.

package_favorite  Gamers With Jobs Conference Call (info )

  • Rating: 3/3
  • Frequency: weekly
  • Duration: 60 minutes
  • Content: very occasional strong language

This is a video game podcast with occasional discussions of board games. I really like the hosts and their interactions. It’s great when you can find a good combination of humour and serious journalism. Great stuff.

package_favorite  Hypothetical Help (info )

  • Rating: 3/3
  • Frequency: weekly
  • Duration: 45 minutes
  • Content: occasional very mild language

Hypothetical Help is part of the Frogpants Network , which contains most of my über favourite podcasts. This is an old podcast that they finally brought back. In it, Scott Johnson and Mark “Turpster” Turpin answer your questions and give (largely questionable) advice. But it’s funny as hell.

package_favorite  Lezioni di musica (info )

  • Rating: 3/3
  • Frequency: weekly
  • Duration: 30 minutes
  • Content: family friendly

RAI’s Radio 3 show about musicology! Each episode takes a particular genre, composer, or piece and gives a solid entry-level lecture, including musical examples. I really love this show. If only there was an English-speaking one I could share!

package_favorite  The Morning Stream (info )

  • Rating: 3/3
  • Frequency: weekdays
  • Duration: 90 minutes
  • Content: occasional very mild language, discussions of news events can include adult topics

Perhaps my favourite daily podcast. Not only is it hilarious, it has a great format that includes a wide variety of news (including movies, comics, tech, etc.) and great music. Everybody should have this in their ears.

package_favorite  Quirks and Quarks (info )

  • Rating: 3/3
  • Frequency: weekly
  • Duration: 60 minutes
  • Content: family friendly

CBC’s science show. I love the format, and the topics are usually fascinating. This is my favourite science podcast.

package_favorite  Sawbones: A Marital Tour of Misguided Medicine (info )

  • Rating: 3/3
  • Frequency: roughly weekly
  • Duration: 30–45 minutes
  • Content: no explicit language, occasional disturbing content

“Dr. Sydnee McElroy and her husband Justin welcome you to Sawbones: A Marital Tour of Misguided Medicine. Every Friday, they dig through the annals of medical history to uncover all the odd, weird, wrong, dumb and just gross ways we’ve tried to fix people over the years. Educational? You bet! Fun? We hope!”

package_favorite  Slate Culture Gabfest (info )

  • Rating: 3/3
  • Frequency: weekly
  • Duration: 45–60 minutes
  • Content: frequent mild language, occasional strong language

I enjoy all the Slate “gabfests.” Three diverse, knowledgeable individuals discussing movies, books, music, etc.

package_favorite  Slate Political Gabfest (info )

  • Rating: 3/3
  • Frequency: weekly
  • Duration: 60 minutes
  • Content: very occasional strong language

David Plotz, Emily Bazelon, and John Dickerson discuss major political stories of the day. They have great rapport and a good variety of viewpoints.

package_favorite  Stop Podcasting Yourself (info )

  • Rating: 3/3
  • Frequency: weekly
  • Duration: 60 minutes
  • Content: occasional strong language and adult themes

SPY is my favourite weekly podcast. Canadian comedians Graham Clark and Dave Shumka interview fellow comedians. More than once I’ve made people on the bus stare because I get myself into a laughing fit. I can’t recommend this one enough.

package_favorite  The Therapy Show (info )

  • Rating: 3/3
  • Frequency: weekly (on hiatus)
  • Duration: 60 minutes
  • Content: family friendly

A regular part of my favourite daily podcast, The Morning Stream , is “therapy thursdays” where Scott’s sister (a proper therapist) answers a listener’s question. It was popular enough that they spun off a separate show. There’s only one season so far, but more is coming.

package_favorite  NPR’s Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me! (info )

  • Rating: 3/3
  • Frequency: weekly
  • Duration: 1 hour
  • Content: no strong language or disturbing themes

NPR’s weekly quiz show about current news and events. I always enjoy it.

package_favorite  WNYC’s Radiolab (info )

  • Rating: 3/3
  • Frequency: roughly twice a month
  • Duration: 30 minutes
  • Content: no explicit language, but some material can be disturbing

Incredible podcast. Pretty much every episode is powerful and tells a fascinating story. Everyone should listen.