Archive for the 'Discussion' Category

• Tagline : PodQuiz is a weekly trivia quiz podcast.
• Website : PodQuiz
• Subscribe Link :
  
• Keywords : quiz, discussion, music
• Parental Rating : 12
• Star Rating : 9 out of 10

This is one of those podcasts I look forward to each week. A perfectly crafted podcast, consisting of 4 rounds of 5 questions, with a 5th prize winning bonus round every 10 episodes. Running at between 15 to 20 minutes, I try to hold the quiz over to the weekend and take it home to play with the wife. We usually listen on a Saturday morning over breakfast

Always starting with a music round, this is probably the round I enjoy most, but it’s also the round that is sometimes most infuriating. You know what it’s like when the answer is on the tip of your tongue, but you just can’t get it and then you have to move onto the next question.

Every 10th show, our host James throws in a bonus round, where you have a chance to win a T-shirt. Yes you could look the answers up on the Internet, but where’s the fun in that.

Conclusion : I love this show. It comes out once a week and is the perfect length. With a new song featured every week between the questions and answers, I can’t recommend this enough. Go on, give your gray matter a work out.

• Tagline : Showcasing some of the best in independent music.
• Website : Indie Launchpad Podcast
• Subscribe Link :
  
• Keywords : music, discussion
• Parental Rating : 12
• Star Rating : Sister Site

Indie Launchpad was created around the same time as Podcast Launchpad and was designed with a similar purpose in mind, to showcase some of the best in independent music. The missing piece of Indie Launchpad, the podcast was launched in January and has been steadily creating a loyal listener base.

The podcast tries to hang around the 25-30 minute mark and covers 4 bands/artists that were previously reviewed in the main Indie Launchpad site. There is also the occasional fifth track that is something I’ve heard and had to play, this has included so far a tracks from the Weepies, Joe Strummer and Lesley Gore.

Admittedly the vocal sound quality is a bit up and down, but it’s the music after all that everyone is interested in. That being said, once the new equipment comes in, everything should be hunky dory.

Be sure to check it out and let me know what you think at podcast@indielaunchpad.com.

• Tagline : Karl is an answer in search of a few thousand questions
• Website : Dr Karl on Triple J
• Subscribe Link :
  
• Keywords : discussion, science
• Parental Rating : 15
• Star Rating : 9 out of 10

For anyone that loves the CBC’s podcast Quirks and Quarks, but found it to be a little dry, then prepare to have you socks blown off, cos this is science at it’s most accessible. OK, before we go much further, this podcast is from our Australian cousins and they don’t mind saying what’s on their mind. Anyone that knows of Sir Les Patterson will know what I mean. Consequently wherever there is science there is bound to be potty talk and in the last two shows I’ve listened to, we’ve had discussions on what “makes your poo whiter” and “what makes your poo different shapes”. Yes it’s toilet talk, but you might not want to have your 9 year old listening along in the car, hence the 15 rating.

It’s not all lavatorial talk though, there’s some fascinating questions asked and answered and I keep finding this 40-50 minute show flying by, which is always a good sign. This show is similar to Quirks and Quarks in that it’s originally a radio show that has any adverts and breaks trimmed and then re-purposed as a podcast, so you do get references to time and telephone numbers as this is a phone in, but it doesn’t really distract at all from the show.

A special mention has to go to Dr Karl, cos his whole presentation is infections and fun, which for a science show is no mean feat.

Conclusion : This is the first Australian podcast I’ve heard and excellent stuff it is too. I’d be most interested to see what other podcasts the land down under has to offer. If you want answers to all of those imponderables in life, why not submit a question via the website.

• Tagline : Recorded live from the last frontier
• Website : Alaska Podshow
• Subscribe Link :
  
• Keywords : music, discussion
• Parental Rating : 12
• Star Rating : 8 out of 10

More excellent music, a great host and a most unusual location. Yes, this podcast comes at you from Alaska, the land of snow, moose and strange people. OK, so maybe I’ve been watching too much Northern Exposure, but there’s no denying that this is a great podcast, that will hopefully enlighten you on this little known area of the USA.

There’s such a nice homely atmosphere about this podcast and a lot of that comes from the host Scott Slone, whom I’d be highly surprised if he’s never done radio as he has a great personality that shines through in what he does.

The music on the whole is great. The only problem I have is with some of the weekend show’s that can ramble a bit, or feature music that is not to my taste, but as is the way with podcasts, if you don’t like something you just move on to the next. With any show of this kind, you are never going to please all of the people, all of the time, but pleasing them most of the time is quite an achievement in itself.

Conclusion : This is a great podcsat for finding new music and one I shall be subscribed to for a while to come.

• Tagline : The Calmcast is designed to help you relax and de-stress. A daily dose of relaxing music, bird song and the sounds of nature to help you unwind.
• Website : The Calmcast
• Subscribe Link :
  
• Keywords : music, discussion, relaxation, meditation
• Parental Rating : 12
• Star Rating : 8 out of 10

Sometimes it’s good to take a step back and let the world continue to wizz by at the speed of life. The Calmcast is designed to accompany you, to be your relaxation soundtrack and it does this exceptionally well.

Each show is around the 30-40 minute mark. As well as some excellent music, to calm and relax, there’s also some wonderful sounds of nature and bird song. It’s hard to put it all into words, but as soon as you listen to it, it all makes perfect sense.

This is one of those shows that’s great to listen to late at night or at the weekend, when you want to try to decompress from the working day and week and just need to give your inner self, some much needed TLC.

Conclusion : Many podcasts enter and leave my subscription list. This is one that is going to stick around, my sanity demands it.

• Tagline : The science show that defi(n)es gravity
• Website : Quirks and Quarks
• Subscribe Link :
  
• Keywords : discussion, science
• Parental Rating : 12
• Star Rating : 8 out of 10

Why does snow squeak? Why don’t waddling penguins fall over? Why do I listen to so many podcasts? All those answers and more can be found in this thoroughly entertaining podcast. I’ve been an avid reader of Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader, which is usually a most welcome Christmas present, for years. For anyone who doesn’t know about this range of books, it’s basically a book of useless facts and usually imponderable questions. I’ve also got a ton of books in a similar vein, so when I heard of this podcast, I was eager to investigate.

Our host Bob McDonald takes a series of questions with a scientific bent and tries to find an answer from a scientist in their respected field. Each question is usually answered in around 5-10 minutes, with a whole show around the 30-40 minute mark. This is truly enthralling stuff. Whether you are a science lover or not, all the explanations are clear and lacking in gobbledy gook, which means you don’t need degrees to make sense of it.

Conclusion : This weekly podcast never fails to engage and delight. If you have a love for the imponderable, you’re gonna love this. The only thing I don’t like, is that each question segment is split into a separate file, I would much prefer a single file, but that’s just me. Otherwise a great podcast.

• Tagline : An independent music podcast, with a British accent
• Website : bitjob for the masses!
• Subscribe Link :
  
• Keywords : music, discussion
• Parental Rating : 12
• Star Rating : 9 out of 10

This is another mainstay music discovery podcast. Published each week, Phil Coyne, our host, manages to squeeze some cracking music into a show that’s usually around an hour long. I’ve discovered quite a few bands and artists via this podcast and it’s one I eagerly await each week.

One of the things that makes this such an enjoyable podcast is Phil’s ever apparent enthusiasm for the music he plays. Whether he’s talking about music, or talking to bands and artists, you can’t fail to have your interest piqued.

Putting together a show like this is far harder than Phil makes it appear. His excellent manner is one that really makes you feel at home and before you know it another hour has passed and you have to wait a whole week until the next one… ah, not quite so, cos bitjobs, is now available as an additional daily podcast, where Phil reviews a couple of tracks a day, and I have to say, that is also another excellent, podcast and one that I’m sure we will feature in due course.

Conclusion : Phil has an excellent ear for independent music and it shows in the excellent bands and artists he features. I can’t wait to see what bands he uncovers in 2006.

• Tagline : Podcasting from the Garden Chalet
• Website : Lynn Parsons
• Subscribe Link :
  
• Keywords : discussion, music
• Parental Rating : 12
• Star Rating : 8 out of 10

Although I’ve been away from the UK for many years, the name Lynn Parson is no stranger to me. The stations she was on are pretty fuzzy, I think it was BBC Radio 1 and Radio 2, the shows she was on always featured some excellent music and it’s good to say, even though the delivery method has changed, the great music still remains.

Producing a half hour show once a week, Lynn manages to intersperse the proceedings with some interesting characters, who go some way to lightening the show, but I have to admit, some characters do tend to get on your nerves after a while. However at the end of the day it’s all about the music and on that, Lynn never fails to deliver, bringing us some excellent independent music.

So welcome Lynn to the podcasting scene. Now if only you could convince Bob Harris to do the same, I would be a truly happy man.

Conclusion : Excellent host, great music and interesting characters (most of them anyway). An hour show with more music would be most welcome.

• Tagline : If You’re Listening, You’re Infected.
• Website : Infected by Martin Sargent
• Subscribe Link :
  
• Keywords : comedy, discussion, mature
• Parental Rating : 18
• Star Rating : 8 out of 10

For anyone familiar with the old Tech TV cable channel, you might have seen Martin Sargent in his own show Unscrewed, or as an occassional guest host on the Screensavers. However to say Martin’s podcast is a little more risque than his TV appearances, is an understatement. He opens every podcast with a sponsors message and recaps it throughout the podcast. If these sponsors aren’t really sponsors, I’m surprised he hasn’t been sued yet. If they really are sponsors, then I’ll never see a shoe store and a certain restaraunt in the same light again.

All this is humor at it’s lowest, but you can’t help finding yourself laughing, sometimes out loud. I’ve found myself laughing in public a few times while wearing headphones, which is a particular curious sensation when you realise you’re doing it. If I were to compare this to any other kind of humor, then the old Derek and Clive comedy act comes to mind. Lewd, crude and very, very funny.

Conclusion : If you are easily offended by vulgar and offensive language and humor, this will probably go down like a sack of spuds. Otherwise give it a try, so you too can become infected.

• Tagline : Making the Internet slightly less barren than it was before. Slightly.
• Website : The Ricky Gervais Show
• Subscribe Link :
  
• Keywords : comedy, discussion, mature
• Parental Rating : 18
• Star Rating : 9 out of 10

Ricky Gervais will be a familiar face to many as the inept boss, David Brent in the English sitcom The Office. For anyone looking for a show in the similar vein of The Office, with clever, subtle humor, steer well clear of this podcast. That’s not to say it isn’t funny. It is, very funny. It’s just that this is comedy for a much more mature (open to debate) audience. I don’t know whether I’m surprised or not, that this podcast comes to us via the Guardian newspaper in the UK, but no matter, it’s a hit in my book, though it did take me a couple of shows to get into it.

The main protagonists for the podcast are Ricky Gervais and Steven Merchant, the writers of The Office and they’re friend Karl Pilkington, who seems to be the target of the majority of foul language, with his outlandish views. Where else can you find discussions of goats for Christmas presents; depraved primates with a penchant for privates; space, solitude and casual nudity in low Earth orbit and pregnant pensioners.

You can’t help but feel sorry for poor old Karl, but then I suppose that’s the general idea, cos anyone who appears to be that much of a plonker deserves a verbal slap or two.

Conclusion : There’s quite a few mature comedy podcasts out there and this is definitely one of the better ones. There’s a fine line with this kind of humor and Rick and gang manage to keep it on the right side.