My Pick of the Podcasts

A few months ago I decided to take the plunge and get into podcasting. For those that aren't familiar with podcasting -- which takes its name from iPod Broadcasting, it's basically a way to routinely download audio programming that you can listen to you on your computer or your portable MP3 player (such as an iPod). You can either download each file individually or you can use an RSS or Podcast client to automatically download new files when they become available and have it automically synchronize with your audio player.

Sounds great, eh? It is...with one caveat...because anybody in the world can Podcast, there are thousands upon thousands of programs already being podcasted on the internet. The problem is that these programs rate anywhere from Superb to Supremely Poor. Some have tremendous production values whereas others are simply a guy talking into the built-in microphone in his laptop.

The challenge becomes finding podcasts that are worth your time to download and listen to. You can always go with reputable content sources like NPR and KUT (my favorite radio station in Austin) who both podcast excerpts from their shows. You can also try to navigate your way through a podcast community or directory. But the true beauty of podcasting is being hep to the unique quality content out there that can be heard nowhere else but through a podcast.

So in my quest to separate the podcast wheat from the chaff, here's a quick rundown of my five favorite podcasts I've found on the web so far:

• Coverville - this show, expertly produced in the hosts basement after his kids go to be, features cover versions of songs you may already know re-done by popular and not-so-popular artists.
• The Naked Podshow - some of the best new and unsigned music from (mostly) British artists. The avant-garde of the new British Invasion!
• Radio Clash - a weekly mashup podcast from London bringing together a torrent of creativity in the mashup and remix world that will probably never see the light of day through normal commercial channels.
• All Songs Considered - NPR's weekly, web-only music show which allows the exploration of music in longer and more eclectic segments than are typically featured in their normal NPR daily programming.
• US Soccer Podcast - Soccer, my favorite sport, is one of the worst covered sports in the US by the mainstream media so this podcast fills a huge void for soccer news about the US National teams and professional soccer in the United States.
  

So what podcasts are you listening to?