Let's talk talk.

Working overnight in a manual labor job, I have a lot of time to myself while doing brainless work.  My ipod is a lifesaver, whether it be playing music or podcasts.  If you're not familiar, podcasts are, more often than not, essentially talk radio shows that you download and listen to at will.  I have a lot of favorites...like, a LOT.  This was the only list here that I had trouble cutting things from to get it down to ten.

Giant Bombcast

The preeminent podcast from professional video gamesmen.  Ostensibly about video games, it very frequently veers into bizarre tangents about shower salads, swedish death candy, and being wizards.  With years of back episodes, most of which are still very listenable due to the natural humor of hosts with long histories together, the Bombcast has a huge amount to offer.

http://www.giantbomb.com/podcasts/

Idle Thumbs

A video games podcast that actually DOES focus on games.  Hosted by video game developers (now and formerly) from Double Fine and Telltale Games, it blends humor with in-depth analysis of games into an audio stew that can't be found anywhere else.

https://www.idlethumbs.net/idlethumbs

Welcome to Night Vale

Essentially an audiobook presented in the format of a radio show, Welcome to Night Vale is beautifully bizarre.  Set in a desert town where seemingly every conspiracy theory is both true and overt, it delights in being mundane about outrageous events.  The narrator, as a fictional radio host, is fantastic.  I admit, though, that the weather is something I often skip through.

http://commonplacebooks.com/welcome-to-night-vale/

Good Job, Brain!

Good Job, Brain! is a very entertaining trivia/quiz show.  Generally, a topic for the week is chosen and each host devises either a quiz or an informative segment that relates.  Funny and clever, I always learn something.

http://www.goodjobbrain.com/

My Brother, My Brother And Me

The McElroy brothers are, by their own admission, wisdom alchemists.  A fantastically funny show that goes into tangents like light into a black hole, MBMBAM thrives on the familiarity of three actual brothers who don't seem to shy away from any topic, especially when it comes to horses, for some reason.  Always a highlight of my day.

http://www.maximumfun.org/shows/my-brother-my-brother-and-me

The Alton Browncast

I'll say it again: Alton Brown taught me how to cook.  He's funny and clever, with a knack for teaching in a way that is entertaining, informative, and never talks down.  His podcast is much the same as his old show, Good Eats.  He answers listener questions, offers seasonal suggestions, and interviews interesting guests, not always from the food realm.

http://www.nerdist.com/podcast/the-browncast/

Thrilling Adventure Hour

If you have any interest in old-timey radio, you should be listening to Thrilling Adventure Hour.  A show that is both a parody of and a love letter to the drama and comedy radio shows of old, TAH is put on by a group of very talented and often recognizable (usually comedic) performers.  If you need a recommendation of which segment to try first, listen to Beyond Belief, with Paul F. Tompkins and Paget Brewster.

http://thrillingadventurehour.com/

Stuff You Should Know

Much like Good Job, Brain!, I enjoy Stuff You Should Know because I always learn from listening to it.  Chuck and Josh choose a topic and drill down on it, explaining the thing or idea in digestable ways.

http://www.stuffyoushouldknow.com/podcasts/

Laser Time

Laser Time is sort of the rebirth of the old guard from Talk Radar, another games podcast.  Laser Time, however, explores a range of topics, choosing each week one thing or concept from pop culture to explore.  A rotating cast of hosts, both friends and co-workers, makes for entertaining and usually knowledgeable discussion.

http://www.lasertimepodcast.com/podcast/

In Our Time

You may have noticed a trend by now.  Another learning experience, this BBC Radio show has been running for over fifteen years.  Each week, one concept is focused on, and a panel of experts (often college professors) attempt to cover its history and relevence in just 45 minutes or so.  Even seemingly uninteresting topics are made fascinating when covered by people who know and respect them greatly.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/iot

And just because I feel like adding a video here, uh...here.  This is video games.