The aroma of Pumpkin Spice is filling the air, travel conversations are being debated and we are learning to survive the winter darkness are all clear indications that the cold weather season has arrived. With the unpredictable weather, it’s easy to get caught up by the fireplace with a new Netflix series or a book but why not a podcast?

Last year, I noticed my enthusiasm for podcasts gain attention with friends and family after Serial had exploded with over 40 million downloads. Serial was able to capture mainstream attention with narrative storytelling and a interesting plot line — the popularity of the podcast rose above podcast enthusiasts to become a conversation piece at work and bars. With podcast consumption at an all-time high, media companies and podcasts networks have been quick to operationalize their media strategies to enter this market. Personally, it is extremely challenging to identify which podcasts to prioritize. I can list to podcasts on the road while I run life errands in an easily digestible format to get educated on a topic or cheer up my mood with a quick laughs within minutes, but it is hard to narrow down the list of go-to podcasts when I am in a hurry.

I get frustrated when I Google search, “top podcasts” because I have not discovered a service or a tool adequately curate lists based on my listening experience. As I wait for the “Spotify” of the podcasting world to be built, I have curated a list of podcasts I think technologists will enjoy:

This Week In Tech

Network: Twit

Link: https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-tech

Legend, Leo Laporte was one of the first public tech celebrities as the host of the original TV show, Screensavers which aired on TechTv with Kevin Rose and Patrick Norton. Now he is the host of his own weekly podcast, “This Week In Tech” which is recorded every Sunday. The podcast does not focus have specific technology and delivers the content in a conversational tone with fellow journalists and pundits. The roundtable conversation focuses on providing opinions and commentary that evolve in deep conversation and strong stances. A longer podcast but I enjoy how it is delivered in a relaxed, casual manner but maintains a high level journalistic integrity with deep analysis and differentiating opinions.

Startup

Network: Gimlet Media

Link: https://gimletmedia.com/show/startup

Alex Blumberg, a former producer for This American Life focuses on narrative storytelling of a startup business cycle. The podcasts follow a promising company on the rise from startup pitches to debates on key decisions. A reality shows for the tech industry that documents the challenges of being an entrepreneur. The format forms a bond with the listeners, I feel connected to the characters on the show as they grapple with everyday concerns and challenges. A show filled with high energy and emotions that will have you eager for the next episode.

Clockwise

Network: Relay FM

Link: https://www.relay.fm/clockwise

Jason Snell and Dan Moren team up with special guests for rapid fire discussions on 4 topics in 30 minutes. The focused conversation is perfect for the individual on-the-go or for a quick update on the tech industry. I prefer the  no non-sense podcasts that touches on the key points of each topic with added commentary – my day is slammed with meetings so I prefer the quick update on tech headlines. It allows me to stay informed and aware of the industry.

Entrepreneur E-Corner

Network: Stanford

Link: https://soundcloud.com/ecorner

Stanford is one of the leading educational institutions who is passionate about open and free education. The university is heavily involved with MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) but E-Corner is a way to take advantage of the Stanford knowledge center without the heavy time commitment. E-Corner is an outlet for thought leaders and industry leaders to inspire their audience and share their incredible story. My favorite part of podcast is the lack of a structured format with the speakers. The stories follow a loose structure that creates an intimate relationship with the audience. It’s an amazing podcast to get a glimpse into the lives of leaders that are disrupting the technology industry.

Decode

Network: Re/Code

Link: http://recode.net/podcast/recode-decode-hosted-by-kara-swisher/

Kara Swisher hosts an interview based podcast with influential tech, business and political leaders that are impacting the world around us. I’m impressed by how the fearless interviewer asks directed questions to the interviewees to drive value for the audience around big ideas and innovation.

Have a recommendation? Email the team and we will include it in our next roundup!