this post was submitted on 19 Aug 2023
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Asklemmy

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[–] [email protected] 31 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (5 children)

For history:

Revolutions by Mike Duncan. You can start with the Haitian and the Mexican revolutions. Then just listen to whichever season you want.

Dan Carlin's Hardcore History.

The History of Rome by Mike Duncan.

These are absolutely amazing.

Honorable mentions for Behind the Bastards and Lions Lead by Donkeys, if you like some banter along with the story telling.

Edit: someone in here reminded me about Your Undivided Attention. It is, literally and without irony, the most important podcast you could ever listen.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Behind the Bastards is my top recommendation. Just learning how truly awful the world has been for a few thousand years is soul crushingly entertaining.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I love how they combine it all with light banter. Without the banter, most of the episode would be unlistenable, as you would be too depressed and tie yourself on a train track.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (4 children)

I also love that Robert brings on repeat guests for certain topics. If an episode has lots of dead babies, it gets one person, Nazis often get Matt Lieb with his new sound board.

My favorite episode of all time is Action Park, with Garrison as host and Robert as the “guest”.

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[–] [email protected] 23 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Cautionary tales: stories of how things went wrong

Darknet diaries: stories from the dark web

intelligence squared: thought provoking debates about anything and everything

The numberphile podcast: interviews with mathematicians by Brady Haran. If you like the kinds of videos Brady makes, you’ll probably like this too. You know, stuff like sixty symbols, numberphile, perioedic table of videos etc.

You are not so smart: podcast about psychology

your undivided attention: discussion and interviews about social media. What it’s like to work for a social media company. How social media influences your business, or how it affects your life. How different parts of it are intentional and some are unintentional.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Which 'cautionary tales', the search gave a couple results?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

With Tim Harford, by Pushkin.

Hope you like it. It’s one of my favorites even though I Found it only about a year ago.

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[–] [email protected] 23 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Nobody recommended 99% Invisible yet?

That one is a must-listen about everyday (and not so everyday) design. Absolutely amazing!

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[–] [email protected] 20 points 1 year ago (1 children)

No Such Thing As A Fish is an informative and funny podcast, saw it recommended on a similar post a couple weeks ago and have been hooked since

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

An awesome podcast, listened to every single episode in their (big) backlog and I’m always happy to see the new episode pop into my feed.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 year ago

Love recommending podcasts!

  • Like others have said, Behind the Bastards is great to find out about some of the worst people in history.
  • In relation to that Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff is the opposite of Behind the Bastards. It's about people who did cool stuff who became cool.
  • Also in lieu of that, Bad Gays, it's about bad gays in history. I think they've covered similar folks on BtB, but this is obviously from a queer perspective.
  • Fad Camp and Maintenance Phase are great podcasts about dieting and wellness. Fad Camp is more about how damaging some of these diets can be, whereas Maintenance Phase is similar to You're Wrong About (which I also recommend)
  • The Weekly Planet are these two Australian guys who talk about movies, tv, comics and video games. They also have a YouTube channel called Me Sunday Movies where they'll upload some of their podcasts. Like they have a running segment called "Caravan of Garbage" which is just sort of talking about a movie, tv show or game. Currently they've started going through the RoboCop movies.
  • Also shameless plug, but Checkpoint is on the radio but they take their radio show and put it on a podcast. It's a podcast about giving a 1up to diversity in video games. Most of us are from the LGBTQIA+ community and that's where most of our perspectives come from, but it's also just folks from any marginalised group. Lovely bunch of folks (if I do say so myself).

Uh yeah, I have some more, but like that's politics or it's writing related or spicyness in or out of the bedroom. But these are the ones I always recc.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I mainly listen to things based around or by improv comedy, so if that's not your jam, keep on scrolling -

My Brother, My Brother, and Me (three brothers give often terrible advice to questions sent by listeners)

Hey Riddle Riddle (a riddle podcast by improv comedians who really really hate riddies and puzzies)

Dungeons and Daddies (the best D&D podcast by players who don't really know how to play D&D and it's not even close)

The Worst Idea of All time (originally the concept was two kiwi comedians watch the same film every week for a year and document and review that experience every week. Each season is a new movie and a new year. The films are always awful and they encourage you not to watch them)

Smartless (Will Arnet, Jason Bateman, and Sean Hayes interviewing other celebrities and famous figures. Only one of them each week know who they will be interviewing before they do so the questions are all improvised on the spot)

Quick Question with Soren Bowie and Daniel O'brien (two ex Cracked writers from the golden age of Internet comedy, who now write for Family Guy and John Oliver respectfully, ask each other questions)

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Dungeons and daddies has legit some of the most hilarious interactions I have ever heard. Beth May (?) playing an emotionally detached step father is pure genius

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

I love MBMBaM but sometimes their episodes are such a hit or miss. I think it's mostly the bits. I don't mind the vampire one, but the perfume guy was too much.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Well, There's Your Problem, a podcast with slides about engineering disasters which is, itself, a disaster.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Less of a disaster now, thanks Devin!

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

"I am Justin Rozniak I'm the person who is talking right now. My pronouns are he and him."

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)
  • You Are Not So Smart: You’ll marvel at both how flawed our reasoning can be and how well we make up for it by being collaborative creatures
  • Behind the Bastards: Everything you don’t know about the worst people in all of history, including people you didn’t even know of
  • Twenty Thousand Hertz: Stories of pretty much anything as long as it works well in an audio medium. Best sound design in the game; like candy for your ears
  • Cautionary Tales (Tim Harford): Stories of people making huge mistakes or taking insane risks. Fun because sometimes the mistake was trusting their intuition instead of a rigorous process, but just as often it was ignoring their intuition in favor of a rigorous process
  • Build for Tomorrow, formerly Pessimists Archive: History of people freaking out about new stuff that is totally benign today but they thought would ruin civilization. Like mirrors, bicycles, teddy bears, pinball machines
  • Team Human: Kind of the opposite. All about how “progress” has harmed indigenous people, minorities, women, etc. and talking to people about how to address our modern problems with “anti-human” technology and economics

Edit: I somehow forgot to add Knifepoint Horror, but I just read that someone else recommended it and I’m very disappointed in myself because it’s such a good horror podcast that I literally physically got chills when I read its name. So good. Fuck, I would even put it at the top of this list if it weren’t dependent on being in the mood for spoopy stories.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago

Darknet Diaries - Interesting stories or interviews with people from the darkweb, pen-testers, hackers, etc. A couple of notable episodes: Interview with a creator of the PirateBay. FFFD - Freedom for flash drives.

This podacast will kill you - Interesting ways to die and just regular ones. Like what happens when you die from x, y, or z. Notable episode Sweat is a superpower.

Sticky Notes - About classical music.

Stuff you should know - interesting stories

Stuff they don’t want you to know - interesting stories

The end of the worldwith Josh Clark - limited episodes about existential threats to humanity.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago

Recently I've been listening to Well There's You're Problem; it's 30% retrospective on engineering disasters 70% shitpost

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago

Knowledge fight

Behind the bastards

Ear hustle

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

Ologies by Allie Ward!!

She basically interviews scientists about their job and asks all the dumb questions you wish you could ask. She has a huge number of episodes on everything from black holes and dark matter to squirrels to Emojis. And it's all from the perspective of "the study of".

One of my favorite episodes is "Ferro-equinology". The study of iron horses. Trains. I knew trains were cool, but had no idea how cool they really were until that episode.

Her energy is addictive too. Great personality. If you are a part of her patron (which I am) you'll get a heads up before her interviews and she give an opportunity for you to post questions that she'll ask the Ologist.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The Dollop - a comedy podcast about how messed up American history is.

Last Podcast On The Left - comedy podcast about horror, true crime, aliens and the paranormal.

The Greatest Generation - Star Trek podcast

Behind the Bastards - Podcast about the worst people in history.

Get Played - video game podcast with a comedic bent.

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

Lateral is one of my go to podcasts. Is full of lateral thinking questions, hosted by Tom Scott with a variety of guests. Is really good fun.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

Sawbones!

A podcast about medical history with a doctor and an idiot (Justin and Sydney Mcelroy. yes, that Justin Mcelroy)

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

For comedy:

Distractible - very funny guys. Start with the episode Bob’s Fridge

Hamish and Andy - higher profuction value and hilarious. Very much like a radio show because they used to be radio hosts and are also comedians

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

60 songs that explain the 90s.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The Skeptics Guide to the Universe

Knowledge Fight

Nice Games Club

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The film re roll. "We play through your favourite movies as roll playing games and totally ruin them".

Just an excellent podcast. Can't recommend it enough.

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

Game design round table

Dan Carlin's hardcore history

Manager tools

Software engineering radio

Freakonomics

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

For Dutch folks: onbehaarde apen (nrc)

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

The Soundtrack Show by David W. Collins! He talks about film scores, how they were made, and many other details. No music knowledge is required. Scroll through the episodes and pick any movie that looks interesting, but EVERY episode is so good!

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Voice mail dump truck (embrace the chaos), a more civilized age

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

We Might Be Drunk is the podcast I listen to with the most consistency, and definitely worth a listen. Two of my favorite comedians (Mark Norman & Sam Morrill) who are hilarious while also getting into aspects of day to day life.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

Ezra Klein show - it's actually a podcast about US politics which I don't really care about, but they have often very interesting guests and Ezra is a very good interviewer / generally intelligent person with interesting takes.

Lex Fridman - originally about AI, nowadays various intellectual topics with high profile guests. I actually don't really like Lex himself, but fortunately he doesn't speak often.

A bunch of podcasts on Ukraine/Russia - War on the Rocks, The Russia contingency (paid), In Moscow's shadows (Kremlinology). Geopolitics Decanted.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

I actually find Ezra and Lex unbearable for different reasons.

Lex is just really not good at interviewing and given his stances, I can't really trust that the "experts" he interviews are respected/knowledgeable in their fields. Also, I got the feeling that he is kind of an idiot.

Ezra is way too much up his own ass in high minded philosophical debates, that don't really mean anything. It sounds smart, but if you actually listen, you realize that he just spent 5min saying almost nothing.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

On The Media - a podcast analyzing the media, giving historical and scientific context to news coverage. In the process, it turns out to be the best in depth news shows. Academics and journalists love this show but it doesn’t seem to be as big of a hit with the greater public. I recommend this show very highly.

Also listen to a bunch of nerdy academic podcasts like The Dissenter and New Books in Science, Psychology, Philosophy, etc in the New Books networks.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)
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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Armchair Expert - interviews with not just actors, musicians, and directors, but also professors, philosophers, authors, etc. The host is very open about his childhood trauma and recovery from addiction. Very interesting intellectual conversations.

Behind the Bastards - really good deep dives into the assholes of our time and prior.

Beach Too Sandy, Water Too Wet - each episode, the hosts (brother and sister) read real reviews on a certain topic or genre and discuss. The reviews are generally hilarious, ridiculous, and/or crazy.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Whoo another BtB listener!

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

“You know who won’t steal babies and forge adoption documents, probably? The goods and services that support this podcast.”

“Robert!”

“Sorry, Sophie, I guess I mangled that one. Here’s aaaaaads!”

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Christine Schiefer from Beach Too Sandy also has another podcast called And That's Why We Drink. She does it with her friend Em Schulz once a week where they tell a paranormal and a true crime story, then once a month they also do viewer stories. I highly recommend it also!

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Risky or Not?

Each short episode discusses one amusingly named food or situation (e.g. “ Unopened Carton of Heavy Cream Almost 3 Weeks Past It's Expiration Date”). Hosted by two food safety experts with good banter.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

If you need a laugh:

This Paranormal Life and The Adventure Zone.

This Paranormal Life is a comedy podcast about 2 guys who investigate the paranormal and come down on an answer as to whether they believe the story happened or not. They go into deep detail about the subjects they are talking about in a hilarious but informative way.

The Adventure Zone is a tabletop roleplaying podcast about the McElroy family trying to play roleplaying games and creating amazing stories all in a hilarious way.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Dead Rabbit Radio if you like the paranormal or conspiracy theories without any of the shitty right-wing connotations that come with that community. Jason Carpenter is one of the best podcasters I've listened to and deserved 10x the views he gets.

I'm not affiliated with the show in any way but here's a link to the shows YouTube channel

https://m.youtube.com/@DeadRabbitRadio

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

2.5admins, for tech stuff

Self-Hosted, for self hosted and tech stuff

Smashing security, for security and tech stuff (this one can be very funny too)

Security Now, for more security related tech stuff.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

A lot of my faves have been mentioned (BtB, wtyppod, Bad Gays), so here's a few I haven't seen lited here.

Discussion Podcasts

It's Not Just In Your Head: Therapists talking about the intersection of mental health, capitalism, and treatments (problems with how we go about it and what we could change).

The War on Cars: What it sounds like, urbanists talking about biking, transit, issues with car oriented development.

Tech Won't Save Us: Interviews with people, having critical conversations of different technologies. Discusses issues of tech, capitalism, surveillance, and more.

Total Liberation: Leftist podcast discussing a variety of topics about the decay of capitalism and how we can recreate and liberate ourselves.

Audio Dramas/Story Podcasts

The Punumbra Podcast: I listen to the Juno Steel series, it's about a private detective on Mars. Great story and characters, a bit more humorous but will also destroy you emotionally in the best way. Also very queer!

The Bright Sessions: People with super powers go to therapy. I really loved the world they created and how they relate the super powers and mental health.

Scare You to Sleep: Scary stories read in a calm voice. The stories are really good, I actually like the hosts original stories that she sometimes reads quite a lot.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Great Lectures - History of ancient egypt

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

The Plastic Pleasiosaur Podcast is a really fun sceptic/science podcast run by an old man and a femboy archeologist.

Saw Bones is a highly entertaining and informative medical history podcast run by a cool, bisexual doctor and her adult-baby husband.

Bizarre Podcast: Dogs Must Die is an once in a lifetime find: a tiny man describes every episode of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure to his very smart friend.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Uhh Yeah Dude - comedy. One of the oldest podcasts going since 2006!

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