I listen to a lot of podcasts. Like many people, I listen in the car, in the morning while getting ready, at night before bed, and when doing things around the house. They run the gamut. Some are built around short stories, others take deep dives into individual songs, some are interview-based, others focus on world news, and, last but not least, a handful focus on tech.
When it comes to tech podcasts, there are five that I listen to religiously and want to share. What follows are my quick thoughts on each. (FYI they’re listed from the least technical to the most, although none of these are really that technical).
The first is Pivot, starring Scott Galloway and Kara Swisher. Scott is a marketing professor and former industry titan, and Kara is one of the premier journalists in Silicon Valley. Like most podcasts I enjoy, the appeal is really about chemistry and balance. Kara steers the show, while Scott offers insights and, at times, off-color jokes (though he’s toned that down a fair bit). Kara often takes the lead on the key topics, and they’re refreshingly willing to disagree with each other.
Kara, who’s a big fan of Kara, plays the “older sister” role in the relationship, usually keeping a cooler head while not suffering fools gladly. Scott, by contrast, can be goofy, and is unafraid to be vulnerable; he also comes to each show armed with a boatload of stats. When warranted, both can go off on people and topics, dropping f-bombs and letting loose invective.
The show is billed as covering “All things tech and business,” but they regularly dip into politics and social issues. (My one peeve is that they can spend too much time discussing media conglomerates and streaming services. I like to watch Netflix, not talk about it.) The podcast drops on Tuesdays and Fridays and typically runs a bit over an hour.
The second is Hard Fork, with Casey Newton from Platformer and Kevin Roose from The New York Times. Their banter is excellent. Casey plays the instigator, while Kevin laughs at Casey’s antics and bad jokes (props to Kevin for being able to laugh heartily at the drop of a hat). The show was supposed to be focused on crypto but AI happened and, like everywhere else, became the central focus.
While they tend to align in their views, they do a good job explaining complex topics by having one take the lead while the other asks clarifying questions. Most episodes feature just the two of them, but they also bring on guests, including journalists with deep expertise and people from industry. When they talk to industry guests, they’re really good at asking tough questions and pressing them instead of simply tossing softballs. Hard Fork comes out on Fridays and usually runs about an hour.
The third is imaginatively entitled, Big Technology Podcast. It’s hosted by Alex Kantrowitz, a journalist and frequent tech commentator on outlets like CNN. Most weeks he does a single interview, some I listen to and some I skip, and on Fridays he hosts a show with Ranjan Roy from Margins. Ranjan brings a finance background and tends to be more technical than Alex who steers the conversation. Although it took me a bit, I’ve come to appreciate Alex’s dry delivery, and I like the way the two play off each other.
Number four is The AI Daily Brief which is the only podcast with a solo host. For a long time, I was convinced the host was AI-generated – the delivery was flawless, there are no “you knows,” “ums,” or verbal stumbles. It turns out however that it’s actually hosted by a human, Nathaniel Whittemore. I don’t know who edits the show but they should get a medal. (Of course that could be where the AI comes in).
The shows tend to run about 25 minutes, with the first five minutes covering AI news, followed by a longer segment that goes deeper on a specific topic. The tone is more formal than the others, but he does a solid job backing up his points with tweets, articles, and other sources.
As the name suggests, it comes out daily (I don’t know how he keeps up the pace). I don’t listen to every episode, but I usually try to catch at least the first five minutes. Some episodes are better watched on YouTube, especially when he’s showing apps, demos, or stats. (I should have mentioned that all these pods can also be watched on YouTube)
Last but not least is Software Defined Talk. Clocking in at 500+ episodes this one tends to focus on developers, open source, corporate culture, and a mix of topics that range from arcane to mundane. It stars Michael Coté, Brandon Whichard, and Matt Ray, all three of whom are or were developers. They’re the only trio in my top five, though all three aren’t always on every episode depending on the week (I’ve even had the opportunity to sit in a couple of times, so you know it’s got to be good).
Each person brings a distinct area of expertise and style. Matt Ray is the most technical and also the primary investor voice. Brandon brings product management experience, corporate culture insight, and a steady, rational perspective. Coté rounds things out with strategic insights, thoughtful musings, and occasional stories about life in the Netherlands. Coté also typically handles the closing of the show where they list upcoming conferences, give their recommendations for the week (usually books or TV shows) and Brandon gives a shout out to those around the world who he’s sent SDT stickers to.
So there you are and there you have it, my top five. I’m curious to know how many folks out there listen to one or more of these and if you have any not on the list and why?
Pau for now…
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