Have you noticed that podcasts are popping up everywhere these days? It’s no longer a niche market. Much like a good book or engrossing TV show, getting into a podcast usually takes time. Once you’re hooked, the payoff is worth it. Whether you consider yourself a tech junkie or are looking to brush up on current events, here are the seven best tech podcasts to expand your horizons.
1. The Future of Everything
With a new episode every Wednesday, this podcast covers anything and everything as it relates to new technology. From the Wall Street Journal, this podcast offers an in-depth look at how technology is reshaping our daily lives. Host Jennifer Strong is a terrific interviewer—she’s not afraid to cut the chit-chat and get to the heart of the matter. If you have even the slightest interest in emerging tech, this is the podcast for you.
2. Reply All
Referred to by The Guardian as “A podcast about the internet,” Reply All shines a much-needed light on innovations in new technology and how it shapes society. Hosts PJ Vogt and Alex Goldman dive deep into the wide world of all things tech, covering everything from social media exploits to data dumps and more. Reply All focuses heavily on real-life stories, which more often than not gives it a hyper sense of realism.
3. Techdirt
Hosted by Michael Masnick, the Techdirt podcast offers an inside look within the technology sector and how it’s reshaping public policy. Much like it’s Techdirt’s namesake site, this podcast takes pride in featuring true-to-life talking points. Artificial intelligence is often a recurring theme, as well as tech policy, and with live interviews and behind-the-scenes insight, it’s definitely worth a listen.
4. 99% Invisible
As one of the longest-running podcasts on the list, 99% Invisible has carved a space in the niche tech market. Host, Roman Mars not only covers the wide world of technology itself but also how these advancements come about. One of the few podcasts to ask “Why”? in addition to “How?”, 99% Invisible often focuses on how design influences technology.
5. The internet of Things
IoT (or the Internet of things) has become an integral part of our everyday lives. From our smartphones to our smart fridges (yes, it’s a thing), more devices and appliances today are WiFi-equipped. Host, Stacey Higginbotham covers the wide world of IoT with a heavy focus on what’s in store for our future.
6. Future Tense
For a refreshingly non-American approach to emerging tech, this Australia-based podcast tends to take a more neutral approach to budding technology. One of the great things about this particular podcast is that it often leaves listeners with a new way of approaching a particular subject. If you have an unquenchable thirst for knowledge, this is the podcast for you.
7. Exponent
Hosted by Ben Thompson and James Allworth, Exponent often covers the seedy implications of new technology. With hot-button issues like net neutrality and the myriad social media scandals as of late, Exponent is much more than a traditional tech podcast: it’s a podcast about society.