Podcasts
I started listening to podcasts after the huge trending sensation that was the Serial podcast, chronicling the murder case of Hae Min Lee that got me hooked to this new medium of podcasts. Since then the podcast landscape has blown up completely and now everybody and their dog has a podcast, and the internet is filled with several low-quality low-effort podcasts. So here is my personal list of podcasts that I listen to on a regular basis and enjoy. If your favourite podcast isn't in this list, first, my apologies, and second, do leave a comment which ones I should listen.
Astronomy, Physics, and Science
Seldom Sirius
An infrequent podcast about Astronomy, Space, & related things by UK-based astronomers formerly associated with the Jodrell Bank telescope.
Titanium Physicists
A Physics & Astronomy podcast where the host & his physicist friends explain a topic to a non-scientist guest. New friends & guests each episode & a vast range of topics in physics are covered.
Science Magazine Podcast
A weekly podcast by the Science Magazine discussing interesting articles published there in the week & interviews with authors of the articles.
The intersection
A fortnightly podcast that discusses stories that meld culture, science and history in India.
Astro[sound]bites
Astro[sound]bites is a bi-weekly podcast that uses recent astrobites to explain and explore a theme in astronomy & astrophysics.
The Insight
A podcast on human genetics, archaeology, linguistics, and palaeoanthropology, exploring who we are and where did we come from.
Skepticism
Skeptics with a K
One of my favourite podcasts. Every fortnight, Alice, Mike & Marsh discuss their adventures in skepticism & critical thinking.
The League of Nerds
A weekly podcast by Myles Power and James Gurney discussing everything from science, culture, pseudoscience & bad movies. Though the podcast has ended, with 200 episodes, there's plenty to listen to.
The Prism Podcast
A podcast by two medical doctors exploring the spectrum of science & pseudoscience with excellent interviews of people from many walks of life.
Be Reasonable
Michael "Marsh" Marshall (from "Skeptics with a K") interviews people who believe in ideas contrary to the mainstream scientific worldview.
Science Fiction
The Cosmic Shed
In a shed in suburban Bristol, Andrew, Laura and Ben talk about films, books, music, theatre, TV, and all kinds of science fiction with an emphasis on celebrating all kinds of SciFi rather than nitpicking.
Flash Forward
A podcast all about future where Rose Eveleth tackles a speculative future scenario and discusses its historical precedent & plausibility in the future.
SYFY25: Origin Stories
Hosted by Adam Savage, SYFY25 is a nostalgic celebration of all things science fiction, where he interviews creators & fans to discuss people, moments & milestones that influenced & changed SciFi.
Our Opinions Are Correct
Explore the meaning of science fiction, and how it's relevant to real-life science and society.
History
History of India
A detailed, look at the History of India, from 6th c. BCE onwards, with each season focusing on a specific period. One of my favourites.
Our Fake History
A podcast taking deep dive into various historical myths and explores what's fact, what's fiction, and what's a good story that must be told.
Stephen Fry's Great Leap Years
Stephen Fry explores, in this documentary podcast, some of the most important human inventions that transformed our lives for better or worse, the history of that technology & the people involved.
HI 101
The best comprehensive history podcast, that goes deep into the history of various topics and events in a conversational manner.
Tides of History
Patrick Wyman explores the history of the world and how it got to be the way it is with beautiful narrative.
Philosophy
Rationally Speaking
This is probably the best contemporary philosophy podcast. It's a fortnightly podcast where host Julia Galef interviews philosophers, scientists, economists and thinkers to explore important topics for today.
Mindscape
A Podcast by physicist Sean Carroll where he has conversations with the world's most interesting thinkers about science, society, philosophy, culture, arts, ideas, and more.
History of Philosophy in India
This podcast takes a deep dive in to the detailed & varied history of the numerous philosophical traditions in India. It is part of the greater History of Philosophy without gaps podcast series.
Philosophers in Space
A Podcast about discussing the philosophical ideas behind, and explored in science fiction books, tv-shows, and movies. If you like sci-fi and philosophy, this podcast is for you.
Technology
Ubuntu Podcast
An excellent podcast about the latest news, views and issues relating to Ubuntu operating system, and free & open software in general.
Going Linux
A friendly, light-hearted, informative podcast about everything Linux. The podcast is for everyone who just wants to get things done with Linux.
Twenty Thousand Hertz
A very well-made podcast about the stories behind all kinds of sounds we love, enjoy, interact with, and surround us.
Data Stories
A podcast on data visualization and interesting stories behind it with Enrico Bertini and Moritz Stefaner.
IRL Podcast From Mozilla
Manoush Zomorodi explores this disconnect with stories from the wilds of the Web, and gets to the bottom of online issues that affect us all.
New Space India
An excellent podcast showcasing the past, present and the future of space activities in and related to India, hosted by Narayan Prasad.
Media and Politics
Citations Needed
A media criticism podcast that focuses on how the (mainly USA) media talks about different topics, and how it often gets it wrong.
Aufhebunga Bunga
A Global-Socio-Economic-Politics podcast at the end of the End of History, discussing politics in different countries & overall global trends.
The Pragati Podcast
Weekly podcast hosted by Pavan Srinath & Hamsini Hariharan about public policy, economics and international relations, from Indian perspective.
The Seen and The Unseen
A weekly long-form podcast (often 1 - 2 hrs) on various topics of public interest in India.
States of Anarchy
A podcast on foreign policy, from the Indian perspective, giving a context to international relations and global affairs in the 21st Century.
Miscellaneous
Hello Internet
A podcast that pioneered the 'Two-Dudes-Talking' genre, created by CGP Grey & Brady Haran where they discuss everything under the Sun.
Exploring Lord of The Rings
A weekly produced video podcast where the Tolkien Scholar Corey Olsen goes through to the LotR in extreme detail & explore LOTRO game.
Mythgard Academy
Scholarly discussions of speculative literature, SciFi, & Fantasy with Corey Olsen, where each semester multiple works by various authors are discussed every week.
The Greatest Generation
A Star Trek podcast by two guys who are a little bit embarrassed to have a Star Trek podcast, reviewing each episode of The Next Generation.
Technical Difficulties
A reverse trivia podcast from the British group Technical Difficulties, hosted by the popular YouTuber Tom Scott (before he was famous). Also check out the video incarnation 'Citation Needed' on YouTube.
The Unmade Podcast
A podcast about podcasts. Tim Hein and Brady Haran discuss ideas for new podcasts that they will (probably) never make.
United Rant Cast
A weekly (almost) podcast that is all about Manchester United, their team, matches, results, and everything. Plus occasional extra pods for World Cup & European Championship.
Reply All
A podcast about the internet and popular culture of the 21st Century, hosted by PJ Vogt and Alex Goldman
If your favourite podcast is not mentioned above, drop me a message with the list of your favourite podcasts.