I present part two of my podcast series, where I recommend some of my favorite non-work-related 'casts. Once again, if you're looking for a podcatcher, check out Pocket Casts. It's treated me better than iTunes and has cross-platform support and a web app. Happy listening!
LifeAfter/The Message
Each season of this podcast (the most recent was titled LifeAfter) presents a serialized sci-fi saga in an engaging radio play format. Great voice acting, interesting questions about technology and ethics, and great storytelling.
Still Untitled: The Adam Savage Project
A podcast that features Adam Savage of Mythbusters fame. Lots of weird stories about making stuff, sci-fi, pop culture, TV and film, and life in general. Adam's got a great laugh, and the co-hosts are jovial, so it's a good one to listen to if you need cheering. Kindred nerds.
The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe
There's something about Mike Rowe's down homey, awkward dad humor and unabashed-ness that makes him a real gem of a podcaster. A few of his episodes dance around the boundary of NSFW (you gotta remember that this guy is unafraid of dirty jobs), but most are worth the 10-minute diversion.
The World in Words
A podcast about languages, tongues, words, speech bubbles. Cultures are built on language. Perhaps cultures are languages (and vice versa). If you are curious about how words work, check out this 'cast.
Lore
Truly, I can't figure out whether to categorize this podcast as fact or fiction; I guess it's a little of both. Based on real-life spooky stories, Lore takes a look at some of history's lesser-known campfire tales and explores them with the scrutiny you can expect from a pretty decent public radio production.
Twenty Thousand Hertz
The stories behind all of your favorite (and perhaps least favorite) sounds. From iconic to obscure, the sounds, songs, and sirens covered in this show will strike your ear drums a little differently after you listen to a few episodes.
Seriously
What can I say? I'm a sucker for the BBC. This programme feels a little bit like the British version of This American Life (another oft-lauded podcast I enjoy), albeit with shorter episodes. It covers all sorts of topics and makes documentary-style forays into politics, the arts, technology, culture, and the weirdness of human beings.