I thought I would take a quick break from talking about my setups to discuss some of my favourite podcasts. Some of these shows inspired me to start doing this stuff and some of them still do; helping me shape future projects.

The following are not ranked in any order, other than alphabetically (I have only included audio in this post, I do enjoy some video shows also, I’ll save them for another day):

Back To Work: I have always been a fan of Merlin Mann, ever since I first heard him on Macbreak Weekly. Coupled with the ‘Crown Prince Of Podcasting’, Dan Benjamin, this was always going to be a good show. Ultimately this show features what Merlin knows best; productivity and lifestyle changes. It’s not all ‘get a better to-do list’, but more what you can do in your life to make you work better/achieve your goals. Merlin is an inspiring guy and this podcast really exhibits that.

Build And Analyze: Another great 5by5 production, this time with Marco Arment as the guest host. Marco is a superb host along with Dan. He has a great podcasting voice (very important) and really knows his craft. Personally, I enjoy the ‘coffee’ ratholes, as I do enjoy a bit of general rambling in my podcasts. These topics show the friendship between the hosts, which is important for any show.

The B&B Podcast: A relative newcomer on the scene, Shawn Blanc (who also does an awesome members only show, Shawn Today) and Benjamin Brooks’ show is a new favourite. I really enjoy the work that these guys both do on their respecitve sites and trust their opinions. As mentioned earlier, I enjoy shows that exhibit a friendship between the hosts. These guys definitely have that with no fear to talk about whatever’s on their minds. It’s a new’un but a good’un.

The Sci-Fi Cast: Another show I have only started listening to recently (however it’s not a new one). The hosts of this show, Jen Seagrest, Gedeon Maheux and my good buddy Dave Caolo, do love their Sci-Fi! I’m not a massive fan of the genre myself (not that I dislike, I’m just not a trekkie ;] ) but their love for this topic really shines through. I love a good rant in a podcast and these guys definitely know how to provide that! It’s really well put together and is something you should definitely put in your RSS catcher!

The Talk Show: John Gruber (The Chairman) is the co-host of another 5by5 show that I really enjoy. John has great wit and this really comes thorugh in the show. He has a great knowledge of Apple and his foresight is unparalleled. The discussions he and Mr. Benjamin have are very frequently excellent. This is a must listen podcast and has very quickly became a show I wait for every week. I also really enjoy their reviews of the James Bond movies. This is a really neat feature, a great idea. I just want to mention 5by5 quickly. Dan Benjmain has not been around long in this field (about a year) but he has very quickly became a massive player in Podcasting. 5by5 is the new-age of podcasting, for sure. Dan has brought together fantastic hosts for his shows and is a great host himself. He will shut-up to allow his guests to talk and will try to steer them down paths to create the best possible show. He’s extremely talented and has a long career ahead.

You Look Nice Today: The only problem with this show is the frequency of episode releases. Your hosts are Adam Lisagor, Merlin Mann and Scott Simpson. Their style of comedy is superb, but an acquired taste. They do not hold back or pull their punches. This leads to a hilarious, but risque show. The production quality is also fantastic and has only improved since the shows conception. The beauty of this podcast is anyone can jump in at any point and listen to any show throughout the back-catalouge. It’s all gold.

Macbreak Weekly: This show has been a long-standing favourite of mine. I have listened to every episode since it began (currently at 237). Leo Laporte is the ‘King Of Podcasting’. Without Leo I seriously wouldnt be doing what I enjoy now. The TWiT network is an absolute monolith and it has inspired me profusely. MBW has a great cast of hosts with Leo, Andy Ihnatko and Alex Linsdsay as regulars, brigning in others such as Don Mcallister. For me this show is a must for all Mac fans. The hosts really do know the topic and the ‘App Picks’ are always worth the proce of admission.

This Week in Tech: There was no way I could list podcasts without including this one. TWiT is the reason a lot of us are doing what we are doing. Without TWiT I do not believe that most of the shows above would exist. Leo made Podcasting a medium and this show is the flagship. ‘Your first Podcast of the week is the last word in Tech’, that’s all that needs to be said.

Obviously, The Bro Show and Enough are favourites of mine also. But I’m bias.

I do listen to more shows than this and there are some that have narrowly missed out on a spot. They are shows I enjoy, but wouldn’t necessarily rank them as a favourite right at the moment. However, this can change.

I would love to hear what your favourites are! Tell me on Twitter or email me at myke[at]thebroshow.co.uk!