::10 great podcasts:: [/tech/misc] (17:37)

I've been addicted to podcasts for the last 6 months. I spend almost all of my work day listening to various programs available. Given the sheer number of podcasts out, I thought I'd share my list of what I've been listening to, and enjoying, over time. Here's my top 10, in no particular order.

• The Java Posse: Given how popular tech blogs are, you'd think there would be more quality tech podcasts. There aren't many, and the world of programmer podcasts is extra slim. One of my favorites is the Java Posse. They do a great job of covering Java stuff from a developer perspective. They aren't cheerleaders for the latests fads nor are they corporate shills. They are just developers talking about the world Java. It is very well done, and I highly recommend it to all Java developers. [iTunes]
• Security Now!: Here's another great tech podcast. It's focus is security, and the first dozen or so episodes have focussed on virus issues, spyware and network security. Right now they are doing a series on VPNs, and I'm eagerly awaiting the next episode to get some recommendations on home wifi routers with VPN capabilities. I have given up on the unreliable public VPN services and need to set up something at home, so this will be perfectly timed. If you want to get a taste for the world of personal computer security without getting too technical, check it out. [iTunes]
• WebObjects Worx: This is the last tech podcast I'll mention. This podcast has been focussed on teaching WebObjects. I've been mentioning WebObjects a lot, and this podcast is why. I think it is a great example of how you convey real hard technical information in a podcast format. I haven't seen any new episodes this month, so I don't know what the future of this one is. But, I hope it keeps on going. [iTunes]
• Chinese Pod: This is a podcast teaching Chinese. I've been listening to several foreign language podcasts, but Chinese Pod seems to be the best one. It is high quality and published frequently enough that you could actually learn from it. I'm reasonably fluent already, so the lessons are way too introductory for me. But, having gone through the process of learning Chinese, I really like the approach. This would have been an amazing resource to have around when I was learning. If you want to learn chinese, or if you just want to see what a well done language podcast is like, check out Chinese Pod. [iTunes]
• PotterCast: I freely admit that I have read all the Harry Potter books and am a huge fan of the series. In the same way I'm a sucker for DVD commentaries, I love to listen to more in-depth discussion of characters and story lines. I wish there were more podcasts like this. [iTunes]
• Podcast Who: I've been a Doctor Who fan since I was a kid. The new series is great, and this podcast is a great companion to the show and to the larger world of Doctor Who. [iTunes]
• Erik's Diner: One of the wonderful things about podcasts is you can stay connected to issues that you find interesting without spending a lot of time on it. Erik's Diner is a vegan podcast that let's me keep up with issues around veganism (although I'm a vegetarian, not a full vegan) and animal cruelty issues. I'm not an activist, but I do enjoy keeping up with what is going on in that world. [iTunes]
• Ebert & Roeper: I don't watch TV, so I rely on movies for almost all of my visual entertainment. There's only one reviewer I trust, Roger Ebert. The guy always has great insight into movies, and you really can't go wrong listening to him. Being able to listen to the show in podcast form saves me a lot of time. My only complaint is that often times the podcast is posted too late to make a weekend movie decision. [iTunes]
• Comic Geek Speak: I gave up comics in the 90's, but I've found that in recent years comics have started getting interesting again. I'm not a huge fan like I used to be, but I have, after all those years, started picking up a few titles on a regular basis. While many comic podcasts focus only on what is happening now, Comic Geek Speak has great interviews with people in the industry, past and present, and great discussions about comic history. They also have a great book of the month club, which fits really well with my desire to be able to dig into things just a bit more deeply and find out what other people thought of a book. My only warning is that these guys are prolific. The podcasts are often 90 minutes and they usually do more than one a week. I'm not enough of a comic geek to keep up, but I do listen regularly. [iTunes]
• The Dave Ramsey Show: This is the only commercial entry on my top 10 list. Dave does a personal finance radio show that helped me to make the move to being debt free, and I still listen regularly to make sure I don't lapse into debt. I was actually a subscriber and paid for the daily MP3 downloads long before anyone spoke the words "podcast", so I have to give them credit for being an early player. When they were doing downloadable MP3s, everyone else was still wasting their time on streaming audio. I can't keep up with 3 hours of show every night, but I listen to a couple of hours a week. If you've got too much month left at the end of the money, (to use a Dave expression) take a listen. [iTunes]

So, that's my top 10. I really don't think you'll go wrong listening to any of them. Hopefully I'll find a way to export my podroll from iTunes and list it next to my blogroll, but in the meantime we'll just have to do this the old fashioned way. If anyone has suggestions for other interesting podcasts, please comment. I'm always looking for more to listen to. Oh, and I'd be remiss if I didn't mention our JBoss Labs podcast. [iTunes] I just recorded an episode with Damon that should go out this weekend. But I'll post again when I do.