Point of Inquiry

I was thrilled when I saw this show available as a podcast. Point of Inquiry is a scientific show - focusing on the "alternative" thoughts out there and discusses whether or not these other approaches have any merits.

As an added bonus, they have extensive videos with big names in science and journalism, e.g. Richard Dawkins, Paul Kurtz, Joe Nickell and Marci Hamilton.

This is a high quality show on a very worthy subject. I recommend it to anybody who is interested in science.

Point of Inquiry is the Center for Inquiry’s radio show and podcast, drawing on CFI’s relationship with the leading minds of the day including Nobel Prize-winning scientists, public intellectuals, social critics and thinkers, and renowned entertainers. Each episode combines incisive interviews, features and commentary focusing on CFI’s issues: religion, human values and the borderlands of science. Point of Inquiry explores CFI’s three research areas:
1. Pseudoscience and the paranormal (bigfoot, UFOs, psychics, communication with the dead, cryptozoology, etc.)
2. Alternative medicine (faith healing, homeopathy, belief in “healing touch,” the efficacy of prayer, etc.)
3. Religion and secularism (church-state separation, the effects and proper role of religion in society, the future of secularism and nonbelief, etc.)

http://www.pointofinquiry.org

Scientific American Podcasts

Scientific American just recently decided to publish podcasts on iTunes and I´m rather happy about the result. I had tried listening to The Naked Scientist (longwinded and not that informative) and then to the Science Friday show (Informative but rather hit or miss).

Scientific American is more direct and seems to be much more relevant to the topics of today. The last shows have been about evolution, marijuana, avian flu and of course... curling. Each show has an interview with a leading scientist and/or journalist and the host tries his best to put a humorous twist to it. You just have to admire that kind of dedication.

Its an excellent show and really a must for any science geek (you know who you are).

http://www.sciam.com/podcast/

Ricky Gervais first season finished

Not sure how I feel about this.

Ricky Gervais and Steve Merchant, along with their pet imbecile friend, Karl Pilkington, have now finished their first season of comedy podcasts. All in all they managed to give us 12 free half hour shows, mostly on Mr. Pilkingtons amazing thought processes. The shows were funny, peppered with Mr. Gervais's maniacal laughter and the nonplussed reactions of Mr. Pilkington. Steve Merchant acted as a kind of referee, poking fun but ensuring that the show actually progressed in some manner.

Now, however, after amassing a staggering 400.000 downloads, they have decided to return for another season but now for a fee. This is truly the end of an era. Podcasts will start charging for the content and the magic will either fade or... this will simply become another way for broadcasters to make money.

I´m not really sure how this will work - if they will charge a miniscule amount, say 1 pounds for 12 new shows.. I would agree with that. If they are going to charge a pound for each show - no way I will spend that kind of money on a comedy radio show.

Top Ten for February

The world of podcasting is evolving rapidly so it only makes sense to come out with a new top ten list on a monthly basis (at least).
I´ve made some changes and will add the reasons behind them.

1. Cinecast.
2. Ricky Gervais show.
3. dl.tv
4. Diggnation video.
5. This week in Tech
6. KCRW, Left, Right and Center.
7. Ebert & Roeper
8. X-play´s video podcast
9. Answer Bitch
10. eMacCast

I deleted Bill Maher´s Real Time as the release schedule is basically nonexisting.
Ricky Gervais would be nr. 1 if he would add another podcast in the week. Going a week between podcasts is a little bit too long for me.
Answer bitch is getting to be a bit tired and might disappear within a couple of weeks.
X-play´s video podcast is short and funny, might even inch up a bit in the coming weeks.
eMaccast is a nice show where the presenter has managed to succeed in spite of his dull delivery tone and slight whine. His content is fantastic and the production of the podcast is excellent.
Tiki Bar TV is missing from the list and this is only due to the fact that too long time is allowed to pass between each episode.