Jerod Santo is Managing Editor of Changelog, an indie media company that produces world-class podcasts for developers.
I’ve been playing the tech game for two decades and listening to podcasts most of the way! Pods come and go, but the shows on this list have stood the test of time and remain in my regular rotation. Hopefully you’ll find one or two that connect with you as well!
The Vergecast
The Vergecast is general tech news discussion by long-time journalists who really know what they’re talking about. It’s funny, it’s informative & the hosts (Nilay Patel, David Pierce & Alex Cranz) have great chemistry. They recently introduced a mid-week episode, but I stick with the classic Friday show, which never disappoints.
The Changelog
The Changelog began (at the dawn of GitHub) as an interview show featuring the hackers, leaders & innovators of the software world. It now comes in three varieties: a Monday news brief, Wednesday interview & Friday talk show with recurring guests, topical discussions & fun games/segments.
(Full disclosure: this is our flagship show that’s been in-production for over 15 years)
EconTalk
Ok so EconTalk isn’t directly tech, but I’ve found that so many of the topics discussed inform & describe the tech industry in profound ways. The show’s host, Russ Roberts, really knows his stuff and pushes all the right buttons with the economy-focused guests he interviews to draw out meaningful insights.
Practical AI
There are dozens of podcasts about AI, but few of them get into the nuts & bolts of when, where & how you can put AI to good use in your organization. Daniel Whitenack & Chris Benson are both steeped in the practical, every-day work of integrating & implementing AI applications and it really shows.
(Full disclosure: I am the producer of this show, but it’s still awesome so…)
Decoder with Nilay Patel
The Vergecast‘s Nilay Patel has another pod that I enjoy: Decoder is Nilay interviewing leaders & decision makers at large/successful tech companies like Microsoft, Adobe, Google, et al. Punchy interviews with smart people. What’s not to love?
ShopTalk
ShopTalk is Dave Ruport & Chris Coyier discussing the craft of building websites. Sometimes it’s just the two of them, sometimes there’s a guest, but you can always count on deep insights and a lot of humor along the way.
MacBreak Weekly
Leo Laporte (of This Week in Tech fame) has other shows too, and I love this one for all Apple-related news & discussion. The cast is top notch: Andy Inhatko, Jason Snell & Leo always deliver fun/interesting takes even when it’s a slow news week.
All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg
On this show, four “bestie” venture capitalists discuss the goings on in the tech industry, mostly from a financial perspective. The conversation can get too political for my taste, but they’re at their best when the focus is tech movers/shakers and what it all means from the perspective Silicon Valley insiders. They also do a “Science Corner” bit at the end of many episodes which is often fascinating.
Lex Fridman Podcast
Lex’s interview style isn’t for everyone, and I’m included in that group of people who don’t connect with it. However, he has a way of getting super interesting guests on his show and he often lets them talk at length, which is a recipe for success even though the host leaves a lot to be desired.
The Incomparable Mothership
Ok ok ok so calling this pick “tech-related” would be a stretch. BUT. It’s hosted & produced by long-time tech journalist, Jason Snell, and it’s great… so that’s close enough for me! The Incomparable is not just a podcast. It’s an entire network for shows. The “mothership” show (as they call it) is all about geeky media, including movies, books, TV & more.
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