Big Ideas and Counter-Culture via Podcast

May 31, 2007 11:18 AM

I love podcasts, but it very difficult to find new, quality programs. I am looking for broadcasted material on a range of topics - including philosophy, the mind, avantgarde arts and lectures by creative, original thinkers (see my list of current podcasts for detail)... Can you help?

Here are some of my current favourites:

Science, documentaries and ideas:

ABC radio's - All in the Mind: Current debates on consciousness, the science of mind and its effects on culture
ABC radio's - Big Ideas: Cutting edge thinking and thinkers
CBC radio's - Best of Ideas: Programs and interviews with original thinkers
TVO's - Big Ideas: Lectures on a vast array of truly thought-expanding topics
BBC radio's - In Our Time: Examines history, art and science which colours the world we live in
TED - TED Conference Talks (Video): World changing thinkers share ther ideas

Philosophy:

ABC radio's - Philosopher's Zone: Current trends and new ideas in the realm of philosophy

Arts:

BBC radio's - Front Row: Current art news

Perhaps this list gives you an idea of the kind of things I am interested in. I am also looking for avantgarde, post-modernist and 'counter-cultural' arts shows - especially about literature, poetry and performance.

Thanks!

posted by 0bvious to Media & Arts (20 answers total)

I frequently enjoy Econtalk's podcasts. Many go into deep questions and are more philosophy/great thinker oriented than dry academia that the site's design would suggest.
posted by geoff. at 11:25 AM on May 31, 2007

I like the Point of Inquiry podcast.

NPR does have some very decent programming. Studio 360 talks about art and artists, and I enjoy Fresh Air much more now that I can skip bits I'm not interested in.
posted by These Premises Are Alarmed at 11:43 AM on May 31, 2007

Some podcasts that I enjoy on a regular basis are:

The Viking Youth Power Hour
Out There Radio
The Mondo Globo Network (RU Sirius & NeoFiles)
Buddhist Geeks
posted by ekstasis23 at 11:50 AM on May 31, 2007 [1 favorite]

I've never gotten around to listening to it, but Bad at Sports covers art news.

List of NPR podcasts.
posted by hydrophonic at 11:58 AM on May 31, 2007

I second Point of Inquiry. Also, if you're into Skepticism, check out Skeptic's Guide to the Universe. If atheism is your thing, The Atheist Community of Austin has a couple of great podcasts: The Atheist Experience and The Non Prophets. There's also Logically Critical, which is a humorous take on critical thinking. Here are some archives that have some mp3s: Richard Dawkins and Daniel Dennett.
posted by tom_g at 12:09 PM on May 31, 2007

I take every opportunity to promote this amazing and too-little known program from Wisconsin Public Radio, To The Best of Our Knowledge. Literate, varied interviews with authors of every stripe, using current books as a launch pad for views into culture and ideas. I've been listening for a year and still haven't gotten through the archives.
posted by Miko at 12:25 PM on May 31, 2007 [2 favorites]

Another little known NPR show Fordham Conversations just won an award and was a top rated podcast on Itunes for a while. I enjoy it anyway.
posted by merocet at 12:32 PM on May 31, 2007

Did anyone mention Philosophy Talk? I really enjoy it...

Philosophy Talk
posted by frosty_hut at 12:50 PM on May 31, 2007

The now-sadly-defunct Odyssey still has its RealAudio archives available. There's KCRW's arts and culture programming. And possibly Radio Netherlands' documentaries and Vox Humana series.
posted by holgate at 1:00 PM on May 31, 2007

I was going to ask a simliar question about a month ago and never did. I'm looking forward to checking out stuff people have suggested. I really enjoy Radio Lab, an offbeat take on science topics, except not quite, but I can't explain it any better than that. It's a little like This American Life meets Mr. Science. Quite enjoyable. I also like the Please Explain segment of the Leonard Lopate show. That addresses a variety of stuff in ~35 minute segments, and focuses on one topic. Since you like the arts, you may enjoy the rest of the show as well. Both of these shows are produced by WNYC, New York public radio.
posted by booksherpa at 1:01 PM on May 31, 2007 [1 favorite]

I just recently found this page which is filled with interesting stuff.
posted by dydecker at 1:08 PM on May 31, 2007

Have you tried Interfaith Voices? I should note here that I am, in fact, the producer of this show and promote it shamelessly. That notwithstanding, we are the only public radio show that looks at the deep philosophy and theology of American faith and ritual.

This week: Exploring Mormon Thought

Last week: Bishop John Shelby Spong

Next week: Daja Meston and Comes the Peace
posted by parmanparman at 1:14 PM on May 31, 2007 [1 favorite]

You might enjoy CBC's Definitely Not the Opera.
Podcast feed here
posted by acro at 2:46 PM on May 31, 2007

Also, an older link -- PublicradioFan.org has a list of currently playing shows on Many different public radio stations.
posted by acro at 2:48 PM on May 31, 2007

(.com)
posted by acro at 2:50 PM on May 31, 2007

You probably know all the rest of the CBC podcasts already, but the Sunday Edition often has some really great discussions. I think it's fairly new as a podcast, so maybe you missed it. It's hosted by Michael Enright who you'll know from the Enright Files on Ideas.
posted by carolr at 2:53 PM on May 31, 2007

I'll second Radio Lab and To the Best Of Our Knowledge. Especially Radio Lab, which is difficult to describe but amazing to listen to.

I like to think my own show (I think there's a link in my profile) sometimes approaches that same level, though it is about culture more than "ideas"
posted by YoungAmerican at 3:01 PM on May 31, 2007 [1 favorite]

I enjoy Scienctific American a lot. I think the podcast is called Science Talk. It has good insight on the world plus the commentary's are top notch with good guests and lots of explanations of how things work in the world- this bleeds of to the philsophical side of things for me. Give it a shot, I think you might like it.
posted by bkeene12 at 7:31 PM on May 31, 2007

Unversity Channel Podcast with contributions from....

* Australian National University
* Bennington College
* Brookings Institution
* Colby College
* Columbia University - School of International and Public Affairs
* Council on Foreign Relations
* Dickinson College
* Duke University
* Georgetown University
* Griffith University (Australia)
* Harvard Law School - Berkman Center for Internet and Society
* Harvard University - Kennedy School of Government
* Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies
* Middlebury College - Rohatyn Center for International Affairs
* National University of Singapore
* New America Foundation
* New Hampshire Institute of Politics
* New York University - Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
* Northwestern University
* Oxford University
* Pace Law School
* Peking University School of Government
* Princeton University - Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs
* Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce (UK)
* Rutgers University
* The Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI)
* The New School
* Tufts University - The Fletcher School
* UC Berkeley
* University of British Columbia
* University of California
* University of Chicago
* University of Delaware
* University of Michigan - Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy
* University of Pennsylvania
* University of Texas at Austin - LBJ School of Public Affairs
* University of Virginia - Miller Center of Public Affairs
* University of Warwick (UK)
* USC Annenberg School for Communication
* Vanderbilt University
* Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
* Yale University

[I've bolded my fav]
posted by tiamat at 9:47 PM on May 31, 2007

Response by poster: Great list guys, thanks. Will check them all out in time
posted by 0bvious at 3:59 AM on June 1, 2007