Top 5 Podcasts

This is definitely one of the most prestigious top 5's I could publish, so I'm doing it first. I love all of these. This top 5 represents my feelings right now, as I've had different favourites at different times.

5. Reply All

This is a new one for me, recommended by my girlfriend, and by Rob Wiblin of the 80,000 hours podcast (honourable mention). Most of my podcasts have a strong educational component, but this one gets on the list just for producing one banger after another. It's "A Show about hte Internet", and I definitely learn things from time to time, but it's always fun.

Episode recommendation: #104, "The Case of the Phantom Caller."

4. The Weeds

I'm assuming this will be the best known podcast on my list, or at least the most "mainstream" offering. A bunch of U.S. lefties discuss policies and do a fairly balanced job of it. It's neither the wokelympics nor wishy washy gobbledygook. It's convincing topical discussion on Tuesday and a good interview on Fridays.

Recommendation: Whatever's new on Tuesday, or anything on housing policy (e.g. "Neighborhood Defenders")

3. Making Sense with

Sam Harris

I really got into Sam Harris in Korea, although I'd listened to his religious debates on behalf of Atheism for a long time. He doesn't shy away from controversy, and in 2020 I feel like he's become less relevant as more and more people are echoing his beliefs, but I think he deserves even more credit than he gets for shifting the cultural zeitgeist. He mainly focuses on meditation, the dangers of religion, and consequentialism, to use a catch-all term.

Recommendation: #173 - "Antisemitism and its Discontents"

2. Conversations With Tyler

Tyler Cowen is easily the best interviewer I've ever heard. Not even close. These are "the conversation (he) wants to have, not the conversation you want (him) to have". He's interviewed titans - Margaret Atwood, Samantha Power - But I recommend the people you've never heard of speaking about translating Homer or cooking Sichuan food.

Recommendation: "Kwame Anthony Appiah on Pictures of the World"

1. Very Bad Wizards

"Very Bad Wizards is a podcast between Philosopher, My Dad, and Psychologist, Dave Pizarro, having an informal discussion about issues in science and ethics. Please note that the discussion contains bad words, that I'm not allowed to say, and knowing my dad, some very inappropriate jokes".

Tamler's daughter doesn't lie. My girlfriend had to turn it off after two minutes of the intro, so not for everyone. But oh lord, is it ever for me. Informational, hilarious, thought-provoking, what more could you desire.

Recommendation: #161 - "Reach Around Knowledge and Bottom Performers"

4. The Weeds

3. Making Sense with Sam Harris

2. Conversations with Tyler

1. Very Bad Wizards