It’s common knowledge by now that here at Pingdom we’re a big bunch of data nerds with a soft spot for crunching numbers and getting excited by nice graphs. Yes, we are that but we’re also so much more. In our offices, we’ve got quite a varied group of people with an even wider variety of interests coming together and we think it is precisely this broad spectrum of interests that makes us innovative in our work and makes sure there is never a boring day at the office.
One thing many of us share in common is our enthusiasm for podcasts as a means of catching up on the latest news, talks or simply something to fill our morning commutes. With that said, we thought we’d share with you some of our favorite podcasts we think you’ll love:
Tech
Under the Radar
Under the Radar is hosted weekly by David Smith and Marco Arment – two of the most seasoned veterans of the developer community. Under the Radar is all about independent app development and incredibly popular with our developers. Never going over the 30 minute mark, an episode is, again, perfect for your morning commute or one of those ‘working lunches’ that we really like to take. New episodes are usually released every Friday and you can catch the latest episode here.
Robot or Not
Hosted by none other than John Siracusa (of Accidental Tech Podcast, Ars Technica and Hypercritical fame) and Jason Snell, they spend under 5 minutes per episode discussing whether things from Tamagotchis or chatbots are robots, or not. Perfect for when you just want to nip to the loo but can’t stand the silence.
A Responsive Web Design Podcast
No prizes for guessing who among our staff listen to this one. Co-hosted by Karen McGrane and Ethan Marcotte, in each episode they interview the people who make responsive redesigns happen. With responsive design now an essential part of any product online, this is where our team draw inspiration for making our own interface better across all different devices and platforms that roam out there in the big, wide world. The best part of it is that you can listen to the podcast but also download the transcript so you can follow the podcast when sound isn’t an option.
Cortex
Cortex is the perfect podcast to play when you’re feeling a bit on the creative side. Hosted by CGP Grey (of Hello Internet fame) and Myke Hurley (co-founder of Relay FM), they sit down every two weeks and talk about what methods and tools they use, as independent content creators, to be more productive and creative. With the average podcast running well over the 1 hour mark, this podcast is something you can listen to in bits – picking up where you left off when you have the time.
The Startup Chat
With new episodes every Tuesday and Friday, hosts Steli Efti and Hiten Shah offers unfiltered insights and actionable advice straight from the trenches of startup and business life. The Startup Chat is perfect if you’re interested in the business and marketing side of the tech industry.
Society & Culture
#Girlboss
On each episode of the podcast, Sophia Amoruso interviews world-class Girlbosses who have made their mark in creative, cultural, and business ventures to extract solid advice from the lessons they’ve learned along the way. Expect hilarious co-hosts and conversations you won’t hear anywhere else. Listen to #Girlboss here.
Heddels
One of our team is obsessed by anything denim and Heddels is arguable the online Bible for all things denim. They release unscheduled podcasts (you’ll have to set up an RSS if you don’t want to miss out) featuring interviews with some of the most trusted individuals in the industry and regularly broadcast from invite-only industry shows.
Entertainment
Desert Island Discs
And now for something completely different: imagine you had to live out the rest of your days on a desert island. Well, the BBC have been imagining this very scenario since the 1960’s when they began the Desert Island Discs dynasty. The question they ask is always the same: if you had to live on a desert island, what 8 discs would you take with you? Find out whether your choices are similar to people such as Louis Armstrong or Keith Richards.
Misc
Surprisingly Awesome
There are plenty of things in life that are, on the face of it, boring. Take adhesives or broccoli for example. However, Adam Davidson and Adam McKay delve beneath the surface of the seemingly mundane and bring to light just how surprisingly awesome these everyday things can be. New episodes are released every other Tuesday and are usually just over 30 minutes long – we bet you couldn’t talk about broccoli for that long!
99% Invisible
99% Invisible is about all the thought that goes into the things we don’t think about — the unnoticed architecture and design that shape our world. With each episode lasting around 20 minutes, it’s perfect for when you are commuting to work or simply want to take a break and listen to some truly interesting talks ranging from how the food industry has changed how it advertises food to us as consumers, to the story of a solitary phone box in the middle of the Mojave desert.
Check them all out the next time you’re left with some downtime or simply a long train journey ahead of you. Are you listening to something interesting already? We’re always keen to hear something new so please let us know in the comments below!
