Last updated on August 10th, 2017
In an era when people are quick to coin podcasts the new blogs, it’s no surprise tech podcasts are quickly growing with new channels from technologists, venture capitalist, startup founders, and other “thought leaders” sprouting nearly every day.
Tech folks pride themselves on being early adopters and being in front of the wave of mass appeal, so tech podcasts have become a logical extension and a new medium for them to provide their thoughts. However, while there are many pundits who have a podcast to simply check the box of “oh I have a podcast”, there are some truly exceptional podcasts that provide amazing anecdotes, insights, and stories on the tech industry. Here are 15 of our favorites.
Related reading: 25 of the Best Podcast Microphones
Exponent is one of those podcasts you tune into to hear the host — or in this case, co-hosts — simply discuss their thoughts on a given topic. It’s really that simple. What makes this podcast wholeheartedly unique, and the first one listed here, is the intelligence, analysis, and ability to articulate complex concepts for everyone to understand.
Stratechery founder, Ben Thompson, co-hosts along with James Allworth. Together they discuss and analyze the big picture trends and consequences in the technology industry. If you’re interested in whether or not Google and/or Facebook having a monopoly is good for business or users, or what the future of Apple holds, subscribe to this tech podcast.
Listen: iTunes
Clockwise describes itself as a “rapid-fire discussion of current technology issues”, and well, I couldn’t have said it better myself. As an avid listener, however, I will add their format makes it a great listen for those oddball 30-minute chores or commute into work. With relatively short episodes, and an outlined format that covers four topics only, it lends itself easily to quick binging when you have some spare time.
Listen: iTunes
I can’t confirm if it was the first VC to start a podcast, but it’s definitely the most prominent in a trend that’s reaching fever pitch. The venture capital firm a16z, also known as Andreesen Horowitz, produces a podcast of the same name that’s become a must-listen for every startup entrepreneur and everyone in the tech industry. With various co-hosts and guests, they touch on everything from growing your company, UI and design, funding rounds, and everything in between.
Regardless if you’re running a startup or just interested in tech, StartUp is a podcast detailing the behind the scenes efforts of creating and working at the company. The first two seasons are serialized versions featuring one company, while the latest details a different company each episode. Produced by Gimlet Media, you can expect great production value and story telling throughout the entire series.
Ok, before the comments start rolling in about this not being a “tech podcast”, this is definitely a must-listen for every entrepreneur regardless if it’s tech-focused. NPR backed, How I Built This is an excellent sit down interview podcast of founders telling their story of creating their company. Latest episodes range from 1-800-GOT-Junk, to AOL, to even Lady Gaga.
Upgrade, not to be confused with The Upgrade, is a podcast about how our habits and society are shaped by the technology in our life. Daily interactions with Google, Facebook, Apple, Amazon and others have become so commonplace we take them for granted and can barely remember a life without them. This podcast takes a careful look at the technology, design, and implications behind our interactions with technology on a daily basis.
Under the Radar has a noble mission after my own heart: providing notoriety and telling the stories of independent app developers. We all know the household names in tech, and seemingly everything having to do with Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Mark Cuban, and others gets some press. Here’s your chance to hear from the lesser-known people making some groundbreaking products.
Billed succinctly as “Three nerds discussing tech, Apple, programming, and loosely related matters,” there’s no better way I could really describe it. What I will add, however — and perhaps the co-hosts are too humble to put this in the description — Accidental Tech knows their shit and provides a great, non-bias look at the tech industry and the implications. Whether they’re reviewing the latest gadget or talking about the latest iPhone rumors, the three hosts have some great insight into the industry as a whole.
Listen: iTunes
Another Gimlet podcast, Reply All has a great balance of diving deep into a specific topic, but also providing grounded insights. Admittedly, I was a late subscriber to this podcast, but it has quickly become one of my favorites. Recent episodes include the ease (and access) of hacking a Galaxy 3 — President Trumps favorite phone, the scientists debating how to approach aliens, and how to truly hide your internet history.
This Week in Tech, or more commonly known as TWiT, started as a video series way before podcasts took off. Since then, they’ve evolved and grown to produce a number of podcasts under the umbrella brand. Each episodes aims to detail the latest news from the tech industry and have a panel of experts give their thoughts and reactions. Though maybe not an entirely unique format, the frequent panelists include prominent figures such as Kevin Rose and Jason Calacanis. They also have a-list guests such as Steve Wozniak and Kevin Mitnick.
This list wouldn’t be quite complete without a true tech podcast about software development. Talk Python With Me is just that, a podcast around the Python coding language, overcoming challenges, and how engineers work at various tech companies. If you’re looking to learn Python or get into coding, Talk Python With Me also provides helpful resources and courses to get you started.
Listen: iTunes
Startup School Radio is another product of the aforementioned wave of tech podcasts from insiders and luminaries. Backed behind the notorious Y Combinator accelerator, Startup School Radio aims to provide the stories and advice to help other tech founders run their company. Whether it’s advice on funding or scaling your company 10x, hear from the people who have done it. Y Combinator, and by extension Startup School Radio, has produced companies such as Reddit and Airbnb and because of that influence are able to get top notch guests to share their stories.
Acquired stays relatively true to it’s namesake and narrows its focused from a general tech podcast, to only focusing on tech company exits, regardless if they’re acquired, merge, or go public. In an era where innovative startups are getting gobbled up by the larger tech giants, hosts Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal discuss strategies and the future of the company(ies).
Listen: iTunes
Technology has undoubtedly altered our lives and daily habits, but it’s also opened the door and sparked us to ask new questions. Note to Self attempts to tackle these questions that impact our digital lives. Interested in the technological possibilities that open the door to simulation theory? What about the potential for our tablets and phones to spy on us? This podcast probably should have landed on my round up for podcasts guaranteed to make you think.
It was only a matter of time before TechCrunch produced a podcast, right? Well, here it is. Equity combines several formats already discussed on the list including providing the latest tech news and reactions, interviews with prominent tech founders, and discussing larger technology trends. TechCrunch is typically known as the leader in tech news with a insider pulse of the industry. These transcends to their podcast hosted by journalists Katie Roof, Matthew Lynley, and Alex Wilhelm, they have unfettered access to founders, VCs, and other tech pundits that have a great understanding of the entire tech industry.
Listen: iTunes
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