Best podcasts: IT, interesting and entertaining. Which ones are worth listening to?
Podcasts are undoubtedly one of the most popular ways to get the information you need quickly and easily today. You can listen to them anytime, anywhere – while driving, exercising or sipping your morning coffee. If you’re looking for a quality IT podcast but can’t decide which one to go for, we’ve put together our list of the best for you. We also mention interesting and entertaining podcasts in Slovak and English.
In the article you will learn:
What are podcasts?
More and more people are finding their way to podcasts. Despite of this, they are not such a well-developed medium that absolutely everyone is familiar with them. If you haven’t come across them before and you’re wondering what a podcast is, we’ d love to introduce you to them.
A podcast is an audio recording, usually in audio format (or video format when published on YouTube), that can be recorded by one or more people. After recording it is usually edited and accompanied with music, but this is not the rule. Most podcasts are published on a regular session basis. This means that parts of them come out regularly on a certain day and at a certain time.
Podcasts can be general in nature or focus on a specific topic. In addition, they can be freely available in different languages. Although English has the largest representation, many Slovak and Czech podcasts have been created in recent years.
Where to listen to podcasts?
You have many options. The most popular alternatives are streaming services such as Spotify, Apple Podcasts or Youtube. You’ll probably find the widest selection of podcasts in their libraries.
In addition, these services have the advantage of allowing you to listen to podcasts wherever you are . All you need is an internet connection, or you can download selected episodes in advance.
Another listening option is the official websites of the companies that produce the podcasts. There you can listen to older and newer episodes. The downside is that they’re not always as convenient, especially if you want to listen to a podcast on your mobile phone.
What podcasts to listen to?
There are a large number of podcasts available nowadays, which means that everyone can choose something to suit their preferences. On the other hand, too many choices can make finding the best podcast a complicated and lengthy process. Do you want to listen to a good podcast, but don’t have time for a lengthy search? Use our practical tips.
IT podcasts
IT podcasts can not only provide you with interesting IT news, but also teach you something new. There is so many choices of what you can listen to. For a better overview, we have divided the individual tips into two categories:
- IT podcasts in Slovak,
- IT podcasts in English.
Let’s take a look at them.
IT podcasts in Slovak
If you’re not very good at English or just don’t want to listen podcast in it, choose one of the Slovak IT podcasts. The most popular currently include:
Informatika s Mišom (Informatics with Miso)
Informatics with Miso is a practical podcast that will teach you all the basics needed for programming. These include, for example, the basics of the command line and the differences between Java and Python, which will make Java programming much easier for you (Check out Java coding tips for further info).
YouTube not only has the audio track of the podcasts, but also the video courses. This will make studying and practising the theoretical information you have acquired much easier.
See Miso’s interview with our Java Programmer Senior Matus – click on the picture:
Our Tosca Tester Xenia also talked to Miso – click on the picture:
(Re)štarty v IT ((Re)starts in IT)
The podcast “(Re)starts in IT” focuses on different people and their beginnings in IT. The individual sessions reveal the challenges faced by almost all programmers, developers and other specialists.
Unlike “Informatics with Miso”, the podcast “(Re)starts in IT” is made up of conversations between the host Alice Freund and her guests. The goal of this podcast is to give you a realistic picture of the IT field, so you know what’s in store for you if you decide to go in that direction.
Klik (Click)
“Klik” is a podcast of the daily SME, which is published weekly. The presenters David Tvrdon and Ondrej Podstupka discuss events from the world of technology, media and social networks. Like other podcasts, you can listen to this podcast on your favourite streaming platforms or directly on SME.sk.
Shape the Future
If you’re more interested in cybersecurity and digitalization, check out Microsoft’s “Shape the Future” podcast. You are accompanied by a pair of moderators, Lukas Okal and Vladimir Hruban, who invite interesting guests to the individual podcast session.
The “Shape the Future” podcast is made up of several miniseries containing several episodes. For example, you can listen to a mini-series on current cyber threats, digital skills or digital businesses.
IT podcasts in English
Want to listen to a quality podcast in English? Choose one of our tips:
IT Career Energizer
This podcast reveals the real world of IT. Host Phil Burgess meets with a variety of IT professionals each week to discuss their career stories. The podcast is suitable for any technology enthusiast, but will best benefit those who are thinking of starting a career in programming.
Linux Unplugged
“Linux Unplugged” is a podcast focused on the latest events and important information from the world of Linux. It is the ideal choice for anyone who works with this operating system or plans to do so.
TechSNAP
The “TechSNAP” podcast seeks to explore the problems you encounter in your day-to-day IT work in its thirty-minute episodes. Topics are analyzed in depth, allowing you to get comprehensive information even in a short time.
Floss Weekly
“Floss Weekly” is a podcast focused on everything related to open source. Host Doc Searls talks to different specialists each week. All episodes are therefore very interesting. In addition to the free version of the podcast, there is also a paid version, which always includes something extra and is ad-free.
Interesting podcasts
Do you want to relax with a podcast or learn something new, but not from the IT field? We’ve prepared a list of podcasts from various fields, available in Slovak and English.
Interesting podcasts in Slovak
There are some interesting podcasts in Slovak too. The current most popular include:
- Mozgova atletika – this podcast is one of the most listened Slovak podcasts of recent years. Its popularity lies in the fact that it deals with the topics of personal development and science in an entertaining way. In short episodes, usually lasting 30 to 40 minutes, you’ll not only learn something new, but you’ll also have a lot of fun. Many of them even include experts who can look at the issue from a professional point of view.
- Dejepis inak – if you enjoy history, this podcast is a great choice for you. It gives you important historical events in a concise and short form. If you’d like a video to go with the audio content, search for it on YouTube.
- Buraci gastromytov – a podcast focused on health and how it is affected by the food we eat. It is hosted by gastroenterologist Associate Professor Ladislav Kuzela and his colleague Zuzana Cizmarikova, who give you professionally verified information in a simple and entertaining form.
- Doktor ma Filipa – are you attracted by the backstage of Slovak hospitals? In that case, listen to this podcast, hosted by Dr. Jozef Fatrsik from the Emergency Department of Svet Zdravia Hospital in Galanta. In the individual episodes he describes his experiences in an interesting, sometimes even funny way. That way you can be sure that you won’t turn off the podcast after a few minutes.
Interesting podcasts in English
If you are not interested in the Slovak podcasts, you can check out the foreign ones. From the podcasts in English that are worth listening to, we select:
- The New Yorker Fiction Podcast – This podcast consists of one of The New Yorker’s current staffers reading a short story by a former staffer, often several decades old. They then discuss it with the magazine’s editor, Deborah Treisman. The individual parts are both entertaining and informative, showing the different ways in which a story or idea can be looked at.
- Start with This – Jeffrey Cranor’s podcast is a truly interactive experience. After listening to an episode, you have to do something, like work on a writing assignment. The main goal of the podcast is to boost your creativity and help you clear your head.
- Stuff You Shoud Know – this is a podcast from iHeartRadio that comes out several times a week. Its aim is to educate and provide information in various fields in an entertaining way. A big plus are the shorter episodes, which usually don’t last more than 60 minutes.
- Conspiracy Theories – this is one of the most listened to podcasts in the world. As the name implies, it focuses on conspiracy theories associated with great and famous historical events. Its minor drawback is that you can only find it on Spotify.
Funny podcasts
There is no shortage of entertaining podcasts on streaming platforms. A list of the most popular ones is presented below.
Funny podcasts in Slovak
Slovak listeners can’t get enough of these four podcasts:
- Piatocek – satirical podcast of the daily SME, which in most cases reacts to current events in Slovakia. It comes out every Friday and its episodes usually last up to 30 minutes.
- Luzifcak podcast – this podcast has been one of the best in Slovakia for several years. In the individual episodes, well-known guests appear with whom the presenters wittily discuss various topics. You can be sure you’ll have a great time.
- Kurieris – in the list of top funny podcasts, the Kurieris podcast must not be missed! It will entertain you with funny stories of couriers.
- REcast by Duklock – popular youtuber Duklock entertains his fans with his own podcast. It usually includes famous personalities with whom the presenter talks about various topics. Of course, there’s plenty of fun moments, so you won’t be bored of any part of it.
Funny podcasts in English
For everyone who wants to have fun and listen to podcasts in English, we have another inspiration:
- Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend – a podcast hosted by Conan O’Brien who invites famous celebrities like Will Ferrell, Ben Stiller, Mila Kunis and Michelle Obama to each episode. He usually discusses their lives and new projects with them, with a large dose of humour.
- How Did This Get Made – Presenters Paul Scheer, June Diane Raphael and Jason Mantzoukas watch a poorly rated film before recording each segment, which they then discuss. If you want to enjoy each part to the fullest, we recommend you to watch the movie as well.
- Good One – a podcast in which host Jesse David Fox listens to a few jokes and then explains their origins. There are also interesting guests who can bring the podcast to life.
- Armchair – In this podcast, actor Dax Shepard interviews various guests about their successes, failures and personal growth in a very relaxed and humorous style.
Give podcasts a chance too
Podcasts are a great source of information, interesting facts and entertainment. Their advantage is that you can listen to them anytime, anywhere. In addition, they are easily accessible via streaming platforms. Try listening to at least one of the podcasts we’ve mentioned and you’ll see that you won’t regret it. They can even give you the skills you’ll need when looking for a new job and browsing job offers.
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