The growth in podcasts over the past six months or so has been bewildering. Because audio is such a linear medium, there is only a finite amount of podcasts that one can listen. It is much more time-consuming and resource-intensive to browse podcasts than to skim over web pages.

I was won over to podcasts when ABC Radio National started putting a lot of its programming into RSS syndication. But while I listen to a lot of non-commercial radio programming on the MP3 player, the podcasts that I consider my favourites are independent efforts.

I figured it was about time I prepared a list of my Top 10 Favourite Podcasts. One thing you’ll notice is that they are all under half an hour in length per episode. While there are a number of longer programs that I like, I think an hour for a single podcast is too long.

There are no podcasts about cricket on the list for the simple reason that there is one person doing them, and The Net Sessions isn’t quite that good yet

Here’s my list:

1. Digital Flotsam
Truly brilliant. A rich, eclectic mix of music, monologue and comedy. PW Fenton is a blues performer and expert and he presents some great set pieces over a wide range of styles. Some wonderful cover versions too (you haven’t lived till you’ve heard Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb” performed in the style of the Bee Gees’ “Stayin Alive”). I can listen to these over and over again.
Links: Website, Podcast feed, Blog.

2. Caribbean Free Radio
Cool and atmospheric. Georgia Popplewell’s podcast makes you really feel like you’re in Trinidad. And she’s keen on supporting indy music from all across the Caribbean.
Links: Website, Podcast feed, Blog, Photoblog.

3. Radio Curious (KZYX Mendocino County)
I firt stumbled across Radio Curious in June when I spotted a program in the Radio4All podcast listings entitled “Genocide in Darfur”. First thing I heard was the Gene Autryesque theme tune and I thought “What the…” But this is a fascinating interview series which has been conducted by the urbane Barry Vogel for more than a decade. An incredible range of topics, handled in a warm, engaging manner, and masses of archives online which I am yet to explore in any detail.
Links: Website, Podcast feed.

4. Documentary Archive (BBC World Service)
Some outstanding radio documentaries from the BBC World Service dealing with topics from all over the world. Some recent examples include the re-forestation of Iceland, the 60th anniversary of the end of WWII in some Pacific islands, and the debate over the terrorist threat in the Sahara Desert. Longer documentaries are split into half-hourly instalments, which is good.
Links: Website, Podcast feed.

5. From Our Own Correspondent (BBC Radio 4)
Half an hour of talk, without interviews, sound effects or music. Five or six BBC foreign correspondents each week get to chat about a story they’ve been covering or just give a personal account of life in wherever they happened to be posted at the time. Always interesting, sometimes amusing. Hosted by the doyenne of BBC foreign correspondents, Kate Adie.
Links: Website, Podcast feed.

6. The Bike Show (Resonance FM London)
I’m not a cyclist but this program is at its best when host Jack Thurston interviews his guest while both are on a ride somewhere. Here’s the December 27, 2004 program as an example.
Links: Website/blog, Podcast feed.

7. Life Matters (ABC Radio National)

8. The Sports Factor (ABC Radio National)

9. A Klingon Word

10. TUC Radio