Podcasts / Audio Books

[Mega]

Hi folks,

Do you have any recommendations for educational or self improvement podcasts / audiobooks, with zero to low cost? How difficult is it to use the library for audiobooks on an old iPod Touch?

I have quite a drive (I know, I know... I have looked for local work but I can't find anything. My wife is teacher and hence locked into this geographic area), and I am in need of something worthwhile to do during it.

Thanks

[Le0]

i use https://librivox.org/ at work when i have boring jobs to do.

[scottydog]

I used to have a 30-60 minute car commute, and I enjoyed a few similar things:

• Get-It-Done-Guy podcast (7-8 min/wk, with a bank of nearly 300 episodes): https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/get-it-done-guys-quick-dirty/id268557178
• Stever Robbins 55-minute audio program on Living an Extraordinary Life: http://www.steverrobbins.com/living-an-extraordinary-life/
• TED Talks audio podcast (can't find the itunes URL just now though)
• Pimsleur language CDs
• Tony Robbins CDs from the company library - "Creating Lasting Change" was pretty neat

I found the pimsleur language CDs were fantastic for helping me stay awake and alert when I had overnight shifts and was driving to/from work at weird hours.  I borrowed a set from a friend, and didn't quite finish the 30 lessons before I switched jobs and ditched the car commute.  Another friend learned a decent amount of Russian the same way; there were quite a few interactions with Russian-speaking people on the job, and a small group of colleagues got together to purchase and share a set of Pimsleur CDs for Russian.  I don't know if libraries carry Pimsleur (or other) language CDs, but it seems possible to purchase them used and then sell them later to minimize cost.

Another colleague enjoyed listening to technical podcasts during his commute, but it's been years since we discussed it and I can't recall his favourites now.

[plantingourpennies]

Mrs PoP here (hijacking Mr's login)

I listen to audiobooks and podcasts all the time while running and biking.  Our local library has a huge selection, so I can place requests online and pick them up from my local branch.  I generally just rip the CDs onto my laptop and sync them with my iPhone.  Super easy.

We also get access to electronic audiobooks through Overdrive via our library.  To get these on your iPod, you'd need to download the Overdrive software, "check out" the ebook, and then export it to iTunes and then sync with the iPod.  It's not actually that hard.  But the Overdrive software does add 1 extra step. 

I highly recommend just starting in the non-fiction audio-book section of your library and seeing where that takes you. 

[El Gringo]

My favorite podcasts:

-NPR's Planet Money Podcast
-Freakonomics Radio
-Radiolab
-This American Life
-The Economist: Edititors picks
-NPR Topics: Economy
-APM: Marketplace Money
-EconTalk
-PRI: America Abroad
-BBC Documentaries
-The Moth
-How Stuff Works

Language learning podcasts:
-Coffee Break French/Spanish
-News in Slow Spanish/Latin Spanish

[Paul der Krake]

Love love love APM's Marketplace. I've been known to schedule my car errands around the original air time just so I could catch it.

[El Gringo]

Oh! And Wait Wait Don't Tell Me! How could I forget that!?

Other podcasts I'm subscribed to and I think would be interesting, but I never get around to listening to:

-NPR: How to Do Everything
-Good Job, Brain!
-Lifehacker
-Art of Manliness
-PRI: Human Needs
-PRI: Living on Earth
-Monocle 24 podcasts
-New Yorker podcasts
-Point of Inquiry
-NPR: Ask Me Another
-HBR IdeaCast
-Big Ideas
-On Being
-Entrepreneurial Thought Leaders
-BraintStuff
-Stuff You Missed in History Class
-Stuff You Should Know
-NPR TED Radio Hour
-NPR Snap Judgement

[Rural]

We also get access to electronic audiobooks through Overdrive via our library.  To get these on your iPod, you'd need to download the Overdrive software, "check out" the ebook, and then export it to iTunes and then sync with the iPod.  It's not actually that hard.  But the Overdrive software does add 1 extra step. 

I'm able to listen to audiobooks directly in the overdrive software on my iPad. Will that not work with an iPod? That would save a step.

[Kriegsspiel]

I liked some of these 24 suggestions:

http://www.artofmanliness.com/2013/09/11/podcasts-for-men/

[El Gringo]

We also get access to electronic audiobooks through Overdrive via our library.  To get these on your iPod, you'd need to download the Overdrive software, "check out" the ebook, and then export it to iTunes and then sync with the iPod.  It's not actually that hard.  But the Overdrive software does add 1 extra step. 

Oh nice! I didn't know there was an Overdrive app!