Top 7 of ‘07 :: Podcasts!

I listen to a lot of podcasts throughout the week.  I love them for long runs, long drives or long nights.  Here are my favorites from this year.

The Sound of Young America
Every now and then I puruse the iTunes store for new podcasts that look interesting.  I saw this a few times before I decided to download it.  What a treat it has been.  There are long form interviews with lots of musicians, authors and actors that I would never find good interviews with.  Klosterman, John Hodgeman (“I’m a PC”), Dave Foley, Ira Glass and Nick Hornby are just a few that I’ve enjoyed thus far.  Listen to it you’ll enjoy it.

This American Life
I may have started listening to this podcast last year but it’s so great.  Ira Glass and his crew tell stories about real live Americans in every day situations.  Some of the stories are hilarious, some sad, and others exciting but they’re all great.  I know they’ve started producing a TV show for Showtime, but this is the original at your convience.

NPR All Songs Considered
This is another NPR podcast that I have loved for a couple of years.  Every week there’s a great podcast with new releases and introductions to great new artists.  What’s great is that they also play full concerts of some of the hotest indie acts out there.  So good.

Mars Hill Bible Church
Mars Hill finally stepped into the iPod age by podcasting their weekly services.  I have listened to almost every sermon from the last 4 years on Fridays when I go out for long runs and have been ministered to greatly by them.  Rob Bell is a gifted teacher and the guests also bring fresh perspectives on God’s Word.

The Tony Kornheiser Show/PTI
Last year I wrote in my review of all things awesome that I had a man crush on Tony K.  The truth is that this year it only grew.  TK resumed doing radio locally in Washington DC and it was absolutely brilliant.  It’s strange to say that I never missed one podcast.  I listened to every single one of them from start to finish.  Smart stuff, funny stuff, interesting stuff.  The only downside is that from July through December the takes off to do Monday Night Football.  Luckily I can get my TK fix through the PTI podcast.

The BS Report with Bill Simmons
This is a true newcomer this year.  Bill Simmons is “The Sports Guy” and writes a regular column for ESPN.COM.  For a bit he was a writer on the Jimmy Kimmel show, but he’s back to full on sports journalism.  This year he debuted his podcast and some of the gems were interviews with Charles Barkley and Jimmy Kimmel.  He also had regular bits with a friend of his who is a hardcore Yankee’s fan (Simmons loves the Sox) and Cousin Sal.  Worth the listen if you’re on a treadmill for extended periods of time.

The Fermi Project
In April I went to an amazing conference called Q in Atlanta.  The organization that put it on does a regular podcast talking with pastors and ministry leaders that are trying their best to impact culture and church in America.  It’s very interesting and well worth the listen.