I Can't Listen To Podcasts

[+ Gar1eth]

Well I can. But mainly in my car. If I listen outside my car and am not doing anything else, I usually fall asleep. I can do something while listening to a podcast. But then I'm not usually paying attention as much to the podcast.

 

Now I do have sleep apnea. But I use BiPAP. And I normally sleep fairly well with that. So I don't know. May be it's just me. Anyone else have problems?

 

Gman

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

I listen to Stern on XM daily.

 

He's one of the few talk-only shows I can listen to without losing interest.

 

Podcasts: Too many people think they're good on-air and this gives them false confidence and a platform.

[jjkrkwood]

Usually the stuff they blabber about is of no interest to me. And do we really need that much "sharing" ?

[+ Gar1eth]

It's not just podcasts though. It's also Books, Old Time Radio Shows or The Great Courses on Audible,com. I'm fine (usually) if I'm driving. But I can't listen to them while doing nothing at home, or I fall asleep.

 

Gman

[MikeBiDude]

It's not just podcasts though. It's also Books, Old Time Radio Shows or The Great Courses on Audible,com. I'm fine (usually) if I'm driving. But I can't listen to them while doing nothing at home, or I fall asleep.

 

Gman

I listen to Old Time Radio shows in bed almost every night, Dragnet a favorite. But, I rarely make it to end of even a 30 minute show.

[+ Gar1eth]

It's not just podcasts though. It's also Books, Old Time Radio Shows or The Great Courses on Audible,com. I'm fine (usually) if I'm driving. But I can't listen to them while doing nothing at home, or I fall asleep.

 

Gman

I listen to Old Time Radio shows in bed almost every night, Dragnet a favorite. But, I rarely make it to end of even a 30 minute show.

 

I'm glad it's not just me. Over the years (starting out with CD's) I've usually listened to comedies -Jack Benny, Fred Allen, The Phil Harris/Alice Faye Show, Burns and Allen, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Fibber McGee and Mollie, The Great Gildersleeve. I've also listened to some of the Great Courses-Beginnings of Judaism, Roots of King Arthur, Appreciating Shakespeare (listening to that now).

 

I'm fine with them while driving or possibly doing something like the dishes where I don't have to concentrate on the task at hand But just listening on the couch or the bed is snooze city.

 

Gman

[Dginnz]

I'm a big believer in podcasts. I love them and have noticed that during this quarantine, my music listening plummeted and my podcast listening skyrocketed. I understand people saying that they can't focus on the 'cast unless they sort of have to (like in a car driving), and that's true, but imo most aren't designed for you to be glued to it listening intently. It's sort of white noise to me that also can be informative or funny or emotional or whatever. You may catch something and then have to skip back, and that's when you might tune in and listen more closely.

 

Usually the stuff they blabber about is of no interest to me. And do we really need that much "sharing" ?

 

I respectfully disagree. I listen to everything from podcasts about movements in the venture capitalism space to one with a comedian who interviews candidly sex workers and drug dealers about their lives in a refreshingly nonjudgmental way. I also listen to a podcast on the history of the English Language and another by a gay POC and his experiences.

 

Podcasts are incredibly varied now. I think there is something out there for everyone

[Dginnz]

I'm a big believer in podcasts. I love them and have noticed that during this quarantine, my music listening plummeted and my podcast listening skyrocketed. I understand people saying that they can't focus on the 'cast unless they sort of have to (like in a car driving), and that's true, but imo most aren't designed for you to be glued to it listening intently. It's sort of white noise to me that also can be informative or funny or emotional or whatever. You may catch something and then have to skip back, and that's when you might tune in and listen more closely.

 

Usually the stuff they blabber about is of no interest to me. And do we really need that much "sharing" ?

 

I respectfully disagree. I listen to everything from podcasts about movements in the venture capitalism space to one with a comedian who interviews candidly sex workers and drug dealers about their lives in a refreshingly nonjudgmental way. I also listen to a podcast on the history of the English Language and another by a gay POC and his experiences.

 

Podcasts are incredibly varied now. I think there is something out there for everyone

[+ Pensant]

I listen to Old Time Radio shows in bed almost every night, Dragnet a favorite. But, I rarely make it to end of even a 30 minute show.

I rarely make it 5 minutes once I get under the covers.

[+ Snbrd]

I listen regularly during exercise. At the gym, which we may not see for awhile, I use earbuds. At home, in my basement mini-gym, I listen through a bluetooth speaker. In fact, it's the reason I haven't put a TV in.

[mike carey]

I think they're great. My usual radio station has discussion/documentary/narrative/interview programs usually running 30 or 60 minutes. They post all of them as podcasts as well. So I'm used to listening to the format of a podcast. I also usually do something else while I'm listening, so sometimes concentrating too much on the other thing means I miss what is being said in the radio program or podcast. (That also happens when I'm driving if my required level of concentration on the road and traffic conditions increases, although most of my driving is of the open highway cruise control variety.) If it's a podcast I can rewind it a bit and listen to the segment again. I've found quite a few I like so I don't catch every episode of many if any. The Ezra Klein Show is one example. One thing I really like about them is that they can do a deep dive into a subject or an interview of 60 to 90 minutes in a way that broadcast radio often can't or won't.

[+ SundayZip]

I think they're great. My usual radio station has discussion/documentary/narrative/interview programs usually running 30 or 60 minutes. They post all of them as podcasts as well. So I'm used to listening to the format of a podcast. I also usually do something else while I'm listening, so sometimes concentrating too much on the other thing means I miss what is being said in the radio program or podcast. (That also happens when I'm driving if my required level of concentration on the road and traffic conditions increases, although most of my driving is of the open highway cruise control variety.) If it's a podcast I can rewind it a bit and listen to the segment again. I've found quite a few I like so I don't catch every episode of many if any. The Ezra Klein Show is one example. One thing I really like about them is that they can do a deep dive into a subject or an interview of 60 to 90 minutes in a way that broadcast radio often can't or won't.

 

I'm also a big fan of Ezra Klein fan and the three podcasts from Vox (which Ezra co-founded): Today Explained, usually under 30 minutes, covers a current topic of the day. The Weeds, closer to an hour, is, as the name suggests, a deeper dive. And then, of course, there's The Ezra Klein show. I never tire of listening to Ezra. There's something about his voice and personality that I find very appealing.

 

Ezra Klein (I'd kiss him)

 

Edited May 3, 2020 by SundayZip

[+ SundayZip]

Usually the stuff they blabber about is of no interest to me. And do we really need that much "sharing" ?

 

You may be listening to the wrong podcasts. What are your interests? Search for something you find interesting, download to a podcast player on your phone (or mobile device) and listening while you're walking, cleaning, driving or cooking. Have you checked out Dan Savage Lovecast?

[jjkrkwood]

You may be listening to the wrong podcasts. What are your interests? Search for something you find interesting, download to a podcast player on your phone (or mobile device) and listening while you're walking, cleaning, driving or cooking. Have you checked out Dan Savage Lovecast?

 

thank you, but perhaps my problem is that I'm not a big conversationalist, and don't like alot of talking. My biggest horror is talkin on the phone. I let all my calls go to VM, and then i send the caller a brief reply.

[mike carey]

You may be listening to the wrong podcasts. What are your interests? Search for something you find interesting, download to a podcast player on your phone (or mobile device) and listening while you're walking, cleaning, driving or cooking. Have you checked out Dan Savage Lovecast?

I certainly have, and even though most of the calls he responds to are from straight listeners, more often than not they are about relationship issues rather than the purely sexual. I really like it, and have been a subscriber for a few years. I haven't listened for a few weeks, I need to catch up!

[+ SundayZip]

thank you, but perhaps my problem is that I'm not a big conversationalist, and don't like alot of talking. My biggest horror is talkin on the phone. I let all my calls go to VM, and then i send the caller a brief reply.

 

What if I found you a podcast hosted by a well hung (huge!) muscle dude who gets off on sharing his considerable assets with an admirer? And, best of all, if you wish hard enough while you listen, he'll materialize right before your eyes and say, "hey JJkrkwood baby, you wanna play around with me?" Would you then listen to the podcast?

[jjkrkwood]

What if I found you a podcast hosted by a well hung (huge!) muscle dude who gets off on sharing his considerable assets with an admirer? And, best of all, if you wish hard enough while you listen, he'll materialize right before your eyes and say, "hey JJkrkwood baby, you wanna play around with me?" Would you then listen to the podcast?

 

[samhexum]

If I listen outside my car and am not doing anything else, I usually fall asleep. I can do something while listening to a podcast. But then I'm not usually paying attention as much to the podcast.

Podcasts: Too many people think they're good on-air and this gives them false confidence and a platform.

Usually the stuff they blabber about is of no interest to me. And do we really need that much "sharing" ?

I rarely make it 5 minutes once I get under the covers.

I think they're great.

[MscleLovr]

May be it's just me. Anyone else have problems?

 

No @Gar1eth. I feel the remedy is simple: don’t listen to podcasts;)

[+ Lucky]

I have no interest in podcasts.

[Rod Hagen]

Favorites in descending order:

1. BookWorm (only good books) https://www.kcrw.com/culture/shows/bookworm

2. Bret Easton Ellis (Asshole. Love him) https://www.patreon.com/breteastonellispodcast

3. Sam Harris (Reputed Asshole, love him) https://samharris.org/podcast/

4. Ask Any Buddy (Podcast about Classic Gay Porn) https://www.ask-any-buddy.com/podcast

5. My Dad Wrote A Porno (Just great) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-dad-wrote-a-porno/id1044196249

6. Marc Maron: (I am lukewarm on him, BUT he has great guests) http://www.wtfpod.com/

7. Al Fanken https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-al-franken-podcast/id1462195742

8. The Reason Round Table (Reason Magazine) https://reason.com/podcasts/the-reason-roundtable/

9. Longform (interviews with people who write longform Newspaper, Magazine, and online articles) https://longform.org/podcast

10. The Bugle (Funny British, Australian, America, and Canada guests and hosts roast that week's news) https://thebuglepodcast.com/

 

You're welcome.

 

I don't actually listen that often, only when the subject or guest interests me OR when I haven't listened to a particular one for several months.

 

Driving I prefer to listen to audio books, sometimes podcasts. I also listen to podcasts when I'm doing the uphill part of a Mountain Bike Ride.

 

Swimming and walking I only listen to music.

[gallahadesquire]

I hate being read to. I don’t do podcasts and I don’t do audible. Period

[mike carey]

Some interesting titles in that list, @Rod Hagen. I've come to extensive use of podcasts from a slightly different angle. Although there were a very small number that I sometimes listened to at the outset, my main 'conversion' to the format was from radio. The ABC (and from what I've seen, the BBC and CBC) have quite a number of spoken voice programs on broadcast radio that I have enjoyed over the years, many of which I would arrange my schedule to accommodate. Some of them have become more interactive with the live-to-air versions accepting and incorporating text and twitter comments. In recent years most of them are being posted as podcasts and I've welcomed the chance to listen to them that way when it suited me. Since then I've expanded the range of podcasts I listen to. I don't regard them as being read to by someone, rather either as a conversation I can listen in to or as someone talking to me. That said, I don't mind being read to, to the extent that I'll sometimes listen to the spoken voice version of Economist articles that interest me. They use real people in these, I'm not so keen on the automated voice simulations some publications use.

[+ SundayZip]

Favorites in descending order:

1. BookWorm (only good books) https://www.kcrw.com/culture/shows/bookworm

2. Bret Easton Ellis (Asshole. Love him) https://www.patreon.com/breteastonellispodcast

3. Sam Harris (Reputed Asshole, love him) https://samharris.org/podcast/

4. Ask Any Buddy (Podcast about Classic Gay Porn) https://www.ask-any-buddy.com/podcast

5. My Dad Wrote A Porno (Just great) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-dad-wrote-a-porno/id1044196249

6. Marc Maron: (I am lukewarm on him, BUT he has great guests) http://www.wtfpod.com/

7. Al Fanken https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-al-franken-podcast/id1462195742

8. The Reason Round Table (Reason Magazine) https://reason.com/podcasts/the-reason-roundtable/

9. Longform (interviews with people who write longform Newspaper, Magazine, and online articles) https://longform.org/podcast

10. The Bugle (Funny British, Australian, America, and Canada guests and hosts roast that week's news) https://thebuglepodcast.com/

 

You're welcome.

 

I don't actually listen that often, only when the subject or guest interests me OR when I haven't listened to a particular one for several months.

 

Driving I prefer to listen to audio books, sometimes podcasts. I also listen to podcasts when I'm doing the uphill part of a Mountain Bike Ride.

 

Swimming and walking I only listen to music.

 

Thanks! I'm always on the look-out for new podcasts to try. There's a few on your list that I'll definitely investigate.

[Rod Hagen]

In case you didn't see it, there's an interview with half of the Ask Any Buddy Podcast, a really outstanding podcast, see above, in today's New York Times:

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/09/movies/elizabeth-purchell-queer-film-historian-interview.html