Being part of the tech world means living life in the fast lane. Changes in technology happen faster than any one person can keep up with them. Startup buyouts and critical software updates can take your day by storm, and new digital devices and apps are released every single day—if not every hour!
If you want to stay relevant in this fast-paced industry, you need a reliable way to stay on top of the latest news, so you’re never caught off guard—and bonus points if it allows you to multitask and offers entertainment all at the same time. That’s where podcasts come in.
Podcasts are the perfect way to keep you in the loop about all things technology without forcing you to give up your precious time. Whether you listen in the car, on your lunch break or at the gym, subscribing to the hottest technology podcasts is the best way to stay in the know. Get started by adding these 10 tech podcasts to your feed.
10 Playlist-worthy tech podcasts students should check out
1. The 3:59
CNET reporters Roger Cheng and Ben Fox Rubin host this podcast roundup of each day’s top tech stories. In five minutes or fewer, you’ll have all the details on the latest tech news, from reviews of new devices to data breaches and company buyouts. You’ll have to pay attention to keep up with these fast-talking hosts, but their friendly rapport and get-to-business attitude will make your daily dose of tech news an enjoyable treat rather than a chore.
Start here: The Importance of Tech Education for Kids
2. This Week in Tech (TWiT)
This Week in Tech, a variety-style news show, records live every Sunday with a rotating cast of tech experts. The roundtable format and multiple hosts ensure that you not only know what’s new in tech, but also exposed to a range of opinions about what’s good, what’s bad and what direction tech could go in tomorrow. Settle in for a two-hour discussion that leaves your mind spinning with ideas about the current state of technology.
Start here: Bye, Bye Mr. Ajit Pai
3. TechStuff
TechStuff, a podcast from the folks at HowStuffWorks, doesn’t get too wrapped up in the latest and greatest tech. Instead, it focuses on technology through the years, the people who have built the digital age we live in now and how all this technology is shaping our culture. If you’re constantly pondering the larger implications of the tech industry, these deep dives into technology’s impact on daily life is right up your alley.
Start here: Gone Baby Gone – The Deleted Story
4. Hackable?
Cyber-security geeks won’t be able to resist the Hackable? podcast from McAfee. All the convenience and connectivity of our digital devices also come with a downside: the ability to be hacked. Each episode of the Hackable? podcast gives listeners an inside look at how hackers could gain access to our most sensitive information through items as innocuous as a doorbell or a child’s toy, and what we can do to stop them.
Start here: Cars Are Computers
5. Future Thinkers
Cohosts Mike and Euvie tie together themes of cutting-edge technology, society and exploring our inner consciousness in this philosophically minded podcast. Listeners are treated to interviews with tech experts, scientists and entrepreneurs as Future Thinkers pushes you to explore how evolving technology affects everything from your relationships to the very foundations of our global society. Techies with a focus on the future and deep thinking won’t want to miss this one.
Start here: Blockchain, the Building Blocks for a New Society
6. Learn to Code with Me
Self-taught coder Laurence Bradford gives listeners resources and interviews to support them on their journey as they learn to code. With a strong emphasis on the importance of education and the opportunities that tech jobs can open up for others, Learn to Code with Me provides a roundup of tools and stories from real-life coders to encourage beginners as they expand their coding skills.
Start here: How to Learn to Code While Working Full Time with Michael Tombor
7. Talk Python to Me
Host Michael Kennedy digs deep into all things Python and related topics, including expert interviews, how Python is evolving and how this coding language is being used in different sectors of the tech industry. The content may be programming-heavy, but Talk Python to Me keeps it light with easygoing conversations and plenty of humor. This podcast is an excellent resource for anyone looking to branch out and add Python to their toolkit of programming languages.
Start here: 4 Python Web Frameworks, Compared
8. Front-End Happy Hour
This drink-themed happy hour podcast features a panel of engineers from Netflix, Evernote and LinkedIn sharing good-natured conversation about front-end development. The easygoing format of each episode will have you feeling more like you’re relaxing on a rooftop patio with friends than expanding your tech know-how, making this podcast the perfect go-to for front-end engineers looking to increase their skills after hours.
Start here: Gin and Toxic Culture
9. a16z Podcast
The a16z Podcast is produced by a venture capital firm located in the heart of Silicon Valley, which makes this podcast one to follow for all things tech trends. Listeners hear from a mixture of industry experts and business leaders as the podcast digs into what’s coming for the future of tech and how recent news affects the industry on the day-to-day. Episodes are released several times a week, which means you’ll always have an episode at the ready if you add this to your podcast feed.
Start here: How Tech Is Changing Investing
10. TEDTalks Technology
The TEDTalks Technology podcast never fails to deliver innovative, inspirational content from the world’s leading experts in technology. No matter where your technology interests lie, this podcast is sure to have something for you. Learn about topics such as what AI is (and isn’t), the unintended consequences of technology and the moral dilemmas of driverless cars. This fascinating podcast will have you thinking deeply, so you’re always prepared to jump into big tech conversations in the workplace.
Start here: What’s It Like to Be a Robot?
Got your earbuds ready?
Now that you’ve got your podcast app full of smart, strategic tech podcasts, you might be thinking more deeply about what a technology career could look like for you. It’s one thing to keep up with the latest technology news, but it’s a little more intimidating to think about jumping into a full-fledged tech career.
But not every tech career means you’ll be neck deep in programming languages. Many careers are a mashup of elements from both the technology and business world. Check out our article, “6 High-Demand Hybrid Jobs that Straddle Business and Technology,” to help you find the tech-related role that hits the sweet spot between these disciplines.