Radio Shows

The oldest form of electronic entertainment, the radio show, still lives on.

Unfortunately, due to the furthered technological inventions in our rapidly moving world, radio is being buried underneath various forms of entertainment. Personally, I enjoy radio shows. Don’t tell me you don’t, since chances are you have never actually listened to one.

I have three radio shows that I subscribe to via. Podcast, each has very limited commercial interruption (one short 15 second ad at the beginning of a 1 hour show? That’s fine with me.)

Shows that I personally, and frequently recommend:

“Wait Wait! Don’t Tell Me!” – The NPR Newsquiz.
A radio game-show where everyone wins (and where everyone gets made fun of).
On this radio show, recent news items are covered in sections such as:
“Who’s Carl This Time” where you (the caller) must identify or explain three quotes from this last weeks news
“Bluff the Listener” where three panellists have very exuberant, unlikely stories, but one is true and you (the caller) must identify which one.
“Not My Job” where the caller (usually a famous person, such as a Senator or member of congress as well as movie and television personalities) must answer three questions about a topic which they [most likely] know nothing about.

Website: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=35 (podcast available there as well as regular MP3 download)

Weekly Episodes, during the off season, episodes are available over the web as well (webisodes…)

“RadioLab” – From WNCY Public Radio
Think of RadioLab as a combination of Nova, Nature, Mr. Wizard, and Bill Nye.
Advise listening with relatively good headphones, as sound is treated as a king in this show. Some content is controversial, and some is graphically inappropriate for children (they give a good heads-up, usually a few minutes before anything happens).
It is indescribable, since this show covers so much all at once. You must listen for yourself.

Website: http://www.wnyc.org/shows/radiolab/ (Podcasts available there as well)

“A Prairie Home Companion” – The News from Lake Wobagon
A Prairie Home Companion is a story show telling many good lessons. Kid safe, though adults will be required to understand most of the jokes. One can learn quite a lot listening to these [often tall] tales.

Website: http://prairiehome.publicradio.org/features/ (podcast available there as well)

“Science Friday” – NRP Weekely show
Science Friday is a weekly show from NPR, going through various scientific topics with interviews from professionals on the topic. It is a wonderful show for learning.

Website: http://www.sciencefriday.com/ (Podcast available there as well)

One other show that I have not looked into yet, but others have suggested is Car Talk.
Two brothers run this show, full of humour and car information. Callers are able to ask about their own car questions, providing they know what kind of car and the year… as described by a listener: “These guys know everything!”

Website: http://www.cartalk.com/ (podcasts available there as well)

Feel more than free to comment about radio shows, even your own radio shows if you happen to run one.