15 podcasts in English for every taste

Podcasts in English are especially helpful if you don't have time for a documentary or book. They allow you to spend time in a queue or traffic jam with benefit, and also help to improve your knowledge of a foreign language. Alla Demina, writer, editor and translator, shares 15 podcasts that cover a variety of areas, from science to everyday trivia.

In our age, everything is changing very quickly, and we need to constantly explore new horizons in order to stay in the loop. The ideal format for self-education is podcasts, or a series of cognitive audio, which will be especially useful if you can't find time for a documentary or special literature. You can listen to podcasts anywhere: in line, on the subway, on a run. This allows you to make the most of your waiting time.

Here are 15 popular podcasts in English on topics ranging from science and culture to useful things. Listening to podcasts in a foreign language is a great opportunity to expand your vocabulary on a topic that interests you, especially if this is your specialty.

About science in general

1. The Naked Scientists

from Cambridge University researchers who explain complex scientific concepts in clear language. Each episode lasts about an hour and for convenience is divided into separate tracks: a selection of news from the world of science, answers to listeners' questions and interviews with invited scientists.

2. Big Picture Science

Weekly on modern scientific research. Famous scientists, public and commercial companies (including NASA), critics, and scientific ethicists appear on the show.

Astronomy

3. StarTalk Radio

Leading this is Neil DeGrasse Tyson, an American astrophysicist, popularizer of science and one of the most charismatic scientists in the world. Dr. Tyson discusses the issues of space travel, extraterrestrial life, the Big Bang, the future of the Earth and finds out what role science plays in human life. Every week, he interviews invited special guests, such as actor Alan Rickman or astronaut Buzz Aldrin.

Chemistry

4. Distillations Podcast

the popular science project Distillations of the Chemical Heritage Foundation. The podcast hosts explore issues at the intersection of science, culture and history, such as how scientific discoveries in chemistry have influenced technological progress. The project has its own Android app.

History

5. BBC History of the World in 100 Objects

In each episode of this, listeners learn from the director of the British Museum, Neil MacGregor, about a single subject: from the ancient mummy of an Egyptian priest or the Sitting Buddha statue in Gandhara to a credit card and modern chargers. McGregor believes that tools, tools, art and jewelry can tell just as much from history books. The popularity of the podcast confirms this.

Learning languages

6. Creative Language Learning Podcast

German teacher Kerstin Hamms, in an attempt to understand how language learning works, conducted several interviews, from which a podcast emerged. By subscribing to it, you will find out if there is an age threshold for learning a new language. In addition, you will hear useful recommendations from polyglots and everyone who is associated with linguistics and can share their own experiences.

7. The Actual Fluency Podcast

Dane Chris Broholm, passionate about foreign languages. Apart from purely linguistic topics (small languages, artificial languages, language and travel), Chris talks a lot about goal setting and motivation. It's possible that this podcast will inspire you to do something new. Thanks to him, you can learn about languages and cultures that you have never heard of.

People

8. The Documentary

Another one other than the BBC is based on BBC World Service documentaries filmed around the world. Separate issues are devoted to the secret library in the besieged Syrian city of Daraya, graffiti protests in Brazil and an alternative history of yoga.

9.100 Women

This is a collection of stories from the lives of completely different women in the format of interviews and debates. You will hear the story of a prosecutor from Ghana, a businesswoman from El Salvador, a girl from the Khanty tribe and many other outstanding ladies, including midwives and filmmakers, journalists and entrepreneurs.

Technologies

10. The Wired UK Podcast

Versatile about technology. For forty minutes of the broadcast, the hosts Vicky, James, Matt and the rest of the team have time to discuss about five news about esports, virtual reality, fingerprint databases. All of this is in fairly fast British English.

11. Note to Self

from New York radio station WNYC introduces listeners to how new technologies and the Internet are changing our lives. You will find out whether they are eavesdropping on you through an iPhone, whether your children are real, what dossier Facebook has collected on you. In addition, WNYC has a series of daily quests for those looking to overcome their gadget addiction.

Entrepreneurship and Personal Performance

12. Entrepreneurial Thought Leaders

Even if you are not going to start your own business, pay attention to these about entrepreneurship, innovation and development. The podcast was produced with active contributions from Stanford University, and guest speakers include such prominent personalities as Guy Kawasaki, Mark Zuckerberg and Marissa Mayer.

13. The Productivityist Podcast

productivity fanatic Mike Vardy is a great source of motivation and time management advice. Vardi offers his own life hacks, thanks to which you will quickly cope with important tasks and optimize your workflow and your own life. Topics in recent issues are mindfulness, productivity statistics, and good habits.

Useful little things

14. Stuff You Should Know

The presenters answer completely different questions. Some of them, probably, have arisen with you, and some you have not even thought about. Robot wedding and copyright, pepper spray and the pros of a credit card … Even if you're not anxious to find out in particular, you'll have a great time anyway.

15. How to Do Everything

Another one for the curious. Each listener can send a question and get an answer to it, in especially difficult cases, backed up by expert opinion. Questions can be from any field: both everyday and philosophical. Sometimes we come across some rather strange questions, but none of them remain unanswered. Examples of some of the questions that the authors of the podcast answer: "How to keep the conversation about the stock exchange?", "How to free up space on the iPhone?"