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	<title>CastMedium &#187; Features</title>
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		<title>CastMedium Podcast Awards 2010: listeners&#8217; choice</title>
		<link>http://www.castmedium.com/2011/01/01/castmedium-podcast-awards-2010-listeners-choice/</link>
		<comments>http://www.castmedium.com/2011/01/01/castmedium-podcast-awards-2010-listeners-choice/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 01 Jan 2011 17:00:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jonathan Downin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Features]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[awards]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[awards 2010]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Giant Bombcast]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irrational Behavior]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[My Brother My Brother and Me]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.castmedium.com/?p=11940</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Wow&#8211; just wow. I have to say right up front here that I, along with the whole CM crew, were blown away by the response this year. It&#8217;s clear that we are not the only ones who are passionate about podcasts with 5,500+ votes submitted for this years listeners&#8217; choice poll. Just to put that [...]


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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-11941" title="readerpoll2010" src="http://www.castmedium.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/readerpoll2010.png" alt="" width="600" height="330" /></p>
<p>Wow&#8211; just wow. I have to say right up front here that I, along with the whole CM crew, were blown away by the response this year. It&#8217;s clear that we are not the only ones who are passionate about podcasts with 5,500+ votes submitted for this years listeners&#8217; choice poll. Just to put that into perspective, <a href="http://www.castmedium.com/2010/01/01/castmedium-podcast-awards-%E2%80%9809-readers-choice/">last year&#8217;s poll</a> garnered 338 votes. Crazy town.</p>
<p>It was great to see that no single podcast ran away with the vote this time around. It was contentious up to the very end with 3 podcasts leading the pack. Here&#8217;s how things shook-out:</p>
<p><strong>Winner:</strong> <a href="http://www.giantbomb.com/podcast/">Giant Bombcast</a> (21.15% &#8211; 1,177 votes)</p>
<p><strong>2nd Runner-up:</strong> <a href="http://irrationalgames.com/insider/irrational-behavior/">Irrational Behavior</a> (19.82% &#8211; 1,103 votes)</p>
<p><strong>3rd Runner-up:</strong> <a href="http://mbmbam.com/">My Brother, My Brother and Me</a> (19.73% &#8211; 1,098 votes)</p>
<p>It is not surprising to see the Giant Bombcast take this one. It is a perennial favorite that completely deserves the award. Ryan Davis, joined by Jeff Gerstmann, Brad Shoemaker and Vinny Caravella deliver a consistently amazing show that you obviously love as much as we do. It won our top honors <a href="http://www.castmedium.com/2009/12/21/castmedium-podcast-awards-09/">last year</a>, and we even went as far as to subtitle this year&#8217;s <a href="http://www.castmedium.com/2010/12/30/castmedium-podcast-awards-2010/">Best Podcast of 2010 award</a> as &#8220;The Giant Bombcast memorial award.&#8221;</p>
<p>As great as it is to see GB holding on to the top spot, it is also refreshing to see some new entries in the 2nd and 3rd place spots. Both Irrational Behavior and My Brother, My Brother and Me started in 2010, yet they have both managed to garner a ravenous fanbase. Again, our own awards show that you are not alone with these picks either.</p>
<p>Thank you to all who participated, this wouldn&#8217;t mean anything without your interest and passion. And an even bigger thank you goes out to all the podcasters out there who entertain and inform us on a daily basis.</p>
<p>Here&#8217;s looking to 2011 for another year of great things for podcasts and podcast fans. If it is anything like 2010, we are in for another treat.</p>
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		<title>CastMedium Podcast Awards 2010: Jonathan&#8217;s picks</title>
		<link>http://www.castmedium.com/2010/12/31/castmedium-podcast-awards-2010-jonathans-picks/</link>
		<comments>http://www.castmedium.com/2010/12/31/castmedium-podcast-awards-2010-jonathans-picks/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 01 Jan 2011 01:00:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jonathan Downin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Features]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Engadget Podcast]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tell 'Em Steve-Dave]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[This is Only a Test]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.castmedium.com/?p=11923</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[3)  Tell &#8216;Em Steve-Dave I have been a long-time listener of director Kevin&#8217;s Smith&#8217;s podcast, Smodcast. Although the tone has changed a bit in the last year, it is a classic in my books. When it was announced that Kevin&#8217;s long-time friends Brian Johnson and Walter Planegan would starting their own podcast, I was skeptical at best. [...]


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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-11925" title="tellemstevedave" src="http://www.castmedium.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/tellemstevedave.png" alt="" width="150" height="150" />3)  Tell &#8216;Em Steve-Dave</strong></p>
<p>I have been a long-time listener of director Kevin&#8217;s Smith&#8217;s podcast, <a href="http://smodcast.com/">Smodcast</a>. Although the tone has changed a bit in the last year, it is a classic in my books. When it was announced that Kevin&#8217;s long-time friends Brian Johnson and Walter Planegan would starting their own podcast, I was skeptical at best. Boy was a wrong. Brian and Walt, along with Brian Quinn, deliver a show that feels more honest than almost anything else out there. There is no theme to this podcast, which makes its consistency even more surprising. Tell &#8216;Em Steve-Dave is great for when I want to truly relax and get my mind away from the usual game/tech/work-related thoughts.</p>
<p><a href="http://smodcast.com/stevedave/">web</a> | <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/tell-em-steve-dave-smodcast/id357537542">iTunes</a> | <a href="http://stevedave.smodcast.libsynpro.com/rss">rss</a></p>
<p><strong><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-11926" title="thisisonlyatest" src="http://www.castmedium.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/thisisonlyatest.png" alt="" width="150" height="150" />2)  This is Only a Test</strong></p>
<p>I have always followed the tech space, but 2010 was the year that I immersed myself in it. It was great timing then that Whiskey Media delivered <a href="http://www.tested.com">Tested.com</a>. I have been a long-time Engadget reader and thought I didn&#8217;t need another tech site&#8211; I was wrong. This is Only a Test is an audio extension of the ingenuity that goes at the site. Will Smith and Norman Chan are extremely knowledgable, but have an amazing knack for making even the driest of subjects entertaining. Add Hollywood&#8217;s Gary Whitta and producer extraordinaire Ana Hurka-Robles into the mix and you have a podcast that I can&#8217;t wait to listen to each week. Oh, and that fake outtakes segment is <a href="http://www.castmedium.com/2010/12/30/castmedium-podcast-awards-2010/">pretty good</a>.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.tested.com/podcast/?podcast_id=50">web</a> | <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/get-tested/id360889910">iTunes</a> | <a href="http://www.tested.com/podcast-xml/">rss</a></p>
<p><strong><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-11927" title="engadgetpodcast" src="http://www.castmedium.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/engadgetpodcast.png" alt="" width="150" height="150" />1)  Engadget Podcast</strong></p>
<p>As I said, it&#8217;s been a very tech-centric year for me. I have followed Engadget for many years, but it is only in the past year that I have become a superfan. It feels like everything just fell into place for Engadget this year, and it seems like it was in large part due to the deft hand with which EIC Joshua &#8216;drunk and high&#8217; Topolsky has steered that ship. Josh, along with fellow editors Nilay &#8216;Lawyer&#8217; Patel and Paul &#8216;pixel density&#8217; Miller deliver a top-notch podcast every week. They hit every single big news item and infuse it with just the right amount of commentary. Candid, informative and fun&#8211; that&#8217;s the Endadget Podcast. In fact, a here&#8217;s a little piece of trivia: I initially modelled the <a href="http://www.castmedium.com/shows/castmedium-podcast/">CastMedium Podcast</a> after the Engadget Podcast. The Engadget Podcast is my favorite of 2010. Love those guys!</p>
<p><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/25/engadget-podcast-222-12-25-2010/">web</a> | <a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=73329281">iTunes</a> | <a href="http://subscribe/?Engadget=http://podcasts.engadget.com/rss.xml">Zune</a> | <a href="http://podcasts.engadget.com/rss.xml">rss</a></p>


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		<title>CastMedium Podcast Awards 2010: Jon&#8217;s picks</title>
		<link>http://www.castmedium.com/2010/12/31/castmedium-podcast-awards-2010-jons-picks/</link>
		<comments>http://www.castmedium.com/2010/12/31/castmedium-podcast-awards-2010-jons-picks/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 31 Dec 2010 23:33:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jon Cole</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Features]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[awards]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Go!]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jesse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jordan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Planet Money]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Radiolab]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.castmedium.com/?p=11934</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Radiolab This American Life has been my go-to podcast to evangelize newcomers to my medium of choice for the longest time. Radiolab has come around this year and usurped that throne without breaking a sweat. Each episode tackles a broad topic in a mostly scientific way, exploring the sensation of falling, the passage of time, [...]


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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><!-- p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Helvetica} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Helvetica; min-height: 16.0px} --><strong><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-11935" title="radiolab" src="http://www.castmedium.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/radiolab.png" alt="" width="150" height="150" />Radiolab</strong></p>
<p>This American Life has been my go-to podcast to evangelize newcomers to my medium of choice for the longest time. Radiolab has come around this year and usurped that throne without breaking a sweat. Each episode tackles a broad topic in a mostly scientific way, exploring the sensation of falling, the passage of time, the placebo effect, or any number of seemingly mundane things. Host Jad Abumrad and his crew assemble interviews with experts in a particular field or people with an interesting story into a cohesive story, stringing things along with clever sound effects and mixing. If you don&#8217;t know what podcasts to start with on your new MP3 player, I strongly encourage Radiolab.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.radiolab.org/series/podcasts/">web</a> | <a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=152249110">iTunes</a> | <a href="http://www.radiolab.org/feeds/podcast/">rss</a></p>
<p><strong><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-11917" title="planetmoney" src="http://www.castmedium.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/planetmoney.png" alt="" width="150" height="150" />Planet Money</strong></p>
<p>A somewhat unique deviation from my usual video game and technology focused podcast spread, Planet Money is a biweekly podcast that asks questions about the current economic climate that may fail to be answered by the dense CNBC. While this might seem unappealing to most people seeking a casual audio experience, each episode runs less than 30 minutes in length and is worded to be understandable to almost anyone while not sounding childish. The point is, if you feel a little curious about what a &#8220;toxic asset&#8221; really means or how bad the big banks really are, check out Planet Money.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/archives/archive.php?thingId=127413729">web</a> | <a href="itpc://www.npr.org/templates/rss/podlayer.php?id=93559255">iTunes</a> | <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/rss/podlayer.php?id=93559255">rss</a></p>
<p><strong><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-11936" title="jordanjessego" src="http://www.castmedium.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/jordanjessego.png" alt="" width="150" height="150" />Jordan, Jesse, Go!</strong></p>
<p>I&#8217;ve always found it difficult to listen to radio talk shows where there&#8217;s no particular theme. Jordan, Jesse, Go! solved that problem for me from the very first episode I listened to. I don&#8217;t have much critical commentary to offer on it, only that Jordan and Jesse are extraordinarily funny individuals and they have access to fantastic guests. You may not love it as much as me, but Jordan, Jesse, Go! is definitely worth a try.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.maximumfun.org/shows/jordan-jesse-go">web</a> | <a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=73331298">iTunes</a> | <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/thornmorris">rss</a></p>


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		<title>CastMedium Podcast Awards 2010: Erik&#8217;s picks</title>
		<link>http://www.castmedium.com/2010/12/31/castmedium-podcast-awards-2010-eriks-picks/</link>
		<comments>http://www.castmedium.com/2010/12/31/castmedium-podcast-awards-2010-eriks-picks/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 31 Dec 2010 21:00:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>KirePDX</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Features]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[awards]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Giant Bombcast]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Irrational Interviews]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Planet Money Podcast]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.castmedium.com/?p=11910</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[3)  Irrational Interviews I’ve said before that one of my favorite experiences is listening to smart people talk about smart things; and I realized this year that many of favorite shows provide this almost every week.  The Gianbomb, IGN, and other crews are all hilarious and entertaining; but really, they’re generally smart guys and girls [...]


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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><!-- p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 15.0px Arial} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 13.0px Helvetica; min-height: 16.0px} span.s1 {text-decoration: underline ; color: #130099} --><strong><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-11916" title="irrationalinterviews" src="http://www.castmedium.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/irrationalinterviews.png" alt="" width="150" height="150" />3)  Irrational Interviews</strong></p>
<p>I’ve said before that one of my favorite experiences is listening to smart people talk about smart things; and I realized this year that many of favorite shows provide this almost every week.  The Gianbomb, IGN, and other crews are all hilarious and entertaining; but really, they’re generally smart guys and girls who are talking on subjects they are passionate about.  However, Irrational Interviews made its focus on talking to a selection of leading representatives from a range of industries to take a broader look at the impact and influences of videogames.  We’re only five episodes in, but the conversations between Ken Levine and Cliff Bleszinski, Zack Snyder and Brian Michael Bendis are entertaining and informative half hours where you can listen to two incredibly smart people discuss subjects important to themselves.  They occasionally get a little too congratulatory to each other, and the editing needs more refinement, but I look forward to more interviews next year.  For this year, the standout episode is definitely with <a href="http://irrationalgames.com/insider/irrational-interviews-episode-4/">Cliffy B</a>.</p>
<p><a href="http://irrationalgames.com/tag/irrational-interviews/">web</a> | <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/podcast/irrational-interviews/id380486802">iTunes</a> | <a href="http://irrationalgames.com/insider/irrational-interviews/feed/">rss</a></p>
<p><strong><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-11917" title="planetmoney" src="http://www.castmedium.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/planetmoney.png" alt="" width="150" height="150" />2)  Planet Money Podcast</strong></p>
<p>Good teachers can simplify even the most complicated systems to make them easily understandable, and great teachers help students actually learn and appreciate the full complexity.  Every week, the Planet Money Podcast goes between good and great at helping explain the incredibly confusing, complicated and interconnected global economic system.  An offshoot of the excellent This American Life ‘<a href="http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/355/the-giant-pool-of-money">Giant Pool of Money</a>’ episode, Planet Money takes the big economic news of the week and provides the context and consequences to help non-economists understand what is happening in the global money market.  It’s not always perfect, and sometimes it gets heavy with This American Life-like ‘whimsy;’ but for an educational, entertaining and understandable perspective on modern money, it’s essential listening.  Nowhere else will you learn about toxic assets by having the reporters actually buy one of themselves.  R.I.P. <a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2010/09/23/130083071/the-friday-podcast-toxie-r-i-p">Toxie</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/archives/archive.php?thingId=127413729">web</a> | <a href="itpc://www.npr.org/templates/rss/podlayer.php?id=93559255">iTunes</a> | <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/rss/podlayer.php?id=93559255">rss</a></p>
<p><strong><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-11918" title="giantbombcast" src="http://www.castmedium.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/giantbombcast.png" alt="" width="150" height="150" />1)  Giantbomb Bombcast</strong></p>
<p>During our deliberations for Best Podcast of 2010, the Bombcast was starting to get penalized for being consistently good. When the Giantbomb crew delivers a entertaining show week after week, we start to take it for granted.  However, it’s the show I look forward to the most every week, and start playing it the second it comes through; so it has to make my list.  More than any other show, I believe Giantbomb staff collectively put in the effort to make a quality product (despite Brad always being tired) and do something new for their audience.  Their specials are more creative than most, including the <a href="http://www.giantbomb.com/podcast/?podcast_id=163">three</a> <a href="http://www.giantbomb.com/podcast/?podcast_id=164">day</a> E3 shenanigans, (we all have our own opinions on Leigh Alexander’s <a href="http://www.giantbomb.com/podcast/?podcast_id=165">Day 3</a> domination), their panel at <a href="http://www.giantbomb.com/podcast/?podcast_id=177">PAX</a>, and even their GOTY activity going on right now.  Each member brings a unique perspective and experience to the table, and they’re a genuinely intelligent and hilarious bunch.  Also, let’s appreciate the fact they don’t answer relationship questions&#8230;that is a trend that may need to stop.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.giantbomb.com/podcast/?podcast_id=193">web</a> | <a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=274450056">iTunes</a> | <a href="http://www.giantbomb.com/podcast-xml/">rss</a></p>


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		<title>CastMedium Podcast Awards 2010: Ross&#8217;s picks</title>
		<link>http://www.castmedium.com/2010/12/31/castmedium-podcast-awards-2010-rosss-picks/</link>
		<comments>http://www.castmedium.com/2010/12/31/castmedium-podcast-awards-2010-rosss-picks/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 31 Dec 2010 19:00:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Ross Adams</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Features]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Idle Thumbs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Player One Podcast]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Idle Thumbs Podcast]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[the sound test]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.castmedium.com/?p=11815</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[3)  The Sound Test A combination of two of my favourite things, Ray Barnholt and video game music. Every two weeks Ray would lovingly craft a playlist of game music that was always a dream to listen to. Often incredibly eclectic each weeks musical selection could contain anything from the newest triple A title to an [...]


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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-11907" title="thesoundtest" src="http://www.castmedium.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/thesoundtest.png" alt="" width="150" height="150" />3)  The Sound Test</strong></p>
<p>A combination of two of my favourite things, <a href="http://www.castmedium.com/people/ray-barnholt/">Ray Barnholt</a> and video game music. Every two weeks Ray would lovingly craft a playlist of game music that was always a dream to listen to. Often incredibly eclectic each weeks musical selection could contain anything from the newest triple A title to an obscure game never released outside of Japan. Sadly when Ray was let go of 1UP The Sound Test went with him, we can only hope that when he finds his feet the show can return in some form. Until then the 16 archived episodes are a must listen to anyone calling themselves a fan of video game music.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.1up.com/do/minisite?cId=3178336">web</a> | <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/id362121403">iTunes</a> | <a href="http://www.1up.com/flat/Podcasts/soundtest.xml">rss</a></p>
<p><strong><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-11906" title="playerone" src="http://www.castmedium.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/playerone.png" alt="" width="150" height="150" />2)  Player One Podcast</strong></p>
<p>Player One was my personal pick during our awards <a href="http://www.castmedium.com/2010/01/01/castmedium-podcast-awards-%E2%80%9809-staff-picks/">last year</a> and it remains my favourite podcast. With over 200 weeks of near uninteruppted new episodes consistentcy is the thing that makes Player One great. In last years post I said I had yet to listen to an episode that didn&#8217;t make me laugh out loud, that statement holds true. Between the game discussion the guys aren&#8217;t afraid to go completely off book and tell stories from their past or chat about cartoons from the 80s. They never fail to entertain me and for that I will keep listening for as long as they keep casting pods.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.playeronepodcast.com/2010/12/21/episode-217-122010-twas-the-episode-before-christmas/">web</a> | <a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=73329404">iTunes</a> | <a href="http://www.playeronepodcast.com/feed/">rss</a></p>
<p><strong><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-11895" title="idlethumbs" src="http://www.castmedium.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/idlethumbs.png" alt="" width="150" height="150" />1)  Idle Thumbs/The Idle Thumbs Podcast</strong></p>
<p>I didn&#8217;t listen to the now defunct &#8220;Idle Thumbs&#8221; when it originally appeared on the internets. But this past year when it was relaunched as &#8220;The Idle Thumbs Podcast&#8221; I decided to see just why <a href="http://www.castmedium.com/author/joncole/">Jon Cole</a> loved it so much. I immediately felt like a failure, why had I not been listening to this? I made it my mission to go back and listen to the Idle Thumbs backlog, I was in love. Much like GFW Radio before, it Idle Thumbs somehow managed to couple extremely intelligent and thought-provoking game discussion with some of the silliest, vulgar and childish humor one is likely to hear. This seemingly impossible combination leads to one of the most entertaining podcasts you will ever have the pleasure of listening to.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.idlethumbs.net/archive">web</a> | <a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=293436552">iTunes</a> | <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/idle-thumbs">rss</a></p>


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		<title>CastMedium Podcast Awards 2010: Alex&#8217;s picks</title>
		<link>http://www.castmedium.com/2010/12/31/castmedium-podcast-awards-2010-alexs-picks/</link>
		<comments>http://www.castmedium.com/2010/12/31/castmedium-podcast-awards-2010-alexs-picks/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 31 Dec 2010 17:00:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Alex Martin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Features]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.castmedium.com/?p=11884</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[3) Short podcasts This is a bit of a cheat, but since I bought a fancy phone that automatically trawls RSS feeds for new podcasts, I’ve found myself breaking up marathons like the Bombcast with quick, minutes-long shows. CBC Radio 3: New Music Canada Track of the Day. Simply a short preamble from CBC’s Lana [...]


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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>3) Short podcasts</strong></p>
<p>This is a bit of a cheat, but since I bought a fancy phone that automatically trawls RSS feeds for new podcasts, I’ve found myself breaking up marathons like the Bombcast with quick, minutes-long shows.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><strong>CBC Radio 3: New Music Canada Track of the Day</strong>. Simply a short preamble from CBC’s Lana Gay, or a guest host, and one track of independent music from Canada.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><a href="http://www.cbc.ca/podcasting/index.html?arts#nmc">web</a> | <a href="https://docs0.google.com/document/d/1-ndNUIDjOBGlexU9QB9pc11PPqO07jlnR5YFQnHtIL0/edit?hl=en">iTunes</a> | <a href="http://www.cbcradio3.com/podcast/trackoftheday/">rss</a></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><a href="http://www.cbcradio3.com/podcast/trackoftheday/"></a><strong>The Onion Radio News</strong> is the quickest here. At a minute long, it’s the most compact way to enjoy the Onion, whose jokes are mainly in their headlines anyhow.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><a href="http://www.theonion.com/articles/latest/radio-news/">web</a> | <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/onion-radio-news/id117718066">iTunes</a> | <a href="http://www.theonion.com/feeds/radionews/">rss</a></p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><a href="http://www.theonion.com/feeds/radionews/"></a><strong>Skeptoid</strong> is a weekly examination of topics as diverse as homeopathy and the effects of sonar on whales. Computer scientist Brian Dunning packs a lot of information into 5-15 minutes.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><a href="http://skeptoid.com/">web</a> | <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=203844864">iTunes</a> | <a href="http://skeptoid.com/podcast.xml">rss</a></p>
<p><strong><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-11895" title="idlethumbs" src="http://www.castmedium.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/idlethumbs.png" alt="" width="150" height="150" />2) Idle Thumbs</strong></p>
<p>Idle Thumbs’ style of games discussion was similar to the review style I prefer: they told stories about their experiences in a way that made it feel like you’re playing it. Their Neptune’s Pride conversations were more fun than actually playing it. The way they incorporated tangents &#8212; with quick edits, chopped up by snatches of music &#8212; was a smart way of keeping those funny conversations, and keeping the pace of the show.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.idlethumbs.net/archive">web</a> | <a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=293436552">iTunes</a> | <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/idle-thumbs">rss</a></p>
<p><strong><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-11896" title="mbmbam" src="http://www.castmedium.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/mbmbam.png" alt="" width="150" height="150" />1) My Brother, My Brother, and Me</strong></p>
<p>This is the only podcast that has caused others to give me odd looks in public. I can just about restrain myself from giggling, but can’t help but grin stupidly at Justin, Travis, and Griffin’s absurd deadpan as they dispense advice. The (occasional) wisdom, disdain for human stupidity (from Yahoo Answers users), and revelry in the ridiculous are perfectly balanced. Coming in at under an hour, it stays fresh and is always at the top when I have a pile of new podcasts to listen to.</p>
<p><a href="http://mbmbam.com/">web</a> | <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/podcast/my-brother-my-brother-and-me/id367330921">iTunes</a> | <a href="http://mbmbam.libsyn.com/rss">rss</a></p>


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		<title>CastMedium Podcast Awards 2010</title>
		<link>http://www.castmedium.com/2010/12/30/castmedium-podcast-awards-2010/</link>
		<comments>http://www.castmedium.com/2010/12/30/castmedium-podcast-awards-2010/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 30 Dec 2010 17:00:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jonathan Downin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Features]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[awards]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.castmedium.com/?p=11836</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It&#8217;s the time of the year where everyone is putting out their end of the year awards, and we are again taking our own crack at highlighting the best of the best in our medium of choice&#8211; podcasts. We cover mostly game and tech podcasts, so our picks stick pretty closely to these fields. Look [...]


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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It&#8217;s the time of the year where everyone is putting out their end of the year awards, and we are again taking our own crack at highlighting the best of the best in our medium of choice&#8211; podcasts. We cover mostly game and tech podcasts, so our picks stick pretty closely to these fields. Look for a wider variety in our personal picks coming up tomorrow.</p>
<p>We had 5 different categories our awards <a href="http://www.castmedium.com/2009/12/21/castmedium-podcast-awards-09/">last year</a>, so we had to 1-up ourselves this year, so we went with 6. All jokes aside, we&#8217;ve brought back a couple categories from last year and are substituting others for ones that just didn&#8217;t seem to work as well this time around. A good amount of time was spent deciding the winners in their respective categories, with some categories being more contentious than others.</p>
<p>These are our picks, but you can have a voice as well. The <a href="http://www.castmedium.com/2010/12/25/podcast-awards-2010-details/">reader/listener poll</a> is running until 12am (midnight) on December 31st/January 1st so don&#8217;t miss your chance to help the chances of your favorite podcast.</p>
<p>Without further ado, our picks:</p>
<p>—————————————————————————-</p>
<p><strong><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-11844" title="bestproduction2010" src="http://www.castmedium.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/bestproduction2010.png" alt="" width="350" height="272" />Best production:</strong></p>
<p>Production is a tricky thing, it is both simple and complicated. As professional-grade tools are readily accessible to almost all in need of them, making a podcast sound good isn&#8217;t too difficult these days. That brings this award down to expertise in both artistic and technical ability.</p>
<p>Winner &#8211; <a href="http://www.castmedium.com/shows/the-engadget-show/">The Engadget Show</a></p>
<p>Runner-up &#8211; <a href="http://www.castmedium.com/shows/irrational-behavior/">Irrational Behavior</a></p>
<p>The <a href="http://www.engadget.com">Engadget</a> show has been around for just over a year, and has only had 16 episodes, but once you see one you will understand what goes into it. It brings a level of professional to a tech show that is usually only present on broadcast television. It also delivers a format that provides insight into the business side of the tech industry that is rarely, if ever, seen in the medium.</p>
<p><a href="http://irrationalgames.com">Irrational</a> Behavior doesn&#8217;t get runner-up here because of the technical prowess on display, it all comes down to careful editing that elevates it beyond what anyone would expect from an &#8220;interview show.&#8221;</p>
<p>—————————————————————————-</p>
<p><strong><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-11846" title="mostmissed2010" src="http://www.castmedium.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/mostmissed2010.png" alt="" width="350" height="272" />Most missed:</strong></p>
<p>Podcasts come and go, just like your favorite TV shows. These are the ones we miss the most.<strong><br />
</strong></p>
<p>Winner &#8211; <a href="http://www.castmedium.com/shows/idle-thumbs/">The Idle Thumbs Podcast</a></p>
<p>Runner-up &#8211; <a href="http://www.1up.com/do/minisite?cId=3178336">The Sound Test</a></p>
<p><a href="http://idlethumbs.net">Idle Thumbs</a> was a classic. The perfect blend of personality and insightful commentary, it tackled the difficult task of stratling the line of taking games seriously and acknowledging that they are sometime just for having a good time. It appeared a few times in our awards last year, and its absence has only made us realize even more how special it was. The Wizard indeed.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.1up.com">1UP</a>&#8216;s The Sound Test was a unique show. <a href="http://twitter.com/rdb_aaa">Ray Barnholt</a> delivered a podcast that dug deep into the rarely explored musical side of gaming, and that&#8217;s why it was so special. It was one of those shows that made you appreciate games more, and probably even provides a glimpse into a facet of the past-time that many probably wouldn&#8217;t otherwise spend much time thinking about.</p>
<p>—————————————————————————-</p>
<p><strong><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-11845" title="bestsegment2010" src="http://www.castmedium.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/bestsegment2010.png" alt="" width="350" height="272" />Best segment:</strong></p>
<p>Podcasts, especially lengthier ones, are often broken up into segments to give us all a breather. Even among our favorite podcasts, certain segments deliver more than others. These are the ones that we are always looking forward to.<strong><br />
</strong></p>
<p><strong></strong>Winner &#8211; Fake outtakes (<a href="http://www.castmedium.com/shows/this-is-only-a-test/">This is Only a Test</a>)</p>
<p>Runner-up &#8211; Jeff reads the releases (<a href="http://www.castmedium.com/shows/giant-bombcast/">Giant Bombcast</a>)</p>
<p>This is Only a Test, the podcast from Whiskey Media&#8217;s new tech site <a href="http://www.tested.com">Tested</a>, takes top honors. As a new podcast, hosts Will Smith and Norman Chan thought best to include a typical outtakes segment at the end of each show, but it is probably fair to assume that even they didn&#8217;t know it would end up in its current state. The segment isn&#8217;t outakes at all, in fact, they have taken to calling the &#8220;fake outtakes&#8221; segment. It boils podcasting down to its essence, people just sitting around a table talking about stuff&#8211; sometimes for 45 mintes! As usual, it&#8217;s the personalities that make this work, Will and Norm, along with guests Gary Whitta and Ana Hurka-Robles deliver some mind-bending and hilarious discussions week-in and week-out.</p>
<p>As for Jeff&#8217;s reading of the weekly WiiWare and DSiWare releases, uhg. Don&#8217;t remind us, our faces already hurt from the prolonged laughing fits. Tip: Be careful about listening to this segment while in public lest you look like a raving lunatic.</p>
<p>—————————————————————————-</p>
<p><strong><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-11841" title="bestfirstparty2010" src="http://www.castmedium.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/bestfirstparty2010.png" alt="" width="350" height="272" />Best first-party podcast:</strong></p>
<p>This is a new category for this year&#8217;s awards. While 2010 didn&#8217;t bring the first instance of game publishers and developers targeting their audiences directly through the podcast medium, it is the year that the space really came into its own. These are the picks that elevated this concept far beyond just spreading company PR points.<strong><br />
</strong></p>
<p><strong></strong>Winner &#8211; <a href="http://www.castmedium.com/shows/irrational-behavior/">Irrational Behavior</a></p>
<p>Runner-up &#8211; <a href="http://bethblog.com/podcast/">The Bethesda Podcast</a></p>
<p>Irrational Behavior won top honors for production, and that is saying a lot considering it is basically a string of interviews. Whether the focus is <a href="http://irrationalgames.com/">in-house</a> people and topics or not, insightful discussion always abounds. The topic are generally centered around game design, and who better to shine a light on this subject than those who live it every day? We dare you to listen and not come away more intrigued and amazed at the kind of critical thought that goes on behind the scenes to deliver you a great game.</p>
<p>The <a href="http://www.bethsoft.com/eng/index.php">Bethesda</a> Podcast is a success for many of the same reasons as Irrational Behavior. Listening to intelligent people discuss interesting topics is always a formula for success. Look no further than the episode with John Carmack discussing the building of rockets and his opinions on inter-planetary travel. &#8216;Effen SPACE!</p>
<p>—————————————————————————-</p>
<p><strong><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-11851" title="bestnewpodcast2010" src="http://www.castmedium.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/bestnewpodcast2010.png" alt="" width="350" height="272" />Best New Podcast 2010:</strong></p>
<p>Podcasts are a rare medium that allow anyone to talk directly to their audience, and that it why there are such a vital tool for any public-facing outlet or company. New ones hit in 2010, these are our favorites.<strong><br />
</strong></p>
<p><strong></strong>Winner &#8211; <a href="http://www.castmedium.com/shows/this-is-only-a-test/">This is Only a Test</a></p>
<p>Runner-up &#8211; <a href="http://mbmbam.com/">My Brother, My Brother and Me</a></p>
<p><a href="http://whiskeymedia.com/">Whiskey Media</a> was around before Giant Bomb, but it wasn&#8217;t nearly what it is today. Giant Bomb seems to have single-handedly turned Whiskey Media into a place that people go to celebrate their love for their given interest: Games, Tech, Comics, Movie, and probably more soon. <a href="http://tested.com">Tested</a>, the tech arm of Whiskey Media, delivers this in spades. This is Only a Test delivers informed technology discussion in a package that makes you happy to be a member of the technorati.</p>
<p>The brain-child of the brothers McElroy, two of which write for <a href="http://www.joystiq.com">Joystiq</a> and cut their teeth on the <a href="http://www.castmedium.com/shows/joystiq-podcast/">Joystiq Podcast</a>, My Brother, My Brother and Me is a strange show. Composed of mostly Q&amp;A with their listeners, this is an &#8220;advice&#8221; show. Although good advice does squeak-in from time to time, most of what is said here is completely ludicrous, but it is that special kind of inane insanity that makes this a one of a kind.</p>
<p>—————————————————————————-</p>
<p><strong><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-11843" title="bestpodcast2010" src="http://www.castmedium.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/bestpodcast2010.png" alt="" width="350" height="272" />Best Podcast 2010 (the Giant Bombcast memorial award):</strong></p>
<p>This is the end-all be-all. We love these shows and hope to never see them in the &#8220;Most missed&#8221; category&#8211; oh wait.<strong><br />
</strong></p>
<p><strong></strong>Winner &#8211; <a href="http://www.castmedium.com/shows/idle-thumbs/">The Idle Thumbs Podcast</a></p>
<p>Runner-up &#8211; <a href="http://www.castmedium.com/shows/engadget-podcast/">Engadget Podcast</a></p>
<p>What more can be said? If you have ever listened to <a href="http://idlethumbs.net/">Idle Thumbs</a> or The Idle Thumbs Podcast you know why this is here. If you haven&#8217;t, what are you doing? Get on that <a href="http://idlethumbs.net/archive">backlog</a>! Chris Remo, Nick Breckon, Jake Rodkin, Steve Gaynor. The mix of these personalities delivered one special course of thumb soup. We love these guys so much that we will cop to the fact that they probably influenced us a bit in our picks for &#8220;Best First-Party Podcast.&#8221; Hint: Some of these guys work at those places now. It&#8217;s weird how quality follows some people that way. 2010 wouldn&#8217;t have been the year that it was for podcasts without The Idle Thumbs Podcast.</p>
<p>The Engadget Podcast pulls the #2 slot this year. By no means a new show, as the podcast from giant tech blog <a href="http://www.engadget.com">Engadget</a>, it has been around for years&#8211; over 6 years to be exact. Hosts Joshua Topolsky, Nilay Patel and Paul Miller really came into their own this year. The tech discussion is among the best around and the personalities deliver, so much so that a <a href="http://engadgetpodcastbingo.com/classic/">whole website</a> has spawned from the podcast that features a weekly game of bingo revolving around the common discussion topics and personal catch phrases. If you are at all into technology, this is where you start.</p>


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		<title>CastMedium Podcast Awards ‘09 &#8211; Staff Picks</title>
		<link>http://www.castmedium.com/2010/01/01/castmedium-podcast-awards-%e2%80%9809-staff-picks/</link>
		<comments>http://www.castmedium.com/2010/01/01/castmedium-podcast-awards-%e2%80%9809-staff-picks/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 01 Jan 2010 17:23:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jonathan Downin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Features]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.castmedium.com/?p=7551</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[After doing our official CastMedium group picks a couple weeks ago, we each wanted to give our personal pick for best podcast of the year. So, here they are: Jonathan Downin &#8211; The Totally Rad Show While The Totally Rad Show is not the funniest, most thought-provoking or informative podcast around, it is the one [...]


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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>After doing our official <a href="http://www.castmedium.com/2009/12/21/castmedium-podcast-awards-09/">CastMedium group picks</a> a couple weeks ago, we each wanted to give our personal pick for best podcast of the year. So, here they are:</p>
<p><strong><img class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-4715" title="The Totally Rad Show" src="http://www.castmedium.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/trs-200x200.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="200" />Jonathan Downin &#8211; <a href="http://www.castmedium.com/tag/the-totally-rad-show/">The Totally Rad Show</a></strong></p>
<p>While The Totally Rad Show is not the funniest, most thought-provoking or informative podcast around, it is the one that I find myself looking forward to most each week. Alex, Jeff and Dan are able to infuse the show with genuine fun, personality and heart. More than any other podcast, I treat TRS like a favorite TV show or movie that I follow; I like to settle in with a drink, maybe a snack and just enjoy it.</p>
<p>Like any show that relies heavily on investment in personalities, TRS can require that you give it time to get its hooks in you, but it is well worth it. Also, I would be remiss if I didn&#8217;t mention the consistency of TRS. Week-in and week-out, the guys deliver an episode without fail, and other podcasts could take a cue from them about how to make their audience feel appreciated.</p>
<p><img class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-5393" title="Idle Thumbs" src="http://www.castmedium.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/idlethumbs1-200x200.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="200" /><strong>Jon Cole &#8211; <a href="http://www.castmedium.com/tag/idle-thumbs/">Idle Thumbs</a></strong></p>
<p>The Idle Thumbs podcast is my personal pick of 2009.  Chris Remo, Nick Breckon, and Jake &#8216;Video Games&#8217; Rodkin used to come together every week and deliver equal parts of hard-hitting commentary and nearly tasteless humor.  These guys have championed some of my favorite games of the past couple years, including Far Cry 2, Mass Effect, Fallout 3, and Torchlight.  With more hilarious inside jokes than a private secondary school, Idle Thumbs&#8217;s backlog is absolutely worth checking out, though I can&#8217;t help you if you&#8217;re hurting for more after listening to the Jeff Goldgame-laden final episode.</p>
<p><strong><img class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-7554" title="Retronauts / Active Time Babble" src="http://www.castmedium.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/atb-retronauts-200x200.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="200" />Derek Lavigne &#8211; <a href="http://www.castmedium.com/tag/retronauts/">Retronauts</a>/<a href="http://www.castmedium.com/tag/active-time-babble/">Active Time Babble</a></strong></p>
<p>Although I now write for a site dedicated to covering as many podcasts as possible, there was once a time where I listened to none. That all changed when I discovered a little show called Retronauts which was dedicated to the games I grew up playing. Knowing there were other people out there who shared the same feeling of nostalgia and enthusiasm for retro games immediately made my a regular listener. Shortly thereafter, I realized just how little I knew about video games.The amount of obscure, retro game knowledge that Jeremy Parish and a rotating assortment of guests had was absolutely baffling to me, and drove me to research my hobby that much more as well as spurring an immediate interest to import games.</p>
<p>Because Retronauts tackles a fairly random topic or set of topics each episode, I often find myself going back through old shows to listen to ones I may have missed or simply want to listen to again. Also, with the addition of Active Time Babble in alternating weeks with Retronauts, there is no longer as much need to worry when the next episode will come out. While naming two podcasts for this award may seems a little questionable, I consider ATB to be a subsidiary podcast of Retronauts as it features many of the same people and shares the mostly evergreen topical nature.</p>
<p><img class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-7552" title="smodcast" src="http://www.castmedium.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/smodcast-200x200.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="200" /><strong>Erik &#8211; <a href="http://www.castmedium.com/tag/smodcast/">Smodcast</a></strong></p>
<p>You don’t have to like Kevin Smith as a director to enjoy the Smodcast, but you have to appreciate him as a storyteller, and as someone that wears his heart on his sleeve.  The Smodcast has been around since 2007, and Smith and his long-time producer Scott Mosier have covered incredibly personal ground; but in 2009, the show became a hilarious, and bizarely touching, character study of Smith’s dealing with the failure of his last movie, discovering inspiration through Wayne Gretzky, and learning how to direct someone else’s work for the first time.  Oh, and Mosier got a vasectomy.</p>
<p>No matter the subject, every episode was a hilarious hour or so with two incredibly intelligent and creative friends that should make you laugh out loud repeatedly…or offend you horribly.  Probably both.</p>
<p><strong><img class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-3408" title="Player One Podcast" src="http://www.castmedium.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/playeronepodcast-200x200.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="200" />Ross Adams &#8211; <a href="http://www.castmedium.com/tag/player-one-podcast/">Player One Podcast</a></strong></p>
<p>While I certainly agree with the Giant Bombcast being awarded Podcast of &#8217;09 I do also have a personal favourite that I would&#8217;ve liked to see in that spot. The Player One Podcast has been a must listen for me ever since an online friend introduced me to it. Sure it may not have the high production values that some podcasts these days have, with their expensive microphones and assorted gadgets, but it makes up for that with a ton of personality.</p>
<p>Like any great podcast, heck like any great entertainment show, the rapor the hosts have is what really makes the show shine. Chris Johnston, Phil Theobald and Greg Sewart have been doing the show for a number of years now and as such they all play off each other brilliantly. I&#8217;ll admit while I do find their game discussion interesting I&#8217;m often more interested in their tangential discussions and playful skits.</p>
<p>I can&#8217;t recall the last time I listened to an episode of Player One and didn&#8217;t literally laugh out loud at least once. Personally, this is what marks a good podcast in my eyes, one that goes beyond its subject matter and is just plain entertaining.</p>


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		<title>CastMedium Podcast Awards ‘09 &#8211; Readers&#8217; Choice</title>
		<link>http://www.castmedium.com/2010/01/01/castmedium-podcast-awards-%e2%80%9809-readers-choice/</link>
		<comments>http://www.castmedium.com/2010/01/01/castmedium-podcast-awards-%e2%80%9809-readers-choice/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 01 Jan 2010 17:15:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jonathan Downin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Features]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.castmedium.com/?p=7558</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Winner &#8211; Giant Bombcast (162 votes) Runner-up &#8211; Mobcast (73 votes) It seems like we weren&#8217;t alone in our choice of the Giant Bombcast as our favorite podcast of the year. The Mobcast made a comeback in the final days, but could not overcome the initial domination of the The Bombcast. Best podcast 2009(opinion) No [...]


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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-7561" title="Reader's choice" src="http://www.castmedium.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/podcastawards09-readerspick.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" />Winner &#8211; <a href="http://www.castmedium.com/tag/giant-bombcast/">Giant Bombcast</a> (162 votes)</p>
<p>Runner-up &#8211; <a href="http://www.castmedium.com/tag/mobcast/">Mobcast</a> (73 votes)</p>
<p>It seems like we weren&#8217;t alone in <a href="http://www.castmedium.com/2009/12/21/castmedium-podcast-awards-09/">our choice</a> of the Giant Bombcast as our favorite podcast of the year. The Mobcast made a comeback in the final days, but could not overcome the initial domination of the The Bombcast.</p>
<p><script src="http://static.polldaddy.com/p/2415937.js" type="text/javascript"></script><noscript><br />
<a href="http://answers.polldaddy.com/poll/2415937/">Best podcast 2009</a><span style="font-size:9px;">(<a href="http://answers.polldaddy.com">opinion</a>)</span><br />
</noscript></p>


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		<title>CastMedium Podcast Awards &#8217;09</title>
		<link>http://www.castmedium.com/2009/12/21/castmedium-podcast-awards-09/</link>
		<comments>http://www.castmedium.com/2009/12/21/castmedium-podcast-awards-09/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 21 Dec 2009 23:47:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Jonathan Downin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Features]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.castmedium.com/?p=7263</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In the spirit of game of the year awards, we have taken the opportunity to make some of our own type of picks&#8211; and of course ours are centered around podcasts. Although we cover game, tech and movie podcasts, the fact that all of the winners were gaming podcasts is purely coincidence. Since this is [...]


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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-7281" title="podcastawards09" src="http://www.castmedium.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/podcastawards09.jpg" alt="" width="600" height="250" /></p>
<p>In the spirit of game of the year awards, we have taken the opportunity to make some of our own type of picks&#8211; and of course ours are centered around podcasts. Although we cover game, tech and movie podcasts, the fact that all of the winners were gaming podcasts is purely coincidence.</p>
<p>Since this is the first year that we have done these awards, we started with a modest 5 categories. We spent a significant amount of time as a team discussing these picks, and you can get a feel for some of that discussion below.</p>
<p>Also, you can vote for your favorite podcast of the year in our <a href="http://www.castmedium.com/2009/12/21/podcast-of-the-year-reader-poll/">reader poll</a>. But before you do, check out the definitive CastMedium picks!</p>
<p><span id="more-7263"></span></p>
<p>&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;-</p>
<p><strong>Best Format:</strong></p>
<p>Format is one of the biggest hurdles that any successful podcast has to clear. With so many podcasts out there it can be hard to bring something truly fresh to the table, but that just what these podcasts have done.</p>
<p><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-7271 alignright" title="podcastawards09-format" src="http://www.castmedium.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/podcastawards09-format-200x133.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="133" />Winner &#8211; <a href="http://www.castmedium.com/tag/mobcast/">Mobcast</a></p>
<p>Runner-up &#8211; <a href="http://www.castmedium.com/tag/drunken-gamers-radio/">Drunken Gamers Radio</a></p>
<p>The Mobcast swept this one in our discussion. Everyone agreed that the Mobcast found an interesting approach in talking about games in a time when almost every other podcast was caught up in just talking about what they had been playing. They even managed to work their community in regularly in a unique way. Drunken Gamer Radio is also still able to makes things feel fresh after 4+ years.</p>
<p>&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;-</p>
<p><strong>Best Production:</strong></p>
<p>There are over 100,000 podcasts available in the iTunes store alone, and we would venture to guess that almost 90% of them have relatively poor production values. It&#8217;s not uncommon to find that even podcasts from big outlets sound bad, but the podcasts below will make you appreciate how good podcasts can sound and look.<strong><br />
</strong></p>
<p><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-7272 alignright" title="podcastawards09-production" src="http://www.castmedium.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/podcastawards09-production-200x133.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="133" />Winner &#8211; <a href="http://www.castmedium.com/tag/a-life-well-wasted/">A Life Well Wasted</a></p>
<p>Runner-up &#8211; <a href="http://www.castmedium.com/tag/co-op/">CO-OP</a></p>
<p>This was another easy one. Robert Ashley&#8217;s A Life Well Wasted represents the pinnacle of masterful production. It would be impossible to comprehend how 1 man can produce such quality if it weren&#8217;t for the long intervals between episodes. And CO-OP looks great on a weekly basis.</p>
<p>&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;-</p>
<p><strong>Best Opening Theme:</strong></p>
<p>Finding an opening theme to your podcast can be a daunting task. All too often, podcasters resort to generic techno or pre-packaged GarageBand tracks. These are the podcasts that have gone the extra mile.<strong><br />
</strong></p>
<p><strong><img class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-7277" title="podcastawards09-themesong" src="http://www.castmedium.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/podcastawards09-themesong-200x133.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="133" /></strong>Winner &#8211; <a href="http://www.castmedium.com/tag/rebel-fm/">Rebel FM</a></p>
<p>Runner-up &#8211; <a href="http://www.castmedium.com/tag/retronauts/">Retronauts</a></p>
<p>This category proved itself to be the trickiest to decide, but once we set a few guidelines, the choices quickly narrowed down. The Rebel FM theme is unique in that not only does the tone fit the attitude of the podcast, but it is also very specific and incorporates the podcast name successfully. Similarly, the Retronauts theme sends you right back to the 8-bit days.</p>
<p><em>Note:</em> Chris Wilson, composer of the Rebel FM theme, and his work can be found on <a href="http://www.myspace.com/barnstormer">MySpace</a>, <a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewArtist?id=260947459">iTunes</a> and <a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/barnstormersmusic">CD Baby</a>.</p>
<p>&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;-</p>
<p><strong>Best New Podcast 2009:</strong></p>
<p>As the medium continues to grow, there are new podcasts every year. Some are reinventions of old show, and some are completely new. These are the best new additions to the podcasting landscape over the past year.<strong><br />
</strong></p>
<p><strong><img class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-7278" title="podcastawards09-new" src="http://www.castmedium.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/podcastawards09-new-200x133.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="133" /></strong>Winner &#8211; <a href="http://www.castmedium.com/tag/rebel-fm/">Rebel FM</a></p>
<p>Runner-up &#8211; <a href="http://www.castmedium.com/tag/4-guys-1up/">4 Guys 1UP</a></p>
<p>Rebel FM was a fairly easy pick for top spot here. While it can be a rather divisive podcast, and it certainly is not all of our favorite, no one can deny the impact that it has had on the games podcast landscape. You would never know that this started as the spiritual successor to 1UP FM after the <a href="http://www.castmedium.com/2009/01/06/the-state-of-1up/">1UPacolypse</a>. Arthur, Anthony and Tyler have made it their own and cultivated a huge community.</p>
<p>4 Guys 1UP came from an unenviable position. After <a href="http://www.castmedium.com/2009/09/29/garnett-lee-becomes-editorial-director-of-gamefly-media/">Garnett Lee&#8217;s departure for Gamefly Media</a>, David Ellis was put in charge of creating a successor to the popular Listen/1UP Yours. He brought something fresh to the table with 4 Guys 1UP and is proving that he is up to the task.</p>
<p>&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;&#8212;-</p>
<p><strong>Best Podcast 2009:</strong></p>
<p>This is the best of the best. The podcast that makes us refresh our browsers and iTunes for hours on end, just in case it might have come out early.<strong><br />
</strong></p>
<p><strong><img class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-7279" title="podcastawards09-best" src="http://www.castmedium.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/podcastawards09-best-200x133.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="133" /></strong>Winner &#8211; <a href="http://www.castmedium.com/tag/giant-bombcast/">Giant Bombcast</a></p>
<p>Runner-up -</p>
<p>No runner-up here. This pick was so fervently unanimous that it felt right to have the Bombcast stand alone. The thing that sealed its top spot was that everyone agreed that this really is the only podcast that we will consistently listen to single episodes more than once. Funny, informative, off-topic and just a blast&#8211; it&#8217;s your weekly Bombcast. Cheers to Ryan, Jeff, Vinny and Brad.</p>


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