Reposting a comment I made in the comments on the East Meets West blog:
Congratulations on the 100!
I’ve been listening to both of you guys independently for a few years now, but only just started listening to East Meets West a few episodes back. I like it because you guys are obviously two intellectuals who get along who talk about interesting things. For me, a weird high school student, that’s appealing.
I’ve got a few words about podcasting. I listen to 21 podcasts right now. Yeah, it’s a lot, but I actually feel like they supplement my (sometimes crappy, public) education. I listen to a slew of technology shows, which are usually for my entertainment, but I *do* get something out of them. Different than the TWiTs and Diggnations, there are educational shows like Security Now! and MacBreak Tech, which teach me things that no person in my small town could.
Besides the techie aspect, I receive a lot from the podcasts I listen to. I listen to the Financial Aid Podcast, which gives me information about saving money, economic news, and finding scholarships for when I get into a college next year. I listen to Grammar Girl’s podcast, something that I’m convinced helped my writing SAT score, and other shows about GTD (Getting Things Done) and other useful life practices. I also listen to shows about marketing, even though I hate advertising (I’m Ricky the ad-hater on BOL, by the way). I just think the information is very important.
The shows are entertaining. Take, let’s say, This American Life, for instance. It’s a repurposed radio show from Chicago Public Radio, for those who don’t know, and it’s one of the most thought provoking pieces of audio I’ve ever heard. Quickly, it’s become my favorite things to listen to.
Sure, this has deteriorated into me plugging shows I like, but I think my point is still valid. The independent media in podcasting is, in my experience, widely entertaining, educational, and inspiring. And yes, the corporate shows are sometimes great too - Buzz Out Loud is an example of this. For me, a student trying to get ahead, it’s a great alternative to television. So, to spite any advertising troubles, I hope the medium keeps flourishing.
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