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Ask HN: Favorite Podcast Episode of 2020?

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Re: Ask HN: Favorite Podcast Episode of 2020?

#71
My absolute favorite of this year is in my native tounge Swedish and is about fires in our perhaps dystopian future: https://podd.app/podcast/p3-dystopia/brandernas-tidsalder

On second place, it got to be Notpetya, by Darknet Diaries (https://podd.app/podcast/darknet-diaries/54-notpetya). Technically released in late december 2019, but I listened to it in januari 2020. It's about Notpetya, the virus/worm that attacked a country in 2017.

Re: Ask HN: Favorite Podcast Episode of 2020?

#72
Fairly off topic for HN, but this is my honest answer.

The Bugle: Spready Mercury. I’ve listened to the bugle since 2008 and hearing John oliver on it again gave me hope that there are still good things that can happen in spite of all of the chaos that’s going on in the world right now.

Re: Ask HN: Favorite Podcast Episode of 2020?

#73
post #17

Hardcore History: Supernova in the East, part 5. It's about Japan during the second world war and there's something about the absolutely insane Japanese mentality that lead civilians to commit mass suicide that captivated me. The whole series, and really the whole of Hardcore History is absolutely amazing and even if you think you don't like history you absolutely should give it a try. Blueprint of Armageddon is stil…

I'm a big fan too, but beware of his pretty bog standard reading of history. For instance, he makes plenty of insinuations in the Supernova series about how the US basically had to nuke Japan because they were so fanatical.

Here's a thoroughly nuanced analysis of the causes and motivations leading to the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki: https://youtu.be/RCRTgtpC-Go

Re: Ask HN: Favorite Podcast Episode of 2020?

#74
post #17

Hardcore History: Supernova in the East, part 5. It's about Japan during the second world war and there's something about the absolutely insane Japanese mentality that lead civilians to commit mass suicide that captivated me. The whole series, and really the whole of Hardcore History is absolutely amazing and even if you think you don't like history you absolutely should give it a try. Blueprint of Armageddon is stil…

Dan Carlin's podcasts are my goto for crazy long (18-24 hour) car trips.

Re: Ask HN: Favorite Podcast Episode of 2020?

#75

Fairly off topic for HN, but this is my honest answer. The Bugle: Spready Mercury. I’ve listened to the bugle since 2008 and hearing John oliver on it again gave me hope that there are still good things that can happen in spite of all of the chaos that’s going on in the world right now.

Wow, I was an enthusiastic Bugle listener years ago and it fell off my radar. Zaltzman and Oliver's comedic chemistry is nearly unmatched in podcasting. Going to listen now, thank you for mentioning it!

Re: Ask HN: Favorite Podcast Episode of 2020?

#76
post #14

I loved this interview Lex Fridman had with George Hotz. He's very opinionated original thinker with the credentials to back it up. He runs comma.ai, sellers of a device that can plug into many cars and drive for you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwcYp-XT7UI&list=PLrAXtmErZg...

Loved the episodes with Jim Keller [0] and Brian Kernighan [1] as well. Lex really does a great show and has amazing guests.

[0]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nb2tebYAaOA

[1]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9upVbGSBFo

Re: Ask HN: Favorite Podcast Episode of 2020?

#77
post #60

A Grenfell Story, spoken poetry about the fire. I had no idea who George the Poet is, this episode completely floored me. https://www.scpr.org/programs/snap-judgment/2020/03/11/78074...

If you like that story, I also enjoyed the rest of George the Poet's podcast, "Have you heard george's podcast?"

https://www.georgethepoet.com/podcast-library

Re: Ask HN: Favorite Podcast Episode of 2020?

#79
post #2

Mine is Acquired’s overview of SpaceX: https://overcast.fm/+FaxmmY8Jw . It was done right before the first Crew Dragon launch. They do such a great job of digging into a company’s history and the business model that powers them.

100% agree with SpaceX, mine 2nd would be Pinduoduo and how revenue and cash held can be completely different and how advanced China is many areas (like logistics) compared to the west. https://www.acquired.fm/episodes/pinduoduo

Re: Ask HN: Favorite Podcast Episode of 2020?

#80
post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm a big fan too, but beware of his pretty bog standard reading of history. For instance, he makes plenty of insinuations in the Supernova series about how the US basically had to nuke Japan because they were so fanatical.

Here's a thoroughly nuanced analysis of the causes and motivations leading to the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki: https://youtu.be/RCRTgtpC-Go

This is an excellent documentary. Skipping ahead to the “Discussion” section and watching through to the end gives a good summary, and it certainly opened my mind. Thanks for sharing, I’m probably going to go back and watch the whole thing.
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