Want to know how innovations are changing the world? These five shows will give you the regular updates you need.
99% Invisible
A gem of a podcast largely funded by its listeners. Anchored in design, 99% Invisible shares 15-minute stories about the many human-made things around us we tend to take for granted. The history of white bread, for example. Or elevators. Or high-heeled shoes. Each episode is accompanied by a blog post offering text and video in addition to the audio.
Global Business
The focus here is industry, but you’ll find ample coverage of issues relating to innovation. It’s rather traditional BBC fare so don’t expect too many radical ideas or gee-whiz audio games. But it does offer clear, in-depth storytelling. The BBC has a huge archive of episodes. The one on pencils is especially recommended.
SciDevNet
Although the main SciDevNet offices are in London, the company has six regional desks based around the world; justifiably, it claims to be the world’s leading news source on science and technology for global development. It offers a range of multimedia resources, and the monthly podcast covers everything from open-mapping to “flying donkey” drones.
Gin and Innovation
Brighton-based innovation nerds Georgina Voss and Justin Pickard sit around and chat about things they’re interested in each month. Sometimes with a friend. And often with gin. It can ramble some and come off a bit academic–one of the few podcasts which comes with a bibliography–but it’s clear, charming, and offers ideas about the future that can be hard to find elsewhere.
Click
Previously known as Digital Planet, Click’s been running for over a decade. The focus is computers and digital technology, but it is a lot more than gadget reviews. Presented by Gareth Mitchell with expert commentary from Bill Thompson, the show offers a balance of hope and cynicism. A product of the BBC World Service, it is also refreshingly global in scope. Much, much more than what’s hot in Silicon Valley.
How We Get To Next was a magazine that explored the future of science, technology, and culture from 2014 to 2019. This article is part of our Fast Forward section, which examines the relationship between music and innovation. Click the logo to read more.
