Do you listen to podcasts?

Newstalks Travel Show on a Tuesday evening..

Podcasts are a fantastic medium. I still find it a mystery why they haven't yet had a big breakthrough moment that allows them to become fully mainstream. As big and all as Serial was pods are still relatively niche; most people I know don't listen to any at all, though that number is falling all the time.

Going back to the OP: I wouldn't be put off by the experience of coming up against random musings of people talking crap. There's a danger of that in a lot of pods. The type of media it is can often draw people who are tragically fond of the sound of their own voice and some shows can consist of people just shooting their mouths off because they are, so, like utterly hilarious - American Pop Culture related shows can be chronic for this, so watch out.

There's more freedom in Podcasting and that's usually a strength, but it can also be a weakness: people can be too self-indulgent and there can be too much talk sometimes for too little organization and knowledge. There's usually a good podcast for nearly every conceivable subject under the sun, but you do have to listen first; if you can't get past the style or presenters than it may be a lost cause, no matter how much interest you may have in the subject.

As for actual recommendations. God, I wouldn't know where to start! Well, considering you started with the Empire podcast, I would recommend Filmspotting - Great show: knowledgeable hosts, interesting segments and polished and professional. The best in the business, if you ask me. I'd also vouch for The Last Picture Show - Solid film criticism and film history on that one. Overall, you won't be stuck for new film related shows to listen to. One warning though: I see a lot of people have bigged up Kermode and Mayo and it is a popular and well put together show, but I can not stand it. I listened to it for years and now the only thing that I might bother with are the actual film reviews, which are still great, but they make up a small enough portion of the show. The rest is given over to in-jokes and backslapping and it does my nut in.

I think Radiolab is a great podcast to explore, if you want to branch out into shows about science/current affairs/human interest whatever. The hosts are very likeable and the shows are always fascinating, even if they don't always initially promise to be.