i don't think i understand the difference between podcasting and live streaming... can you enlighten, please?

The difference, in my limited knowledge, is that with streaming the broadcast is schedule dependent so that you usually need to be listening to the show online in real time. Or if it is archived, it is streamed in a proprietery audio format like Windows media or Real Audio, both which disallow saving to a local computer or playing back at any time. They're ephemeral, in a sense.

With podcasting, the audio is structured around the logic of RSS - subscribing to a feed and having your chosen podcast software downloading the content of the feed (much like a text RSS feed is used to download the text content of the subscribed sites). Importantly, the audio is downloaded as MP3 meaning that it is open to free use by the listener (to play on their computer, mp3 player, burn to CD etc)

It seems to have taken off in a grassroots sense - individuals creating special!st shows without the backing of a radio station, or media organisation ala blogging, zines etc...

Dorian gets Adam Curry Open Source - buggered if I know why. The RN ones are a safe bet. I love Phillip Adams LNL, but he's not to everyone's taste.

So far I've only heard geeky public radio educational stuff - which is pretty good really. Renaissance mathematics, the Terror, etc.

I've heard people say Dawn and Drew are funny, but not bothered to look for them yet. Let us know if you find any gems.

Mmm. The Night Air on RN is good in small doses. And the 9th June LNL has a cute chessnerd. I don't listen via 'pod but I know someone who does?

I've been listening on the train to work. BBC 'In Our Time' is good, that's the nerdy show Laura mentioned with topics like The Terror in Revolutionary France and Renaissance Mathematics; they are running a 'vote for your favourite philospher' poll which is fun.

Adam Curry (Daily Source Code) seems to be on the payroll of Apple's viral marketing division which is a worry; he is called 'the Podfather' which is also a worry. I listen to it nonetheless.

I get mashup of the week podcast which is pretty ordinary too.

A real winner for me is KCRW weekly podcast from the People Like Us radio show archive if you enjoy that kind of music.

'In Our Time' was actually the very first program I subscribed to but haven't yet listened to either of the two recent shows I downloaded. I will do so this week!

I've really liked the KCRW and NPR stuff I've got too. Excellent PT soundtrack :-)

Thanks everyone for recommendations, and don't be shy to pimp anything new and dazzling which you come across...