Podcast Picks

If you see me walking down Sinclair Avenue in the wee hours it is not Charlie Hunter or Sharon Jones in my headphones. My Ipod is crammed with podcasts - audio and video content from anyone and everyone.

Here are some of my favorites. I link to the website for each, but all are available via Itunes (except where noted).

The Slate Political Gabfest is a Friday AM ritual for me. Thirty minutes of political banter from a core group of Slate contributors.

My buddy Steve controls all media in Memphis and uses his excellent Book Talk podcast as the vehicle to reach his flock (download or RSS from website).

China Business Blog and Podcast is the best English language resource for information on business dealings in China. Front line insights and great guests and interviews.

Atlanta's own Valerie Jackson podcasts here Between the Lines radio show each week. Excellent interviews with fiction and non-fiction authors.

Q&A and After Words. Two C-SPAN staples. Usually post a few days after the Sunday broadcasts on TV.

History According to Bob is a daily 8-20 minute overview of some facet of history, from the Wild West to the 5th Italian War. This surely has a cult following.

Travels with Rick Steves. Rick's podcast covers world travel with the tone and humor of his European travel guides.

Special mention for the audio edition of the Economist. This is a word-for-word reading of the entire content of the magazine by professional voices.

Full List - The Best Travel Gadgets of 2009 - TIME

Full List - The Best Travel Gadgets of 2009 - TIME

Latest on the Sandwich

The ranks of multi-generational caregivers, adults simultaneously supporting their children and aging parents or other family members, are bulging. Communispace recently release a new study, The Sandwich Situation, that addresses this growing phenomena.

The study's many insights include:

• The sandwich is a situation, not a generation. Caregivers can be in their 20’s or in their 60’s, and the challenges they face span incomes and geographies. The sandwich is not a sandwich.

• The “squeeze” is notexerted or experienced equally. People are not stressed because they’re caring for kids and parents, it’s because they’re caring for parents and in-laws, period.

• The “burden” carries intrinsic rewards. Despite the stresses, caring for elderly relatives has many intrinsic rewards—moral clarity, a sense of purpose, teaching opportunities, moments of surprising joy, and a deep appreciation from those receiving the care.

• There is a huge unmet need for products and services that help care for aging parents now and in the future. While there are myriad offerings to help consumers plan for their own retirement and the care and education of their children, there are relatively few resources.

• to prepare for the inevitable responsibility of caring for the aging population. Brands—even those not associated with serving the aged—can do much, much more to capitalize on the support and comfort they already provide, and to provide it in new ways.