What I Listen To, part 2

My friend Eric Durso asked in a comment on the first post in this series how and when I listen to these podcasts. Before I move on to the next post in this series, I decided to answer those important questions so you could understand the context in which I listen to the podcasts I listen to and endorse.

My wife and some friends and family got me an iPod Classic for my birthday in 2007. Since then, I've consistently listened to thousands of sermons, most of them via podcasts. I had a cable installed in our Toyota Corolla that connects with our stereo, which is mp3 enabled. This way, I've been able to plug in my iPod and listen to podcasts while in the car. Almost all the time that I'm in the car by myself, I'm listening to a podcast. Depending on the semester, I spend a considerable amount of time driving to and from Biola University, which gives me about twenty minutes one way to listen to podcasts.

The other times in my life that I get a good chunk of listening time in is when I'm doing certain tasks around the apartment like washing the dishes or doing laundry. If I'm washing the dishes, I have the iPod in the docking station. When I'm doing the laundry, I normally have headphones on. I also sometimes listen to podcasts in my office at church. If I'm disciplined and am working out, that is another good time to listen to podcasts.

A caution needs to be noted here. There have been times where I have listened to podcasts too much and have ignored or drowned out Amy and/or Alice. This is not a good thing. I have to remind myself when it is appropriate and helpful to listen to podcasts and when it is inappropriate and unhelpful to be listening to podcasts. It is rare that listening to podcasts at home when the family together is a helpful thing.

What I Listen To, part 1

I have wanted to do this series for a long time, but just haven't started (is that the theme of this blog?). So today I was listening to a podcast and the content spurred me to just get something started, hoping that momentum would be started!

The series will focus on all the podcasts that I listen to on my iPod. Today I'll start alphabetically.

The Briefing

The Briefing is hosted by Dr. Albert Mohler, President of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. I used to listen to the Albert Mohler Program until it ended last year. The Briefing is "a daily analysis of news and events from a Christian worldview." The podcast is updated every weekday morning and covers relevant news from the day or days before. It usually lasts 12-15 minutes and camps out on several topics. Recently, those topics have been Libya, the Middle East, and the US economy. Although Dr. Mohler usually talks about some of the main headlines that would appear in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian and other major newspapers, he often finds smaller topics that are not covered well or thoroughly by the press. As you would assume, he also covers news about churches, denominations, missions and legal proceedings regarding religious liberty.

I find the podcast to be helpful, giving me a good summary of some major domestic and world events as I start my day. Dr. Mohler does more than just report; he analyzes and digs deeper than facts and opinions to the worldview behind the news. He is a keen observer of culture and does a balanced job at trying to see things from other points of view.

Today's podcast was especially helpful in dealing with the Florida Koran burning and the continuing repercussions in Afghanistan. Take 15 minutes and listen to it.

Hopefully this series of posts will help you find some good content for your iPod. If it does, let me know and spread the word. Share some of your favorite podcasts in the comment section below.

Next time, I'll share about Dr. Mohler's other podcast, Thinking in Public.