Aarron Walter

I’m ceaselessly amazed at the volumes of free podcasts one can get featuring top industry experts explaining all of the most critical topics of the web industry with eloquence and detail. Many major web conferences have begun providing podcasts and downloadable presentation slide decks to the general public. You just need to know where to find them. If you read the blogs of your favorite designers and developers, you’re likely to stumble across links to conference podcasts and slides. Aside from conferences, you can also find a host of other podcasts exploring all aspects of web design and development. Below I’ve assembled an extensive list of podcasts I have found exceptionally valuable, and can help you build your own listening library.

Conferences

• @Media Conference: many great speakers talking about important topics. Available in audio or video format
• d.Construct Conference: Put on by Clear:Left, great speakers like Jeremy Keith and Jeffrey Veen. Podcast
• South By Southwest Conference: Perhaps the most significant conference in our industry, their podcast features some interesting speakers. Podcast
• Web Direction South: This conference took place in Sydney, Australia and featured Jeremy Keith, Andy Clarke, and Thomas Vander Wal. Many of the presentation slide decks are available to download in addition to the podcasts. Podcast.
• Webmaster Jam Sessions: Cameron Moll’s “Essential Web Skills” is a must listen. Also featuring Eric Meyer, and Andy Budd among others. Podcast
• Web Essentials: Though the conference podcasts have gone MIA, Jeff Veen’s presentations are still available. The presentations are entitled “Beyond Usability: Designing the Complete User Experience” and “Designing for Web 2.0“
• The Future of Web Apps: Put on annually by Carson Workshops, this short conference explores the world of web application development, which has become one of the hottest topics on the web in the past two years. Speakers include Kevin Rose, Mike Arrington, David Hanimeier Hanson, Shaun Inman, and Tantek ?áelick among others. Summit 1 Podcast | Summit 1 Presentations | Summit 2 Podcasts | Summit 2 Presentations

Web Design and Development

• Boag World: Professionally produced by Paul Boag, covering a wide array of topics for the novice to mid-level designer as well as budding developers. Podcast
• Web 2.0 Show: Though a bit on the “Wayne’s World” side of production and professionalism, this podcast features an amazing line up of interviews with every major player in the industry. Podcast
• Vitamin: Produced by Carson Workshops, good interviews, great topics. Podcast
• The Practical Web Design Podcast: Also produced by Paul Boag of Boag World, this podcast is an extension of the print magazine of the same name. Though the magazine will no longer be printed, the podcast will live on. Podcast
• Web Standards With Imagination: Created by Yahoo! developer and JavaScript guru Dustin Diaz. He publishes both a podcast and a screencast
• Audible Ajax: With exceptionally knowledgeable hosts from Ajaxian.com and professional production values, this podcast, though infrequent, is a great way to become acquainted with Ajax and Dom scripting issues. Podcast
• AIGA Podcast: Though infrequent in releases, the AIGA podcast features interviews with some great designers. Podcast
• Pro PHP Podcast: Not for the faint of heart, this podcast is for knowledgeable developers but has a lot of detailed information about PHP development. Podcast
• The UI Design Podcast: Podcasts from a University of Michigan course on UI Design. Podcast
• Web Standards Group Podcast: Podcasts of meetings of this highly influential organization advocating Web Standards. Podcast
• Web Axe: One of the few podcasts focusing solely on Accessibility, this podcast offers advice on accessibility techniques as well as interviews with experts in the field. Podcast
• JavaScript Workshop: Not a podcast, but they’ve created a list of some of their favorite JavaScript podcasts that are filled with great speakers