Podcasts have become an incredibly popular way to dive deep into niche subjects and learn from experts in an easy, accessible audio format. This has led to an explosion of shows focused on the history of video games and speculation around future computer technologies.
With so many great options out there, it can be challenging to determine which gaming history and computer innovation podcasts are really worth your time. To help out, I‘ve highlighted 12 of the most informative, entertaining, and insightful podcasts on these topics.
1. Retronauts
Retronauts is one of the OG gaming history podcasts, launched in 2005 by long-time gaming journalist Jeremy Parish. The show features deep dives into classic consoles, influential developers, gaming eras, and franchise retrospectives.
With the enthusiastic Parish at the helm along with co-hosts like Bob Mackey and Ray Barnholt, Retronauts brings incredibly in-depth analysis of subjects like the rise and fall of Atari, the great years of Squaresoft RPGs, and golden ages of arcade gaming. It‘s a must-listen for fans of gaming history.
2. Game History Bytes
For bite-sized daily insights into notable gaming events throughout history, Game History Bytes can‘t be beat. Host Andrew Cross delivers a short 5-10 minute episode each day highlighting major product launches, game releases, company founding dates, and innovator births/deaths from gaming‘s past.
It serves as a wonderful introduction to the key moments and pioneers that have shaped video games year by year. The quick episodes make learning gaming history fun and accessible rather than an intimidating dive.
3. Game Changers
Hosted by gaming journalists Robyn Miller and (occasionally) Blake J. Harris, Game Changers features long-form interviews with video game designers, historians, and other industry veterans. They provide unique insights into the games that defined or disrupted genres, set sales records, sparked controversies, and changed the trajectory of the industry.
Standout episodes include conversations with SimCity creator Will Wright about the hits and misses over his career and an analyst breaking down why World of Warcraft captured lighting in a bottle. It‘s an insider‘s guide to gaming‘s evolutionary leaps.
4. Future Grind
For those more interested in where computers and technology are headed next, check out Future Grind. Hosts Byron Reese and Hunter Jensen invite on an array of entrepreneurs, Fortune 500 technology CEOs, and computer engineering PhDs to discuss bleeding edge advancements on the horizon.
Topics span quantum computing, AI and machine learning, augmented and virtual reality, cybersecurity, and other high tech disciplines. It‘s perfect for anyone that wants an insider view into technologies that could reshape life in the coming decades.
5. The Tomorrow Show
Hosted by long-time tech journalist Dominic Basulto, The Tomorrow Show interviews founders and CEOs of technology startups aiming to revolutionize areas like computing, robotics, biotech, energy, and materials.
Guests share insights into bleeding edge technologies their companies are developing, discuss milestones achieved so far, and speculate on future use cases that could emerge. It provides an upbeat, optimistic perspective on how scientific advancements can build a better tomorrow.
6. This Does Not Compute
For a humorous and irreverent take on the past and future of computing, tune into This Does Not Compute hosted by web developers Harrison Ferrone and Adam Conrad. They combine nostalgia for old devices and software with speculation about innovations that feel just around the corner.
Recent episodes have included everything from fond memories of the original Macintosh GUI to speculation on when fully immersive VR will take off. It‘s equal parts humor, analysis, and absurdist future-casting – great for listeners that don‘t take technology too seriously.
7. Gaming Archaeology
Gaming Archaeology offers a unique premise – using cutting edge emulators, mods, and other modern techniques to extract new insights from beloved old video games. Host Seth Robinson applies his tech expertise to titles as old as Zork and Mystery House to reveal hidden details and unused content left behind by original developers.
He also interviews expert modders to discuss their work updating the graphics, adding quests, or optimizing the performance of classic games like Doom, Myst, and more for modern systems. It brings out amazing secrets in old favorites through a technological lens most shows don‘t provide.
8. Game*Spark
Game*Spark, hosted by veteran games journalist Russ Fischer, offers audio documentaries on some of most revolutionary early arcade and home console titles that provided the sparks leading to gaming‘s explosive growth. By combining retrospective analysis with audio snippets of original interviews and promotional material, listeners can transport back to pivotal moments that forever changed the trajectory of the industry.
Recent highlight episodes have covered oft-forgotten but wildly influential games like 1978‘s Space Invaders, Nintendo‘s 1981 arcade hit Donkey Kong, and the immersive 1997 roleplaying revolution Diablo. It provides an audio time machine into games that served as evolutionary mileposts for the entire medium.
9. Silicon Valley Insiders
Led by veteran tech journalist Michelle Quinn, Silicon Valley Insiders includes interviews with engineers, programmers, designers, founders, CEOs, and investors at the heart of Silicon Valley and beyond. They pull back the curtains on the cutting edge computing advancements and startup ideas percolating behind the scenes that will shape industries in the years ahead.
Produced in partnership with the Graduate School of Computer and Cyber Sciences at the Naval Postgraduate School, it focuses heavily on the future of cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, immersive tech, and autonomous systems with insights you won‘t find anywhere else.
10. Moonshots
Hosted by economist and scholar Nitin Rakesh, Moonshots examines far out research and emerging technologies that sound like science fiction but could reshape human capabilities in coming decades. Areas covered include advances in quantum and optical computing, commercial space exploration, augmented and virtual reality, autonomous AI and robotics systems, genomics, and more.
By interviewing the leading startup founders, Fortune 500 research labs leads, and academic pioneers across these disciplines, the show provides unique insights into tomorrow’s innovations today. It’s perfect for future focused technophiles.
11. The Futures Podcast
Led by digital anthropologist Amy Webb, bestselling author of ‘The Signals Are Talking‘ and founder of the Future Today Institute, The Futures Podcast provides deep analysis into emerging trends and scenarios shaping the next decade across technology, business, government, entertainment and more.
Webb is all about providing frameworks for turning signals of change into strategic foresight. Episodes focus heavily on the ethical challenges and unanticipated consequences that new innovations like advanced AI, crypto networks, biotech and hyperconnectivity will introduce into business and society. It‘s vital listening for anyone interested in or impacted by computing‘s fast arriving future.
12. Emerging Tech Podcast
Hosted by long-time tech leaders Jason Lopez and Shelly Palmer, the aptly named Emerging Tech Podcast highlights technological breakthroughs across industries including computing, blockchain, AI, quantum information systems, synthetic biology, 3D printing, nanotech, 5G and smart networks.
Guests from these fields discuss specific innovations at their own companies along with reflecting on the business and social implications of technologies moving from theoretical to commercially viable. It provides concise 25-30 minute snapshots into the latest milestones, investment trends, and future-forward applications being built today.
As this lineup of shows demonstrates, podcasts are a phenomenal medium for deep exploration of niche technology topics like video game history and future computing innovations. They make this learning available in easy-to-digest audio installments rather than dense textbooks or expensive in-person conferences.
The hosts and expert guests on each of these shows also clearly have infectious enthusiasm for these subjects, making the shows genuinely enjoyable rather than dry academic lectures. Whether you’re interested in understanding computing’s past or taking a peek at innovations on the horizon, these podcasts offer amazing insights you simply won‘t find anywhere else.
With so many great options to check out, there’s never been a better time to use podcasts as your guide into the exciting worlds of gaming history and emerging technologies redefining what computers can achieve in the decades ahead.
I hope this list provides some fresh podcast recommendations to listeners already fans of these subjects or serves as inspiration for those looking to explore these topics for the first time.
What other gaming history or computer tech podcasts have you enjoyed that didn‘t make my list? Let me know on Twitter – I‘m always looking for compelling new shows to add to my playback queue!
