My favorite podcasts

Update: 4/25/2014
It's been almost a year since I've written this list. I thought it would be nice to add some new favorites. I still listen to everything listed last year so it's still a good list.

Here are new podcasts that I've discovered in 2014:

• Let's Get Busy Podcast hosted by Matthew Winner (twitter @MatthewWinner) - This podcast should be mandatory listening to anyone who wants to write and illustrate picture books. Matthew Winner interviews authors and illustrators about the process of creating books. Matthew adds on his perspective as an elementary teacher librarian. THIS is what makes this podcast so unique and priceless to me. I listen to a ton of podcast where you hear artists talking to other artists or authors talking to industry people. It is such a nice change to hear what teachers and kids think about books. I feel like I'm getting a masters education on picture book making by listening to this podcast.

• Gallery Nucleus Podcast  A great podcast where illustrators/animators/artists are interviewed.

• Erasable - A podcast by and for those who love wooden pencils - An obsessive appreciation of wooden pencils. I love it. It's not uncommon for me to go out and buy new pencils after listening to this show.

• Home Work - A weekly podcast for people who work from home. A lot of practical advice about the practicalities of having a home office. 

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The one thing that I have to have while working is something to listen to. I find that my mind wanders and it just gets lonely if I try to work in silence.

I have two listening modes:

Mode 1-- Thinking mode
If I have to really concentrate to sketch out ideas or to work out a layout of a book, I need music. Not only any kind of music, but something droning and repetitive that I will loop over and over again. These days, the opening theme for Game of Thrones is my preferred song that I play on repeat. (Because of this my kid hums the Game of Thrones song. I keep on telling people that I don't let him watch the show.)

Coffivity - Another thing I listen to when I have to think is the coffee shop noise from Coffivity. It sounds really silly but it really works to help you focus.

 Mode 2-- Production mode 
When I'm painting for looooong hours, I listen to podcasts. I love listening to conversation and the idea that I'm learning things while working. Over the years I've collected quite a few shows so here's my list:

Podcasts about Illustration/Comics:

• Concept Art & Illustration: Chris Oatley's ArtCast
• Paperwings Podcast
• Escape from Illustration Island Podcast
• Make It Then Tell Everybody
• Your Dreams My Nightmares
• Big Illustration Party Time
• Comics Are Great!
• Lean Into Art
• Man vs. Art

Podcasts about Creativity/Productivity

• Back to Work You should especially listen to the first 12 episodes.
• On Taking Pictures This podcast is one of my favorites right now.
• The New Disruptors

Podcasts about Tech Stuff:

• CMD+Space
• The Big Web Show
• Amplified
• Accidental Tech Podcast
• Mac Power Users
• The Talk Show with John Gruber
• Enough- The Podcast
• The Apple Artist - a podcast where digital artists talk about their tech tools for making art. Note: I am a guest on in the most recent 2 episodes of this podcast.

Podcasts about Stuff:

• Radiolab from WNYC
• The Pen Addict  This podcast about pens is hands-down my very favorite podcast right now.
• Generational
• Stuff You Missed In History Class
• The Splended Table
• Quit!

I'm always looking for new podcasts to listen to so please write down any suggestions you have in the comments!