We have an opportunity to learn wherever we go, and yet many of us don’t take advantage of this fact. Most of us have smartphones, or another device that can access the Internet, and podcasts are a great way to learn something due to their versatility.
You can listen to them while you’re working out, when you’re gaming, at school, at work, during a drive, when you’re pretending to listen to a family member talk about politics, and so on.
Fortunately, for those interested in data science, finding the right data science podcast is a great way to learn more.
Why is a data science podcast important?
In this article, we’re going to teach you more about data science podcasts.
Podcasts are great tools to gain knowledge. As mentioned before, they are versatile – you can take them with you wherever you go.
Also, there is a podcast for any learning level. If you’re new to the subject, there are podcasts that can ease you into it. If you have experience in the field, you can find podcasts that challenge you or give you information even you weren’t familiar with.
You can stream the podcasts directly from your phone, or download or listen to them later. The latter is great if your data plan isn’t the best or if you’re in an area that has no service.
Data science and podcasts: the right mix
Data science is a field where you need to stay updated if you want to succeed.
The field has more changes than a celebrity’s wardrobe. And the bottom line is: those who wish to excel will need to keep up.
It’s an extreme example, but sometimes, the relevancy of what you learn can change in a manner of weeks. Imagining learning something about data science, focusing on that alone for a good while, and then learn that it’s no longer relevant. That would be quite a pain. And yet it happens, making it a frustrating subject for many to keep up with.
However, if you manage to stay informed, you can be in for a rewarding career. Therefore any data science podcast, which usually airs weekly, is a great way to keep you updated.
The community needs help
Data scientists don’t really like to share their information that often.
It’s a competitive field, so it’s understandable while some want to keep their secrets. Also, the data science is a busy field, so many don’t have the time, energy, or interest to make a podcast, let alone a data science podcast.
However, those who are willing to share what they know about their careers, or the field in general, are valuable people.
Of course, the community needs to support those who willing to create podcasts.
If no one is listening, it would be like a person talking in an empty room. Eventually, they’d lose interest.
There are different ways to support a podcaster. Some will have their podcasts for purchase. Others will have free downloads with an advertisement. By checking out the product they offer, you can support the podcast.
Then there are some who use crowdfunding websites like Patreon. By supporting them on Patreon, you can usually listen to premium content, such as bonus episodes.
As a community, we should all listen to the experiences of one another. Not everyone is going to take the same path as the person recording the podcast, but you may get a general idea of where to go, and where to avoid.
The most important thing is that you can also learn from other’s mistakes (without having to suffer them yourself) and be able to prepare yourself for the future.
The portability and comfort of podcasts
How awesome is it that you can listen to a podcast through your phone or similar device?
Phones are already in your pocket, they fit there comfortably, and with items such as Bluetooth headphones, listening to them is even easier.
Here are a few examples of places when where you can listen to a podcast:
- During a run. Don’t let the runner’s high distract you, though.
- During a commute. Listen on the bus, train, or through the speakers of your car.
- While waiting at the doctor’s office or similar place.
- While you’re working, or during your break.
- On a plane ride. If you don’t have plane Wi-Fi, you can always download and listen then.
These are just a few examples. And they are easy to keep up with, too. Most podcasts are only a few hours long, and they come out weekly.
You can easily chip away at the podcast over the week, or listen in one longer session. If you can keep up, you can increase the speed of the podcast to get through it easier. A Data Science podcast can quickly become extremely technical, so make sure you have the time and disposition to go through them.
Also, remember that podcasts tend to be comfortable.
At some point, once you get invested in the person talking, and every week, hearing their voice is refreshing, it feels like an old friend giving you advice – and what could be better?
What should I listen to?
The biggest question if you’re getting into data science podcasts is wondering what the best podcast is.
It’s hard to endorse one over the other. People have different needs and are on different skill levels. There are podcasts appearing all the time, and like data science itself, it’s hard to keep up with.
However, we can provide a few ones to start you off with, including:
Data skeptic, as the name implies, looks at data news through the lens of scientific skepticism. In other words, they remain neutral while they present the facts. It’s a great way to obtain some objective information on data science. Most episodes are quite short as well. An average episode is around 20-40 minutes, so it’s quite easy to listen to an episode and see if you like it.
This podcast is one for the speculators.
It goes into talk about philosophy and the future of data. Unfortunately, there aren’t too many episodes, and the podcast has appeared to have gone on hiatus as of their last episode in September 2017, but check back for regular updates.
If more people support it, it will give an incentive for Partially Derivative to return. Like Data Skeptic, episodes are short as well.
This podcast is for those who are serious about the data science world.
With almost 150 episodes, there’s quite a backlog to enjoy, and episodes can range anywhere from 5 minutes (Five Minute Friday’s) to an hour.
It’s biggest value for listeners, is it’s career focus through a it’s laid back and casual approach to learning from others experiences.
With various voices in the data science community giving advice, The Super Data Science Podcast is a great podcast to stay informed.
The podcast is free to listen to, but the website has a paid subscriptions that gives you more benefits, including case studies, courses, and homework.
In summary
The podcasting world is a godsend for many data scientists, whether you’re serious about the field or just have an interest. Their portability, and their ability to make many voices in the community be heard, make them a valuable learning tool. Most of them update weekly, making it great for a career that is always changing and evolving (and you know it’s best to keep up with it).
If you haven’t checked out some of these podcasts, what are you waiting for?
There’s a podcast that’s a fit for your interests, and even if it isn’t, you can still learn something new. And since most people listen to podcasts while they’re doing something else, you have absolutely nothing to lose. Download or stream a data science podcast today, and see what it can do for you. You may find yourself wanting to tune back in each week.