12 Podcasts Tech Leaders Rely On To Keep Up With Industry News

Working in an industry that evolves on a daily basis, tech leaders need to find reliable sources for keeping up with news, trends and developments—all without eating up too much of their valuable time. A podcast can be an excellent way for even the busiest tech exec to keep up with industry news when they’re traveling, working out or just relaxing.

Fortunately, there is a wide variety of tech-focused podcasts that cover everything from quick updates to deep dives into specific topics. Here, 12 members of Forbes Technology Council share their favorite tech podcasts and why they’ve become loyal fans.

1. The 411 Podcast

The 411 Podcast by The Information is a great news source reporting on current events in technology. The discussions offer quality interviews on important topics and good insights into how decision makers at the biggest tech companies in the industry think. – Mikael Berner, Edison

2. a16z Podcast

I enjoy a16z Podcast, produced by Andreessen Horowitz, a venture capital firm. It covers what is new and innovative, and I love that it also discusses tech in the context of culture, trends in business and the news. The future is shaped by many factors, and this perspective comes across loud and clear in a16z Podcast. – Olga V. Mack, Parley Pro

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3. Acquired

I enjoy Acquired, by Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal. It is energizing to see the paths taken by the founders, operators and investors of some of the world’s greatest tech companies, as well as the critical decisions they made and the decision processes and tenets that led to great outcomes. The podcast covers both the origins of institutions shaping the tech landscape today and new trends that may do so in the future. – Anurag Gupta, Shoreline.io

4. CISO Series Podcast

CISO Series Podcast, hosted by David Spark, Mike Johnson and Andy Ellis, is my go-to podcast for information on cybersecurity topics. The interviews and discussions with industry leaders cover an ever-changing variety of topics. Participants share great thoughts on common security and leadership challenges, challenges in dealing with vendors and ways to improve relationships within the industry. – Ross McNaughton, Gulf Bank

5. Coding Blocks

Despite not being a developer myself, my work obliges me to understand the trends and changes in this area. The Coding Blocks podcast, hosted by Michael Outlaw, helps me a lot with this. The monthly releases talk about software design best practices and cover processes, design patterns, database implementation and lots of programming tips. – Vasily Voropaev, Smartbrain.io

6. Data Bytes

Data Bytes, hosted by Sadie St. Lawrence, founder of the nonprofit group Women in Data, showcases both encouraging stories from data and AI professionals as well as the latest industry trends and best practices. – Soledad Alvarez del Sel, Baufest

7. The Defiant

I am into cryptocurrency and blockchain right now, and there are several good podcasts on the topic. The one I like the most is The Defiant. Host Camila Russo knows all the top players in the industry (such as Vitalik Buterin, the inventor of Ethereum), and she brings the OGs to her show. It is great to hear directly from those who are living blockchain on a daily basis. – Mercedes Soria, Knightscope

8. The Engadget Podcast

I’m a fan of The Engadget Podcast because it quickly and easily answers my questions about what’s going on in technology. I like that it is targeted at all people who work in tech, so it doesn’t get too technical for me. The hosts, Devindra Hardawar and Cherlynn Low, are knowledgeable and engaging, which makes listening enjoyable instead of difficult or boring when you’re trying to keep up with all the news out there! – John Giordani, NCheng LLP

9. Finovate

I love starting my day with the Finovate podcast, hosted by Greg Palmer. The interview-based format coupled with seven-minute demos really allows guests to demonstrate the products and ideas that drive their success. As an executive, it’s critical to get exposure to innovative ideas outside of your own window of expertise. – Joshua Pantony, Boosted.ai

10. How I Built This

Podcasts enable me to consume information while commuting. My favorite podcast is How I Built This, hosted by Guy Raz. It gives a behind-the-scenes look at how successful entrepreneurs created their companies. Being able to see tech leaders’ journeys, including the obstacles that arose and how they successfully circumvented them, has often given me insight into challenges that I face within my own business. – Nicholas Domnisch, EE Solutions

11. In Machines We Trust

If you’re into machine learning, I suggest checking out In Machines We Trust. The podcast is hosted by Jennifer Strong and features an experienced team from MIT Technology Review. They cover plenty of exciting topics on AI and ML. My favorite part of the show is when they talk about breakthrough technology and how business owners will make use of these tools in the months and years to come. – Thomas Griffin, OptinMonster

12. Masters Of Scale

I love Reid Hoffman’s Masters of Scale, which focuses on tech startup executives and their journeys and lessons on scaling businesses. It is informative to hear about the simple things that made big differences in the guests’ companies as well as the big challenges they faced in the journey of scaling up that we may not have been aware of. – Srikrishnan Ganesan, Rocketlane Corp.