Podcasts Hacker News recommends
Every podcast episode in the HackerTube list, best-scored first. The score counts the number of different months in which someone on HN recommended it, so a podcast episode people kept coming back to for years outranks one viral thread.
- 12 HN recommenders 10 months 2021–2024HN recommends it repeatedly to people struggling with motivation, distraction or phone and internet addiction, as a science-based guide to dopamine.
- 10 HN recommenders 9 months 2017–2025Commenters offer it as a fascinating, accessible introduction to the world of fungi whenever mushrooms or mycelium come up.
- 7 HN recommenders 9 months 2020–2023HN commenters strongly recommend it as an audiobook-length, deeply informative introduction to Sumer and early Mesopotamian civilization.
- 12 HN recommenders 9 months 2018–2020HN readers recommend it as an accessible, motivating summary of Why We Sleep for people who will not read the book.
- 7 HN recommenders 7 months 2021–2024HN users repeatedly credit it with fixing their sleep, especially its advice on morning light and dimming lights in the evening.
- 7 HN recommenders 6 months 2022–2023HN commenters say it convinced them to quit or cut down on drinking, and point to it as a more comprehensive treatment than most articles.
- Peter Thiel on "The Portal", Episode #001: "An Era of Stagnation & Universal Institutional Failure."8 HN recommenders 7 months 2019–2024HN people recommend it as a thought-provoking, wide-ranging case for the stagnation thesis, worth hearing even if you disagree with Thiel.
- 6 HN recommenders 5 months 2020–2021Praised as a long but rewarding conversation, with commenters especially liking Bach's emphasis on modelling as a skill and his bridge between mind and computation.
- 8 HN recommenders 6 months 2020–2022HN commenters send people here for a detailed first-hand account from the pilot, and some say it changed their view on the sightings.
- 6 HN recommenders 6 months 2019–2023HN people cite it as insight into how Twitter thought about moderation, and as a source for Tim Pool's arguments about uneven enforcement.
- 6 HN recommenders 6 months 2018–2023T Tim Ferriss · podcast episodeHN recommends it as a thoughtful, honest look at the causes of addiction and depression, and as a deeper Mate interview than most.
- 7 HN recommenders 5 months 2019–2026HN recommends it for Hotz's reasoning on cameras versus lidar and for an opinionated, original thinker's overview of comma and openpilot.
- 5 HN recommenders 6 months 2020–2023HN recommends it as the full account of the lab mice issue and evolutionary tradeoffs between cancer and longevity, despite its length.
- 7 HN recommenders 5 months 2020–2021B Bret Weinstein · podcast episodeHN commenters shared it in 2020 and 2021 as an early, in-depth presentation of the lab-leak case, though it is a contested viewpoint.
- 5 HN recommenders 5 months 2019–2023HN refers to it as the direct first-person account from the pilot in UFO and UAP threads, though some find it unconvincing.
- 3 HN recommenders 5 months 2018–2025M Michael McGrath · podcast episodeHN recommends it as a good, condensed way to experience Neuromancer when short on time.
- 4 HN recommenders 4 months 2018–2020Commenters in climate and impact-event threads send people to Carlson's Rogan appearances for his account of ancient cataclysms.
- 6 HN recommenders 4 months 2020–2026Commenters recommend it as an entertaining, wide-ranging interview, and cite it for Hotz's views on end-to-end neural-net driving.
- 4 HN recommenders 4 months 2015–2020HN people point to it as an entry point to the Hancock and Carlson lost-civilization theories, while noting the ideas are controversial.
- 4 HN recommenders 4 months 2020–2023HN points to it as an accessible long-form introduction to Wolfram's ideas and a window into his passion, though some are critical of his claims.
- 5 HN recommenders 4 months 2021–2023Linked as a source for first-hand JavaScript and Netscape history, with commenters pointing to specific segments like the Java versus JavaScript decision.
- 4 HN recommenders 3 months 2020–2021S Sam Harris · podcast episodeHN commenters recommend it as a data-oriented discussion of race and police shootings.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2022–2023Recommended as an accessible neuroscientist's overview of gut microbiome science with practical takeaways.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2019–2021HN commenters recommend it as an inspiring story about perseverance and getting outside one's comfort zone.
- 5 HN recommenders 3 months 2018–2026Commenters link it in Tesla threads as an informed, hands-on engineering view of the Model 3 and its manufacturing.
- 2 HN recommenders 3 months 2024–2026P Peter Attia MD · podcast episodeHN commenters point to it as a detailed primer on why US healthcare is expensive and where the money goes.
- 4 HN recommenders 3 months 2024–2025Recommended as a nuanced, up-to-date account of human prehistory from a leading researcher in ancient DNA.
- 2 HN recommenders 3 months 2022HN points to it in origin-of-life and complexity threads as a fascinating long-form introduction to assembly theory.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2017–2023A Arrested DevOps · podcast episodeHN recommends Cantrill's integrity rant when discussing corporate ethics and companies that act on principles.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2022–2025Cited for Karpathy's first-hand explanations of camera-only self-driving, transformers and ML trends.
- 2 HN recommenders 3 months 2021–2024Recommended as a firsthand history of how Python became the language of scientific computing and ML.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2018–2019HN commenters recommend it as an entertaining account of how easily fake papers get published and of problems in academic peer review.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2023–2026B Bloomberg Podcasts · podcast episodeHN links it whenever office-to-residential conversion comes up, as a good deep dive into why the idea is not simple.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2023M Merged Podcast · podcast episodeHN commenters point to it for Hanson's grabby aliens reasoning as an unusual framework for thinking about UFO behavior and intelligent life in the cosmos.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2022–2024HN people offer it as practical focus and ADHD advice from a credentialed neuroscientist, though some treat it as only a reference.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2020–2025Pointed to in consciousness and AI threads as the best-known statement of Penrose's view, which commenters find interesting even when they disagree.
- 3 HN recommenders 3 months 2020–2022HN recommends it as an accessible walkthrough of Penrose's ideas on consciousness and cosmology, interesting even if debatable.
- 4 HN recommenders 3 months 2023–2026HN points to it as the main place to hear Lattner's motivations and design ideas for Mojo, often in Mojo threads.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2024HN cites it for the argument that LLMs capture language form but not meaning, and for how the brain's language network works.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2021–2023HN points to it as a foundational neuroscience primer, with some commenters crediting it for practical changes to learning and sleep.
- 3 HN recommenders 2 months 2023–2025HN points to it as a demonstration that VR presence can feel close to talking in person.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2020–2024HN recommends it for DeRisi's fascinating stories about rare pathogens such as brain-eating amoebas.
- 3 HN recommenders 2 months 2021–2023Commenters credit it for practical routines, such as morning walks and circadian timing, and for helping with burnout recovery.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2022–2023Cited as a thorough statement of the bitcoin-maximalist case, with the host pushing back.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2024–2026HN mentions it mostly as a source for the argument that sugar is toxic, though some commenters push back on claims like fructose being addictive.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2024–2026Recommended in solo-developer threads for its insights on shipping small projects with simple stacks and AI tools.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2020Offered as a persuasion success story in threads about polarization and online toxicity.
- 3 HN recommenders 2 months 2019–2020Recommended as a wide-ranging Carmack interview, noted for his views on work ethic and AGI.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2021–2023HN points to it as a detailed explanation of Wolfram's physics hypothesis, and for Wolfram's evident passion, though some find it long.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2021–2023Cited as an accessible overview of Kernel's technology whenever its brain-sensing helmets come up.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2020–2023Cited as an excellent look at Knuth's thinking and working style, and as a likely source for quotes about his habits.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2019HN refers to it for Weinstein's views on advanced math and physics and academia's problems, though some find him a bit kooky.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2021–2023W Well There's Your Problem Podcast · podcast episodeHN points to it as a good, detailed podcast account whenever the Goiania incident or lost radioactive sources come up.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2021–2022Pointed to for the founder's own account of Instagram's pivot, early scaling on Django with a small team, and avoiding overengineering.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2019–2020Mostly cited to support specific points Naval makes, such as platforms and free speech, rather than as a general must-watch.
- 3 HN recommenders 2 months 2021–2023Pointed to as the long-form interview for understanding Lenat's work, especially after his death.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2023–2025O Oxide Computer Company · podcast episodeHN cites it as Oxide's own explanation of how they ship hardware as a startup and why they picked illumos.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2017–2019HN recommends it for her humility and for her stories of persevering through extreme endurance races.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2022–2023Pointed to when people ask for science-based ways to boost concentration or arrange a home office.
- Daniel Schmachtenberger on The Portal (with host Eric Weinstein), Ep. #027 - On Avoiding Apocalypses2 HN recommenders 2 months 2020Commenters recommend the whole interview as a wide-ranging discussion of existential risk.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2024–2025HN commenters point to it as the best first-hand account of Cursor's technical internals, straight from its founders.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2017–2020HN commenters point to it as an accessible interview with a leading figure in the field, especially for toxo and baboon social behavior.
- Michael Levin: Biology, Life, Aliens, Evolution, Embryogenesis & Xenobots | Lex Fridman Podcast #3253 HN recommenders 2 months 2022–2026HN links it as a long-form entry point to Levin's ideas on cancer, bioelectric signaling and intelligence beyond the brain, though one commenter finds some claims outlandish.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2025–2026A Alex Kantrowitz · podcast episodePointed to as LeCun's argument for the limits of LLMs and the need for world models.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2020–2021HN commenters recommend it as a long, engaging introduction to Stamets and his fungi work.
- 2 HN recommenders 2 months 2021–2024W Well There's Your Problem Podcast · podcast episodeRecommended in housing and architecture threads for its engineers' critique of five-over-one construction.
- 2 HN recommenders 1 months 2023Recommended in AI-risk threads as a way to understand the safety-advocate argument for halting development.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2022–2023HN people send it to others in addiction and digital-habits threads as an expert explanation of dopamine baselines.
- 2 HN recommenders 1 months 2018–2022Recommended as a long, wide-ranging look into Musk's thinking, especially on AI and the future of humanity.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2024Cited for LeCun's views on LLM limits and alternative approaches to intelligence.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2017–2018HN commenters cite it as a wide-ranging conversation on political polarization and free discussion, and one commenter points to a segment on wealth distribution following a square-root law.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2018–2025Cited as an example of someone publicly changing their mind on the Moon landing hoax and of why skeptics had rational-seeming doubts.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2023–2024Mostly cited as the canonical statement of AI doomer views, with some recommending it and many criticizing it as irresponsible or wrong.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2024–2026Mentioned occasionally as an episode on environmental toxins in food and water, though one commenter lumps it in with unregulated quackery.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2021–2025T The Rational Reminder Podcast · podcast episodeHN points to it as an interview with Housel and as the source of his quote that financial decisions happen at the dinner table, not on a spreadsheet.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2020–2022Mentioned as a favorite podcast episode and as a source of firsthand computing history, such as timesharing.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2015–2018J Jupiter Broadcasting · podcast episodeCited as a casual, insightful conversation with Cantrill, and referenced for his views on containers and unikernels.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2019HN uses it as a source on Dorsey's views on Twitter moderation, with mixed opinions on how well he answered censorship questions.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2024–2025N No Priors: AI, Machine Learning, Tech, & Startups · podcast episodeCommenters cite it for Karpathy's views on Tesla versus Waymo, neural networks as a path to AGI, and the quality of internet data for LLMs.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2023–2025B Bloomberg Podcasts · podcast episodeLinked in water and Arizona threads to explain why desert farming is more productive than people assume.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2022–2025L Lex Clips · podcast episodeHN debugger-versus-print-debugging threads point to it as Carmack's authoritative case for using a real debugger.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2020–2021HN links it when discussing mouse-study reliability and reproducibility.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2022–2024Cited in threads on metabolism and mental illness, especially keto for psychiatric conditions.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2023–2026R RubberDuckEng · podcast episodeRecommended as an insider account of how Flutter came to be and why it chose Dart.
- 1 HN recommenders 1 months 2019–2025Pointed to as a good explanation of preference falsification and its effects on speech and politics.
- cited 3× 0 months 2024M Machine Learning Street Talk · podcast episodeMostly cited in passing, e.g. regarding claims that transformers cannot do recursion and as an example of structured deep learning work.
- cited 5× 0 months 2024–2025Mostly cited as a source for statements by Anthropic leaders, such as views on AI progress and on sycophancy.
Video list and Hacker News comment labels from HackerTube (prompted by @karpathy), released under ODC-By 1.0, built on the open-index/hacker-news archive. Hacker News data is provided by Y Combinator; comments remain the work of their authors. Video titles, channel names and thumbnails belong to their creators and are shown via YouTube. HackerTube Watch is an unofficial edition. Data export of 2026-10-31.