Yes! Podcast Wednesday time! Wait.. Is it still Wednesday? – checks clock – Well, it is Wednesday in some parts of the world, so here goes!
This week the podcasts which caught my ear are completely unrelated. Thus, my recommendations are not on any particular theme. I think you’re going to enjoy them anyhow.
War News Radio
War News Radio from Swarthmore College, is a wonderful project which is described on site as:
“We at War News Radio are trying to rediscover the voices of real people. Our show fills the gaps in the media’s coverage by airing new perspectives, both personal and historical, in a balanced and in-depth manner. We hope our broadcasts will engage our listeners and inspire them to engage critically with the rest of the world.”
Swarthmore students are those often involved in the production of the show, which is an insider’s look at our planet’s war zones, with a focus on Iraq. As the world’s attention has sifted to the middle east, this is a reminder of a country which is still affected by the remnants of war as it struggles to stand back on it’s feet. A very well produced approach to the socio-political and cultural realities of the region from an international, journalistic point of view.
Website: http://warnewsradio.org/
Podcast Feed: http://warnewsradio.org/show/index.xml
808 Talk
Subtitled “Hawaii’s Premier Podcast”, it can very well be that and then some! I voted for them at the Podcast Awards, where they’re nominated as best travel podcast, and I’m sure they’d appreciate your vote as well.
Call me prejudiced – I LOVE Hawaii, and 808 Talk is a podcast show all about it – so it’s natural it would take a place among my favorites.
Issues discussed on 808 include traveling to the island, as well as raising concerns over environmental protection. Other issues such as society, culture and current events are not left untouched as well. This is a must get podcast, whether you live in Hawaii, plan to visit or just want a taste of what it is! Very nice!
Website: http://www.808talk.com/
Podcast Feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/808Talk
Enjoy! And remember it’s a lot more fun when you use Juice to subscribe to your favorite Podcasts! 
A quick correction– War News Radio is produced *exclusively* by Swarthmore College students, with editorial/advisory help from a paid radio journalist, and (during the summer) a couple visitors from other colleges.
Also, at present, the show is pretty narrowly focused on Iraq, making a conscious effort to understand one conflict well, rather than overstretching limited resources by trying to cover too many fronts at once. It’s a problem the people actually handling the war face themselves.
Thanks for pointing that out Wren. It hadn’t been made clear enough, and it’s important people know such a good podcast is the fruit of a student effort, in all parts of production.
Your podcast is one of the few media still keeping an eye on Iraq, and I think it is a wise choice you made to focus on one front. Meanwhile your approach to it is indeed one of the most honest and important ones I’ve found. Congrats again on what you’re all doing.