A couple weeks ago, in search of new podcasts to listen to while on the way to work, washing dishes, cleaning the bathroom, etc. I asked friends on Facebook to recommend podcasts to listen to. They responded enthusiastically, with 43 discrete suggestions. Thanks, everyone!

I decided that such enthusiasm be met with enthusiasm, and my brother (facetiously, I think) suggested I review them all and announce a “winner.” While I probably won’t write in-depth reviews of that many podcasts, I thought it would be fun to start a March Madness bracket to find a winner.  I know it’s April, but I started in March, and the alliteration and allusion to the NCAA basketball tournament is too good to pass up.

Of course, I expect that I’ll end up enjoying far more than 1 new podcast, but who doesn’t love a little competition??

Here are the details:

First, there were only 42 suggestions when I started the project (now there are 43), so the last suggestion didn’t make it into my bracket. I’m sorry. I also removed Radiolab and Invisibilia from the bracket because I already listen to them and love them, so I thought it might give them an unfair advantage, plus, it would make the bracket system more difficult.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I do already listen to The West Wing Weekly, but I needed an even number, so it stays in.  I suppose I could replace it with the 43rd suggestion, but I want the West Wing Weekly vs. Pod4Ham matchup to stay.

Next, I downloaded a blank bracket and entered the 40 podcasts into the spaces. I tried pairing up similar themed podcasts for the first rounds. Not every podcast will compete against a similar genre in the first round, but there were a surprising number of crime and history podcasts, so I think it will work out well.

Then I created a “Podcast Brackets!” playlist on Overcast, my podcast listening app of choice (sadly, I am not being paid to mention them), and started downloading podcasts and adding two at a time to the playlist for a head-to-head listening experience.

Expect to hear results of the first round soon!

*I realized later that I misspelled “Ferriss” on my original bracket. No need to let me know. 🙂