It's a mad mad world. News/Podcasts/entertainment you actually pay for...and value?

[El Presidente]

What a month to date! 

CEO gunned down. UFO's everywhere. Alcohol sales down 6% , Bitcoin hits 106K USD. 

I am sure most of us subscribe to many a podcast, streaming channel. However, what news based programmes do you actually pay for?

Personally

Local rag;      The Courier Mail (digital)

National rag:  The Australian (digital)

International

• New York Times
• Washington Post. 

Substacks

• Uncomfortable Conversations 

Podcasts (paid for not just subscribe)

• RP Strength/training Michael Israetel. 

Streaming 

Youtube Premium/ Netflix/Stan (Rugby) /Optus Sports (EPL) /Kayo/Fox/Disney (not sure why)/Chat GTP4

 

Outside of Disney, I wouldn't drop any of the above, but am happy to pay for quality programming. 

Share your recommendations 

 

[chris12381]

Substacks (Primarily for the accompanying podcast) 

• Uncomfortable Conversations 
• Smoke em if you Got Em
• The Fifth Column
• The Glenn Show
• Blocked & Reported
• The Dishcast

Podcasts (paid for not just subscribe)

• Matt & Shane's Secret Podcast
• The Tim Dillon Show

Streaming 

YT Premium.  I haven't seen and ad on YT for a decade+.  Netflix.  Britbox (girlfriend needs to see Monty Don).  I have access to several other services that I share but don't pay for. 

[Glass Half Full]

News (paid for):

The Financial Times -- FT.com -- this is more than just a financial paper -- and it's got perhaps the best app of any news source I've seen.  (You can download the entire edition in seconds and read it without internet on a plane.) 

The Economist -- Economist.com -- If I could read only one source of news only once per week, this would be it.  (Here again, you can download the entire issue for offline reading, though it's not as quick as above.) 

NYT - Yes, still very good though I don't respect it as much as I once did.  (grains of salt sometimes needed)

WSJ is a distant second to the two top news sources above, but I appreciate the differences of perspective from the NYT.  (grains of salt sometimes needed)

For the same reason as the WSJ -- The Telegraph -- Telegraph.co.uk -- but its opinions are a bit too much mixed into their news coverage IMO.  (Bucket of salt sometimes needed.)  That said, their Travel coverage is just top notch.  

Podcasts (unpaid):

- Freakonomics

- Revisionist History

- Today's Top Tune (as noted under KCRW above)

- Unhedged 

- This American Life

- (sometimes) Ezra Klein

 

Straying off the "News" Topic:

Bloggers/Substacks (supported/paid for):

- Grape to Table by Sarah O'Kelly (she's just great)

- David Lebovitz (makes me want to go to Paris)

- Mark Bittman's Bittman Project (the original minimalist when it comes to cooking)

- Every newsletter from Kermit Lynch

One Great Audio Book Recommendation (IMO):

- James by Percival Everett.  

Music (supported but available for free too):

- WWW.KCRW.org -- their "today's top tune" daily podcast songs are a great way to learn what's new as is their equally free stream of "Eclectic24"

- WFMU.org

- WNCW.org

 

 

[rabidraccoon]

- Spotify student subscription (I need unhindered access to music)

- SiriusXM (music, comedy stations, sometimes talk and news stations)

- Amazon Prime student subscription (not very valuable to me, I wouldn't pay the non-student subscription rate)

- Disney Plus (movies and I'm a big Star Wars nerd)

- ChatGPT (I use it heavily for school and can't be rate limited)

I listen to a lot of podcasts but nothing paid. I also have two other video streaming services that are free through my University's library).

 

[Jack]

I suppose Disney, HBO and a couple of others to stay in touch with media.

As for other bits, I don't deny anyone the right to make a living talking themselves up - I just don't wish to participate.

No cable TV, antenna, broadcast, etc.

Downloaded and "ripped" enough music to last a lifetime.

[DrinkSmokeGolf]

I don’t pay for any podcasts. 

I do pay for The NY Times. 
Also YouTube TV, Netflix, Amazon Prime. 
 

That’s about it!

[raggie]

I pay for nothing! 🏴‍☠️ (except Spotify, instant music streaming is too convenient).