Podcast Review: Rocket
Rocket is a weekly podcast that was started fairly recently. In fact, they're only on episode 12. I was lucky enough to discover them right after their first episode dropped, and I've been hooked since the beginning. Hosted by Brianna Wu, Christina Warren, and Simone de Rochefort, they bill themselves as a podcast for accelerated geek conversation. I've been consistently impressed by the quality of the content and there are a number of reasons why it has quickly become one of my favorites.
At the very top of the list is the fact that the entire cast is made up of lady techies. Women in the world of technology and tech reporting are uncommon, and even when they are present they tend to get little screen time or acknowledgement. Rocket has three brilliant female hosts, each from a different tech sector, and this podcast gives them space to discuss their opinions and thoughts at length, without interruption or censorship. This alone is exciting. However, on top of that, each of them is excellent at what they do. Their opinions are fair, informed and also express a female perspective on subjects that often skew male. As a lady gamer who's interested in the tech world, I'm always able to relate to their experiences and benefit from their advice. It's refreshing to hear my experiences reflected in their narratives when typically I feel, at best, ignored, or in the worst cases, mocked.
Another great facet of the podcast is the broad nature of their topics. It is not designed to be a comprehensive tech show that tells you about each and every new product and announcement. They focus on three topics each week. Though I do miss out on some new information because of this limited scope, they are able to discuss each chosen topic thoroughly. And besides, there are other outlets that provide exhaustive coverage of the tech world, and Rocket consistently picks up the most relevant and significant stories, so I never really feel that I'm missing out. It's also worth pointing out that the three women tend to have different perspectives on issues as well, so you get a multifacted overview of each subject. For instance, Brianna Wu is head of development at Giant Spacekat, so her opinions tend to be influenced by her experience in the gaming and development world.
The last thing, the thing that really makes the podcast shine, is the chemistry between Brianna, Christina and Simone. They seem like old friends who get together every week for a nerdy chat. Rocket never really feels like you're being lectured at. It feels like you've been allowed into an ongoing friendly discussion. They handle each episode with humor and sincerity. Even in the short time I've been listening, I already feel that I know them and I look forward to hearing their weekly updates. For me, this is the hallmark of a truly good podcast. I'm invested in the content and in the creators.
So, if your interested in a good tech podcast, a good podcast for ladies, or just a good podcast, I highly recommend Rocket! It's entertaining, informative, and a much needed addition to the male-dominated world of technology. I've included some links below for anyone interested in checking it out.
Links
Brianna Wu on Twitter: @spacekatgal
Christina Warren on Twitter: @film_girl
Simone de Rochefort on Twitter: @doomquasar
Rocket on Twitter: @rocketfm