In the web design and development industry, technology moves at a rapid pace. Keeping up to speed can be daunting.

Podcasts are the perfect solution. Small bite-sized chunks of information are broken down into entertaining and educational chatter that you can consume while commuting, working out, or simply enjoying a little downtime. They’re the perfect fit for our busy lives.

If you love the idea but don’t know where to start, here’s a selection of 12 of the most essential podcasts for web designers and developers.

1. Syntax

Full Stack web developers Wes Bos and Scott Tolinski host Syntax, a weekly show that delves into web development. This fun, conservational show covers a range of topics from JavaScript and CSS frameworks to buzzwords, speaking at conferences, and productivity hacks.

Both hosts have a wealth of experience running online courses, and they have a knack for breaking down complex topics, explaining how things work, and giving examples from their own experiences.

2. Motion and Meaning

The Motion and Meaning podcast is essential listening for anybody wanting to bring more movement into their UX. It covers everything from the basic principles of motion to advanced tools and techniques, and demonstrates why motion and animation are so important for designers.

Hosts Val Head and Cennydd Bowles, two experts with a long track record of innovative design and animation, invite a special guest to join them most weeks.

3. Developer Tea

With new episodes released every few days, Developer Tea is a short but perfectly formed podcast designed to fit into a ten-minute tea break. Host Jonathan Cutrell packs in great insights, thought-provoking ideas, and quality resources on a range of topics from coding and career development to habits, mindset, and problem-solving. He also regularly invites in guests from the world of tech.

4. User Defenders

Jason Ogle hosts the popular User Defenders podcast, a show that offers inspiring interviews with UX superheroes. Each episode, Jason chats with a UX designer who’s leading the way in their field in order to inspire and educate newer designers.

The fun, engaging interviews introduce the designer and their superpower with a passing nod to the comic-book-style format. They chat about what makes them tick, their inspiration, and how they gained success.

5. Front End Happy Hour

Do you love the idea of discussing all things web development over a drink or two? Then the Front End Happy Hour podcast could be just the thing for you.

This weekly podcast features a panel of experts from organizations such as Netflix, Evernote, and LinkedIn, chatting about the latest developments in front-end development over a drink or two. The show covers a range of useful topics, broken down in a very casual, laid-back style that’s accessible to everybody from coding newbies to experienced pros.

6. Design Life

Digital designers Charli Prangley and Femke van Schoonhoven saw a gap in the market for an inspiring podcast about the creative life that was hosted by women. And they launched Design Life.

They discuss the joys and challenges of being women who work in tech, and how to balance creative side projects alongside a full-time job. They also share their thoughts on the latest industry news, creating portfolios, landing jobs, and share their successes, failures, and aspirations in this conversational podcast.

7. The Changelog

The Changelog is a weekly podcast on all things open source. This conversational show features in-depth interviews from movers and shakers who work at the heart of open source technologies, including software engineers, hackers, leaders, and innovators.

The show features the full quota of programming languages, platforms, and open source communities, and it tackles subjects in an informative and educational way.

8. JavaScript Jabber

If you’re not a fan of JavaScript, look away now…However, if you love all things JS, JavaScript Jabber is a treat. As the name suggests, this weekly podcast is dedicated to keeping listeners updated in the fast-moving world of JavaScript.

Each episode features a different guest and discusses a new topic, from JS frameworks to careers and JS communities. The show assumes a basic knowledge of JS, and listeners are invited to suggest topics or guests to be included.

9. 99% Invisible

Hosted by Roman Mars, 99% Invisible is a design-focused podcast that encourages you to take a fresh look at the everyday world around you and find a new appreciation for the seemingly mundane. Blending design, architecture, and culture, this podcast will heighten your sense of curiosity and wonder by focusing on the power of design in things you may never have noticed before.

10. CodeNewbie

With a new episode released every Monday, CodeNewbie features stories of people on their coding journey. It’s a goldmine of information for those who are starting out in web development.

Featuring interviews from programmers, front-end developers, and anybody who has made a successful career out of code, the podcast approaches topics in a simple, jargon-free manner that reminds listeners that everybody had to start somewhere. It doesn’t just teach people how to code; it shows them how to be a coder.

11. ShopTalk

ShopTalk Show is a popular weekly online radio show that delves into the world of front-end development. Hosts Dave Rupert and Chris Coyier invite a number of expert guests onto the show to chat about a range of subjects and answer listener-submitted questions. It’s a fun, accessible format that gives great insight into the daily challenges facing developers, and it’s essential listening for developers, designers, and anybody who runs or manages websites.

12. Happy Porch Radio

Finally, Happy Porch Radio is a podcast aimed at progressive agency owners and web professionals. Hosted by Barry O’Kane, the show covers a wide range of topics focused around delivering value beyond profit. Season three explores the growing number of agencies who are working to make the world a better place through great design, and features Wholegrain founders Tom and Vineeta Greenwood discussing their favorite topic: greening the web and how people can benefit from great design.

What are your favorite web design and development podcasts? Can you add anything to the list? Tell us in the comments.

What’s next: WordPress Plugins you need in your life

How do you know which WordPress plugins to turn to, and which ones will cause more development headaches than they’re worth?

Download this ebook for a list of our most recommended plugins for developers! We’ve found all of these plugins to be straightforward to use, not too performance heavy on your site, and just downright reliable.