By Patrick Biz

Contributing Writer, [GAS]

Geeks hate listening to commercial radio on their way to work. Hollywood gossip and local news are not the types of content computer-savvy people are raving about. What if, come Monday morning, you’re in the mood for tech news? Then on Tuesday’s commute, you want home theater reviews, and Wednesday, you want the latest pop news from Steve Jobs? Good luck finding all this on your AM/FM portable tuner.

Well thanks to podcasts, now you can listen to what you want, whenever you want. Podcasting is one of the best things to come out of the Internet . It is an audio or video file syndicated via the Internet that plays on portable media players, such as an iPod. Like radio and television shows, you can find podcasts on any subject you can think of. But for geeks looking for distinctively geeky content, here’s a list of what I consider to be the best technology and computer podcasts.

1 – TWiT – This Week in Tech

Leo Laporte (The Lab with Leo, The Tech Guy, and Call for Help) is arguably the Internet’s most famous podcaster. His network, TWiT.tv, produces 14 podcasts and This Week in Tech is the most popular one. Featuring the famous PC Magazine columnist John C. Dvorak as a co-host, TWiT covers tech news in a round table format and hosts different guests each week, including a few regulars such as Patrick Norton, Roger Chang and David Prager. It is really THE best tech news podcast on the Internet. Visit This Week in Tech‘s homepage to subscribe via your favorite podcast client or to download the shows individually.

2 – diggnation

If you’re a geek and you don’t know who Kevin Rose is, then you’re not a real geek. Ok, here’s a hint: ever heard of digg? All right, now we’re talking. Kevin Rose is the founder of digg. And one of his spin-offs is Revision3, a network producing tech related video podcasts. Their most popular show, diggnation, features Kevin Rose and Alex Albrecht. They basically cover and comment on the most popular submitted news stories on digg in a very refreshing and entertaining format. If you read digg’s front page on a daily basis, it’s a must watch. Just be aware the show contains explicit language and is intended for a mature audience. I strongly recommend checking out diggnation’s home page

3 – Buzz Out Loud

Buzz Out Loud is CNET’s daily tech news podcast featuring Tom Merritt and Molly Wood. Producing a daily show isn’t an easy task, but Buzz Out Loud does it pretty well. If you are craving for tech news, then you need to start listening to BOL.

4 – MacBreak Weekly

This is a very popular podcast among Mac lovers. It features a group of very interesting and incredibly knowledgeable Mac journalists. The show covers the latest Mac and Apple news in a round-table style discussion. If you are a Mac maniac, MacBreak Weekly should be downloaded each week on your Zune iPod.

5 – HDTV and Home Theater podcast

Most geeks are also HDTV nuts. Meet The HT Guys, engineers Ara Derderian and Braden Russell, hosts of the HDTV and Home Theater podcast. The show is produced twice a week and covers news about audio & video gear, product reviews, questions from listeners and HDTV programming. Since I am a big HDTV fan myself, I tried other A/V shows and this is truly the best one out there.

6 – Security Now

If you are an IT professional and you care about security, then Security Now is for you. Featuring Steve Gibson from grc.com (ShieldsUP) and Spinrite, a disk recovery utility, the host discusses hot topics from within the security arena; specifically, how security rules and devices impact our life.

7 – GeekBrief.TV

This is a cute and funny video podcast, delivering shiny, happy tech news every two to three days. Featuring the irresistible host Cali Lewis, GeekBrief.TV is condensed — delivering less than five minutes episodes and going directly to the point with entertaining content. Just so you know, it’s addictive. VERY addictive. Available in multiple format including HD, you can admire Cali on your big-screen television if you own an AppleTV.

8 – The Tech Guy

Everyone has a tech guy: sometimes a friend, a neighbor, or a family member known for saving someone’s life when a computer misbehaves. Chances are that if you are reading this post, you are are the lifesaver. But who do you rely on if you can’t get rid of the stupid spyware on your stepfather’s Pentium II, Win98 machine? Try Leo Laporte, The Tech Guy. Just pick up the phone and call 1-88-88-ASK-LEO. His radio show, syndicated all across America and on XM Satellite Radio, airs Saturdays and Sundays from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. EST (see listings). You can also listen to the live show online or download the podcast version. A live, moderated IRC chat room allows geek listeners to interact with Leo during the show, helping him resolve callers’ issues. Weekly collaborators also discuss home theater gear, gadgets, digital photography, and much, much more.

9 – Tech Talk With Craig Peterson

When Craig Peterson sits in front of his microphone, he talks about technology topics in a way that will captivate you for hours. Tech Talk with Craig Peterson is a radio show broadcasted in the greater Boston area every Saturday from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. EST. Craig covers tech news with a very wide lense. This is not just a computer show, but more like a science and technology program. Visit Tech Talk‘s homepage to download the podcasts.

Not enough?

You can always head over to the iTunes store to browse the numerous different podcast categories. Do you listen to any podcasts? Where and when? Share your favorite shows by joining the discussion in the comments section below.