Podcasts serve as a purpose of entertainment and a source of education. Today as reasoning models are establishing themselves in businesses and startups, it is vital to have a practical knowledge of what AI can help us achieve.

Why focus on podcasts? Because they:

1. 1

   Offer diverse perspectives

   From AI safety to startup scaling, you get a 360-degree view.
2. 2

   Bridge the knowledge gap

   They translate research into actionable insights for product managers.
3. 3

   Are easily accessible

   You can listen during your commute, work out, or tackle that never-ending backlog.

To cut through the noise, I've curated a list of 10 must-listen podcasts. My criteria? Each one had to be directly relevant to the product lifecycle, easily accessible on major platforms, and hosted by experts with real-world experience.

These podcasts fall into three key categories:

1. 1
   Strategic AI-Product development
2. 2
   Technical implementation & MLOps
3. 3
   Ethics, policy, and cross-industry applications

Ready to level up your AI product game? Let's dive in.

Strategic AI-product development

This is where the rubber meets the road. It’s not enough to just know AI; you need to apply it strategically. These podcasts are your war room, dissecting real-world deployments and the organizational shifts needed to make AI a core competency.

AI Today Podcast

Hosts: Kathleen Walch & Ron Schmelzer (Cognilytica analysts)

If you are looking for detailed breakdowns of AI topics then this podcast is for you. The authors explain the latest AI trends with enterprise implementation. 

Key Features:

• Industry-specific use cases: Deep dives into AI in healthcare (drug discovery), retail (predictive inventory), and government (AI-powered citizen services).
• CPMAI methodology: A framework for aligning AI projects with measurable business outcomes.
• Ethics in action: Episodes like Colorado’s AI Consumer Law dissect regulatory impacts.

Platforms: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Cognilytica

Why it matters: When Walmart reduced shelf-stocking errors by 18% using AI vision systems1, it wasn’t magic – it was strategic implementation. AI Today reveals these playbooks across verticals, helping PMs:

• Identify ROI-driven AI opportunities
• Avoid “Pseudo AI” pitfalls (shiny solutions ≠ real value)
• Speak fluently with data science teams

Takeaway:For PMs needing to translate boardroom AI mandates into actionable roadmaps, this is required listening. Start with their AI in Project Management episode to bridge strategy and execution.

2. AI in Business

Host: Daniel Faggella (Founder of Emerj AI Research)

If you’re not a data scientist, you might feel that AI is a black box, right? Daniel's podcast simplifies complex topics and breaks down the process of explanation to help you understand anything. 

His process makes knowledge accessible for non-technical leaders who need to make strategic decisions about AI investments. 

Key features:

• Real-world frameworks: It's not just talk; it's about having a lens through which to evaluate AI opportunities. Episodes break down successful implementations, like Walmart's 18% reduction in shelf-stocking errors using AI-powered computer vision. These examples provide tangible ROI metrics you can adapt to your own business.
• Executive-level insights: Daniel interviews AI leaders from Fortune 500 companies. He offers practical insights firsthand has to how businesses employ AI and what challenges they've overcome.

Platforms: Apple Podcasts, Spotify

Why it matters: According to a recent article from Georgian, knowing how to effectively implement AI in software development is key. Daniel Faggella helps leaders make data-backed decisions in this space.

Takeaway: If you're a non-technical leader looking to understand the real-world impact of AI, "AI in Business" is your go-to resource. 

3. No Priors

Hosts: Sarah Guo and Elad Gil

The AI world is complex, and navigating it is not easy. This is especially true if you want to make strategic decisions. Decisions that make or break the company. 

This podcast examines various AI landscapes, including AI scaling, technologies to invest in, etc. Essentially, it provides guidelines to the VC landscape and mentors you on strategic decisions.  

Key features:

• Build vs. buy debates: They advise you on investing in the latest AI trends and practices. They provide valuable insights on how to efficiently use budget-friendly options with high impact. They bring in experts from the industry to provide you with knowledge. 
• VC trend spotting: Understanding where the money flows is crucial for any startup. Sarah and Elad highlight which sectors are hot and which are not. They connect you with funding and influential mentors to secure funding and scale a business. 

Platforms: Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Spotify

Why it matters: "No Priors" provides critical insights into the intersection of AI and venture capital.

Takeaway: If you're building an AI startup, "No Priors" is essential listening. It gives you the inside scoop on VC trends, strategic decisions, and the key players you need to know. You can hear insights weekly on new AI developments. Co-host Elad Gil’s experience helps further your venture capital investment knowledge.

III. Technical Implementation & MLOps

This section is for those building AI products, not just talking about them. We’re diving into the nitty-gritty details of infrastructure, model deployment, and the tools you need to make it all work. If you're an AI engineer or a PM who loves getting your hands dirty, this is your section.

4. Latent Space

Hosts: Swyx and Alessio Fanelli (AI engineers)

AI infrastructure is complex, and "Latent Space" tackles it directly. Hosts Swyx and Alessio invite guests from companies like OpenAI and Databricks to simplify the process of building and scaling AI systems. For practical, hands-on advice, this podcast is a must-listen.

Key features

• Deep dives on core tech: They focus on GPU optimization, multi-modal models, and the challenges of deploying large language models. You'll learn about techniques and tools to improve performance and reduce costs.
• Real-time trend analysis: The AI world moves fast. "Latent Space" keeps you up-to-date with live episodes debating the latest trends, from AI agents to Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) terminology. It's like having a front-row seat to the cutting edge of AI development.

Platforms: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Web

Why it matters: According to a Reddit user on r/MachineLearning, the CEO of Imbue was recently interviewed on the Latent Space Podcast.

Takeaway: If you're an AI engineer or a product manager responsible for the technical aspects of AI product development, "Latent Space" is a must-listen. It provides the deep technical insights and practical advice you need to build and scale AI systems effectively. One Reddit user said they get the impression that the hosts know what they're talking about regarding Machine Learning. "Latent Space" even includes content from leaders at Imbue.

5. Practical AI

Hosts: Daniel Whitenack and Chris Benson

Models are great, but they're useless if you can't get them into production. Daniel and Chris focus on the practical side of things: operationalizing ML models. This podcast, sponsored by Changelog, cuts through the hype and delivers actionable advice on deploying, monitoring, and maintaining AI systems. It can be essential to trigger data change, ML Model Change, or Model Drift.

Key features:

• Tooling tutorials: Get hands-on tutorials on MLOps tools like Kubeflow and MLflow. Learn how to use these platforms to manage your ML pipelines, track experiments, and deploy models at scale.
• Drift-busting case studies: Model drift is a silent killer. Your model might be performing great in the lab, but its accuracy can plummet once exposed to real-world data. "Practical AI" features case studies on detecting and reducing model drift, including examples using AWS architectures. One episode describes retraining models on a regular schedule as one approach to mitigate drift.

Platforms: Apple Podcasts, Chainlog, Spotify

Why it matters: According to Datacamp, Kubeflow has a lot of different components to support nearly all the steps in the pipeline.

Takeaway: If you're tired of theoretical discussions and want practical advice on operationalizing your ML models, "Practical AI" is a must-listen. It gives you the tools and techniques to deploy, monitor, and maintain AI systems in the real world. An MLOps architecture can be set up to trigger model retraining based on model drift. 

6. The TWIML AI Podcast (formerly This Week in Machine Learning & Artificial Intelligence)

Host: Sam Charrington

Sam Charrington guides you through Machine Learning and AI with his podcast "TWIML AI." As an industry analyst and speaker, he connects cutting-edge ML research with real-world applications, reaching researchers, data scientists, engineers, and tech-savvy leaders.

Key features:

• Fine-tuning for automation: Need compliance automation? "TWIML AI" offers episodes on developing models to save time and resources. 
• Unearthing hidden gems: This podcast highlights underappreciated AI innovations, providing you a competitive edge.

Platforms: Spotify, Podcast Addict, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Website, Overcast

Why it matters: Reddit users have praised "TWIML AI" for providing valuable insights into AI trends and governance. 

Takeaway: "TWIML AI" offers the latest in ML/AI from experts. Recent episodes featured Victor Dibia from Microsoft Research discussing AI agents and the "build vs. buy" decision, alongside Tim Rocktäschel from Google DeepMind exploring the prospects of artificial superintelligence.

IV. Ethics, Policy, and Cross-Industry Applications

AI isn't just about algorithms and code; it's about its impact on society, policy, and the world at large. This is where we consider the ethical implications, regulatory landscapes, and how AI transforms different industries. For anyone building AI products, understanding this broader context is crucial for long-term success and responsible innovation.

7. Eye on AI

Host: Craig S. Smith (former NYT Correspondent)

Craig Smith provides the context to understand how regulatory trends impact the field. He highlights the need to navigate issues like the EU AI Act.

Key features:

• GDPR-compliant synthetic data: Smith interviews EPFL researchers to share approaches to data generation and discuss how to comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
• Geopolitical impact coverage: "Eye on AI" reports on the forces shaping AI's development. He shares how countries handle AI-driven drones, weapons, and ethical concerns.

Platforms: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Website

Why it matters: With countries like the U.S. restricting exports on advanced NVIDIA GPUs, it's essential to consider the more significant global impact of AI development.

Takeaway: Craig Smith explores AI's broader implications, its impact on society, and how it's changing the world. To stay up-to-date on the ever-evolving technology, tune in bi-weekly to "Eye on AI". A recent Reddit user said that Craig Smith's "Eye on AI" is a great podcast.

8. The AI Podcast (NVIDIA)

Host: Noah Kravitz

Introduction: Noah Kravitz explores AI's transformative impact across industries. He emphasizes the real-world applications of AI in healthcare, fintech, and logistics.

Key features:

• Generative AI for drug discovery: The podcast explores how AstraZeneca uses generative AI to accelerate drug development.
• Cross-platform video interviews: Engaging video interviews that provide deeper insights.

Platforms: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Website

Why it matters: NVIDIA is making strategic moves in healthcare by partnering with major players like IQVIA and Mayo Clinic.

Takeaway: "The AI Podcast," hosted by Noah Kravitz, is an excellent resource for those seeking practical applications of AI. Nvidia is paving the way for AI solutions in data analytics, visual computing, and AI-driven innovation. The podcast will show you AI's current role and potential impact. 

9. Product Talk with Malthi

Host: Malthi Vijay (Growth PM consultant)

Introduction: Malthi Vijay zeroes in on emerging markets and AI, featuring insights from leaders like Gojek’s CPO. She emphasizes AI-augmented agile processes.

Key features:

• AI-driven agile: Discussions on AI-augmented agile processes that speed up innovation. One episode included Gojek’s CPO Vikrama Dhiman, detailing achieving 40% faster feature deployment through AI-augmented agile processes.
• Deployment timeline reduction: Malthi explores case studies where AI helps reduce deployment timelines, enabling quicker releases.

Platforms: YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts

Why it matters: As AI adoption grows, strategies that augment traditional processes are key to staying competitive.

Takeaway: Tune into "Product Talk with Malthi" to discover ways to leverage AI in agile environments. You'll learn strategies for AI in emerging markets. She explores case studies that show reducing deployment times is very practical. One Reddit user shares the podcast offers insight into the product management space. Another episode from Malthi explores India's startup ecosystem, its growth, challenges, and future opportunities.

10. Lenny’s Podcast 

Host: Lenny Rachitsky (ex-Airbnb PM)

Lenny Rachitsky dives into growth tactics for AI products. He explores frameworks like Duolingo’s GPT-4 integration. Lenny uncovers concrete, actionable advice to grow your product.

Key features:

• Data-driven A/B testing: Lenny explores data-driven A/B testing frameworks for optimizing user experiences.
• Retention optimization: Interviews focusing on retaining users and strategies for long-term engagement are shared.

Platforms: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube

Why it matters: Growth and product strategy are evolving, and Lenny’s podcast offers insights into how leaders adapt. Elena Verna (Amplitude, Miro, Dropbox, SurveyMonkey) spoke on Lenny's Podcast, highlighting a shift from traditional growth strategies to innovative, quality-focused approaches15.

Takeaway: Lenny offers a clear and comprehensive understanding of product, growth, and career insights. Tune in to "Lenny's Podcast" for actionable strategies on building, launching, and scaling your product. You'll learn A/B testing to improve user experience and drive conversions. One episode highlights Brian Chesky's shift in focus towards product quality as a growth driver, moving away from traditional marketing-driven growth strategies.

V. Comparative Analysis and Recommendations

A. Feature Matrix

B. Audience-Specific Guidance

• Early-Career PMs
  AI in Business is for use case frameworks, and Lenny’s Podcast is for growth tactics.
• Technical PMs
  Latent Space for infrastructure, Practical AI for MLOps.
• Strategists
  AI in Business (ROI frameworks) 
• Compliance Leaders
  TWIML AI + Eye on AI for regulatory foresight

VI. Conclusion: Building a Learning Ecosystem

Podcasts offer vital insights, but real learning comes from doing. Combine them with hands-on practice using tools like Hugging Face and Replicate to solidify your AI knowledge.

Emerging trends to watch:

• Real-time AI auditing
• Multilingual model support
• Synthetic data governance

Subscribe to 2-3 relevant podcasts and dedicate weekly time experimenting with AI tools. This blend of expert knowledge and practical application will help you thrive in the rapidly evolving AI landscape. Start building your AI learning ecosystem now!