Good Morning!
This week’s blog was inspired by my friend Meg. =]
The other day Meg asked me and my other friend, Carol, what were some good podcasts that she should listen to. That question got me to thinking of writing a blog about podcast recommendations because there are also just so many options out there and it’s hard to even know where to start looking.
When you are first getting into podcasts there are so many to pick from that it could get pretty overwhelming. This is the case with books, TV shows and movies. It feels like at every turn I am constantly hearing about a NEW podcast, show or book that was just released. It’s gotten to the point where we literally have hundreds if not thousands of options to pick from and the last thing you want to do is to make the WRONG choice.
I hate when I waste my time reading a book and then halfway through decide I don’t like it. Or when I invest my time into a new TV series or podcast and then find out that by episode 3 or 4 I can’t stand the person. There is nothing that infuriates me more than time wasted, ESPECIALLY when it’s for a leisurely activity because I have so little time for it in the first place.
Sometimes I get so caught up in making the WRONG choice, that it leads me to just picking what I already know. Watching a movie I have watched 5 million times, or listening to one of the podcasts on my small list that I rotate through because at the end of the day I know what to expect and how I will feel after. I need that little bit of certainty in my life.
I would rather know that I am going to love whatever I invest my time and money into and because of that I always LOVE getting a good recommendation.
Anytime a friend brings me a book and says “you HAVE to read this”, or when a sister-in-law tells you over dinner, “you HAVE to watch this movie”, you are almost never disappointed. When I get suggestions from friends and family, those are the times that I can’t stop turning the page or I come back to the podcast every single day in the car.
So, when Meg asked us what our favorite podcasts were I thought, might as well share them with everyone in case anyone else out there is like me and wants a little guidance on what to try out next. =]
Now, depending on the time of day, weather, how I am feeling, or who I am with can change the type of podcast I want to listen to, drastically. I am assuming I’m not the only person like this so I decided to share them by category. I broke them up into Heartwarming, Business/Goal-oriented, Mystery, and Funny.
Let’s start with HEARTWARMING.
Some days are just tough days, for whatever reason, and days like that I like to listen to uplifting stuff. I like to listen to stories that remind me that you can overcome anything, all is still right in the world and love prevails all.
Super Soul Sunday is pretty much my go-to in this category. You get a mix of all of those feel-good feelings, leaving you believing that everything will always be okay. The host is our girl, Oprah, and you know anything and everything she stamps her name on is going to be not good, but great. She encourages us all to take a minute to pause and connect with the deeper meanings of the world.
Some of my favorites interviews are with Brene Brown and Joe Biden. Definitely check those two out.
Then there is the BUSINESS/GOAL-ORIENTED podcast category.
These are the types of podcasts I listen to the most. I throw one on my drive into work to get myself mentally motivated and prepared for a workday. If you have followed my blogs you can tell that I am a very goal-oriented person, so I love to learn new tips and tricks by other business women and men. These podcasts are always really interesting, telling you the story of how the top people in their field got to where they are today.
My favorites in this category are:
The School of Greatness – The host of this podcast is a former professional athlete, Lewis Howes. Lewis is always bringing on different guests who are leaders in their space, celebrities, or people who are making waves in the world in their own small way. The guests talk about how they came to be, and then they always end the interview with what their definition of greatness is and three things they would like to leave behind in the world.
The Goal Digger Podcast – This podcast is run by Jenna Kutcher, a photographer, influencer and educator. I think this is THE BEST podcast for exact how-tos for starting your own small business, especially with marketing and social media tips. She tells you exactly what you should be doing to create an email list, ways to stay productive, and how to build a brand. When I first started listening I was in awe of how much information she was giving to her listeners for FREE. On top of that, she is all about self-love and is an Aeire Clothing spokes-person which is my favorite brand and meaning behind a brand, so it pretty much makes her the best ever.
Rise Podcast – I couldn’t leave out my girl Rachel Hollis. Her podcast is very similar to Jenna Kutcher’s and Lewis Howe’s where she both gives advice and direction on what small business owners should be doing and she interviews top business owners in their space to learn from them. Her shows are more all-encompassing in business. For example, she brings on finance experts, she talks about how to overcome the fear of failure, and how to scale your business. The best part is that she breaks it down to make it all really really simple and digestible. She wants everyone to be able to understand the message and take away something from the show. I also just love listening to her in general, so this was a great way I could continue to listen to her that wasn’t in a blog or book form.
The Tim Ferris Show – This was actually one of the first podcasts I ever got into. His interviews are very long, but they talk about a lot and nothing at the same time so you really get to know the guest on the show. He also somehow gets them to talk about more than the typical talking points they will do on other shows. It’s funny because he graduated from Princeton, and you can tell her graduated from an Ivy league. He is very articulate and prepared and I feel like he would love caviar or something like that. But it is a really good show and I feel smarter every time after I listen to it.
Now to get a little less serious and move into the MYSTERY category.
I love listening, watching, reading an anything murder mystery. There is just something about a good murder mystery that gets me going. These are the podcasts I listen to if I don’t want to think and want to watch a movie in my mind while I am driving. Dan and I also always listen to these together on long car rides.
My favorites are:
The Atlanta Monster/Monster: The Zodiac – This one is fantastic! It is a breakdown of the unsolved murder cases of The Atlanta Monster and The Zodiac. Each story has a series of episodes attached to it, and it breaks down different parts of the investigations. It constantly keeps you on your toes and guessing who it was, why it happened, and where they went wrong in figuring out who the real murderer was. It’s really good and keeps you engaged and on your toes for long car rides.
In the Dark – This murder mystery is in a very similar format. It is all about the murder case of a boy who went missing and then years later the killer admitted to everything he did. It breaks down every part of an investigation and gets all the facts of what happened and what didn’t happen. You totally get sucked in and question, “How did they NOT find him?”. Another really good listen for a car ride.
Serial Killers – This show is a bunch of short stories about different serial killers in the world. Typically the stories are about serial killers you have never even heard about that might have happened in your town or state! I was hooked on this one when I listened to a show where it talked about a serial killer that I had never hear of before that lived in Connecticut! I liked how they focused on small cases that go under the radar that leave you thinking, how did I never know about that!?
Then finally I wanted to add in a FUNNY podcast series.
I will start off by saying that I do not typically listen to funny podcasts or stand up comedians, it’s just not my thing. But I do love Ron Burgandy and Anchorman, so when someone suggested Dan and I give this podcast a listen we couldn’t say no.
The Ron Burgandy Podcast is stupid and funny. Very light hearted and if you need a good laugh I would definitely recommend giving this a listen. I can’t say more than that because I have only listened to about an episode or two.
That just about sums it all up! Now you know the handful of podcasts that I rotate through regularly. Try them out and let me know which one you love!
Also, keep the recommendation train going and let us know which podcasts are your favorites so we could give them a listen too!
Leave a comment on what your favorite podcasts are right now!