I really like podcasts. I have only started really listening to them in the last 18 months or so but they have opened up a whole new world of content and information to me. There are lots of types of podcast, it’s a vast world of online spoken content but me being me, I prefer to listen to podcasts that are about ideas, self development and the like.
In one of the podcasts that I like, which is Gretchen Rubin’s Happier, she talks at one point about ‘pairing’ activities, often pairing something enjoyable with something more mundane or less pleasant.
I realised that this is what I do with podcasts. I listen to them whilst walking the school run after dropping my son off (or before collecting him). I listen whilst I am sorting laundry and stacking the dishwasher. I listen to them on dog walks.
To me, they are the perfect pairing to many tasks and unlike TV or video or other online content, you can listen and take them in whilst doing other stuff.
So in no particular order, here are the podcasts that I love the best and why;
Happier – Gretchen Rubin & Elizabeth Craft
Happer is a collaboration between Gretchen, a happiness expert and writer and Elizabeth, her younger sister who is a script writer. Gretchen lives in New York and Elizabeth lives in LA.
They have a weekly podcast with topics around the idea of living a better, happier life and I think one of the things I love about it the best is that they are sisters, they know each other really well and this really helps the conversations flow.
I love the contrast in their styles, Gretchen is very up and bouncy and Elizabeth is more laid back and measured. They also have interesting guests and because the podcast is popular now, they command fair good names to their interviews. Find Gretchen & Liz here
10% Happier – Dan Harris
I love Dan Harris – have you read his book of the same name? He’s an American news anchor who discovered meditation after suffering panic and anxiety attacks and now that’s what his podcast is about. He’s had some amazing guests, it’s pretty much always an interview with someone about their meditation habit and he interviews a wide range of people from Matthieu Ricard to American sports players.
It’s always about people’s meditation and general spiritual practice and he has a really accessible and humorous way with him so that the conversations rarely get too ‘woo hoo’ or earnest but he does take the subject very seriously.
There’s generally some laughs as well as some great insights and some very honest and raw sharing of life events and stories. This is also a weekly podcast and there’s tonnes already so if you look this up and like it you’re in for real treat of a back catalogue! Check the podcast out here
Hashtag Authentic
Sara Tasker is one of those people who has used instagram and social media generally to raise her profile. She’s a writer and photographer and she also runs course on how to use instagram and does coaching around that.
I really like this podcast as it give me good ideas for how to engage online and how to promote what I am doing, but also because Sara (pronounced Sarah) is so lovely and warm and not at all full of her own self importance.
She also mixes in some personal development stuff within the more how to stuff about promoting online and has some really interesting guests such as coaches talking about things like self doubt, how to get over feeling uncomfortable about promoting yourself etc. So whilst it’s mainly a podcast for online creatives, I think many of the episodes are relevant to a wider listening group. Find out more here
Good Life Project
Jonathan Field’s excellent podcast is yet another where he interviews some really great people who have achieved some amazing things with their lives. It’s about success, what makes people tick and also what it means to people to live a truly ‘good life’. It’s billed as a ‘weekly dose of inspiration’ and that’s certainly how it feels.
Jonathan has the ability to engage great guest, with big names such as Brene Brown, Elizabeth Gilbert, Ken Robinson and Seth Godin and also interviews some less well known people who have nonetheless lead incredibly interesting and rich lives. Look up the podcast here
Super Soul Conversations
The very successful TV series from Oprah Winfrey, Super Soul Sundays, has been covered into a podcast. Oprah interviews and talks with a fascinating selection of writers, philosophers, spiritual leaders, celebrities.
The conversations are always along the theme of self discovery, conscious living and how to live a fulfilling life.
Oprah being Oprah she gets the biggest names and whilst she does occasionally grate on me, she has achieved a lot in the self development arena and I think her shows and books and projects have really helped a lot of people. Amongst all the ‘famous people’ she has some lesser known but often much more fascinating guests and overall I don’t recall ever being disappointed with an episode, there’s always something to take away from it. Find it here
Do you listen to podcasts? I’d love to hear which ones you listen to so please comment below or join me in my Facebook group!