As I mentioned in a previous post I’ve been listening to a lot of podcasts lately. A few days ago my youngest son heard a podcast on my iPhone and asked why I listened to so many. I explained that it’s like listening to a radio program, except that I can pick the most convenient time to listen and I like the ability to hand-pick a topic that means something to me. I told him there were probably podcasts about basketball, baseball, and skate-boarding. That seemed to pique his interest.
Prior to listening to podcasts, I mostly used Audible to listen to audio books. When I drove around Kentucky on my first cookbook tour, Audible was my constant companion. I didn’t have to worry about losing the signal, changing stations, and I listened to some really good books. The most memorable was Blink, by Malcom Gladwell.
Since late last year, and due in large part to the Serial podcast, my interest in podcasts has grown. I still enjoy Audible, but I’ve found that I’m particularly fond of interview-format podcasts where the host interviews solo-business owners, productivity experts, and entrepreneurs.
Much like Audible, I can listen anywhere I have my iPhone or iPad – when I take a walk, cook dinner, clean up the kitchen, or while I get ready in the morning. There are thousands of topics to choose from such as personal organization, food, cooking, business topics, writing, and weird news to name only a few. All podcasts are pre-recorded and stored as a digital file. They can be accessed, for free, through a podcast app such as iTunes or Stitcher, or from a computer with an internet connection and speakers. I pick my favorite topic, select my time to listen, and away I go. If for some reason I don’t like the podcast, I can stop it and switch to another.
It’s possible to subscribe to a podcast through a podcast app. When a new episode is released, I receive a notification. There’s no cost to subscribe and a subscription ensures that I won’t miss an episode of my favorite ones. Here’s a cute video about how to access and listen to a podcast.
To wrap up, I’ll share a few of my favorite podcasts:
The 5AM Miracle – Jeff Sanders
This is a weekly podcast is “dedicated to dominating your day before breakfast.” As a result of listening to this podcast I’ve tweaked my morning routine. I know what I need to do first thing in the morning to have a productive day.
Entrepreneur on Fire – John Lee Dumas
Every day, John interviews inspiring entrepreneurs. Most other podcasts are released weekly, so the fact that there is an EOF podcast 7-days a week is unique.I found the podcast with the founder of Simple Green Smoothies a lot of fun and this show in particular highlights the possibility of success from an online business.
The Fizzle Show – Corbett Barr, Chase Reeves, Barrett Brooks
The three hosts of this show usually don’t do interviews but talk with each other about a specific topic related to building a business doing something you love. They do their share of joking around, which I like, but at its heart this podcast if for entrepreneurs who want to earn a living doing something they care about. I laugh out loud when I listen to this podcast and don’t find their banter distracting. Again, that’s the beauty of a podcast. If you don’t like it, you get to “change the channel”.
Beyond the To-Do List – Erik Fisher
In each show Erik interviews a business owner, author, athelete, or other productive person on aspects of productivity, getting good work done, and living a good life. I enjoy listening to how they implement productivity strategies in their professional and personal lives.
Author MBA – Matt Garland
Author MBA features one-on-one conversations with authors who excel at the business of books.Conversations include insights into successful business models, revenue streams, publishing strategies, marketing know-how, author platforms and more.
Serial – (not business related) Sarah Koening
Produced by the same group of This American Life, in Serial. Sarah tells one true story over the course of an entire season. Each season, Sarah follows a plot and characters wherever it takes her and she doesn’t know what happens at the end until she gets there. I loved the first season, but if you go back to listen to it, it’s important to listen to the episodes in order, starting with Episode 1.
Invisibilia – Lulu Miller and Alix Spiegel
Launched in January 2015, Invisibilia (Latin for “all the invisible things”) explores the intangible forces that shape human behavior – things like ideas, beliefs, assumptions and emotions. Invisibilia delves into a wide array of human behavior, interweaving narrative storytelling with fascinating new psychological and brain science.
Cookbook author and culinary dietitian Maggie Green coaches aspiring cookbook authors in the process of writing cookbooks, cookbook proposals, and building their author platform. Download her checklist “Am I Ready to Write A Cookbook?”.