Podcasts are more popular now than ever. iTunes now has over 550,000 active podcasts, with 18.5 million individual episodes available. Podcasts are free audio programs distributed over the Internet. You can download them and listen to them whenever you want, essentially creating a radio station focused entirely on the topics you want to listen to.
It’s easier than ever to find, subscribe and listen to literally thousands of podcasts on every topic from news, business, comedy, education, politics, sports, and more.
Here are a few reasons podcasts make great additions to your life…
- They’re free entertainment – You don’t have to pay a cent for podcasts.
- You can listen to them anywhere – With just a listening device and some earbuds, you can follow podcasts anywhere.
- They’re usually conversations instead of stories – A conversation often feels more natural then someone telling you a story.
- They’re perfect for mindless chores – There are a number of tasks that don’t require a lot of brain power, such as driving to work and cleaning the house. Podcasts are a great way to help maximize your time.
- You can learn about a subject, an industry, etc. – Podcasts aren’t only good entertainment, but also great learning tools.
I am totally addicted to podcasts because they are short, entertaining and extremely educational. Whenever I have quiet time you can bet I will be listening to a podcast. In just 30 min a day I can learn a new skill, develop new goals, or create new motivational strategies.
Below is a list of my top podcast. These podcasts are loaded with knowledge, motivation and encouragement. Unleash a new way to learn!
1. NPR – How I Built This with Guy Raz
Guy Raz dives into the stories behind some of the world’s best known companies. How I Built This weaves a narrative journey about innovators, entrepreneurs and idealists—about the movements they built. Guy takes you through the triumphs, failures, serendipity and insights from the founders of these companies.
2. The Tim Ferriss Show
Tim Ferriss is a self-experimenter and bestselling author, best known for The 4-Hour Workweek, which has been translated into 40+ languages. Newsweek calls him “the world’s best human guinea pig,” and The New York Times calls him “a cross between Jack Welch and a Buddhist monk.” In this show, he deconstructs world-class performers from eclectic areas (investing, chess, pro sports, etc.), digging deep to find the tools, tactics, and tricks that listeners can use.
3. The GaryVee Audio Experience by Gary Vaynerchuk
Welcome to The Garyvee Audio Experience, hosted by entrepreneur, CEO, investor, vlogger, and public speaker Gary Vaynerchuk. On this podcast you’ll find a mix of my #AskGaryVee show episodes, keynote speeches on marketing and business, segments from my DAILYVEE video series, interviews and fireside chats I’ve given, as well as new and current thoughts I record originally for this audio experience!
4. She Did it Her Way by Amanda Boleyn
Offering a woman entrepreneurs viewpoint, business consultant and speaker Amanda Boleyn’s podcast, She Did It Her Way, helps women entrepreneurs with the advice and motivation to start, grow and succeed in their own business. Named one of “The 12 Best Podcasts for Entrepreneurs” by Forbes magazine, She Did It Her Way explores topics unique to women entrepreneurs and provides actionable guidance.
5. Goal Digger with Jenna Kutcher
How do I build my dream job? How do I make money online? Am I ready to leave my 9 to 5? How can I create passive income? How can I grow my Instagram following? And the biggest question of all, can I *really* turn my passion into profits? Welcome to the Goal Digger Podcast where we will answer ALL of these questions and so much more! Week after week, host Jenna Kutcher brings you the the productivity tips, social media strategies, business hacks,, and inspirational stories that can help YOU design your dream career. Jenna shares tangible tips and hacks that she used to become a self-made millionaire in photography, online courses, Instagram sponsorships, and navigating the world of being a #girlboss social media influencer. Along with sharing her best kept secrets, she interviews the best in the industry (Amy Porterfield, Jamie Ivey, Melyssa Griffin, Lori Harder, Cathy Heller and so much more) who will share their secrets to ensure you are seen, heard, (and hired!) With millions of downloads and counting, the Goal Digger Movement is growing every day and now it’s YOUR TURN to hear from the experts, get inspired, and tackle your biggest goals along the way. What do you say? Are you in? Because we believe that work doesn’t have to feel like work.
6. How to Start a Startup
Sam Altman and the folks from Y Combinator offer up an amazing course in “How To Start A Startup” at Stanford. Course includes lectures from: Sam Altman, Dustin Moskovitz, Paul Graham, Adora Cheung, Peter Thiel, Alex Schultz, Kevin Hale, Marc Andreessen, Ron Conway, Ben Silbermann, Alfred Lin, Patrick and John Collison, Aaron Levie, Reid Hoffman, Keith Rabois, Ben Horowitz, Marissa Mayer, Hosian Rahman, Kirsty Nathoo, Carolynn Levy, and more.
7. The Art of Charm by AJ Harbinger and Johnny Dzubak
The Art of Charm is where self-motivated people, just like you, come to learn from the company’s coaches about to how to master human dynamics, relationships, and becoming your best self with the help of Johnny and AJ, the company’s founders. Johnny and AJ bring their 11 years of coaching experience from their famous Bootcamps, where they host clients in Los Angeles from all over the world and they share their stories, best practices and themselves on this weekly podcast. Not only does The Art of Charm help everyday people, including active members of the military, learn how to become higher performers, better spouses, partners, and coworkers, they dig deep into human behavior, the science behind it, and demystify what we do and why we do it.
8. The Create Your Own Life Show with Jeremy Ryan Slate
The best in the world compete with themselves, continually trying to be the beat their best. They shift their vision to creating success for others, and their success becomes massive. They locate the best and learn everything they can from them. They know there’s not short cut, it will take more time and more effort — it’s a mission and purpose, not a career. On the Create Your Own Life Show, I interview the best in the world from NYT Bestsellers to Super Bowl Champions to Billionaires.
There are several excellent apps you can use to subscribe to podcasts you like and sync the content across your platforms (phones, iPad, desktop).
I prefer the built in Podcast app on my iPhone. It’s easy to use and familiar as it’s part of iTunes. If you use an iPhone and haven’t opened this app yet – give it a try and start exploring!
You owe it to yourself to compete everyday. Please contact me to win and get inspired. I want to meet you!
Written by: Kara Haan – owner/designer of Leviathan Design