Podcasts: When and What I Listen To

Podcasts are all the rage these days. For anyone who might not be familiar with the world of podcasting, the best way that I know to describe a podcast is as the modern equivalent of talk radio, but way, way better. Listeners have the ability to search through a vast collection of topics and choose which shows interest them, to be listened to immediately or saved to their device for later, resulting in a highly personalized listening experience. You also have the option to subscribe to shows that you particularly enjoy so that new episodes will automatically download to your device as they become available. You can choose to listen for entertainment or education, or mix of the two (like me!).

• When to listen:

Podcasts perfectly facilitate multitasking. Anytime you are doing a task or activity that requires some repetition and not a lot of focus is a good time to listen to podcasts. So you probably wouldn’t want to listen to them while you write a novel or do your homework, but they are great when you are driving or doing housework.

My prime times for podcast listening are while I’m cooking dinner, lifting weights, or running on the treadmill. I used to listen to music while I ran, but I have just recently discovered that podcasts make the time go by so much quicker because my mind is working to comprehend and connect dots as I listen to discussions that interest me instead of thinking about how much longer I have to run before I can stop and do all the other things that I’m thinking about while I run.

• What to listen to:

I like to try new podcasts and there are a few that I listen to kind of off and on, but the ones I am listing here are the tried and true favorites that I subscribe to so that I never miss an episode.

What Should I Read Next?

Episode Time: 30-45 minutes

If I had to pick a favorite, this would be it. A new episode comes out every Tuesday and the premise of the show is that Anne Bogel (of Modern Mrs. Darcy fame) does some ‘literary matchmaking’ with one guest. For all regular episodes, the formula she follows is to ask her guests to talk about themselves and discuss three books they love and one book they hate and from there she makes recommendations for what they should read next.

I’m currently listening to back episodes of this podcast, and it is absolutely addictive for me as a life-long reader. I have added so many books to my to-be-read list that I actually had to stop listening to it for a while, lest I get bogged down by the ‘so many books, so little time’ feeling that sometimes overtakes me.

Happier with Gretchen Rubin

Episode Time: 30-45 minutes

This is a lifestyle/self-help podcast that comes out every Wednesday and consists of discussions between Gretchen Rubin and her sister Elizabeth Craft on how to intentionally shape your life to make you happier. They offer practical hacks and suggestions for ways to accomplish this and share their own happiness stumbling blocks. I love it because they are so funny and so much of what they suggest makes sense to me, and I love Gretchen Rubin’s book Better Than Before which I briefly mentioned here.

Side Hustle School

Episode Time: 5-15 minutes

This show releases a short episode every day highlighting the story of someone who created a successful side hustle. The host, Chris Guillibeau, then breaks down some of the things that made that particular hustle work, like having a unique product, or a good understanding of how to make something better. It is educational for anyone who shares the belief that everyone should have a side hustle to help them achieve flexibility and freedom, and at the same time often entertaining (ex: chicken saddles and hula hooping lessons).

The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey

Episode Time: 50 minutes – 1 hour 15 minutes

Every Wednesday Jamie Ivey talks to another woman girlfriend to girlfriend about life, family, work, and ministry and how those things all intertwine. It’s not always lighthearted, but it is always encouraging to hear these ladies talking about Jesus. And Jamie seems like such a genuinely kind, friendly person. I feel like I could meet her for coffee and we would find things to talk about.

What do you like to listen to? Those are my favorites but I like suggestions for good podcasts almost as much as for good books, so leave me a comment!