Sarahritchie17 Today I want to talk about my favorite way to consume personal growth content, and that’s podcasts!
But before we get to the podcasts, I want you to think for a minute about how you feed your brain information. That’s how I started listening to podcasts.
We have more access to information today than ever before and the rate that our brains process that information is also greater than ever before. Think about how fast you can scroll through Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn. Even if you are not stopping to read every caption, a picture says a thousand words, right?
With all this information coming in, we need to be mindful of its contents. I’m not saying to cut The Bachelor out of your Monday night routine, but be mindful of how the content you consume is influencing you, and make sure you are also incorporating content that helps you learn and grow into a better version of yourself.
When I started listening to podcasts, I went in with this intent—to find podcasts that I could learn cool stuff from. I found some that took forever to get to the point, some that were just a couple of friends gabbing on about nothing for a whole hour, and some that were too monotone to get past the first 7 minutes. The five I have listed below are ones that are tried and true for me. I’ve been listening to them on a regular basis for months now, and they have not disappointed!
Side note: I listen to my podcasts on Spotify. Spotify creates a playlist called “Your Daily Podcasts” which provides me all the latest of my personal favorite podcasts and suggestions for others I might like. I’ve made this podcast playlist part of my morning routine. (This is not an ad.)
Disclaimer: Nothing in this post is an ad. I’m not getting paid by anyone to say any of this. These are true, honest, and raw opinions of things that I like.
Without further ado, here are my favorite podcasts currently:
1. RISE podcast – Rachel Hollis
With the exception of the most recent episode posted, I have listened to every single episode of this podcast. I love it because the content that Rachel Hollis puts into this world never ceases to motivate and inspire me and light my heart on fire. In this podcast you’ll find “tangible and tactical advice and inspiring interviews with the same intention. These are the tools to change your life and your business.” Said in another way, Rachel Hollis is a women’s personal growth coach and mentor who connects you with her experiences along with her exceptional peers, leaders and powerhouses of humans; sharing how she and others have succeeded in their fields and thrived in their personal lives. I can’t recommend this podcast enough to women of all ages and men too.
- Number of episodes as of Feb 9, 2020: 132
- Average length of episode: 40 min – 1 hr
- New episodes release: every Tuesday
2. The Goal Digger Podcast – Jenna Kutcher
Similar in type and scope to the RISE podcast, The Goal Digger Podcast’s target audience is women with side hustles, careers, and big dreams. Jenna Kutcher is another role model and virtual mentor to me in the field of personal growth. Her podcast is another one that I binge on long road trips, though I haven’t made it through all of her episodes yet. She describes her podcast as your “one-stop-stop for happy hour with a gal pal mixed with business school.” From jaw-dropping interviews with people like Bethany Hamilton and Ed Mylett to tangible advice from her experiences growing her small photography business into a multi-million dollar online business, Jenna Kutcher delivers only the best in her podcast.
- Number of episodes as of Feb 9, 2020: 334
- Average length of episode: 30 min – 1 hr
- New episodes release: every Monday and Wednesday
3. Optimal Living Daily – Justin Malik
If you don’t have much time to listen to podcasts or are looking for a short and sweet audio to add to your morning or evening routine to give you something to reflect on, this podcast is perfect. In this podcast, Justin Malik narrates blog posts from various writers (with their permission) in the topics of personal development, minimalism, and productivity. I usually listen to this podcast as I’m eating breakfast to get my mind running. There are also other versions of this podcast called “Optimal Finance Daily” and “Optimal Business Daily.”
- Number of episodes as of Feb 9, 2020: 1,521
- Average length of episode: 5-10 minutes
- New episodes release: every single day
4. Skimm This
The Skimm is an email newsletter that you can subscribe to that gives you a rundown of the biggest news stories every weekday morning. I’ve been a subscriber (it’s free) for a few years now, and it’s the source I rely on to stay up to date on current events in the world. In March 2019, they came out with a supplementary podcast to elaborate on the some of the brief stories in their daily email. Skimm This “breaks down the most important stories of the day and explains why they matter.” Unlike other media outlets, The Skimm, Inc. is seemingly unbiased and reports both sides of the story.
- Number of episodes as of Feb 9, 2020: not sure–they’re not numbered on Spotify
- Average length of episode: 10-15 minutes
- New episodes release: every weekday Monday through Friday at 5 PM
5. Skimm’d from The Couch
Another free service provided by The Skimm, Inc.; co-founders and co-CEO’s, Carly Zakin and Danielle Weisberg, started this podcast two years ago in February 2018. In this podcast, they interview female leaders on the challenges they faced in getting to where they are today. If you’re looking for a female role model, this is the place to go. Featuring inspiring women who have led the way for future generations not just in the corporate world, but also in sports and entertainment; this podcast unveils the actual stories of impressive women including Danica Patrick, Martha Stewart, Barbara Corcoran, Tory Burch, and Kate Upton.
- Number of episodes as of Feb 9, 2020: also unnumbered
- Average length of episode: 30-40 minutes
- New episodes release: every Tuesday
I hope you’ll check out one of these great podcasts or that you’ll find your own resources to be more mindful of the content you’re consuming. There is a plethora of free information in the world, and I want you to use it!
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Cheers!
Sarah
