In a world of ever-increasing content consumption, it’s no surprise that videos and images are quick to capture our attention…but another medium that is seeing a huge surge in popularity is podcasts. While I wasn’t sure about them at first, Thomas and I have realized over the last year or so that podcasts are actually an ideal way for us to consume content. We’re constantly on the go, we love to learn, and we’re always looking for ways (that fit into our busy lives) to grow and expand our worldview–I’m sure many of you could say the same thing! With podcasts, we can simply queue up an episode in the car or pop in headphones while working out, and 30-60 minutes later, we will have learned something new or been inspired. Lauryn Evarts and Michael Bosstick of The Skinny Confidential (more on their show below), who got us into podcasts in the first place, put it this way: “Podcasts are becoming so popular in the digital space because they are one of the only forms of content that you can consume 24/7 while multitasking…like Uber and Postmates, it’s a medium that sells back time.” Thomas even frequently listens to podcasts while he waters the plants every morning, and then shares what he learns with me (or, for especially good episodes, insists that I tune in myself). The discussion that follows a great episode is even more rewarding than the podcast itself.
There is an incredible variety of podcasts available, so no matter what you’re interested in or passionate about, there is something out there for you. Since we own and run a business, our list is definitely skewed toward business-related podcasts–we love being able to apply advice and insight from some of the world’s most successful and innovative entrepreneurs into our business, all with a GMG spin. Whether you already love podcasts or are new to them, I’ve put together our list of favorites, why we love them, and which episode would be a good one to start with in order to get a taste for the show and what you can expect from other episodes.
This is easily our most listened-to podcast over the last six months. Put simply, they interview some of the most successful entrepreneurs, who all happen to have amazing stories. If you are interested in entrepreneurship, or just need a little extra motivation in your career, this is the podcast for you. Every episode is packed with great stories and valuable lessons.
Start with: Spanx Founder Sara Blakely. Sara’s story shows her incredible perseverance and is maybe one of the most inspiring episodes of any podcast we’ve ever listened to.
If you are familiar with the Freakonomics book or documentary, you’ll love the podcast. You definitely don’t have to be an economist at heart (like Thomas) to enjoy this show! In a world full of fake news and shoddy interpretations of statistics to create bigger news headlines, this podcast is a breath of fresh air. They approach topics from a scientific, but still fun and engaging, angle.
Start with: How To Be Happy. This episode focuses heavily on Nordic countries (like Sweden, Denmark, and Finland), which consistently score the highest rankings on happiness indexes. They aim to understand why they are so happy overall, while Americans (and others) seem to be growing more and more unhappy.
Think multiple TED Talks combined to focus on one subject. The talks are mixed in with follow-up interviews with experts on the subjects. It’s hosted by Guy Raz, our favorite host from “How I Built This,” and is a great listen if you really want to get your brain going.
Start with: Turning Kids Into Grown Ups. This is such an engaging episode. They dive into how to effectively raise children, as well as the flaws in some current parenting trends.
Earlier this year, we attended an event where we talked to Lauryn Evarts from the blog and podcast The Skinny Confidential. We have her and Michael, her husband and co-host, to thank for really getting us into podcasts this year–in their words, podcasts are “extremely effective for deep storytelling and creating a connection with an audience on a very personal level,” something they do very well. I love the way that Michael and Lauryn are never afraid to cover a topic on their show. They have had such great success with their podcast, they started a whole production company, Dear Media, to produce more shows with other great talent.
Start with: Be Well by Kelly, Part 1 and Part 2. We read Kelly LeVeque’s book about nutrition at the beginning of the year, and it was the first book that truly helped us lay the foundation for understanding what a balanced diet looks like. Her first appearance on their show went so well, they added another episode.
Revisionist History by Malcolm Gladwell
Malcolm Gladwell is one of our favorite storytellers–his books (The Tipping Point, Blink, Outliers, and David and Goliath) are excellent reads. His podcast, which features the same high-quality storytelling, examines the fact that there are so many moments in history that we perceive as happening a certain way. Through his investigations, he takes another look at these stories to uncover little-known truths.
Start with: Season 3, Episodes 3 (A Polite Word For Liar) and 4 (Free Brian Williams). These two grouped episodes dive into common misconceptions about memory. Spoiler alert: while we sometimes think that our memories playback through our minds like movies, we almost always overestimate how good our memories, and the memories of others, are.
This has become our new favorite podcast. It’s all about how to build major companies, and the host, Reid Hoffman, definitely knows a thing or two about that–he worked as COO at Paypal, founded LinkedIn, invested in the first round of financing at Facebook, and is now a partner at Greylock, a top venture capital firm. This show is highly educational and is packed with great info for any aspiring entrepreneur. Another thing worth pointing out is that they have made a commitment to include a 50/50 gender split among the guests on their show.
Start with: Why Customer Love is All You Need with Sam Altman. The key to growing a big business that scale is all about developing customer love–nothing fuels growth like the virality that can come from word of mouth. This was especially inspiring to listen to as we launched the Gal Meets Glam Collection.