My Top Podcasts

This little purple podcast icon makes my heart go pitter patter. I have become a podcast junkie. Since I love to read but also have to go about my business, I have fallen in love with podcasts in the car, at the gym, or on walks. Shoot, I am not above listening while grocery shopping or anywhere else I can get away with it without jeopardizing human connection time. There are thousands (maybe hundreds of thousands) to choose from so anyone and everyone can find something they are interested in and without spending a cent. You can get educated on any subject, laugh your head off, cry until your tears are spent, or just be highly entertained. I truly do not know why more of my friends and family are not taking advantage of the myriad choices. So this post is to help you podcast-adverse people a place to dive in and start partaking in this relatively new , and delightful entertainment form.

 

Revisionist History is Malcolm Gladwell’s latest venture (Pushkin Industries) and it is really really good.  Each week for 10 weeks, Revisionist History goes back and reinterprets something from the past: an event, a person, an idea. Something overlooked. Something misunderstood. Gladwell examines the way the passage of time changes and enlightens our understanding of the world around us. Plus, you can really binge because they are on Season 5 so there is a lot of content to devour.

Malcolm Gladwell is the author of five New York Times bestsellers — The Tipping Point (about how ideas spread), Blink (about decision making), Outliers (about the roots of success), What the Dog Saw, and David and Goliath (the advantages of disadvantages). His latest book, Talking to Strangers , debuted in fall 2019. He has been named one of the 100 most influential people by TIME magazine and one of the Foreign Policy’s Top Global Thinkers.

Together Apart is part guide, part reminder of the resiliency of the human spirit to still creatively, meaningfully gather, even while we have to be apart. The show is hosted by Priya Parker, a conflict facilitator whose expertise is in how we gather.  Originally intended to be a podcast on gathering with purpose and intent, Covid caused them to pivot into this current iteration. I have found great, practical advice on how to get more enjoyment out of gatherings of every sort. Together Apart is produced by Magnificent Noise, in partnership with The New York Times.

 

If you can never get enough true crime… Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Crime Junkie is a weekly true crime podcast dedicated to giving you a fix. Every Monday, Ashley Flowers will tell you about whatever crime she’s been obsessing over that week in a way that sounds like you’re sitting around talking crime with your best friends. The storytelling is straightforward and free of rabbit holes so the cases stay suspenseful and are easy to follow. I must admit that I tune in every. single. week.

‎Kind World is a show about how a single act of kindness can change someone’s life. In each episode, hosts and reporters Yasmin Amer and Andrea Asuaje search the world for good news stories that will restore your faith in humanity and tell stories of the profound effect that one act can have on our lives. Most of these podcasts are 15 minutes or less and give you an instant pop of “happy”. A production of WBUR.

Every week, they share inspirational, intimate and disarmingly-unfiltered conversations about living a fully-engaged, fiercely-connected and purpose-drenched life. From iconic world-shakers like Elizabeth Gilbert, Brene Brown, Sir Ken Robinson, Seth Godin and Gretchen Rubin to everyday guests, every story matters. If you are having a bad day or just feeling overwhelmed by the world, tune into any of these podcasts and get the inspiration you need.

Journalist and bestselling author Michael Lewis (Liar’s Poker, Moneyball) takes a searing look at what’s happened to fairness. It feels like there’s less of it every day—whether it comes to lending practices, college admissions, professional sports, or psychological well-being. Who are the people trying to level the playing field, and are they making an impact? Lewis interviews referees (Season 1) and coaches (Season 2) from many walks of life, bringing his trademark insight and wry humor to their stories of (in)equality today. Lewis is a master storyteller and was made to weave tales in a podcast format. Strap on your boots and prepare to be mesmerized by the every tale and how much you learn in every episode. Crazy about this podcast and anxiously await every new release on Tuesdays.

Every weekday, TED Talks Daily brings you the latest talks in audio. Join host and journalist Elise Hu for thought-provoking ideas on every subject imaginable — from Artificial Intelligence to Zoology, and everything in between — given by the world’s leading thinkers and creators. With TED Talks Daily, find some space in your day to change your perspectives, ignite your curiosity, and learn something new. Even when I listen to one that I have zero interest in, I find them fascinating and informative.  I am constantly discovering things I did not know that I needed to know!

TED Radio Hour podcast on demand – Exploring the biggest questions of our time with the help of the world’s greatest thinkers. Host Manoush Zomorodi inspires us to learn more about the world, our communities, and most importantly, ourselves. She is a journalist, podcaster and media entrepreneur, and her work reflects her passion for investigating how technology and business are transforming humanity.  She explores the biggest questions of our time with the help of the world’s greatest thinkers.  Zomorodi is a co-founder of Stable Genius Productions.

The Knowledge Project Podcast helps you master the best of what other people have already figured out.  In a world that tends to skim on the surface, they seek rich and nuanced conversation.  Guests love the show because they don’t interrupt them or ask the same questions as other shows. Listeners love the show because they learn what works, what doesn’t, and why direct from the masters. Apparently leading Wall Street thinkers are all tuning in.  I love their tagline that says, “Together let’s explore the hard-fought lessons learned, mental models, and tips and tricks that the very best in the world use to gain an edge.”  I have listened to the most bizarre (to me, not truly wacko stuff) subject matter on this podcast, like lessons learned from professional gamblers or embracing confusion or the dying art of conversation, and have taken something away from every single one. My kids think the host Shane Parrish is weird but I love his style.

 

Original audio documentaries from the makers of the acclaimed 30 for 30 film series, featuring stories from the world of sports and beyond. 30 for 30 offers captivating storytelling for sports fans and general interest listeners alike, going beyond the field to explore how sports, competition, athleticism and adventure affect our lives and our world. Sports stories like you’ve never heard before brought to you by ESPN. Quite frankly, every one of these stories is incredibly well crafted and put together. Each one is enjoyable to listen to even if you are not a groupie or even a fan of the sport they are talking about. It is just good!

OWN’s first-ever podcast, “Oprah’s Super Soul Conversations,” debuted at #1 in August 2017 on Apple Podcasts, featuring audio from the three-time Emmy Award-winning television series “Super Soul Sunday.” Delivering insight and inspiration from top thinkers, authors, visionaries and spiritual leaders to awaken viewers to their best selves and discover a deeper connection to the world around them, “Oprah’s Super Soul Conversations” is widely available wherever you find your podcasts. This podcast has a HUGE following but it is the one I most debated putting on this list. The ones I love, I love and those are what makes this podcast make my Top Podcasts List. But I select which ones I listen to carefully and sometimes I skip a BUNCH until she comes back to something that interests me. But there are multiple seasons to choose from and a huge variety of guests and subject matter so hopefully you will find it worthy to be here.

You might think more money, a better job, or Instagram-worthy vacations would make you happy. You’re dead wrong. In “The Happiness Lab” podcast, Yale professor Dr Laurie Santos will take you through the latest scientific research and share some surprising and inspiring stories that will forever alter the way you think about happiness. She’s changed the lives of thousands of people through her class “Psychology and the Good Life,” and she’ll change yours, too. If I am honest, this is my number one go-to for factual, well-told research on happiness and all things related. Dr. Santos is a wonderful host and has a way of walking you through the research that is super approachable and enjoyable. You will love this podcast too!

Join researcher and #1 New York Times best-selling author Brené Brown as she unpacks and explores the ideas, stories, experiences, books, films, and music that reflect the universal experiences of being human, from the bravest moments to the most brokenhearted. Dr. Brené Brown is a research professor at the University of Houston where she has spent the past two decades studying courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy and is the author of five #1 New York Times bestsellers: The Gifts of Imperfection, Daring Greatly, Rising Strong, Braving the Wilderness, and her latest book, Dare to Lead, which is the culmination of a seven-year study on courage and leadership.

Brené hosts the Unlocking Us podcast, and her TED talk – The Power of Vulnerability – is one of the top five most viewed TED talks in the world with over 45 million views. She is also the first researcher to have a filmed lecture on Netflix. 

I believe that Brené Brown is a gift to humanity and her research and subsequent writings are a way to figure out how to have better relationships with others and with yourself. I am not always in the mood to dive as deep as she usually goes but when I am, I am so glad I did. Become a better human by listening and learning from this podcast.

Be Well By Kelly is on a mission to simplify the science of nutrition. She says, “I want to make choices, not cheats. I want to live in balance, quiet my inner perfectionist, and never feel like my goals are out of reach. I want to love the way I look AND feel. I want to be proactive about my long-term health and wellness. I want to have a positive relationship with food for the rest of my life.  And I want the same for all of you!” Kelly Leveque has an almost encyclopedic knowledge of nutrition and applies it with grace and packages it into understandable tidbits.  She releases a new podcast every Wednesday focused on nutrition, the positive takeaways, the tools and tips that will help you feel and be well, and a dose of motivation.  If you are struggling to figure out what good nutrition looks like and understand the latest information now, Be Well by Kelly is the podcast for you.

Let me know what you think once you have dived into these a bit! And if you like what you are seeing here, please mention it to a friend and get them to subscribe!