I.love.podcasts! I listen to them when I am driving or walking or doing laundry or vacuuming or enjoying my coffee while sitting in the sun.
I love podcasts that make me laugh and those that make me look inward and those that teach me something.
I was talking to a friend about podcasts this weekend and she mentioned how much she was enjoying a podcast that I had recommended. That brought me such joy that I thought I would share some I really love!
Podcasts that make me laugh
Monday mornings are a big thrill because Armchair Expert, Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend and SmartLess all have new episodes drop. They are 3 of my favourites.
Armchair Expert is hosted by Dax Shepherd and Monica Padman. They have such a great rapport and they have some really awesome guests. This one actually falls in both the “funny” and “teach me something” categories depending on who they are talking to; one week it will be a celebrity like Will Ferrell or Amy Poehler who makes me laugh out loud, and the next it will be Bill Gates, Adam Grant or Emmanuel Acho. What stays consistent is their curiosity and insightful questions; I find that Dax and Monica are both very self-aware and open to considering issues from all sides.
Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend and SmartLess make me laugh out loud everytime! The rapport between Conan, his assistant, Sona, and producer, Matt, cracks me up in the same way that Sean Hayes, Will Arnett and Jason Bateman do on SmartLess. Their relationships are just so funny and real that you can’t help but laugh. I have to admit that on a couple of occasions when I wasn’t familiar with Conan’s guest, I just listened to the beginning and ending of the podcast where Conan, Sona and Matt go off on the craziest subjects! Whether they are talking about fine point pens or history, I often laugh until I cry!
Podcasts that make me look inward
My personal favourites in this category are Brene Brown and Glennon Doyle. Brene Brown has 2 podcasts, Unlocking Us and Dare to Lead. Similar to her books, they both focus on helping the listener to grow, to put shame behind them, to learn to be vulnerable and to move forward with new knowledge in a positive way. I found Unlocking Us to be especially informative as I tried to learn more about racism in the wake of George Floyd’s death last summer.
Glennon Doyle’s, We Can Do Hard Things, is a new podcast. She and her sister discuss issues like anxiety, boundaries and fun. So many times I find myself thinking they are talking directly to me and the aha moments are coming fast and furious!
Podcasts that teach me something
There are lots in this category too. I like Invisibilia because it takes a deep dive on a specific news story or current event with each episode. The Daily is produced by the New York Times and gives a good perspective on US issues and politics; I listened to it a lot during the US elections to help me understand some of the pertinent issues.
Parenting podcasts like Alyson Schafer’s Parenting the Adlerian Way and the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board’s OnPoint Parenting offer great tools for parents.
I even got to be a guest on a podcast when Amy Bridle and Emma Gibbs asked me to join them on The Expression Sessions; it was definitely a highlight!
There are so many different types of podcasts to choose from that there really is something for everyone. They range in length from 20 minutes to an hour or an hour and a half. In a longer interview, you really get a chance to learn more about a person than in the typical talk show or newscast interview.
I’ll never forget that magical Monday when I opened Apple Podcasts and saw that I could spend my day with Matthew McConaughey, Bruce Springsteen and Paul McCartney…little gifts like this are helping me get through the pandemic.
