Today, I decided to reveal my favorite podcasts that educate me and entertain as well.
Podcasts have surged in popularity lately. I think one reason why is that we’re all exhausted from looking at our screens. My head hurts after a long day of work looking at my phone. When I’m driving, the one thing I want to do is detach. I love to listen to music, but some of the music on the radio is on repeat, so it gets old and boring.
With podcasts, I feel PRODUCTIVE!
Listening to podcasts is like learning something from friends who are talking to me. It feels like the hosts are sitting right next to you and talking to you about the topics you care about.
Did you guys know that about 112 million Americans have listened to podcasts? That’s an 11 percent increase from last year. I’m playing with the idea of launching a podcast of my own. It’s still a work in progress, but I’d love to hear your ideas about what topics I should cover.
In the meantime, check out these podcasts that I’m obsessed with:
1. “How I Built This”
“How I Built This” is an NPR podcast hosted by Guy Roz, and it’s about “innovators, entrepreneurs, idealists, and the stories behind the movements they built.” I’ve heard every single episode, most of them twice. This show has blown up through word of mouth, so it’s a frequent topic of conversation at cocktail parties I attend. Some of my favorite episodes include Roz’s interviews with Howard Schultz, the recently retired executive chairman of Starbucks; and Ross Bagdasarian Jr., whose father created the Chipmunks. For another episode, Roz interviewed Kate Spade. Listening to her speak on the podcast about her struggle to build her $2 billion fashion empire inspired me so much; I was devastated when I heard about her death.
2. “Making Oprah”
This show is A M A Z I N G! I can listen to it over and over again. The WBEZ-produced podcast goes behind the scenes of “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and tells the stories of its iconic host. The interviewer talks to Oprah herself, as well as her show’s producers, staffers, TV executives and more. There’s so much to learn from this podcast, especially from the first episode, “No Strategy, No Plan, No Formula.” I relate to having a career in which, at times, I haven’t known what to do, so I just rolled with the punches. I guess that’s the key to success: You don’t really know what to do until you’re in a situation that you need to deal with right then and there. It’s helpful to know that even someone as powerful and influential as Oprah had to walk through the same fires.
3. “Outliers”
“Outliers” is a podcast that my good friend Jorge Perez hosts. I’ve been a guest on the show, and you’ve got to listen to that episode. I get very candid and personal. I always call Jorge when I need good advice from someone who can bring me back to reality. He’s such a great host, and I’ve been inspired by every interview he’s done.
4. “The Influencer Podcast”
“The Influencer Podcast” is hosted by my good friend Julie Soloman, whom I’ve known for years. She comes from a PR and marketing background. Her podcast is an innovative podcast that explores the secrets behind the ever-changing trends of influencer marketing and the careers of today’s top social influencers. It’s the perfect podcast to learn and grow in marketing, blogging, entrepreneurship, branding, business, and social media growth.
5. “Oprah’s SuperSoul Conversations”
Oprah is my idol, and she’s inspired my career. I got to meet her and tell her so myself. My story of meeting her is wild: I was at a Variety event when I was nine months pregnant, and Oprah just walked into the room, came up to me and rubbed my belly. It was such a crazy moment that I will never forget for the rest of my life. I watch her “SuperSoul Sunday” show regularly, but if I miss an episode, I listen to the podcast version: “Oprah’s SuperSoul Conversations.” Something about hearing Oprah’s voice makes me feel like everything’s going to be all right.
Let me know what podcasts you listen to. And don’t forget to tell me what I should talk about on my own podcast.
XO,
