Obsessed With: Podcasts

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When I finally started listening to podcasts I felt sheepish that it had taken me so long to clue in to this awesome phenomenon. The simple explanation for those who haven’t tried them is that they are digital audio files that you can download to your smartphone, laptop or iPad. And there are literally podcats on ANY topic. I mean it. Really. Often people will interview others on their podcast or tell a particularly interesting story. I have an iPhone 6 so I use the Podcast app that came on my phone and always have something ready and dowloaded to listen to in case I have time to kill. As I have mentioned before, when it comes to exercise, I am a huge walker. I walk for an hour about 3 times a week. Music playlists can get old and we have almost no reception in our neighborhood so I can never walk while catching up on the phone with friends. Enter – Podcasts.

My favorite podcasts so far:

Here’s the Thing with Alec Baldwin – Hear me out on this one. Alec Baldwin can be somewhat polarizing, but in this series he is nothing like the characters he plays on TV or the angry celeb who punches photographers outside restaurants. He comes across as bright, curious, and authentic as he interviews newsmakers and celebrities of our day and the recent past. He’s got a voice that was made for radio.

 God Centered Mom – Heather MacFadyen, mother of 4, talks about all things child/parent with just a touch of regular non-family stuff thrown in too. She’s a religious lady and quotes the bible regularly. I love her because she is totally human, humble, and relatable.

Atomic Moms – This podcast is all about girl power. Ellie Knaus, a mother, daughter, actress, and writer, interviews people like Martha Beck (Oprah’s life coach). Together they talk about the importance of self love. That’s just one example of what she tackles. Her podcast is a darn good way to inject a little optimism into your day.

Serial – This one isn’t my favorite, but it’s the one that got me hooked. A friend told me about this one over dinner and I immediately started listening. In this hugely well-known series, a lawyer delves into a murder trial from 1999. There are plenty of twists and turns along the way as the man who was found guilty of murdering his high school ex-girlfriend answers questions from behind bars.

Magic Lessons with Elizabeth Gilbert – You’ll remember her as the author of “Eat, Pray, Love”. She’s a cool chick, who is friends with some super cool people, and when she interviews them she talks a lot about being an entrepreneur and really chasing happiness over success.

Smart People Podcast – In their own words these two best friends are aimed at “enhancing human connection and fostering personal growth while expanding people’s world views through authentic conversations.” Good stuff.