The podcast culture has grown at a rampant rate since the concept was first coined “podcast” in 2004. Podcasts are an awesome way to consume content, engage your mind, and expand your wealth of knowledge. From daily news to true crime, entertainment to inventions, sports to finance, self-improvement to meditation, there’s something out there in the podcast world for everyone.
I was late to join the podcast party but have definitely jumped on the bandwagon in the last couple of years. My personal obsession started when I was training for a marathon, was bored listening to music for hours straight, and wanted something to engage my mind while I ran. Fast forward to today, podcasts have gotten me through tons and tons of workouts, long runs, road trips, and painting sessions.
And so, in honor of International Podcast Day and the channel that has changed the way people consume audio, I wanted to share some of our team’s favorite podcasts and give you some ideas to add to your own list!
John Heisler - VP, Technology
For data:
- Data Stories: A podcast on data visualization
For fun:
- The Tim Ferriss Show: A business/interview podcast to bring you tactics, tools, and routines you can use in your own life
- Awesome Etiquette: Answering audience questions about modern etiquette with advice based on consideration, respect, and honesty
- The Duncan Trussell Family Hour: A salon-style podcast, where comedian Duncan Trussel and guests explore the outer reaches of everything happening in the universe around us
- How I Built This: A podcast about innovators, entrepreneurs, idealists, and the stories behind the companies and movements they built
For daily news:
- Up First: A 10-minute daily news podcast that gives you the three biggest stories of the day
Brent Endres – BI Engineer
- Invest Like the Best: An interview podcast that captures and openly shares the world’s best business and investing knowledge
- The Pomp Podcast: A podcast that talks with the most interesting people in business and finance
Addie Gerritts - VP, Marketing
As for my favorite podcasts, I am simply an investigative true crime junkie. I keep a running list in my phone and of the 90+ podcasts on that list, I’m about 1/3 of the way through. Of those, my favorites include:
- Up and Vanished, Season 1 and 2: Two separate cold case investigations into the disappearances of Tara Grinstead and Kristal Reisinger (one of which was officially re-opened and solved thanks to new evidence and investigation done in the podcast; so cool)
- In the Dark, Season 2: An active investigation into the wrongful conviction of Curtis Flowers and how his case moved through the justice system
- Bear Brook: The cold case that revolutionized murder investigations with the introduction of genetic genealogy
- Cold: A cold case investigation into the disappearance of Susan Powell
International Podcast Day
From National Today, here are some things you can do to celebrate International Podcast Day today!
1. Find a new podcast
With apps like Pocket Cast (for Android) and Downcast (for iOS), it's never been easier to find an interesting podcast. Browse by category, or by popularity, and you're bound to find at least a dozen that you'll have a hard time turning off.
2. Create your own
You can create your very own podcast, and you've likely already got the tools you need to get started. Between your mobile phone and your computer, you've likely got a microphone, and some app like Garageband or Audacity. Recording the podcast is the easy part — the real challenge comes when you're trying to pick a topic worth listening to!
3. Donate to your favorite producer
Many of the most popular podcasts survive on minimal ad revenue, and donations "from viewers like you." As much as even hearing those words can put one to sleep, they're there for a reason! Consider throwing a few dollars toward your favorite podcasts so that they can keep on broadcasting.
