Favorite podcasts

4 Comments

Anyone else love podcasts? I’m right there with you. I’ve been a podcast fanatic ever since the mid-2000s — back when I had to download them to the computer and transfer them to my cute little iPod Nano in its pink leather case. (That Nano was rather adorable, but I can’t say I miss it.)

Anyway, these days: podcasts on every topic you can imagine have exploded onto the scene, and they’re ridiculously easy to imbibe.

Here are my favorites…

Happier with Gretchen Rubin

Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project and Happier at Home and Better Than Before, co-hosts this podcast with her sister. I love everything about it: their rapport, the subject matter, their regular segments (demerit & gold star). They’ve been podcasting for several years now, and they’re keeping it fresh and relevant and entertaining. They’re my most favorite.

What Should I Read Next?

Oh, my goodness. Anne Bogel is so pleasant and kind and knowledgeable, I wish I were her. She invites a guest for each episode, asks them to tell her 3 books they love, 1 book they hated, and what they’re reading now. Then she prescribes 3 books for them. I always play along at home, and think of which books I’d suggest. This is pure comfort listening, my friends.

Just the Right Book Podcast

I dearly adore Roxane Coady. She’s wicked smart about books, she has a wonderful earthy voice, and she gives the best author/guest introductions I’ve ever heard. Her interviews are top notch and fascinating — every single one.

Happier in Hollywood

I already feel like I know Liz Craft, who co-hosts Happier with her sister, Gretchen Rubin. And now I also know her writing partner, Sarah Fain, because Liz and Sarah co-cohost Happier in Hollywood. They’re relatable and wise, and they offer great life hacks. And also a look into the life of TV writers. I never knew I was interested, but I’m interested. (I love work life stories.)

ProBlogger

Darren Rowse, you’re making me a better blogger! (I have miles yet to go, but this guy is seriously informative and helpful and inspiring.)

Online Marketing Made Easy

Amy Porterfield is an online entrepreneur, and her podcast is designed for others in that field. And even though that’s totally not me, I find her enjoyable to listen to. Also, she’s friendly and encouraging, and I like that, too. And sometimes she covers topics that are relevant for bloggers, such as content calendars and copy writing. So then I get to take notes.

Presidential

A podcast custom-made for me? This is it. Presented by a Washington Post reporter, and featuring lots of heavy hitters in the presidential biography world, each episode describes one U.S. President and his times.

Q&A

Those Brian Lamb C-SPAN author interviews? They’re available as a podcast. Often he interviews authors of nonfiction books about politics and history, and those are usually my favorite episodes.

Lead to Win

I can’t resist a good leadership / self-improvement podcast. And this is my favorite of them all. Michael Hyatt and Megan Hyatt Miller co-host, and I find their material inspiring.

HerMoney with Jean Chatzky

Personal finance — be still my heart! I adore this topic, and I really like Jean Chatzky’s approach, which puts women on equal footing with men.

And that wraps up the list of the podcasts I absolutely can’t wait to listen to.

What are the podcasts you can’t get enough of?

4 thoughts on “Favorite podcasts”

  1. Amy

    First I have to thank the Unruly Reader for introducing me to podcasts (I’m a reluctant adopter). I had a hellish commute to a job I hated, and listening to Ann Bogel and Roxanne Coady saved my life – because who doesn’t like listening to someone talk about books and with authors. Still my 2 favorite pods!

    On the topic of reading, I adore Levar Burton Reads (basically Reading Rainbow for adults). Short stories (usually sci-fi, fantasy or speculative fiction – outside my genre comfort zone) read by Levar. No other explanation necessary.

    Other favs include That’s the Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe, Stay Tuned with Preet Bharara and the now-defunct How to be Amazing with Michael Ian Black (episodes still available). I’ve gotten several book recommendations from Preet and Michael that I have thoroughly enjoyed.

    On the darker side of these, really enjoyed Dr. Death and Over my Dead Body, both from WONDERY.

    • Unruly Reader

      Amy — You’re my favorite podcast convert! So grateful you told me about Roxane Coady’s podcast — it is, as you promised, perfect every time. I’ve just subscribed to some of your favorites and look forward to checking them out.

  2. Stephanie

    Super fun post! I too adore What Should I Read Next, and I’m currently loving All the Books (a Book Riot podcast; it’s great for learning about new releases. Or, newish releases, since I’m listening to all the back episodes). Let’s Talk About Sects is a pretty neat podcast about cults and freaky violent insular groups; I listened to all the back episodes of that and have a new one to catch up on sometime soon.

    • Unruly Reader

      Stephanie — All the Books is a good one! Thanks for mentioning Let’s Talk About Sects — I immediately alerted two people who I knew would love it (and they’re both really excited to check it out).

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