Credits: @martino_pietropoli
According to the most recent podcast industry data through the lens of Listen Notes, the best podcast search engine and database, there are at least 2,751,157 podcasts and 123,236,633 episodes in the world.
Gone are the days when you skimmed through radio stations on repeat, trying desperately to find something worthwhile to occupy your brain and ears. Now anything you are interested in — from quantum physics to stand-up comedy to stories of love and loss — can be found and enjoyed at the tap of a finger.
The magical replacement to traditional radio known as a podcast is a term most people understand nowadays. A podcast is, by definition, an episodic series of digital audio files made available to download through the Internet. Listeners can subscribe to their favorite podcasts and can listen either online or offline for ease of use. Better yet, they’re (mostly) free!
I’m sure many of you already listen to podcasts on a daily or weekly basis. They make a mundane drive to and from work much more interesting, stimulate your mind while you clean the house, and motivate you while working out at the gym. But why are podcasts so popular? What makes people want to listen to them more than their favorite new single or a traditional radio show?
Let’s examine all the real-world reasons people tune in to podcasts:
#1 - To Get Over a Creative Block
Let’s say you’re a writer of fictional stories, yet you’re stuck on the character development in a new novel you’re writing. By listening to podcasts that feature interviews with other fiction writers, you can gain insight into how they work via their own experiences and dreams to help develop characters in their stories. In turn, you can use these ideas to help gain inspiration from your own life.
Jod Kapilakan, the CEO of Abundance No Limits, a website that deals with mental well-being, positivity and healing, uses podcasts as both a creative outlet and a way to promote peace.
“I think being informed makes me less apprehensive about the future,” Kapilakan said. “If we fill our minds with ideas in the place of intrusive thoughts, we can find our peace. Listening and then thinking about podcasts gives me a creative outlet! We all have an outlet like this to balance our lives which is usually filled with stress and anxieties.”
Podcasts can also help listeners creatively solve problems while focused on unrelated topics. Cayla Thurman, the Business Reputation Consultant at Rize Reviews, loves that podcasts are portable.
“I can listen to my favorite speakers wherever I am in the world,” Thurman mused. “Podcasts help me be productive. Informational podcasts allow me to be educated on topics I am interested in. Podcasts give me fresh ideas! Sometimes, I drift off while listening to a podcast, and the next thing, I already have a unique concept that's completely unrelated to the topic I'm listening to.”
Recommended podcasts: Creative Slide with Jon Acuff, Launch, The Happy Writer with Marissa Meyer
Keywords: Creativity, Jon Acuff, Writer’s Block
#2 - To Get Inspired & Empowered
Do you want to travel the world? Build a non-profit organization? Live a more sustainable lifestyle? There are plenty of podcasts that feature interviews with activists, adventurers, and small business owners that can inspire you to live the life you’ve always dreamed of. Sometimes, you simply need a podcast to motivate you to start your day.
Hugo Guerreiro, Founder of The Men Hero, a men's lifestyle blog about menswear, grooming, and fashion brands, listens to podcasts to get motivated.
“Sometimes you are motivated enough to complete a task, but listening to a podcast where people achieve what you desire can make you work hard and get more motivated to accomplish what you need,” Guerreiro said. “So I always start my days with my favorite podcasters inside my field to get motivated.”
Elena, PR manager at Airfocus, gets inspiration for future activities from podcasts. “I was always very unconventional about learning and I realized that the easiest way to learn is to hear other people’s experience,” Elena said.
“I love podcasts because they are very real and allow guests to share real-life situations with the audience. When I hear how some business owners overcame major issues such as mass resignation or financial crisis, I get incredibly motivated. No issue seems unsolvable and I see podcasts as a way to empower each other.”
Milosz Krasinski, Managing Director at web consulting company Chilli Fruit, is still pretty new to podcasts, both listening to them and making them.
“I wanted to listen to as many as possible to see what was out there,” Krasinski said. “I tend to listen to podcasts by leaders in my industry so this definitely helps and inspires me. I’ll often listen to podcasts while I’m working. It certainly beats listening to the news these days! I tend to use podcasts for inspiration for my business.”
Recommended podcasts: TED Talks Daily, Nobody Told Me!, Wild Ideas Worth Living
Keywords: Nonprofit, Sustainability, Innovations
#3 - To Spend Time More Effectively & Escape from Reality
Think of all the hours you spend commuting to work, exercising, or even cleaning the house (yikes)! Those are many minutes that can be used a lot more effectively by listening to podcasts while you drive, run, clean, or cook, making optimal use of your time. Escaping into an amazing podcast can make time fly as the words transport you to a more engaging world whilst performing mundane tasks in real life.
Agnė Musajevaitė, Content Manager at Gifting Deer, spoke about the current age of endless possibilities that podcasts have brought, helping people learn about anything and everything. Musajevaitė uses the Spotify app to easily switch between music and podcasts.
“Listening to podcasts is a great way to learn and grow,” Musajevaitė said. “It can also be beneficial for your career and daily life. Podcasts allow you to escape from your day-to-day life and focus on something else, like an interesting story. But the best part about them is that you can [transform] time-wasting trips (such as traffic jams) into productive things such as catching up with current events, listening to a great story or learning something totally new! I love to listen to podcasts while I'm running. It's an amazing escape from reality and keeps my mind on something new.”
Recommended podcasts: Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness, The Health Code
Keywords: Curiosity, Mindfulness, Prioritize
#4 - To Gain an Education & Teach Employees
Did you major in Business Administration, but have a secret love for farming or filmmaking? It’s easier than ever to expand your knowledge on any subject imaginable with the wide range of podcasts available. You can listen to new advances in technology, strange scientific discoveries and the best strategies to market your web series or start a homestead.
Marketing executives like Maria Flores, COO of Media Peanut, use podcasts to search for material relevant to her industry to pass it along to colleagues.
“Podcasts allow me to sit back and listen to experts in my field exchange ideas,” Flores said. “I can just focus on purely processing the information that they share. The experience is very similar to when I used to immerse myself in the lectures of my favorite professors in college. Podcasts are a natural progression of the way content is being shared online. First we had ebooks but not all people have the energy or time to read 800 pages. Podcasts strike a good balance between ease of use and providing genuinely good content.”
Flores continued, “Every time I drive to work for a meeting, I turn up a good podcast about effective marketing strategies and I actually get good ideas that I then pass on to my managers for them to research on how we can execute them in our own company. Executive planning is all about gathering data-driven information and making sure that the company is headed in the right direction. Podcasts allow me to sift through the noise and make practical decisions.”
Recommended podcasts: Radiolab, Stuff You Should Know
Keywords: Education, Guy Raz, Learn How, For Beginners
#5 - To Stay Informed About Current Events
Listening to the news all day can get depressing. Podcasts add a refreshing new dimension to your daily news by offering interesting debates regarding a myriad of issues. They can view a topic from many sides and often go much more in-depth into an issue than a traditional news source does, adding a bit of entertainment value while they’re at it. As such, you can develop a more well-rounded view of the problem. Many new listeners have found podcasts to be a great replacement for news that’s too fear-mongering on television and too sensationalized on social media.
Ian Sells, CEO & Founder at RebateKey, regularly listens to podcasts as part of a daily routine.
“I primarily listen to podcasts to grow my knowledge in topics like digital marketing, growing a business, and trends,” Sells said. “I also listen to podcasts for competitor analysis, that is, I check what my competition is up to, analyze their strategies, and improve mine. I usually devote 30 minutes to an hour of my time listening to podcasts. I usually do it while driving and before sleeping. I've been listening to podcasts since 2012, way back before it gained so much popularity.”
Sells praised how podcasts represent "quick bites" that allow you to get nuggets of insights without having to read a book. Podcasts are a huge help in improving your knowledge on topics of interest and being up-to-date with current trends and improvements on such topics.
Sometimes those “current events” include shifts in the marketplace that can benefit the businessperson who stays in-the-know. Jennifer Beale, Small Business Owner of AtoZofSublimation listens to podcasts to keep up with the business changes and trends.
“I am a small business owner and we manufacture products to sell on various eCommerce websites,” Beale said. “Podcasts are a great way to learn about upcoming trends. Knowing what they are before the market is saturated is key to the sales success. In addition to learning about the trends, podcasts are also a great way to learn about marketing tactics I haven’t considered or even heard of before. With the changes that have occurred in the last couple of years, it’s important that anyone in the eCommerce business is aware of these changes and are able to adapt to them.”
Recommended podcasts: The Daily, Sunday Sitdown with Willie Geist, The FRONTLINE Dispatch
Keywords: News, Current Events, Headlines
Credits: @brigittetohm
#6 - To Improve Wellbeing & Stimulate Your Mind
If you feel a bit down, there are plenty of self-help style podcasts that can bring optimism and clarity back into your everyday life. By listening to how others have overcome challenges, you can dig yourself out of that rut and gain hope for the future.
Podcasts can literally help bring calm to a worried soul. Anup Kayastha, Founder & Web Designer of HeightComparison, has listened to podcasts for a long time and they have helped quite a lot.
“I've been listening to podcasts since I got my first job and during that time, they eased my nerves,” Kayastha said.
“Podcasts have been helpful for me up until now because they have this calming effect. It's like you're listening to a friend tell you about their day or your professor from college explaining the lesson. Podcasts are calming and fun. It's like a conversation and what's good is that you can choose which topic you would like to listen to. Nothing is expected much from you since you only have to listen to podcasts. You can nod if you like what they said, you can react freely as much as you want.”
Rob Powell from Rob Powell Biz Blog listens to podcasts for mental stimulation.
“I mainly listen to history podcasts as I love being taken back to another time and place and learning why things happened the way they did,” Powell said. “I also listen to podcasts so as to use my time more productively. For example, if I listen to a podcast while driving, it doesn't bother me if I'm stuck in traffic, because I'm doing something I enjoy: listening to a podcast.”
Recommended podcasts: Oprah’s SuperSoul Conversations, The Marie Forleo Podcast, The Happiness Lab
Keywords: Oprah Winfrey, Self Help, Improve Life, Therapy
#7- To Enhance Relationships & Feel Less Alone
If you have a strained relationship with a family member, romantic partner, or friend, it can be difficult to look at the situation objectively and solve the problem. By listening to interviews with others who have dealt with similar situations, it can bring clarity to your own issues and give you the insight you desperately seek. Or, the podcast itself can help you feel connected to another human being in the absence of others in your real life.
Jacqui DiNardo of Mommy|Maker|Teacher is a busy mom, full-time teacher, and a blogger.
“One of the reasons I listen to podcasts is to feel connected to others,” DiNardo said. “Since I am so busy, I have limited time for adult interaction during the week. I listen to several ‘mom’ podcasts that feature real moms talking about their lives. It makes me feel connected to other moms who have similar experiences as me. The main podcast that I listen to is The Mom Hour. I listen to the archives as well as new episodes, so I listen maybe 4 or 5 hours per week.
Jabran Kundi, Writer & Editor at The Stock Dork, didn’t start listening to podcasts until 2021, but is now a regular podcast listener.
“I love listening to the podcast Office Ladies, which is about the U.S. version of The Office, and I also enjoy motivational, crime and storytelling podcasts, so that’s quite a variety,” Kundi said. “What I have recently discovered about myself is that I listen to podcasts to feel less alone. It may sound odd, but it’s true. I live alone in a big city with my family and closest friends 3 hours away. I spend most of my time on my own, as due to the pandemic I work remotely and study hybrid. So listening to podcasts, of all kinds, makes me feel better – I like being ‘socially distracted’ all the time and always hear some life around me. Sometimes, I’m not in the mood for music or don’t have the energy to focus on a TV show, so in that case, a podcast is the perfect option.”
Recommended podcasts: The Heart, Dear Sugars, Marriage Can Win Show
Keywords: Love, Relationship, Date Ideas
#8 - To Move Forward in a Career
If it’s difficult to move up in your career and you can’t seem to progress, listening to stories of other people in your field may help. Plenty of inspirational podcasts showcase folks who have built successful ventures from scratch. By listening to these stories, you can gain ideas on how to progress in your own career or navigate the new normal created by remote work.
Hrvoje Milakovic, owner of Fiction Horizon, is also a big podcast addict who likes to be entertained by them while doing sports or household chores. Besides being a vehicle for entertainment, podcasts have also helped Milakovic’s career.
“I love to go on a long bike ride in nature with my favorite podcast in my ears. It pulls me in, and hours can pass without me even noticing,” Milakovic said. “Favorite podcasts for this kind of ride? Well I like something fictional, some science-fiction or some good mystery to really pull me in. I have multiple websites, a content writing agency, and a keyword research agency. It all started with simple podcasts that led me this way.”
Milakovic continued: “For doing household chores, here I usually like to listen to some learning podcasts. Usually something about SEO, content marketing, such as Search Engine Journal, Authority Hacker, Google Webmaster...”
Heather Welch, Resource Manager at Ukulele Tabs, the largest community of ukulele players worldwide, always looks to expand knowledge and learn new skills with podcasts.
“I actually started listening to podcasts a few years ago,” Welch said. “The very first podcast I listened to was Radiolab, which shared interesting documentaries. I do listen to a number of educational podcasts that have helped me learn quite a number of tips and tricks related to my career. At the moment, I have a subscription to about 25 different podcasts. I try to listen to all of them, but some do interest me more than others.”
Welch continued: “Apple Podcasts is definitely a go-to for me, but I also find that Stitcher and Audible are good choices as well. I would often go to ‘top lists’ to find podcasts. The discovery feature and search functions in some apps are also incredibly useful to help me discover new podcasts.”
Recommended podcasts: Something You Should Know, How I Built This with Guy Raz, Business Coaching with Join Up Dots
Keywords: Professional, Networking, Remote Work
#9 - To Get Motivated & Get Moving
Even if you have hundreds of ideas swimming around in your head, it can take a lot of self-discipline to set goals and complete the necessary steps to achieve them. By listening to motivational podcasts, you can gain the optimism and motivation needed to make each day count.
Certain times call for the motivation to simply drive from point A to point B, or to endure a long overnight flight. Tim White, the CEO and Founder of MilePro, a site that helps readers travel smarter and more enjoyably, loves podcasts for how much more enjoyable they make traveling.
“I'm an avid podcast listener and podcasts not only make daily commutes and short jaunts in my home city more enjoyable, they also are incredibly relaxing for me to listen to on longer trips across the country, or for international travel,” White said. “And there are podcasts to suit the flavor of any trip you're heading out on. Podcasts are definitely my go-to travel item!”
On the other hand, Daniel Morris from Fire and Saw listens to podcasts to help get stuff done.
“Washing the dishes or weeding the garden are not my favorite things to do in the world,” Morris said. “However, listening to podcasts really is! I look forward to listening to podcasts, so sometimes weeding the garden is a good excuse to do so. At the time I was full-time painting houses, I was listening to podcasts up to 10 hours a day! In fact, it was through listening to podcasts that I ended up learning about and transitioning into online work, which is what I've been doing full-time for the last 3 years.”
Recommended podcasts: The Daily Boost, Happier with Gretchen Rubin, The Accountability Coach
Keywords: Motivational, Happiness, Accountability
#10 - To Have Fun, Laugh, and Even Sleep Better
Podcasts are great if you’re simply out to relax and have fun. There are a wide variety of comedians telling stories, getting involved in hilarious debates, and making difficult topics lighthearted and fun. There are even podcasts geared directly towards helping people calm down at the end of the night.
Andrea Chapman, Marketing Manager for Nature and Bloom, gets better rest with podcasts.
“I've been listening to sleep-and-relaxation podcasts for a year now, and I've found it was the most effective method that helps me sleep at night,” Chapman said.
“Before I started listening to podcasts, I had trouble sleeping for almost 2 months. I've tried exercising, melatonin, listening to relaxing music, and no screen time a few hours before bed time, but all these practices weren't really effective all the time. Sometimes they worked, but most of the time, I found myself just lying there and thinking and thinking and thinking,” Chapman continued.
“The idea of listening to podcasts was suggested by a friend. I started with guided meditations, and those worked well for me. Book-reading podcasts are also great. I tend to think a lot when I'm lying in bed, so podcasts like these help my brain wind down for the night.”
Nick Chernets, CEO of Data for SEO, listens to podcasts mainly to relax and learn about topics that are unfamiliar. “I never listen to business-related podcasts in my free time because it would be too much work-related activities,” Chernets said.
“Instead, I take advantage of the wide selection of podcasts and choose a random show. I am curious by nature so I love learning about new things and exploring different concepts. Oftentimes I draw parallels between these podcasts and my job or even my life. However, this comes naturally and I never play podcasts with a learning mindset. I simply want to explore and have fun.”
Recommended podcasts: Duncan Trussell Family Hour, Rip’n & Skip’n With Evan & Kevin, The Pod Spotter
Keywords: Comedy, Duncan Trussell, Variety Show
#11 - To Grow Wiser or Even Grieve
Whether offering a vehicle for wisdom or a safe place to express grief, podcasts help regulate emotions.
Kevin Joubin, VP of Growth Marketing at Branded Research, Inc., often listens to podcast episodes to feel relaxed and calm after a long day at work.
“One of the countless podcast episodes that I listen to on a daily basis is Spotify's Becoming Wise,” Joubin said. “I like to set out a few hours to sit and relax while listening to a series of thought-provoking podcasts. The voices of these people are usually soothing. It's like listening to the radio, but you'll receive a lot more particular and in-depth relevant moments in a podcast.
As sad as it sounds, more people tuned into podcasts as a coping mechanism after losing a loved one to Covid-19 or when dealing with pandemic isolation. Whether it’s the comfort of another voice, distraction from reality, or a show dedicated to help process emotions after a loved one’s death, podcasts have helped people across the globe in their greatest time of need.
Recommended Podcasts: Terrible, Thanks For Asking, Griefcast
Keywords: Grief, Processing Death, Rest in Peace
#12 - To Learn New Languages or Indulge Outside Interests
Beyond taking a dedicated course, one of the fastest and easiest ways to learn a new language is to immerse yourself in cultural programming in that language. People have used television and radio for this in the past but have found podcasting to be more efficient and on-demand. Many podcasts exist with the sole intention of teaching people languages.
If not picking up a new language, certain listeners like to indulge in interests outside the realms of their everyday lives. Daivat Dholakia, VP of Operations with Essenvia, listens to podcasts as a way to engage with outside interests.
“Personally, I love history about old Hollywood, so I satisfy those interests with podcasts like You Must Remember This and The Plot Thickens,” Essenvia said. “These are topics I wouldn’t otherwise have ways of engaging with, which is what makes podcasts so great.”
Recommended Podcasts: The Fluent Show, Coffee Break Spanish, Lexicon Valley
Keywords: Learn Spanish, Learn Mandarin, Vocabulary
#13 - To Practice Religion Remotely, Build Faith & Become a Better Person
With churches, mosques, synagogues, and other major religious houses of worship unsafe during the COVID-19 pandemic, many worship leaders transitioned to digital preaching methods. The temporary solution turned permanent for many religious people who approached their worship habits with a more online-offline hybrid approach afterward.
Marijke van Breda, PR and Marketing Manager at Oliver Wicks, listens to podcasts not only to get through each day, but to build faith and self-improvement.
“I'm very intentional with the types of podcasts I listen to,” van Breda said. “I listen to podcasts that help me with self-development because I'm on the journey of becoming a better person; I listen to podcasts that help me with my faith and I also listen to funny podcasts that help cheer me up when I'm having a bad day. Podcasts are like audiobooks, I love them because I gain lots of knowledge and insights from just listening to them.”
Bridget Aileen listens to podcasts on Spotify on a daily basis.
“For me, listening to podcasts is part of my self-care practice,” Aileen said.
“I love to spend time in nature, stay active and walk while listening to the latest podcast episodes. I started listening to podcasts in 2015 to help me on my spiritual and personal development journey. Podcasts helped me to not feel so alone and recognize that topics I was interested in like spirituality, energetics, personal development were actively being talked about. As I continued listening to podcasts, my worldview began to expand. I was learning new things, started my entrepreneurial journey and began to actively seek out people who also loved to geek out about the same topics. For me, podcasts are the perfect outlet for learning, self-care, personal development and community building.”
Keywords: Gospel, Homily, Allah
#14 - Finding & Listening to Podcasts is Easier Than Ever - Even Easier Than Watching TV!
It’s easier than ever to listen to podcasts. Back in May 2020, The Guardian called it “podcasting’s boom time,” and with many legacy podcast companies getting acquired, the trend toward mainstream consumption continues in 2022. While watching videos or television is also easy, they require more concentration.
Emily Cooper, Founder and General Director at Oliver Wicks, a luxury Italian menswear brand, loves listening to podcasts. “It has been a habit of mine to regularly listen to podcasts,” she said. “I usually spend at least an hour a day consuming different types of information from podcasts. I actually prefer listening to podcasts than watching television shows, as it allows me to consume content easier. You can listen to podcasts anywhere, whereas watching requires more time and concentration.”
Bryan Phillips, the head marketer for In Motion Marketing, began listening to podcasts in the mid-2000s.
“I find them immensely helpful when I need to research a project I am working on,” Phillips said. “I’ve been able to overcome problems and gain new ways of looking at the world of digital marketing. To do this, a general search of podcasts related to your issue will lead you in the right direction. It might take some digging, but I always find what I am looking for.”
Recommended Podcasts: The Digital Marketing Podcast, Everyone Hates Marketers, and The Search Engine Journal Show.
#15 - To Learn a New Concept Not Via Written Word
Patrick Casey, Director of Growth Marketing at Felix Health, listens to podcasts because like many folks, Casey is an auditory learner.
“While others might find it easy to sit down and read for hours from their favorite books, I prefer to listen to the same information in audio format,” Casey said. “I find that I can hold concentration for far longer, which means I learn more and enjoy the process. The main draw is that you can enjoy podcasts from anywhere, which is something you can't necessarily do with a book. You can't read when you're at the grocery store, or while you're biking home from work. But with nothing but a set of earphones, you can turn a mindless chore into the highlight of your day. I started listening to podcasts roughly around the start of the pandemic.”
Eloise Skinner turns to podcasts because the medium forces people to be quite concise and clear about their messages. The audible mode represents a way to consume a new concept or idea other than via the written word.
“Podcasters know they don’t have long to hold a listener’s attention, and so they often speak with focus and intention,” Skinner said.
#16 - To Pass Time
Jonathan Tian, Co-Founder of Mobitrix, spends approximately 1-3 hours per day listening to podcasts.
“I began to regularly listen to podcasts after the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world,” Tian said. “The government placed strict movement restrictions forcing us to stay most of the time indoors. During this time, I developed the habit to pass time listening to podcasts. My career has gained a lot since I started listening to podcasts. I gained insight into new matters that impacted my career and learned how to deal with the latest digital transformation happening in many firms worldwide.”
Jeff Neal of The Critter Depot also uses podcast episodes to learn whilst driving.
“I'm in sales, and spend half my week in a vehicle,” Neal said. “Podcasts are a great way to turn that time spent in a car into a learner seminar. Practically every topic is available in some type of podcast. And this allows me to use those 20 hours a week in a car as an opportunity to learn new skills, or improve the skills that I already have.”
#17 - Podcasts Make You Feel Like You Know the Podcaster
Paul Sherman, the Chief Marketing Officer of Olive, puts it best: So many people listen to podcasts because of the intimacy they create between listeners and speakers.
“Podcasts are extremely intimate communication platforms,” Sherman said.
“When you've followed a particular podcaster for years, you’ve had [the] voice in your ears for so many hours that you feel like you know this person (even though you really don’t). As a marketing expert, I can tell you that this type of intimacy and high engagement between the consumer and the producer is very rare and, therefore, extremely valuable. This is also why podcast advertising has become so popular in the last 5-10 years and why platforms like Spotify are going all-in on podcasts (just look at the deal they just signed with Joe Rogan for his show).”
#18 - Podcasts Allow Listeners to Effectively Multi-Task
Many writers of TV shows and movies are instructed to “show, don’t tell.”
Therefore, episodic television oftentime informs viewers of important plot-points visually and beautifully, but not audibly. NBC’s This is Us accomplishes that feat masterfully. For instance, instead of telling us that a main character’s memory is deteriorating, they’ll show us that she wrote “36” on a birthday cake and then pan over to the “41” candles she purchased to realize that she forgot her triplets' ages.
Visual details work great for folks who have time to view them. But with podcasts, only listening is necessary. Anna Krizova -- therapist, hiker, and co-founder of Camino Adventures -- makes a habit of listening to podcasts during regular hikes because they allow for multitasking.
“Unlike watching a show on TV, listening to a podcast allows me to stay informed and up-to-date while still getting things done, running my errands, etc.,” Krizova said. “I listen to podcasts because I don’t have the time to sit down and absorb the information in a traditional way (who does, right?) by reading the newspapers or watching the news.”
#19 - Podcasts are Downright Entertaining and Educational
Stephen Light, CMO and Co-Owner of Nolah Mattress, is an avid podcast listener who finds podcasts an entertaining way to be educated ever since getting tired of music during a long drive and discovering the medium.
“I listen to podcasts because they’re the perfect marriage of entertainment and education,” Light said.
“Sure, you can sit and read a textbook to learn something new, but how incredible is it that podcasts offer us the opportunity to learn things we’d never even considered, and at the same time be entertained? I also find that I retain far more when I’m hearing a human voice speak with passion and excitement about a subject - it gets me excited, too, and that excitement is what makes for effective education.”
Rachel Blank, the founder and CEO of Allara Health, is a lifelong learner.
“I listen to podcasts to learn new things,” Blank said. “I consider myself a lifelong student, and I like to soak up random knowledge about a variety of topics. I really enjoy podcasts that discuss history, self-improvement and financial matters. Some of my favorite shows are TED Talks Daily, Hardcore History and The Investors Podcast. There are so many creators putting out great content via podcasts these days, and they offer some pretty entertaining insight. I would encourage anyone to explore what’s available because there really is something out there for everyone.”
#20 - Entrepreneurs Learn How to Grow Their Businesses
Danesh Deonarain of Galaxy Maids listens to podcasts mainly to grow entrepreneurial businesses during hour-long commutes.
“I started listening to podcasts regularly about 1.5 years ago,” Deonarain said. “Prior to that I mostly listened to audiobooks on Audible. I found that podcasts provide more real-time information on current events and you can learn some of the same principles from books along with it. I am the owner of two businesses, a maid service and an online jewelry e-commerce store and I primarily use podcasts to increase my knowledge as an entrepreneur and keep up with business and industry trends.”
Brian Donovan, CEO of Timeshatter, listens to podcasts in order to grow as an entrepreneur and business owner, as well as to find solutions to business problems.
“Listening to podcasts definitely has helped my career,” Donovan said.
“As an entrepreneur and business owner, I have found that the best way for me to learn about how to run my own company is to hear personal stories from other business owners. I often relate to the struggle and roadblocks they talk about, and I have gotten some really valuable advice.”
Julian Goldie, CEO of Goldie Agency, listens to podcasts almost every day, because they are really helpful for the entrepreneurial journey.
“I believe that podcasts are perfect for a busy business owner who is constantly on the go,” Goldie said. “Just grab your device, press play, and go about your tasks. Podcasts can not only teach you new things, but also help you stay up-to-date on culture, trends, and current events.”
Goldie continued, “In addition, all of those hours you spend absorbing useful information about business, branding, marketing, etc., will hopefully provide you with new ideas, clarity on questions, innovative approaches, tips on handling failure, guidance to success and so much more.”
Michael Dean, Co-Founder of Pool Research, has always been a big fan of listening to podcasts, and finds them a much more interesting way of passing the time while traveling than simply listening to music.
“I listen to podcasts because they provide me with fresh perspectives and points-of-view,” Dean said.
“I think this is especially important for people who work in business. Listening to podcasts hosted by entrepreneurs, CEOs and other business professionals can give you valuable insight into your own entrepreneurial journey. As a business leader, you should always be looking for opportunities and inspiration to develop your business. By gaining insight from like-minded professionals, you could come up with a solution or idea that otherwise wouldn't have come to you without that new perspective. Not only that, but all of this education and insight is completely free!”
Nancy Belcher, Phd., MPA, and the CEO and Co-Founder of Winona, a female-founded anti-aging wellness center, listens to become a more well-rounded CEO.
“Every time I’m in the car or on a walk, I listen to podcasts that help me become a more well-rounded CEO,” Belcher said. “As the leader of a female-founded company, I usually seek out podcast hosts that I can relate to on that level. My top two programs are Style Your Mind and BizChix. I think allowing yourself to be mentored by other business leaders via podcasts is a smart move for any entrepreneur.”
Recommended Podcasts: The Mind Your Business Podcast, Entrepreneurs on Fire
#21 - To Help Others & Become a Successful Podcaster
Andrea Wilson Woods, CEO & Co-founder of Cancer U, is a self-described podcast junkie who turned her obsession with listening to podcasts into her own worthwhile podcast venture for those affected by cancer.
“I spend more than two hours a day listening to podcasts usually while I'm doing something else such as taking a shower, eating a meal, or doing chores,” Woods said.
“Podcasts educate and entertain me. I started listening to podcasts regularly in 2017. That year I produced my own 40-episode serial podcast and that experience introduced me to and made me fall in love with podcasting. Today, I host the Cancer U Thrivers podcast. Each week I interview cancer patients, caregivers, providers, and survivors about their cancer journeys. I listen to more than 10 different podcasts. I love business and true crime podcasts and the occasional guilty pleasure like Even The Rich.”
#22 - To Become a Better Listener
Ironically, Chris Anderson, founder and CEO of lifestyle platform Soothe Your Feet, listens to podcasts to become a better listener.
“Listening to other people talking is a skill which has to be worked on,” Anderson said.
“Without a doubt, we can hear when someone is talking, but are we actually listening to what they say? The podcast forces you to listen to the speaker, to pay attention and draw a mental picture of the subject they are dealing with. I did attempt to listen to podcasts whilst doing other things but I realized that I was guilty of not paying attention. I now reserve time specifically for podcasts and pay full attention to them.”
While many people absorb podcasts as they accomplish other tasks, Anderson finds that training the mind to pay attention to what is being said is very beneficial, even if not directly related to your line of business.
“Listening skills are so important to any business on so many levels but very little time is spent practicing this skill,” Anderson said. “Previously I would listen to podcasts while doing things such as gardening or driving. But when I came to the conclusion that it really is a skill to be mastered I reviewed my habits and now I sit down and do nothing but listen.”
#23 - To Not Waste “Idle” Time
Mike Grossman, CEO of GoodHire, listens to podcasts to learn new things with ease.
“I love to stay productive during my downtime,” Grossman said. “Whether I'm hard at work or getting a much needed rest, I almost always keep my mind stimulated in some manner. And while I love reading books, I find it difficult to do so when I'm multitasking.”
Grossman continued, “One thing I love about listening to podcasts is that it's an ‘idle’ activity. This means that I can tune in and out while doing something else, and I don't have to turn off the podcast. Whether I'm running on the treadmill or grabbing a coffee, all I have to do is listen and learn.”
#24 - To Learn Something Completely Random
Mark Coster, BSc PhD, and Founder of STEM Geek, is a veritable podcast addict whose addiction does not interfere with everyday duties. Initially, the online business owner found a podcast to learn about philosophy.
“The only problem is, this one required serious focus and attention,” Coster said of the podcast that wasn’t a good fit. However, it launched Coster on a quest to discover a new world of words.
“So I branched out and started playing random podcasts I would come across on Google Podcasts. The fact that I wasn’t aware or familiar with the subjects didn’t matter. I just found words streaming in and out of my ear, words that stick or disposable words, meaningful or meaningless, incredibly inspirational for my everyday work. Even if I only catch every 10th or 20th word!”
#25 - To Not Reinvent the Wheel
Why waste time Googling all the different ways to use a DSLR camera, for example, when you can pop the search term DSLR into Listen Notes and listen to a plethora of podcasts about the subject?
Likewise, Christen Costa, CEO of Gadget Review, listens to podcasts to save time on research.
“I love researching topics that interest me, but to be honest, I just don't have the time to do so,” Costa said. “I can find a variety of podcasts on subjects that interest me and have already done the research for me that I can listen to while I'm doing other activities. Huge time saver for me and I'm still learning the things I've always wanted to learn.”
Podcasts are Here to Stay…and Play!
Whether you are 20 or 70, male or female, a free-spirited hippie or a strongly motivated businessman, there is a podcast out there for you, and there will continue to be more. They’ll make you laugh and cry, get motivated to move forward in your career, or give you the insight you’ve always needed to make a big life decision.
Like social media, podcasting gives listeners direct access to the thoughts and perspectives of the people they admire. It’s also increasingly being utilized by celebrities and politicians to speak to followers without follow-up questions or in-thread replies.
Regardless, with more businesses investing money and more celebrities investing time, the perception of podcasting as technical or niche is eroding. It will continue to get easier to listen in, and fewer people will be turned off by what used to be considered a roundabout process to consume podcasts.
And while the process of listening is getting easier, the process of choosing podcasts is getting harder. The sheer number of podcasts these days can make it difficult and overwhelming to know where to start.
A great podcast search engine like Listen Notes makes it easy to browse by topic, search by keyword, or skim through the most popular! Before long, you’ll likely find yourself playing a podcast whenever you find a silent moment.
