23+ podcasts for information and inspiration
Every day I try to take a moment to recognize how grateful I am for the many blessings that come with living in the information age. Having mostly grown up before the internet took hold, I hope I never take for granted the many doors always available to me. I consider myself incredibly blessed that countless folks I've never met continuously feed me numerous ideas that help me better myself, my community and my human race.
As you know, I also delight in sharing the wealth. Being a very curious person, I feel I often have lots to share. This month I feel called to share something I never have before: a curated list of some of my favorite podcasts.
I find podcasts to be both the most convenient and the most fun way to explore a diversity of perspectives on any given topic. Here's some (yes, just some) that I go to for regular doses of inspiration and guidance. As my interests are so diverse, you are bound to stumble on some serendipitous conversations and connections. If you want to know what my favorite episodes are, the ones that just can't be missed, become a patron and get the full list on my Patreon page.
For the necessity of personal and social consciousness . . .
Code Switch - Journalists of color cover topics related to race and identity.
Uncivil - Stories that delve into the untold history of Civil War times.
Harvard Business Review IdeaCast - Weekly dives into leading minds in business and management.
Stanford Innovation Lab's podcast with Tina Seelig - Just what it sounds like.
On Being with Krista Tippett - Interviews with theologians, artists, scientists, and more all about the search for meaning. (I like the unedited versions which demonstrate just how gloriously messy interviews can be.)
Tara Brach - Teachings on mindfulness and meditation.
On the Media - As you may be able to tell from it's otherwise-omission from this list, I am super discerning about what news media I expose myself to. This podcast keeps me up to date, but it's my favorite because of their meta-discussions about the role of journalism in past and current affairs.
For the wonders and mystery of science and data (and communicating about them) . . .
Data Stories - Discussions and interviews about data analytics and visualization.
Hidden Brain - Stories about the science of human psychology.
Invisibilia - Investigations into human beliefs, emotions, and other invisible forces.
Radiolab - Investigative stories about science and culture. Their podcast More Perfect is worth checking out too.
Science Friday - Science related news and interviews. Their podcast Undiscovered is about the process of scientific discovery.
The PolicyViz Podcast - Interviews about data, visualization, and presentation.
Freakonomics Radio - Co-author of the books interviews folks about a wide range of topics related to human behavior.
StarTalk Radio - Bill Nye, Neil deGrasse Tyson, and... comedians. Need I say more? I also start every week listening to Anne Ortelee's Weekly Weather Astrology.
For the beauty and power of creativity . . .
99% Invisible - Stories about the countless products and powerful influences of design and architecture.
Social Design Insights - Conversations about using design to address social issues.
Beautiful Writers Podcast - Interviews with top authors about the process of writing and publishing.
CreativeMornings Podcast - Talks by and for a creative community.
Design Matters with Debbie Millman - Interviews with creators and change makers about their life and work.
Magic Lessons with Elizabeth Gilbert - Bestselling author coaches aspiring creatives through their fears with the help of fellow makers.
Song Exploder - Musicians tell the stories of how their songs came into form.
TEDTalks Art - Just what you'd expect. When I went to TEDxMileHigh the artists astounded me beyond any intellectual talk. TED Radio Hour is also great.
And few more noteworthy ones just launched this year . . .
storytelling with data podcast
Akimbo: A Podcast from Seth Godin
WorkLife with Adam Grant
If you love listening like me, you will want to sign up for my 40 day listening challenge! I've curated 40 days' worth of illustrated short exercises you can practice to improve your skills and up your listening game. You can access all days now by becoming a patron on my Patreon page or sign up to get them sent to your inbox one day at a time.
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