If you have been constantly asking yourself “what topics should I discuss today?”, then this article is for you. You can’t kid a kidder, topic ideas are tough to come up with. But don’t worry, just about every podcaster has trouble at some point with podcast topic ideas.

It’s like writers block, but you have to talk about it.

We’re going to dive into 23 proven methods of generating new podcasting ideas that will keep your content fresh and engaging.

So let’s get going.

Know Your Podcast Audience

Podcasting is a great way to connect with your people and build deeper relationships. This becomes more important than ever as podcasting moves away from strictly advertising monetization to alternative ways of being paid, like micropayments.

There are even apps trying that out now with bitcoin like Fountain.fm that are experimenting with this model. So, in the future, you have to make a commitment to making the connection with each potential listener.

Podcasting Ideas Come from the Strangest Places

Like Jason Lee’s character in Almost Famous, you have to find that one person who isn’t getting off, and you get them off. That’s how you get those micro payments.

But it can be hard to get started. And even harder to come up with episode ideas.

The best way to start a podcast is by knowing your target audience like the back of your hand.

To do this, you need to think about what they want so that you can deliver it in the most appealing way possible.

Think about, or even ask, what your target audience’s frustrations and pain points are. A good podcast informs, and entertains. So if you can do that you are well on your way.

So, for podcast topics, ask yourself, where does my audience hurt and where can I add value in solving that hurt?

Read… Always be reading. Voraciously

Reading keeps the mind active and nimble.

Reading makes you smarter. It helps you think more deeply, gives you a broader vocabulary, and expands your worldview. Reading also helps you come up with new ideas, which is why it’s so important for podcasting!

In fact, I recently read a book that helped me break my writers block. I had been stuck on an idea for weeks and couldn’t seem to get past the first few steps of getting started. Then I picked up a book by Sam Harris and fell into a spiral of creativity that lasted for days. He talked about how books can help us get our creative juices flowing and how they can get us out of ruts like writers block.

That gave me just enough inspiration to finally start writing again.

Now, while reading helped me break out of my writers block, it can help with creating new podcasting ideas as well. It’s the same style of ideation.

If you need a podcast idea, open a book. As an aside, book reviews are a great part of the process. The difference between what you took away versus what someone else took away can be the genesis of a great podcast topic.

Write 10 Random Ideas a Day

This one comes from prolific podcaster James Altucher.

He famously writes ten ideas a day. Most of which are terrible, but occasionally, there’s a gem in there that’s worth fleshing out or developing further. He did a whole podcast episode on the practice and has since started a social media site dedicated to the practice.

So the ten idea thing was an idea worth fleshing out. Now, he does it on a waiter’s pad, but you can do it anywhere using whatever you have at your disposal.

These don’t even have to be related to your podcast niche. It’s just an exercise to get the mind limber.

Scan Social Media for Podcasting Ideas

Productivity gurus will tell you social media is garbage.

Well, that’s usually true. You get sucked into pop culture nonsense or celebrity news, or celebrity interviews, and suddenly, your day is gone. So, scan, don’t immerse.

But its not all bad. You can pick up podcast episode ideas based on what’s trending and compare that to what your audience might enjoy.

Podcast ideas can come from anywhere, even somewhere you wouldn’t normally think of. For instance, reading reddit posts. Some of the best podcast topic ideas 2022 had to offer came from funny podcast topics reddit had to give.

Dive Into Global News and Local News

One place you should dive into is the news. It’s full of controversy and “if it bleeds, it leads” type of content.

A hot take on what’s going on in the world, and current events, can be an excellent source of podcast ideas.

Now, if you don’t know anything about the stock market or if personal finance isn’t what your audience is going after, a direct hot take may not be the right answer. But, trust me, this type of bombardment will get the creative juices flowing.

Everyone has an opinion. See if you can line yours up with your audience and niche to come up with a great podcast idea.

Use Guided Meditations to Clear the Mind

Studies have shown a consistent mediation practice to effectively reduce stress and anxiety.

If you reduce stress and anxiety you allow your mind to focus on other priorities. like coming up with podcast topics.

Meditation can sound a bit “eastern philosophy,” or “Buddhist,” but science shows this practice works for just about anyone willing to give it a go. And if you need a boost starting your practice, we have a whole list of meditation podcasts that can help you start.

Plus, there’s the added benefit of boosting your mental health.

Listen to Other Podcasts

Listening to other podcasts is the best way to get fresh ideas for your own.

When you want to keep a podcast going, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut. You keep thinking of the same things—the same topics, the same ideas and approaches. But if you listen to some other podcasts outside your genre, you’ll start getting new ideas for how to tell stories and engage listeners.

For example, I’ve been listening to a true crime podcast (serial) lately and I never thought about how much their storytelling style could help me with my own creative process.

It’s not that they’re doing something that’s particularly new or innovative (which is what we often think of when we think of creativity), but rather than talking about things from an objective perspective, they’re telling stories from inside the characters’ heads—making us feel like we know them personally. And that makes all the difference.

Think about the storytelling in This American Life and How I Built This. Listening to those podcasts will help you connect with your audience, no matter what your genre is.

So yeah, just stroll around Apple Podcasts and see what you can find. But stroll, as if you have nothing better to do. You never know what you’ll find that will spark interest.

Revisit Old Content

Revising old content is one of the best ways to come up with a good podcast topic. Why? Because it already was a good idea. Easily one of the best podcasting tips I’ve come across.

We talked a while back about revising your old content when you start see a fall off. Find what people liked and talk about it again. That’s a no brainer marketing strategy.

Have a Conversation

After so much isolation, we haven’t had enough conversations to keep that part of our brain active. Talk to people and see what is bugging them. Ask questions.

Coming up with new ideas is all about getting out of your head. Maybe you’ll get some good book recommendations to apply that strategy. Maybe you’ll see something from every day life from a new perspective.

If you can’t have a real conversation for whatever reason, have one with the new AI tools that are popping up everywhere.

I used Copy.Ai as a writing assistant during the pandemic lockdown and couldn’t be happier with the experience. Who needs real friends? Who needs live events with people, and airborne droplets, and…

Alright, I’m off topic.

Still, if you want podcast topics to talk about with friends, the pandemic lockdown is certainly among the best. Everyone has an opinion, and just about every opinion is different.

Steal Like An Artist

This book blew my mind. It’s akin to the “there’s nothing new under the sun,” and, when you think about it, it’s hard to argue.

What a lot of people don’t realize is that all art is a product of its creator’s influences.

The creator didn’t have to create something completely new, because that’s impossible. They simply had to take what they were inspired by and apply it in their own way—to create something new.

And that’s what this book is all about: helping you find your inspiration, then use it as a springboard for your own creativity.

Work on Your Imposter Syndrome

Imposter syndrome is a term used to describe the feeling of being an impostor, or like you don’t belong in the position that you’re in. For example: if you’re a writer and you know that your work isn’t very good, or if your work is good but you don’t think it’s as good as other people say it is, then that can be a sign of imposter syndrome.

Imposter syndrome also tends to hold creators back from sharing their ideas because they’re afraid that other people will think their ideas aren’t worthy. That’s why it’s so important for us to talk about this issue and create more open spaces where creators can share their ideas without fear of being judged or criticized.

I’ve personally overcome imposter syndrome by taking small steps: writing down my ideas on paper instead of just keeping them in my head; sharing those ideas with friends who I trust will give me honest feedback; and finding ways to make small improvements each time I write something new until eventually I feel confident enough to share it with others.

Podcasters can do just the same with their own ideas. Show me an original travel podcast, and I’ll show you angels dancing on a pinhead.

Take a Walk

Put one foot in front of the other.

Taking a walk can be just the thing your brain needs to get creative juices flowing.

That’s right—it’s not just a myth! In fact, scientists have been studying this phenomenon for years.

In one study, researchers found that people who took a break from their work and walked around the block reported feeling more creative afterwards. They also had increased blood flow to their brains, which is known to boost creativity. The same study saw an increase in creativity in up to 81% of study participants.

The researchers also noted that participants were more likely to come up with new ideas if they walked outside than if they stayed inside during their break.

So if we’re looking at product reviews of walking, I’m all in.

Alter, or Change Formats

I mentioned the Prof G podcast in earlier articles. But recently, he’s changed formats.

What were once segments of individual episodes have been broken apart into standalone editions of the overall podcast. And overall, I’d say it works.

Rather than having to spread research thin over several different subjects, by breaking them up into stand alone set pieces, that research can be much more focused. It takes the spirit of the segments and makes them more robust, more fleshed out.

The market shows go into more depth and nuance with fewer headlines and more expertise. The Office Hours shows on Wednesday can dispense more advice and the No Mercy No Malice segments can offload some of the work to outside contributors.

If you’re seeing a drop in listenership, tweaking your format, or giving it a facelift can be just what you need to reinvigorate your creative juices.

Brainstorm Elsewhere

If you do all of your work in the office, it’s easy to stagnate.

If we learn anything from the pandemic (and we likely won’t), it’s that many people are more creative when they have a new view on their rote work. A literally different view.

A change of venue can be just enough to jumpstart a stalled creativity engine. So if you’re working all day in your home office, try the local coffee shop, do some people watching, and let the freewriting flow.

Now, this isn’t a panacea. Nor is anything on this list, but changing venues, or just changing your gaze and getting away from the screen can be a game changer.

Do you always do your brainstorming in a Word or Google Doc? Try changing up the medium you record your ideas on. A good old fashioned legal pad served my brain storming for years before I eventually upgraded to a Remarkable.

Just that simple change saw a huge uptick in productivity. An uptick implies the eventual fall off, but changing up routines is a great place to start when you’re feeling stuck.

Start a New Podcast

Nobody said you have to keep all of your podcasting ideas under one umbrella podcast. You can always start a new podcast if there’s something you want to talk about that doesn’t fit your other show’s niche.

In essence, you aren’t married to one idea. But you should let your audience know what’s going on. That you’ve got some podcast content that they may want to hear, but doesn’t fit the brand.

Scott Galloway recently discussed on the Prof G Show how he was fighting his producer on his other podcast, Pivot. That his salty nature was getting cut from Pivot.

Which is the perfect reason to have his stand alone show. He can do whatever he wants in his own voice without any trepidation.

For your new idea, you can get podcast hosting for free, or a podcast host for less than you think. If you want to stick with a free podcast, go for it. Let your new idea flourish and grow.

Generating New Podcasting Ideas

Coming up with new podcasting ideas isn’t easy. And, unfortunately, it just gets harder the longer you’re at it. Listeners turn elsewhere when the well runs dry and the algorithm starts to think less of you.

If you think AI is the solution, well, it can help with brainstorming. No doubt about that, but as a creator, you’re still ultimately in charge of coming up with your own podcasting ideas and promoting them to success.

Writing this article got me thinking about implementing the “How I Pod” series again. I’m fascinated with people’s workflows, how they stay fresh, and relevant. It’s too easy to get entrenched and the world moves too fast to dig out a too much of the time.

In the tradition of tweaking and trying out new ideas, be on the lookout for the first installment of How I Pod shortly. I’m excited about the idea, and I think new creators will be as well.

The post 15 Alternative Effective Methods of Coming Up With Podcasting Ideas appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

I’ll grant you, podcasting is a simple medium. In its purest form, there’s the host, a microphone, and a computer. If they’re feeling particularly fancy, a pair of headphones. It’s not technically difficult to start a podcast and the cost barrier to entry is low. But does that make it easy to create a good podcast?

I’d argue no.

One central requirement to a good podcast, a podcast an audience wants to listen to, is a high quality host. A good host is a necessary condition of a good podcast, yet that’s one aspect the “how to start a podcast” guides seem to gloss over.

Which begs the question, what are the best podcast host traits to focus on?

What Makes a Podcast Host Like Joe Rogan Successful?

Being a good podcast host is all about connections. Creating a connection between the presenter of information and the audience.

And doing so in ways that are useful, practical, and entertaining. They’re engaging.

Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify

That’s important because you’re asking an audience to come with you on a journey. It doesn’t matter if you’re espousing information alone or acting as a filter for a guest. You have to do it in such a way that you’re entertaining and credible.

You need to take the audience to a place where you’re happy to present in the space between their ears for a while.

The traits that make a host seem engaged, entertaining, and credible are the ones that make a host great.  The good news is those traits are, by and large, identifiable and improvable.

The Best Podcast Host is Curious

They are genuinely curious about whomever is on the show. And that is a pretty broad range for The Joe Rogan Experience. But Rogan is able to relate back the bluest comedian to a politician who he may not agree with.

But he tries to see the value and present the best of his guest to his audience. In that he brings his audience up. That shows a level of maturity that comes from being a genuinely curious individual.

He sees each interview as an opportunity. Interviews aren’t scripted and while you have to do your due diligence, you don’t know how they’re going to work out. The best podcast host will be nimble, think on their feet, and be present in the moment.

Empathy

A good podcast host wants to make connections. Connections to a guest. Connections to the material, even if it’s a monologue show. Most certainly to the audience.

Hosts like Rogan don’t shy away from trying to put themselves into the shoes of the other. It helps them to understand their guest’s point of view. They often do this by sharing their own life story, and most importantly, where that life story may have come off the rails.

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Host of Armchair Expert Dax Shepard has recently been open about his relapse. While a guest on Tim Ferris’ podcast, he shared an insight from a friend who helped him decide to share his relapse with the audience.

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The friend pointed out that Dax sharing his relapse was much more relatable to his audience than 17 years sober and a marriage to Kristen Bell.

The latter made him a movie star… the former made him human. Being able to recognize the difference made him a great podcast host.

A Diligent Listener

The best podcast hosts know that the show isn’t really about them. Sure, their name might be on it, but in the interview format, the show is about the audience and the guest. The host is just the conduit. But the conduit is the most important job in the relationship between guest and audience.

They can take what the guest is saying, rephrase, and repeat back the idea. They are masters of the Socratic method. As soon as a good host has absorbed what the guest has said, they can relate it to some broader theme. One they think will connect and resonate with their audience.

Kea Blackman hosts a show, Fireflies Unite, that exemplifies what it is to be a good listener. Drawing on her own experience she is able to distill and amplify the stories of her guests. In such a way that they stick with the listener well after the show is over.

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The best hosts remember their role as the prism through which information is refracted from their show to the audience’s ears.

Tenacity

Producing a show is tough work and doing so consistently is harder still. But you have to produce consistently to stay top of mind. Once people get into a rhythm or habit of listening to your show, you want to keep them in that pocket.

Joe Rogan does that, producing 3 shows a week for 11 years.

When you’re just starting out building an audience, you need to show up. You need to be consistent. An a-list host knows that requirement never really goes away. That’s the same in any relationship.

If you tell someone you’re going to be somewhere, you can only burn them a couple of times before they stop anticipating you’ll be the type to show up.

Confidence

A great podcast host needs the confidence that their voice is relevant. That they have something to say or are a conduit for something someone else has to say. They are confident enough to sell that idea. To sell themselves. To sell their podcast or a product. The confidence to simply ask your listeners for show reviews to climb the algorithmic ladder.

Otherwise… well, there’s no money.

Confidence allows the room for self-deprecation. Being able to poke fun at oneself gives the host space to disarm a guest that might otherwise expect something of a hostile environment. An interview with Bernie Sanders on Joe Rogan’s show unfolds in another way altogether on Fox News.

Tech journalist Kara Swisher’s podcast, Sway, is building a reputation for these types of illuminating gets. She’s pulling tidbits from guests who are notoriously tight-lipped.

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Inexhaustible Self-Improvement

Being a good host is an iterative process. Some have a natural talent that starts them further ahead in the race, but if they don’t hone that natural talent, they will burn out. You have to work on getting better.

Podcast host and author of the bestseller Choose Yourself, James Altucher, is a tireless advocate for trying to get 1% better each day. Self-improvement never ends. A good podcast host knows they can aim toward but never reach perfection.

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Keep pushing for better guests. For better understanding of the topics. Take deeper looks, and make more authentic connections with the audience. Keep working on your presenter voice. Enunciate. Record yourself reading monologues. Project.

It may not seem obvious but there is a physical component to podcasting much like there is any other profession. You have to work those vocal muscles to improve.

The audience needs to feel your passion for the work, or they won’t come along with you for the journey. They’ll excuse imperfection before they excuse apathy.

The simple fact that you’re reading this article is an encouraging signal.

Willing to Take Risks

Is every show Joe Rogan does a home run? No, of course not. Nobody’s perfect. In fact, Joe’s taken some liberties that may have crushed a smaller show.

It’s not even obvious that his risk taking is at all calculated as a result of his show’s size. It seems to come from a font of authenticity.

Take his little dust-up with the staff at Spotify. But it doesn’t deter a good host. They refer back to their tenacious nature and keep pressing record.

Tireless Networking / Engage With Their Audience

Again, it all comes back to making connections. It’s hard to grow a show these days without being responsive on social media or by email. You don’t have to be prolific, but you ought to be where your audience is. And that usually means social media.

Networking gets you new guests, which, if you’re tenacious, is a necessity for longevity. It puts new ideas in your head. Networking exposes a host to new opportunities to put their voice in an unfamiliar set of headphones. To grow their show and their audience.

Jordan Harbinger is the master of taking an unassuming show and booking some fascinating below the radar guests. He attributes this to his habitual networking.

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It only takes a few minutes a day to make these networking connections.

Conclusion

Well produced audio and a good idea aren’t enough to make a great podcast. If you’re going to go to all the trouble to make a podcast, you want to ensure it’s one that people are going to want to download. With abandon.

A great podcast host will work on the traits that make them a useful, practical, and entertaining host each day. They will work to build relationships with others, so they can build a relationship with their audience. They’ll focus on self-improvement and treat every conversation as an opportunity to be a better listener. A listener who is genuinely curious about what the other person is saying.

What are you going to work on today to make you a better host? Let me know in the comments or on twitter.

The post The Traits The Best Podcast Hosts Share appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

You’re not alone.

2020 was a bonkers year that ground society to a halt and forced every industry to progress 10 years in only 8 months. It was jarring to say the least. Trying to get out of our pajamas, let alone grow something like an audience was damned near impossible.

This year produced some of the best podcasting ever to be committed to hard disk. So it made sense to take a step back and glean a few lessons in audience building from the shows that got it right.

Let’s apply these lessons to our own shows in what is going to be a brighter, happier, and healthier 2021.

Lesson 1: Read the Topical Room

Human beings are terrible when it comes to predicting the future. Even under normal circumstances. But anyone who told you they knew what was going to happen in 2020 was either

• Clairvoyant
• Lying
• Or an epidemiologist… and, it turns out, nobody listens to them anyway.

This left most producers and hosts scrambling. And that’s understandable. I mean, what else were they supposed to do?

The successful shows were able to read the room and pivot programming as needed. After all, 2020 saw the convergence of three major, seismic cultural phenomena. COVID-19 was a once in several generation global catastrophe. Unprecedented in almost everyone’s lifetime. But it didn’t stand alone in the pantheon of crazy goings-on.

Alongside COVID-19 was the presidential election, which was, shall we say, heated. You can also add the Black Lives Matter protests and general civil reckoning that came along with those.

Some of the highest traffic shows this year were dealing with those hot button topics. Though, without staying power. Each of those topics burned bright in the download metrics, leveled off, and quieted down.

But as a tool and lesson for audience building? Addressing topics your audience can’t avoid head on is a solid strategy. It reinforces that intimate relationship between creator and audience. Especially in a world where we’re quite literally, all in this together.

Lesson 2: Experiment and Change

In the same way as reading the room topically was an audience building must in 2020, riding the wave of change was important as well. As Scott Galloway (@profgalloway) explains on his show, COVID-19 was a 10-year accelerator.

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Again, predicting the future is difficult under the best circumstances. We just don’t know what’s going to work, so it’s incumbent upon creators interested in audience building to use this time to experiment.

Take a look at one of the best shows of the year, Nice White Parents. The team behind Serial had a winning formula, without question. They more or less invented the viral binge podcast. In 2020 though? They took a pretty big risk venturing into new, controversial, territory.

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Did this gamble pay off? Looks like it did. Will every gamble? Of course not. But we aren’t here to talk about audience retention… we’re learning about audience growth.

Lesson 3: Embrace Imperfection for More Audience Building

If 2020 wasn’t the final nail in the coffin for the “Instagram Life” then it was close to the last. The idea that perfection is something attainable seems antiquated. The notion that someone at the top of the pedestal lives outside the realm of the fallible feels silly.

One of the upshots of being in this together is that it was a pretty humbling experience for some and empowering for others. If Tom Hanks can get COVID-19, well, anything is possible. Did you see how many A-List productions had major imperfections?

How many kids were in the background of zoom calls? Or can be heard on the audio of podcasts recorded on the fly from home offices while the nanny is in lockdown?

Imperfection was everywhere and it granted us permission to be human. That humanity made the whole experience more authentic and more endearing. And that made for better podcasting.

At all times a good content creator is reaching through their medium to connect with the consumer. In a weird way, that raw humanity made connection that much easier.

Successful audience building creators embraced imperfection and audiences rewarded them for the transparency. Do likewise in 2021.

Within reason… you need to be putting forth the effort. Which brings us to…

Lesson 4: Take the Work Seriously, Earn the Trust

Was it that we got complacent before COVID-19? It’s possible.

Regardless, it’s been a fantastic chance to take a step back and evaluate what we’ve been doing. Speaking for myself, I may have been phoning it in a bit. Maybe I was shooting for that unrealistic level of perfection.

I’m not sure, but I was off the mark and maybe you’ve got a hint of that as well. That’s okay. Looking at some better podcasts this year has helped to recalibrate how to do meaningful work in a meaningless age.

Working this year was hard. No doubt about that. It was hard to create, but it was hard for audiences as well. The entire world was off its axis. Podcasts that were well-received this year and did well audience building served as anchors. They were audio waypoints in a landscape devoid of landmarks.

This meant earning trust. It meant doing your best work, but it meant delivering on what you said you were going to do. It meant keeping promises.

What that may practically look like for your show is doing fewer episodes, but making them better. Set the expectation with the audience that,

“Hey, life is hard, I might not be producing as many shows this year, but you can count on hearing me every other Wednesday from now on.”

When they open their app of choice on that second Wednesday… your show had better be there if you want those download numbers to tick up.

And while you’re doing fewer shows…

Lesson 5: Time Limited Deep Dives

Consider wrapping a few of these lessons together to dig a bit deeper and create some standalone series or segments. Quite a few of the best and most downloaded shows this year happened to be mini-series or topic specific.

It makes sense. The world was looking for escapism from, well, reality in general. With even the experts making guesses, the totality of unfamiliarity was overwhelming. It felt good to load up your favorite podcast app and check out for a couple of hours with a period piece, or a true crime documentary, or a slightly fictionalized story about recent history.

They were podcasts that had an intentionally defined end. An arc with a beginning, middle, and end. Unlike everything else that was going on, these podcasts had a sense of certitude to them.

It felt nice to commit to something finite for a little while.

And as such, the audiences ate them up.

Consider producing some content in the same vein for 2021. Tight, siloed work, that digs a bit deeper than a single episode or interview could provide. It gives you a chance to explore your passions, narrow your focus, and further define your show’s niche.

We won’t always be in such rough waters, but no matter how intense the storm, it’s nice to know there’s a safe harbor to slip into for a bit of rest.

Conclusion

2020 was a strange, fractious, year. On the one hand, some of the best podcasts ever were produced. On the other, even established podcasts had a hard time creating content that resonated. If you found your show having a hard time with audience building in 2020, you weren’t alone.

If we take a step back at what was successful, there are some bright throughlines for our own shows moving forward. Stop trying to be perfect, be more human, and set expectations are a few. And the more we realize that 2020 was one of those years that’s going to take us all a while to process, the better.

Spend some time experimenting to see what gains traction, like on The James Altucher Show. Remember why you started your show in the first place. Get back to drawing effort from that space and audience building should come naturally.

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And if it doesn’t? Well, there’s always a reboot.

The post Focus on These 5 Audience Building Lessons from the Worst Ever Year’s Best Podcasts appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

I’ve made it a priority this year to reconnect with people who, for whatever reason, I’d lost touch with. It’s an idea I got from listening to the Jordan Harbinger Show, so once again, thank you podcasts.

I had the opportunity a few weeks ago to catch up a friend I hadn’t heard from since 2016. Now I know why.

After exchanging pleasantries and updates on the kids, the topic turned to the mutual exhaustion we were feeling over Coronavirus.

It became abundantly clear our conversation had wandered into talking about conspiracy theories.

Well, one of us recognized we were talking about conspiracy theories… my friend was talking about a reality detached from shared experience.

I’m not sure if I should have been surprised. Estimates vary, but some reputable sources put the number of Americans who at least think there’s something to conspiracy theories as high as 1 in 5. A 20% infection rate is, well, troubling…

This got me thinking about how to talk about conspiracy theories in general. They’re supposed to be fun. They are supposed to be something where, when you hear one, you think to yourself “oh yes, this is absurd on its face, let’s have a laugh.”

But that doesn’t seem to be where we’re at right now. What should be a healthy ability to suspend disbelief has morphed into ruined friendships and families. We don’t have the tools to broach the subject and only find out that we’re even in the conversation until after it’s too late.

How, then, do we build up a robust tool kit for talking about conspiracy theories? What are the skillsets we need to nurture in order to talk about conspiracy theories in a productive way?

They aren’t going away, they never will, but it does seem like they’re picking up some particularly maladaptive momentum that needs to be addressed.

Since this is one of those topics that are too big to conquer on its own without devoting our lives to the struggle, why not build a solid foundation with the help of podcasts?

Here are the 7 best podcast episodes for talking about conspiracy theories.

Recognition

When you’re fighting in the trenches every day, it can be difficult to remember what it is you’re fighting for. You lose the context. You lose a global perspective. As my wife is fond of saying, “you’ve lost the plot.” Gotta love the Britts.

So one of the first necessary skills to develop is the ability to recognize what’s real and what isn’t.

The Anthill – How to Spot a Conspiracy Theory

I’m going to cheat a bit off the bat because it’s that important. Rhetorical honesty be damned!

This “episode” is actually a five-episode series, but you’ll be so hooked you won’t notice that it’s actually in five parts. In the first episode, Dr. Peter Knight helps breakdown the three assumptions that make a conspiracy theory possible. And, shocker, you’ll recognize them.

Spend the time to listen to this episode first before moving onto the others. It’s an investment, but it’s worth it. Plus, they use the term “cock-up,” so you know that’s going to be entertaining.

James Altucher Show – 638 – The Fine Art of Baloney Detection

There’s a ton of garbage floating around. Take it from an expert storyteller and master of reinvention, James Altucher. If we can’t find a way to filter out what is complete nonsense and what is plausibly real, then we’re in real trouble.

Lucky for us, as James points out, the tools needed to sort our collective issue are already out there. In this episode, James breaks down how the great Carl Sagan would do it. A smart dude breaking down a smarter dude. That has to be a step in the right direction.

Critical Thinking

This one is crucial because you’ll run into it a lot when talking about conspiracy theories and especially when doing so with someone who has bought in. You’ll be accused of not being a critical thinker because you don’t buy what they buy. Names will be called. The word “sheep” will be used with great abandon as if wool doesn’t have its place.

They will conflate critical thinking with contrarian dogma. So it’s incumbent upon us who want to talk about conspiracy theories to know what critical thinking actually is and how to apply it with scientific rigor.

Art of Charm – Art of Critical Thinking with Dr. Vikram Mansharamani

Dr. Vikram (we’re on a first name with titles basis) laments what the torrent of information is doing to our critical thinking skills. Not one to just sit on the sidelines he created a framework to help all of us navigate the fine line between skepticism and cynicism.

His goal is to help us all think for ourselves and do so while leveraging experts and artificial intelligence to our advantage.

The Psychology Podcast – Closing the Critical Thinking Gap

This episode is great. But this one is a long play. We’re investing our efforts at reforming education today to pay dividends down the line. The work Colin Seale is doing focuses on the critical thinking gap that exists today that allows more than 1 in 5 of us to accept these wild ideas.

The world is round. Come on. It’s round!

The Argument Ninja – Critical Thinking About Conspiracies

In this episode of the Argument Ninja, Dr. Kevin Deplante actually compiled a show talking about conspiracy theories from his old show. He sort of distilled the best parts of three other episodes into a critical thinking cocktail that you won’t just drink blind. You know, because you’re a critical thinker and don’t drink whatever someone puts in your hand.

This particular episode predates some of the hyper conspiratorial elements of our current landscape, but the foundation is solid. It’s actually somewhat refreshing not to have the current fight.

Healthy Suspension of Disbelief

The energy has to go somewhere. It can’t be destroyed, so it has to be expressed.

Some of the best storytellers have all the qualities to buy into conspiracy theories and cults. Suspension of disbelief is important. But, knowing that, what can we do to make sure we have a healthy ability to suspend disbelief? How do we come back to reality once we close the book?

Life Immersed – Suspension of Disbelief, Elgin Park and What’s Possible

Tracy Oswald is an artist. Her canvas? Life in general. It may sound a bit “woo,” but it means that Tracy is a great person to emulate if you want to have an open mind that’s also productive.

Her show has gone in fits and starts, but if you need to get some “what’s possible” inspiration, this episode is a great place to start. We don’t have to avoid our strongest conspiracy theory tendencies, we just need to focus that energy in a better direction.

Earn Your Happy – Uncertainty Creates Superpowers

One of the reasons that conspiracy theories take hold is that people are naturally drawn to what is explainable. The unknown makes us uncomfortable. So learning to sit with that discomfort is important in discussing conspiracy theories.

In this episode of Earn Your Happy, host Lori Harder asks all us to lean into the uncertainty. She argues that the uncertainty begs us not to answer every question succinctly, but to find power in asking bigger questions like “what’s possible?”

Again, signing onto conspiracies shows an ample capacity for imagination. It just needs to be refracted in a positive direction.

Conclusion

Conspiracy theories are fun, I completely get that. It’s fun to suspend disbelief and indulge in some healthy “what-if” exercises. But with all things fun, moderation is key.

When we go too deep into the bottle or through the looking glass, when we begin to accept the absurd as gospel… well, we’ve crossed a line. Into what, I don’t know, I’m not an expert. But what I do know is that conspiracy theories need to be talked about, not simply ignored.

Hopefully, our favorite episodes for talking about conspiracy theories will prompt your own conversation.

Let us know in the comments where you come down.

The post The 7 Best Episodes for Talking About Conspiracy Theories appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

It’s okay. You’re not alone. A recent study found that more than half of American’s will openly admit to being in a rut, and a full three quarters of participants surveyed expressed frustration with their life’s progression.

Yikes.

The reason we’re all stuck in a rut is that it is simply human nature to be creatures of habit. We repeat these learned behaviors over and over so that they become habitual. They become second nature without us even realizing it. Like a frog being slowly boiled in a pot, far too many of us don’t recognize the water is heating up until it’s too late.

But don’t worry. Breaking out of a rut is just a matter of learning something new everyday. When we’re learning something new everyday we’re exposing our gray matter to new stimuli and we create new neural pathways that shake our lives up.

Podcasts are one of the greatest mediums to make sure you’re learning something new everyday. You can consume them all at once, in bite sized chunks in between commitments, or even on your commute. 

So with that in mind, let’s dive into some of my favorite podcasts to make sure I’m learning something new everyday.

5. The Jordan Harbinger Show

Jordan Harbinger is a pretty interesting cat. He’s a recovering lawyer who was laid off almost immediately from his Wall Street investment banking job during the 2007-2009 financial crisis. 

Instead of being knocked down and not getting up Jordan decided to reinvent himself by learning new skills. I mean, the pivot from securities attorney to self-help podcaster isn’t exactly a natural one. Jordan walks the walk of daily self improvement in the quest of self mastery.

The runtime for each episode falls between about 45 minutes and may last up to 90 minutes for more in depth interviews or high profile guests. 

And the interviews is where Jordan really shines. The man is a machine when it comes to interviewing guests (maybe that’s the law school skills coming through). The broad range of guests that Jordan interviews on his show means that you’re bound to find a cornucopia of topics in one subscription.

If you’re not walking away from this show with at least one good, new, and actionable piece of knowledge, then you may need to clean your earbuds.

Listen: Apple Podcast | Stitcher | Spotify

4. Kwik Brain with Jim Kwik

Jim Kwik’s podcast is something else indeed. He’s an expert in speed reading, memory improvement, and brain performance. Which is truly impressive considering he suffered a massive traumatic brain injury at the age of five that would leave him with a lifelong learning disability. So much so he was known as “the boy with the broken brain” growing up.

Suffice it to say, Jim’s knowledge of learning comes from walking the walk and not necessarily from a framed piece of paper on the wall.

What I like most about Jim’s podcast is that it usually comes in 20 minute chunks that are easily digestible on a daily basis. You don’t have to commit to reading the whole book or grasping the entire thesis on the first go round. Jim’s philosophy is based on small, simple, steps that add up over time. Exactly the same philosophy we’re trying to implement with learning something new everyday.

Listen: Apple Podcast | Stitcher | Spotify

3. Big Questions with Cal Fussman

In order to learn anything, you need to be curious. Fact.

Cal Fussman lives this philosophy. As a writer and former editor for Esquire, Cal has had the opportunity to distill wisdom from some of the most interesting characters to grace the global stage. Muhammad Ali. Kobe Bryant. Mikhail Gorbachev. George Clooney. Richard Branson. Cal teases something unique out of each guest.  

His show is all about getting his listeners to start asking questions. To start asking the big questions. The questions that are worth answering, that drive our decision making processes, and ultimately shape our lives and the lives of those around us.

If you get nothing else from the interviews Cal Fussman conducts, you will learn how to ask better questions in the limited amount of time you have.

Listen: Apple Podcast | Stitcher | Spotify

2. The Joe Rogan Experience

Joe Rogan is a powerhouse in the podcasting universe. More than a powerhouse. A titan. He also happens to have one of the longest running podcasts in the medium. So, be ready to learn a lesson in longevity. 

But more than that, Joe Rogan is an extremely curious person with a keen observational sense. I assume that comes from years as a polished stand up comedian. Afterall, you don’t get to be a polished stand up comedian without the ability to see the seemingly mundane from new and interesting angles. 

What’s great about Joe’s podcast from a perspective of daily learning is the conversations he has with his diverse stable of guests is nearly unparalleled. Drop in on a random episode and you might get Elon Musk running afoul of the SEC, or Sam Harris discussing the imminent AI apocalypse. 

The conversations take on a depth due to their completely unscripted nature that you won’t find on many other shows. Because his catalog is so deep, it makes sense to check out our round up of the best Joe Rogan episodes. 

Plan on spending some time with Joe Rogan’s show, but you’re bound to learn something that will make you a better person with each listen.

Listen: Apple Podcast | Stitcher | Spotify (soon exclusively)

1. The James Altucher Show

Podcasting is an audio format, sure, but James needs to be seen. He’s a character. James Altucher is the author of “Choose Yourself – Be Happy, Make Millions, Live the Dream,” which sounds like some phoned in self help guru nonsense. But in reality, it’s quite a bit deeper, as evidenced by his show.

James’ philosophy is that the economic status quo is no longer applicable if you want to grow and get ahead in life. You can’t follow the route of going to college, getting a job and retiring with a gold watch. Instead you have to start improving. You have to start getting 1% better physically, mentally, and spiritually everyday. You have to become an idea machine, which again, requires a healthy level of curiosity.

You should ask questions. You should try new things, conduct experiments, and learn from the data. This is how you get ahead now.

To evidence his point, James utilizes his eclectic personal background in finance, computer science, investing, and… stand up comedy, to conduct intoxicatingly engaging interviews with a broad swath of thinkers, authors, speakers, inventors, doctors, scientists, politicians, and seemingly average people. 

This is a must subscribe if you’re committed to learning something new everyday.

Listen: Apple Podcast | Stitcher | Spotify

What’s Next?

If you want to learn something new everyday, and you should, then these are the five podcasts you want to start with. Click the links above and download one episode each that you can listen to on your commute, while you’re grocery shopping, or instead of watching the news or mindlessly scrolling through social media.

Now, fair warning. Once you start down this path, you’re very likely going to get hooked and find yourself much further down the rabbit hole than you were expecting. And that’s perfectly alright. You’re growing as a person with each minute consumed. I know I’ve been adding new bookshelves to accommodate the books from guests on these podcasts. And I’m all the better for it.

I think. 

The post 5 Podcasts to Learn Something New, Everyday appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.