You’re not alone.

Finding the most interesting podcasts can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack.
But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

This guide will help you discover some truly captivating podcasts that are worth your time.

Why Podcasts Are the Best Way to Learn and Be Entertained

Podcasts are more than just background noise.

They can be a source of inspiration, knowledge, and entertainment.

Think about it.

Where else can you learn about the history of ancient Rome while cooking dinner?
Or hear firsthand accounts of true crime stories on your morning commute?

Podcasts allow you to multitask while diving into a world of fascinating stories and insights.
Whether you’re into business, history, comedy, or science, there’s a podcast out there for you.

What Makes a Podcast Interesting?

An interesting podcast grabs your attention from the first minute and keeps you hooked until the end. People have 8 second attention spans, so the most interesting podcasts respect the listener’s time.

It’s all about storytelling, engaging hosts, and unique perspectives.

Let’s break it down:

• Compelling Stories: A good story can make even the driest topics interesting.
• Engaging Hosts: A great host can turn a simple interview into a riveting conversation.
• Unique Perspectives: Podcasts that offer fresh viewpoints on familiar topics stand out. This can be news, cultural discussions, history, or more.
  
  But the most interesting podcasts take an oblique angle on the subject.
  
  They challenge the listener.

The Top 14 Most Interesting Podcasts You Should Be Listening To

This American Life

Hosted by Ira Glass, this podcast explores a wide range of themes and stories that are both captivating and thought-provoking.

Each episode blends investigative journalism, essays, and memoirs that touch on universal human experiences.

Chartable Data: Consistently ranks in the top 10 for news and culture podcasts globally.

Serial

Hosted by Sarah Koenig, this true crime podcast redefined the genre and has kept listeners on the edge of their seats since its debut. Even if you aren’t a True Crime genre fan, this is one of the most interesting podcasts simply because it changed the game.

Each season explores a different real-life case, unraveling the complexities and mysteries involved.

Chartable Data: “Serial” has over 300 million total downloads and remains one of the most talked-about podcasts in the true crime genre.

Listen on Apple Podcasts.

Radiolab

For those who love science and philosophy, “Radiolab” is a must-listen.

Lulu Miller and Latif Nasser host the show, which makes complex topics accessible and engaging through a mix of storytelling and scientific inquiry.

The recent host change has been met with some mixed feedback. Changing hosts midstream certainly qualifies it to remain one of the most interesting podcasts.

Chartable Data: Regularly features in the top 50 podcasts across various categories.

Listen on Apple Podcasts.

The Daily

Stay updated with the most important news of the day with “The Daily.”

This podcast from The New York Times provides deep dives into current events with insightful analysis.

Hosted by Michael Barbaro, it offers a fresh perspective on the biggest stories of our time. And it does it in roughly 20 minutes a day. There’s no better way to get a handle on the day’s going ons.

Chartable Data: As of this writing, The Daily is the third most listened to podcast on Apple Podcasts. That’s impressive.

Listen to on Apple Podcasts.

How I Built This

If you’re into entrepreneurship and innovation, “How I Built This” will inspire you.

Host Guy Raz interviews the founders of some of the world’s most successful companies, delving into their journeys, challenges, and successes. In a capitalist economy, it ticks all the boxes for ranking as one of the most interesting podcasts.

Chartable Data: Frequently ranked in the top 20 for business podcasts, with over 200,000 downloads per episode.

Listen on Apple Podcasts.

Stuff You Should Know

Curious about how things work?

“Stuff You Should Know” covers everything from the history of sandwich bread to how black holes work.

Hosted by Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant, it makes learning fun and accessible.

Chartable Data: Has amassed over 1 billion downloads, making it one of the most listened-to podcasts globally.

Listen on Apple Podcasts.

The Joe Rogan Experience

Known for its long-form interviews, “The Joe Rogan Experience” covers a wide range of topics with various guests. And yeah, it’s the most popular podcast around, but that’s largely because it’s such an interesting podcast.

Hosted by comedian Joe Rogan, the podcast features deep, often controversial discussions on everything from politics to health and fitness. Some of the best Joe Rogan episodes are those where he gets heated with a guest, or when he covers more lofty topics like science.

This show is interesting. It’s divisive. It’s eclectic. And, most of all, it’s one of the most entertaining podcasts no matter how you lean.

Chartable Data: One of the most downloaded podcasts in the world. It holds the top spot on the Apple Charts.

Listen on Spotify.

TED Radio Hour

Love TED Talks?

“TED Radio Hour” brings those ideas to life in podcast form.

Hosted by Manoush Zomorodi, it features excerpts from TED Talks followed by interviews and deeper dives into the topics. It’s also worth checking out TED Talks Daily. One of the most interesting podcasts on the market.

Chartable Data: Consistently ranks in the top 50 for educational podcasts, with over 1 million downloads per episode.

Listen on Apple Podcasts.

Crime Junkie

True crime enthusiasts will love “Crime Junkie.”

Hosted by Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat, it’s addictive and well-researched, making it one of the most interesting podcasts in the genre.

Each episode tells a gripping story that will keep you hooked.

Chartable Data: Regularly features in the top 10 true crime podcasts, with episodes often surpassing 500,000 downloads.

Listen on Apple Podcasts.

You Must Remember This

This podcast dives into the secret and forgotten history of Hollywood’s first century.

Hosted by Karina Longworth, it’s a fascinating listen for movie buffs and history enthusiasts alike. This one is a little different, but we, as a country, have a wide fascination with Hollywood. Knowing the history is usually worth knowing.

Chartable Data: Frequently ranked in the top 20 for film history podcasts.

Listen on Apple Podcasts.

Freakonomics Radio

If you’re fascinated by the hidden side of everything, “Freakonomics Radio” is for you.

Hosted by Stephen J. Dubner, it explores the oddities and unexpected truths of various topics, often challenging conventional wisdom. Challenging assumptions is always a worthy task. This show will give you that mind blowing type of subject matter. What more do you want in your most interesting podcasts?

Chartable Data: Consistently ranked in the top 30 for economics and business podcasts.

Listen on Apple Podcasts.

Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

Hosted by Dax Shepard, “Armchair Expert” dives into honest and deep conversations with celebrities, journalists, and academics.

It’s insightful and often hilarious, offering a raw look into the lives and minds of its guests.

Chartable Data: Often ranks in the top 20 for society and culture podcasts.

Listen on Apple Podcasts.

The Moth

For fans of storytelling, “The Moth” features people telling true stories from their lives.

It’s raw, real, and incredibly moving, capturing the essence of the human experience.

Chartable Data: One of the top storytelling podcasts, ranking in the top 100 for all podcasts, and number 1 for performing arts.

Listen on Apple Podcasts.

WTF with Marc Maron

Hosted by comedian Marc Maron, this podcast features in-depth interviews with a wide range of guests, including celebrities, musicians, and fellow comedians.

Known for its candid and often emotional conversations, “WTF with Marc Maron” is a must-listen for anyone interested in the personal stories behind public figures.

Chartable Data: Frequently in the top 50 for comedy podcasts, ranking 26th at the time of this writing.

Listen on Apple Podcasts.

Qanon Anonymous Podcast

If you’re curious about conspiracy theories and the impact they have on society, “QAnon Anonymous” is a must-listen.

Hosted by Julian Feeld, Travis View, and Jake Rockatansky, this podcast delves into the world of QAnon, exploring its origins, growth, and influence through insightful analysis and thorough research.

Chartable Data: Frequently features in the top 100 for society and culture podcasts, though not always. Fluctuating as high as 200.

It goes to show that not every interesting pod is going to be the most well-ranked. That doesn’t mean they aren’t worth listening.

Listen on Apple Podcasts.

How to Choose the Right Podcast for You

With so many options, how do you find the most interesting podcasts for your tastes?
Here are some tips:

• Identify Your Interests: Are you into true crime, history, science, or something else?
• Read Reviews: Check out what other listeners are saying.
• Listen to a Few Episodes: Before you commit, try listening to a few episodes. Even listening to the snippets or clips can give you an idea.
• Check Episode Length: Make sure the podcast fits into your schedule.

FAQs About Podcasts

Q: How do I start listening to podcasts?
A: It’s easy!

You can listen to podcasts on various platforms like Spotify (the largest), Apple Podcasts (the OG), and a number of other podcatcher apps.

Just search for the podcast you’re interested in and hit play. Or check out our guide for the best Android podcast apps. Or our guide on listening to podcasts for the first time.

Q: Are podcasts free?
A: Most podcasts are free to listen to.

Some offer premium content for a subscription fee. While most podcasts are supported by ads or sponsorships, some will have a “paywall” or ask for contributions through platforms like Patreon.

Q: Can I download podcasts for offline listening?
A: Yes, most podcast apps allow you to download episodes for offline listening. Some apps add this as a feature in their paid or premium plans. Again, it’s a business, but this is a very convenient feature.

Q: How often are new episodes released?
A: It varies. Some podcasts release new episodes weekly, while others might have different schedules. A quality podcaster will have some regularity to their release schedule.

Why You Should Start Listening to Podcasts Today

Podcasts are a fantastic way to learn new things, stay entertained, and make the most of your time.
Whether you’re driving, exercising, or just relaxing at home, there’s always a podcast to keep you company.

So why wait?

Start exploring the most interesting podcasts today and find your new favorite.

Remember, the world of podcasts is vast and diverse.

There’s something out there for everyone. There are a ton of genres and categories we haven’t covered in this vast, and I do mean vast, podcast landscape.

From true crime to comedy, history to science, the most interesting podcasts are just a click away.
The most interesting podcasts can change the way you see the world.

Be sure to check back often as we often find new gems to add to this list. Join our email list below, or follow us on (ugh…) X. No, it’s still Twitter.

The post The 15 Most Interesting Podcasts: The Ultimate Guide appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

That’s Dissect podcast host Cole Cuchna on the strength of his original idea for the show. And it’s him in a nutshell. Geniune surprise that he’s been able to garner such an audience for a show that does such deep dives.

Instead of creating something made for the masses, podcast creators can dive into something niche, self-described as “nerdy”, and still become a hit. Chances are if you’re incredibly interested in a particular subject others likely are as well.

We tend to find our tribe. That’s why everyone should consider having a podcast.

What Makes the Dissect Special?

Essentially, it’s the format coupled with a host that bleeds music. More important to the success of the show is our host bleeds music analysis.

If you’ve ever sat at a bar in college, or gone to a party, the topic of your favorite music is likely going to come up. The discussion will be wide-ranging and dive deeper than you thought possible. At least that’s been my experience.

That’s what makes the Dissect Podcast so important to a devoted audience.

Cuchna grew up loving music. Having seen Jimmi Hendrix light his guitar on fire at the impressionable age of 12, the seeds for what this show would become were planted early.

As a self taught guitarist (a man after my own heart), Cole would spend hours learning by playing music he loved. After spending his formative years playing in rock bands, touring around, and sleeping on dirty floors near dive bars, Cole hit a wall. A creative wall. A musical wall.

So, he did the natural thing. He quit the band and enrolled in at San Jose State University to study music theory. Years of classical music is an eye opening experience for a dirty punk rock kid.

But that experience informs the show’s format. Pairing the love of music with the proper bona fides is what makes the Dissect podcast such a hit.

The Dissect Podcast Format

The Dissect podcast seasons are a breakdown of an entire album. Each song on the album is taken apart in an individual episode that is roughly 45 minutes to an hour long.

That is impressive unto itself. Spending an hour teasing out what makes a particular song is no easy feat, but Cole does a fantastic job. This is also impressive because he was creating part-time when the show started.

“I was binging these Great Courses series. Every episode is a lecture and a full course would be sixteen to twenty of these lectures to download and listen to. I thought, ‘Oh I’ll just do that, but surround it around an album where one song would be an episode.’”

Of course, he doesn’t do it alone. As the years have gone on, and the show has gained more steam, Cuchna has been able to master his craft by bringing on subject matter experts to flesh out the project.

His growth from rock to a genuine appreciation and love of all things musical jumps out at the listener.

As a rock background person myself, it wasn’t until I went on a similar journey into classical and hip-hop that I was able to see the unifying bonds that music provides. Getting out of your silo helps broaden your horizons.

Cole Cuchna’s experience is much the same. And it’s what allows the Dissect Podcast In Rainbow’s season to gel with Season 6’s focus on Beyonce’s album Lemonade. These are two artists that know a thing or two about breaking out of a genre silo.

Our Favorite Dissect Seasons

No discussion of this podcast would make sense if you didn’t know where to start. I mean, you are committing to a season long album dissection. That’s 10 or so hours.

So, we thought we’d get you started with our favorite seasons. Let us know what you think.

Season 1: The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill

You have to go back to the OG season of Dissection to really understand the project as a whole. It was the first iteration of the show, and it resonated with listeners right off the bat.

“Serial helped inspire the format too. The whole serialized music analysis came from that podcast, and I wanted to do mini cliffhangers at the end of every episode, trying to replicate that feeling you get with Serial. It’s not ever going to be like Serial, but some of the structure came from that podcast.”- Cole Cuchna

The serialized nature allowed Cuchna to add the historical context that helped shape the respective albums, including the history of Compton for To Pimp a Butterfly and the ostracism of Kanye West after his interruption of Taylor Swift that led to MBDTF.

And this album certainly has some history behind it. After Lauryn left the Fugees, this album was her debut. It was controversial and sparked a ton of discussion among music nerds. Cole was no exception.

Season 11: Dissect Podcast Tackles In Rainbows

Radiohead is one of the best bands of this generation. From the raw early alternative rock to the electronic work, they are a dynamic, genre hopping band.

It’s hard to pick a favorite Radiohead song simply because they are so eclectic.

In Rainbows was ahead of its time in how it was released and distributed. It was a “pay what you want” model that was certainly a gamble, but one that I think ultimately paid off.

Episode 1 is naturally where to start. Cole covers the history of the band and what makes them special. In later episodes, he has Dr. Brad Olson, who is a legitimate Radiohead scholar to discuss the album and all things Radiohead.

This later episode caps off the season. This was a fun season from beginning to end.

The Lyrical Masters Mixtape Season

Remember mix tapes?

They were a staple of listening to music for most Gen X and Millennials. Music nerds could spend hours working on the perfect mix to share with friends. So this season is a fun departure into that most important of projects.

Sadly mix tapes are a relic of the past now that streaming has taken over. Now the main place to discuss music seems to be reddit.

The nice thing about this lyrical masters run of episodes is the ability to skip around. Jay Z, MF Doom, Lupe Fiasco, Lil Wayne are all featured on this ode to hip hop.

I also like that Cole didn’t simply feature all the big names. The songs themselves had to be the best. If you’re a hip hop fan, this season does not disappoint. If you’re a fan of pure lyrical analysis, you will not be disappointed.

Last Song Standing (Both Seasons)

This is another slight departure from the standard format of the show. In fact, it might be classified as another show altogether. That said, I think it belongs on this list.

Charles Holmes of The Midnight Boys joins Cole Cuchna on Last Song Standing which changes the dynamic completely.

The first season had the guys figuring out which Kendrick Lamar song is his best. Since it’s debate and competition of sorts, I won’t spoil the winning track.

Season 2 has Charles and Cole come together to deconstruct Frank Ocean’s catalog to determine which song is the artist’s best.

The back and forth banter is fun and enjoyable. It feels somewhat looser, and a nice change of pace.

Bo Burnham’s Inside

Deconstructing a comedy album?

Released in 2021, this is more an art project than a pure comedy album. There are songs and sketches, sure, but shot, completely alone during the pandemic lockdown, it has a lot of drama as well.

And that’s why it’s titled “Inside.” Just about everyone was stuck inside during the pandemic, and this was how he expressed some deteriorating mental health issues. It’s a wonderful concept film that tackles some deep topics.

Start with the introductory episode. Hasan Minhaj talks with Cole about how creative people express themselves no matter the medium. Bonus points for a Kanye West reference getting in there are Hasan’s favorite album.

Season 9: Mac Miller – Circles

This is another tragic story of the expression of pain and suffering. The album was released after Miller’s passing.

The album covers some heady themes and motifs. It’s the perfect album to listen to with headphones on. Cole’s breaking it down and exploring the concept that pain can be expressed so beautifully was a welcome interpretation.

This season is chronological and worth a listen from start to finish. I’d listen with headphones on though. Just as I would the album.

There You Have It – The Dissection Podcast in a Nutshell

As of this writing, Cole is still at it full time. We cover so many defunct podcasts here on the site that were wonderful expressions but ran out of steam. It is nice to see Cole succeeding.

Currently, in season 12, he’s breaking down the “life and legacy” of MF Doom. Another rough story and tough subject. Episode 1 covers Villain’s Mask, and Episode 2 tackles Operation Doomsday’s themes that would set the stage for the entire character universe Doom developed.

You don’t always have to stay in your lane.

As time has passed, Cole has been covering some heavy topics, but that has produced some of his best work. The Dissect podcast is simply a great show and a 4.9 rating on Spotify with 15,000 reviews supports that conclusion.

—

Editors Note: This podcast covers several artists who struggled with mental health. If you’re having trouble, reach out. There are resources available.

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, previously known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, offers 24/7 call, text and chat access to trained crisis counselors who can help people experiencing suicidal, substance use, and/or mental health crisis, or any other kind of emotional distress. People can also call, text or chat 988 if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.

https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/988/faqs

The post The Dissect Podcast Is My New Unexpected Obsession appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

Car racing is a real sport. No joke.

These audio experiences have deepened my appreciation for the sport but also connected me with a community I might not otherwise agree with.

Dive into the world of NASCAR with me and discover how they might change your perspective on the sport, just as they did for mine. Or, if you’re already a fan, but aren’t listening to the podcasts, let them enhance your love of the sport.

Why Listen to NASCAR-Related Podcasts?

If you’re anything like me, and I’m sorry if you are, you might not have initially given NASCAR the time of day. Let me tell you, once you get into this community, it’s a game-changer.

These podcasts aren’t just about who won the race or the latest standings, though, that is covered. They’re a backstage pass to the whole NASCAR scene. You get the juicy stories, the behind-the-scenes gossip, and insights that you just can’t pick up from watching the races alone.

I honestly did not know how much of a soap opera these guys (and occasional women) were creating while making a lot of left-hand turns. Maybe that has to do with the podcast scene. I don’t know if all that drama and bumper-throwing would exist without the podcasts.

Let’s start our engines and explore the captivating track together. Yeah, that was cheesy.

Popular Professional NASCAR Podcasts

Okay, these are the 800 pound gorillas in the podcast space. We’ll call these the “official” NASCAR productions. They feature drivers and insiders.

They are often produced by NASCAR itself or a major sports shop like ESPN. This is not to say anything negative about the shows. On the contrary, these are a great place to start to:

• Learn the Ropes: These podcasts give the listener the facts, the gossip, the culture. In short, they are perfect for those just learning about NASCAR as well as seasoned veterans who may have missed a race.
• Community Feels: Listening to these podcasts, you become part of a community that shares your passion for speed and competition. It’s always good to be an insider. You want to know what’s going on beyond the pits.

In short, if you don’t have the time to dive deeper, ensure you’ve got these in your queue.

The Dale Jr. Download Series of NASCAR Podcasts

Yeah… Jr. Petty and Earnheart are legacy names in the racing world. Now, there isn’t a list of podcasts about car racing or NASCAR that aren’t going to feature this one.

Do we only care about Jr. because of his Dad?

It’s not just the Intimidator. It’s not that black No. 3.

And it isn’t simply because of his lineage. He’s not a nepobaby. The guy had 26 wins with a couple of Daytona 500s in there. That’s not exactly easy. And as a broadcaster, or podcaster, Dale Earnhardt Jr is surprisingly charismatic.

He’s honestly going to have a better career doing this than he did racing. And that’s saying something.

NASCAR on NBC Podcast

If you are looking for the facts, and just the facts… or really, if you want the “news,” then this is a podcast you’ve got to have on your list. It feels like a sports news program. It’s NBC Sports, after all, so that’s what I’d expect. I’d be disappointed if it weren’t that familiar “I can catch up on this before I go to bed,” sport format.

Like, who doesn’t remember doing that with Sports Center?

Host Nate Ryan brings on a number of analysts and former drivers to discuss the sport’s current events. Not a ton of opining on this one, but if you want a weekly NASCAR pod, that brings you up to speed on the racing in an explanatory fashion, this one is for you.

Door Bumper Clear

Is your favorite driver doing well? Chances are that’s because they’ve got a phenomenal spotter. If you don’t know what a spotter is, they are in charge of telling the driver what the traffic is doing. If they’re coming up on lapped traffic, if they are looking at an upcoming caution, or how close the next driver is.

This is another aspect I did not realize. Just how much of a team sport race car driving is.

Brett Griffin (no relation), T.J. Majors and Freddie Kraft (along with Cary Boat), are veteran professional spotters who break this sport down from a perspective that you aren’t going to see in front of the camera weekly.

Actions Detrimental with Denny Hamlin

Earnhardt isn’t the only driver with a podcast.

The man is going to speak his truth. Sometimes that’s true. Sometimes a “lot of people are saying” they don’t agree. He’s a polarizing guy. No question.

Denny and Jared Allen is a weekly podcast that breaks down what just happened… from Denny’s perspective. Do I have an opinion about drivers? Yeah, but that’s NASCAR racing.

Regardless, I can recognize the talent in podcasting, and you will too.

NASCAR Live with Mike Bagley

Mike knows a thing or two about racing. He’s a turn commentator after all for MRN, the motor sports network. Turn two specifically. A lot more goes on in turn two than you’d assume. I didn’t know that.

To be honest before I started listening to these podcasts, I didn’t know what a turn commentator was. Much less what the Motor Racing Network is.

This is another podcast that’s more fact, or news-based. Though those aren’t exactly the same, it’s usually pretty agreeable what happened in the corners. Mike makes sure we know. Thanks, Mike.

Some honorable mentions from MRN are NASCAR Coast to Coast, MRN Classic Races, and MRN Crew Call (because it’s a team sport).

Stacking Pennies with Corey LaJoie

Because it’s a team sport, the drivers themselves seem to have some time to podcast. It’s like being a senator, except you’re also working on your conditioning.

Honestly, I don’t know if having active drivers doing race talk on their own shows, throwing shade on other drivers. Getting in their heads. It seems odd, but maybe it’s a throwback to the outlaw nature of NASCAR itself. I’m going to find an historian to check that theory out.

Anyway, our venerated number 7 driver delivers entertaining NASCAR talk that is, at the same time, insightful. He’s a professional, so, of course.

If you want some drama and gossip about Kyle Busch or when NASCAR turned into a human demolition derby by SVG, listen to this episode where Christopher Bell stops by to shoot the breeze. It’s a phenomenal example of the show Corey is putting together. If you like Joe Rogan, you’re going to like SP.

Hidden Gems: Underrated NASCAR Pods

Let’s shift focus a little bit and shine some light on those underrated NASCAR podcasts that are flying under the radar. These shows might not have the massive listener base of the big names, but they pack a punch with their content and deserve a spot in your listening queue.

If you love the sport or are curious about its origins, you should check these shows out.

The Final Lap Weekly – Your Mancave NASCAR Podcasts Embodied

It always comes down to the final few laps. You can DVR the whole race, and there are only so many laps that inform who gets the victory. Just ask Rajah. Legend.

This one’s a hidden treasure in the podcasting world. It offers a unique blend of humor, news, and race recaps that keep you entertained and informed. If you love NASCAR and have a good laugh, this podcast is for you.

They know their stuff, so if you need your NASCAR news irreverent or your fantasy NASCAR picks and race preview for the week… this is your podcast.

Just a couple of guys.

In The Draft Show – NASCAR Talk

Hosts Wilson and Waz. Boy are they fun. And well-informed.

Like most sports, NASCAR has a fanbase with a surge of critiques of the organization anytime there’s a change made. Here, because most people don’t understand the nuance, In the Draft makes for some very entertaining listening.

It’s one of those shows you find yourself saying “yeah, what’s that all about?!” Or emphatically raising your fist in solidarity with their opinions, even if you don’t quite understand why. That is just solid listening.

Their description of the pod doesn’t do it justice. I’m definitely keeping this one in the queue and am already looking forward to their season preview. And, as of this writing, we’re like 5 weeks into the season. The guys are good.

Danica Patrick Pretty Intense Podcast

Now, speaking of divisive figures in the world of motorsports, especially NASCAR, I learned that Danica Patrick has a podcast while researching this post.

Now, here’s the catch. It’s not exactly a NASCAR podcast. It’s more of a self-help style of motivational podcast. Meaning, in addition to having a broadcast, an Indycar career, and something of a field filler career in NASCAR, she’s completely shifted focus.

I for one, am a fan. The world of NASCAR is becoming more inclusive. Including West Coast people. Expanding the market in Las Vegas. Changing up the course at Fontana, CA.

What’s wrong with a little positive motivation? She is divisive, but give it a chance. Change is the only constant. Especially on road courses and short tracks.

Racing Writers Podcast

I firmly believe every sports fan is a history nerd at heart. It’s why we know so many statistics or have so many stories about our sport of choice. Great sports stories are purely history. 30 for 30, anyone?

That’s why the Racing Writers Podcast is such an underrated gem.

Kelly Crandall brings us the stories behind the legends behind the legendary deeds on the track. It’s not purely NASCAR, but if you like racing at all, you’ll want to add this one to your queue.

What Makes a Great NASCAR Podcast

Honestly, what makes a great NASCAR pod is the same as what makes any podcast great.

It’s not just about race recaps and driver stats. The best podcasts have a few things in common that keep us hitting that play button week after week.

• Personality and Passion: The host’s enthusiasm can make or break a podcast. Great hosts breathe life into the sport, sharing their passion and excitement in a way that’s infectious. In short, authenticity.
• Insider Knowledge: The top-notch podcasts often feature hosts with insider access who can share behind-the-scenes details, offer expert analysis, and bring in guests with firsthand NASCAR experience.
• Engaging Content: Whether it’s breaking down the latest race, discussing team strategies, or debating the sport’s hottest topics, the content needs to be engaging and thought-provoking to keep listeners coming back. You have to be a good storyteller. A good interviewer.
• Community Interaction: The best shows create a sense of community, encouraging listener interaction through Q&A sessions, fan polls, and social media engagement. It makes fans feel like part of the show. Audience building.
• Production Quality: Good sound quality, consistent posting schedules, and professional editing go a long way in making a podcast enjoyable and reliable. In short, don’t blow the audio. We can help with that as well.

A blend of information and entertainment.

They create a listening experience that’s both enjoyable and enlightening. They’re the ones that make you feel like you’re hanging out talking NASCAR with good friends.

Now that we’ve revved up our knowledge of what makes a podcast stand out, shall we explore how to keep up with all these great NASCAR shows?

How to Keep Up With NASCAR Podcasts

I want to preface this by saying this is not unique to NASCAR, but if this is the first time you’re visiting our site, I know we want to be as helpful as possible.

Sports podcasts can be difficult to keep up with because they publish more frequently than others. Their subject matter only happens on the weekend.

With new episodes speeding in every week, you’ll want to stay in the loop without getting overwhelmed.

• Use Podcast Aggregators: Apps like Apple Podcasts or Spotify compile your favorite shows in one place, making it easy to subscribe, download, and listen on the go.
• Set Notifications: Turn on notifications for new episodes so you never miss out. Many podcast apps allow you to customize alerts to be the first to hear the latest discussions.
• Engage with Podcasts on Social Media: Follow your favorite shows and hosts on platforms like Twitter (X), Facebook, and Instagram. You will get updates on new episodes and be part of the broader NASCAR podcast community, sharing in discussions and fan insights. And who doesn’t enjoy arguing on social media? C’mon.

If you stay involved in the community, you’ll remember to stay on top of your favorite shows. And, hey, if you miss a show? You can always go back and catch up. It’s not life or death. If you talk to the creators, it’s important that you’re on point, but don’t beat yourself up.

If get out of the habit, you can pick it back up.

FAQ

Let’s tackle some frequently asked questions that might be revving in your mind. Some of these might be obvious to experienced podcast listeners, but experienced NASCAR fans nurtured my interest and explained everything as if I were 5.

We’ll do the same here.

How can I find new NASCAR podcasts to listen to?

Well, we just went through a list of some pretty damned good podcasts. If you’ve listened to all of those, you can reach out to us on X (Twitter), or Facebook, as we’ll be updating this list as we go on.

Are there podcasts that cover live NASCAR races?

Sure are! Though, sadly, most don’t seem to be set up for that. This may be one of the only times I directly recommend satellite radio with Sirius XM. Shhhh… don’t tell anyone, but if you can’t plant yourself on the sofa, the NASCAR channel on Sirius is worth it.

If you have a recent car, there’s a fair chance that you already have the equipment onboard to set up the service.

Can I interact with these podcasts directly?

Yeah, of course. We live in a social media world. You can interact with us/me on X or Facebook anytime you’d like. Eastern time.

Many NASCAR podcasts encourage listener interaction. You can send in questions, participate in polls, or even get mentioned on the show. Engaging through social media or the podcast’s website is a great way to get involved.

Remember, these podcasters want you as a part of their audience. Interact as much as you can.

Do I need to pay for NASCAR podcasts?

Not very often. Most podcasts are monetized by ads and sponsorships. In addition to affiliate marketing. That means, most often the content is free.

If you’re in a position to pay something, especially for independent podcast creators, some podcasts will offer a paid tier where you get the content without ads, or some other benefit. Often through Patreon.

How often are new episodes released?

It varies by podcast. Some release episodes weekly, others after every race, and some may have a more sporadic schedule. Check the podcast’s listing for details on episode frequency.

But its a weekly sport. The big podcasts post most weeks. The independent podcasts tend to post more frequently.

Conclusion

Again, I’ll be completely honest. Growing up, I couldn’t have possibly cared less about this sport. Not only is this post about excellent podcasts, it’s about personal growth. And institutional growth.

Seriously, I couldn’t tell Ryan Blaney from Chase Elliott. I may not be able to right now. They rattle off those sponsors in the interviews so quick that it’s really a gift to hear these guys slow down and have a deeper, analytical, conversation on these podcasts.

An interview when you’re exhausted is pretty rough when you have to plug every sponsor. But these athletes do it. For me. For you. Let’s subscribe to their podcasts.

The post NASCAR Podcasts We Love That are Both Popular and Underrated appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

Life is all about change. Constant change. So we are defined less by what we plan, rather, we are defined by how we handle the turning point. The point where our plans are no longer viable or possible. Where we realize we may be on the wrong tack and need to change course.

Or when some major event or life changing factor disrupts our plans and we have to do something different. Something new. Perhaps something scary.

That’s what Life Shift with Matt Gilhooly is all about. Exploring who we are when the chips are down and we are at that turning point.

Matt Gilhooly – Turning Point Expert

It took me a long time to write this post. When I stumbled across Life Shift, I was floored by what I heard. I quickly binged the show and found the discussions engaging and cathartic. See, I’m currently in the process of my own life shift. I’m experiencing my own turning point moment.

I’m evaluating options and making new plans as what I thought would be the second half of my life, isn’t going to play out the way I intended.

The work that Matt Gilhooly is doing with Life Shift struck a personal chord.

It became difficult to pick out highlights of the show to share with you because each episode was relatable. Each episode, and each discussion, resonated deeper than I thought it would.

In a society that is more fragmented and divided than I can remember in my adult life, Matt is producing a show that seems uniquely universal. I tried listening to the episodes in the background as I was doing something else, but I kept finding myself drawn into the discussion and had to stop and pay close attention. I had to see how everyone dealt with their own turning point.

And that’s credit to host Matt Gilhooly for facilitating a discussion that draws out vulnerability that is innate in all of us. But it’s a vulnerability we’re taught not to show.

Life Shift Format

The format of Life Shift takes the form of an interview. Well, a discussion. There are no scripted questions and Matt does more listening than questioning. Letting the conversation unfold in an organic fashion. In that discussion he really wants to find the exact turning point that sent the guest’s life in a new direction.

As Socrates said, “the unexamined life is not worth living,” and the introspective nature of Matt’s interviews is nothing short of captivating.

Matt mentioned that he doesn’t really have any direct interviewer influences, but as a rabid listener, I can make a couple of comparisons I think are apt.

If you ever watched Craig Furgeson do an interview on the Late Late Show, where he tears up the questions from the outset, you have a good idea of the format of Life Shift. Sean Evans of Hot Ones is another close comparison in technique.

That said, you have to listen to the show to appreciate the intimacy of the free flowing discussion. Matt’s active listening ability is off the charts. If you are looking to create a podcast of your own (and you should), then you should take a page from Matt Gilhooly’s interviewing techniques.

It’s a discussion without an agenda. The authenticity of Matt’s curiosity and interest in his guests is palpable and comes right through the speakers, headphones, or whatever listening device you happen to be using.

I’ve peppered a few of my favorite episodes throughout this post, but really, you can pull a life lesson from every episode. The work is fantastic and speaks for itself.

That said, Matt was kind enough to answer some questions for the “How I Pod” series, so let’s get to it.

Matt Gilhooly Interview

I sent Matt a series of questions via email that he answered. I have edited very little of the responses, and that was really only a formatting issue. And yes, I see the irony in using prepared static questions when the interviewee is so adept at pivoting with a fluid conversation.

But those are the breaks with email. Fascinating answers though. So read on.

James Griffin (JG): I’d love to hear more about the genesis of the podcast. A lot of it has come out over various episodes as you connect with your guests, but you found a universal pain point and decided to explore it in this medium. Why is that? I know you initial inflection point started with your relationship with your Mom and her passing. Can you expand on that a bit?

Matt Gilhooly (MG): The true start of the podcast was from an assignment in an elective that I took in my second graduate program (2020-2022) at the University of Florida.

The course was called “The Art of Podcasting,” In the course, we needed to create two interview-style episodes after some research. By the time the course was over, I had recorded nearly ten episodes and officially launched the show.

However, as I dove into it more, I wanted to dive into the stories of others sharing a specific moment in time (pivotal moment) that changed their lives and reflect on how that moment changed things.

It stemmed from losing my mother in a motorcycle accident when I was eight and how alone I felt in the experience and the grief journey.

Part of me thinks I created this show for the 8-year-old that still lives inside me. I hope that the stories help others feel less alone in their circumstances.

JG: What do you think the most important part or skill is in interviewing? Your discussions remind me of a more intimate “Hot One’s” style. Who do you think are some of the best interviewers that you may draw inspiration from? Do you even draw inspiration, or is this just something you have an aptitude for?

MG: I do not know that I intentionally draw inspiration from any interviewers. I recorded the first two episodes with a list of questions. And I found it so foreign that it did not serve the show (or me) well. So I threw them away and focused on honing my active listening skills.

Active Listening – The Complete Guide

Are you tired of feeling like your podcast guests aren’t fully heard or understood? Do you want to take your interviewing skills to the next level and truly connect with your audience?

Say goodbye to awkward silences and missed opportunities, and hello to meaningful conversations that leave a lasting impact.

Get Started Today

I approach each conversation with genuine curiosity. I want the episodes to feel like a conversation I wish most humans would be brave enough to have with each other.

I think this also helps my guests feel comfortable and safe when sharing their stories.

JG: What drew you to the podcast medium? Did you think that would be easier to start up than a YouTube channel? Is video podcasting or a YouTube channel on the horizon? Or are you an audio purist?

Scott Galloway of the Prof G podcast has said several times that podcasting, purely audio, is the most intimate medium for these discussions and when someone comes up to him he can tell right away by the approach if it came from a TV appearance, a book, or the podcast.

Would you agree that audio holds a certain intimacy that is hard to duplicate?

MG: I am undoubtedly audio-first. I spend significantly more time editing the audio version of the podcast. However, around episode 22, I began editing the video versions of the podcast. Truthfully, my presence on YouTube is primarily because “some podcast guru” told me I should be there.

I understand the need for discoverability – in fact, a few people regularly choose the video over the audio (despite less editing for filler words, etc.).

That being said, since the audio version is typically directly in the ears with headphones, I want it to sound the best it can with my limited audio engineering knowledge. In addition, I don’t want distractions or something that might make the audience miss out on important stories from my guests.

JG: What is your technical setup for podcasting? What mic are you using, what software primarily, are you editing the audio yourself right now? Your twitter posts seem to indicate it’s a one man show right now, but do you have grander plans for the future? If you’re not a one man show, who should we be highlighting?

MG: I do it all. Sometimes it can be exhausting, but because my WHY is so strong, it all is doable and worth every moment. I have my home office set up to record the audio and video. I use a Shure mic on a boom arm and a MacBook Air webcam for video (for now, until Patreon grows). I use Riverside for the double-ender recordings (since the first episode).

I edit my audio in Logic Pro X and the video in DaVinci Resolve. My social media assets are a combo of Canva, Momento (AI tool), and Riverside video clips.

JG: Where are you sourcing guests for the show? They’ve all hit hard. These discussions are universally relatable, but also so different. How do you keep the thread? Because not one of these episodes has been phoned in.

MG: At first, I started with people I knew. Eventually, I ran out of friends that wanted to share their stories. So I started networking more on social media and got more connections to share their stories. At this point, over a year into the journey, I have not sought a guest in a while.

I regularly get pitched now, which is excellent, but it also has some complications.

The pitches are tricky, because I want to ensure that the guest has thought about the SPECIFIC turning point moment that changed their lives.

Some people think they are ready to tell their stories, but if they have not dissected the moment for themselves, it can be hard to have a story that works on The Life Shift podcast.

I say it is hard because I am dealing with people’s personal stories. It is hard to tell someone that perhaps their life story is “not enough” when it’s just not fleshed out enough for the show’s concept/theme yet.

I try to balance internal shifts with external shifts as I release episodes. I want to make sure I am not overwhelming the audience with trauma after trauma, but since that is my experience (with my mother), I naturally gravitate (and connect with) these turning point moments a bit more.

JG: Do you think experiencing these existential inflection points is necessary for growth? It seems like mainstream success is framed in this “Instagram Life” coasting. Where the road to success or happiness is just a 45 degree straight line up on the graph over time.

Do you think that’s healthy? Is that part of why you started the podcast?

MG: Gosh. This is a tough question. I think I am biased. My traumas, my failed grief journey, my closure, my successful grief journey with my grandmother, all of those moments made me this person today.

I would not change a thing. Each moment happened as I needed and taught me something about myself. It taught me sympathy and empathy.

In general, I wouldn’t wish challenging moments (or existential inflection points) on anyone.

Still, I have found that many of my most impactful guests have had these moments and created a more enhanced version of the person they once were. So, I guess, in short, I think these moments help get us closer to who we CAN be, but only if we analyze and process them appropriately for us, which is a different process for everyone.

JG: Is there an episode you are particularly proud of or one that hit especially close to home for you?

MG: This is Sophie’s Choice here. I’m not sure I can pick one episode that I’m most proud of. In my mind, this show is so much more about my guests than me. They are the stars.

However, there is an episode coming on April 25, 2023, where it was the first time I achieved (for myself) what I wanted the show to do for others. My guest’s story helped validate my experiences and made me feel “less alone” in my journey.

So, selfishly, that episode showed me that my goals for this show are possible. I want at least one person per episode to feel less alone.

JG: Conversely, nobody is perfect, is there an episode that you think you could have done a better job on? If so, what was lacking or not up to standard for you? What would you go back and change?

MG: I certainly feel there are episodes where I have “Failed” in my mission. Typically, this is my fault for not vetting my guests enough or asking them if they have dissected the moment enough.

However, this is tricky because I want to always have candid conversations with my guests. Which means I don’t want to know “too much” about their journey. I want it to unfold as a conversation would.

So, I guess I might do a better job with the intake for some episodes, making sure the guest was ready.

However, I’ve also found that those “failed” episodes found the ears that needed to hear the story. So, I guess that’s still a win. I’ve tried to get better at letting this “failure” feeling go.

You never know how someone’s story might affect someone else.

JG: What’s the feedback (other than mine) been like? Do you feel like the show is resonating? I like that you’re posting your growth milestones. Do you feel like your listeners are on this journey with you?

MG: I’ve had over 100 ratings on Apple Podcast, with mostly great feedback about the importance of creating a space for these stories.

My guests are often super kind in their reactions once they hear the episode (with the public – no early sneak peeks). So I think people are on the journey with me.

It can be hard as an indie podcaster when you want to compare yourself to big shows. So, I must remind myself of my goal – one person feeling less alone per episode. We need to normalize the ups and downs of the human experience.

I think we’re doing this, and I am grateful for my guests and listeners EVERY DAY.

I got a 3-star review once that said, “It’s just okay…” and it hurt slightly. But I turned it into a t-shirt to remind myself that this show is not for everyone and is okay. Also, “okay” is better than “terrible!”

JG: Is there anything I haven’t touched on that you’d like to share? Favorite color? Any advice on pushing through these difficult, often painful, experiences?

MG: I’ve learned that we all must process our experiences in the best way for us. However, if I had to give someone advice, it would be this, “allow yourself to feel however you are feeling at any point in time. All of it is valid and okay. You are a human. Be open to all the emotions as they come and process them as you can.”

I tend to gravitate towards blues and greens. I’m not sure what that says about me.

Go Listen to Life Shift with Matt Gilhooly

Matt is one of the better interviewers in the podcast space. Certainly the indie podcast space. If you aren’t already hooked by the excellent work he’s doing, you will be. It’s work that can be cathartic, can heal, and maybe make us a little more empathetic. Maybe we can give people the benefit of the doubt more often and not assume we know what brought them to the current moment.

Afterall, we’re all carrying some baggage from our own turning point in the past that is going to necessarily influence how we engage the current moment. So, Matt’s work can’t be overlooked. For those looking to create their own podcasts, there are a lot of lessons to be drawn from the work Matt is doing.

And, remember, as an indie podcaster, there are costs associated with producing a show that need to be covered.

Not everyone has a Joe Rogan style deal.

So take a minute to think about signing up for the Life Shift Podcast Patreon. We are big supporters of indie podcasting at Discover Pods and this is one podcast worth supporting.

The post Turning Point: Why The Life Shift Podcast Empowers Genuine Change appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

Being something of a neurotic myself, I thought the format of the show was interesting, vulnerable, and ultimately engaging. As a staunch proponent of the benefits of therapy, the idea of hearing someone’s genuine therapy session play out was intoxicating.

So, for the inaugural edition of “How I Pod,” I wanted to reach out to Andy to see if he was game to tell us how the sausage gets made. Being a new show, I thought it would benefit our audience to see how a new show, with a rather unique premise, gets made.

We’ve gone through how cheap it is to get a podcast started, but that’s just the equipment. You have to have the premise, and execution. Those are a little harder to nail down right off the bat. So let’s dive into it a little bit.

But first a bit of background on Andy Cowan, the show’s focal point.

Andy Cowan – Award Winning Writer

I’m a bit embarrassed to say I didn’t know who Andy was, despite him writing for some of my favorite shows growing up.

Primarily, he’s written for Cheers, Seinfeld, and 3rd Rock from the Sun. Those are three stellar sitcoms. And, yeah, the pun for the last one was completely intended. Sue me.

But as a writer, he’s written pilots that have gone nowhere, or worse, barely got off the ground. Like an early rocket scientist, building something to watch it explode three feet off the ground is going to sting a bit. Going to build some of that neurosis that makes the podcast so good.

Which isn’t to say he’s not without additional accolades that any aspiring writer would most likely kill for.

From his IMDB:

He’s a Who’s Who in America 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award-Winner, with multiple episode, staff and TV pilot writing credits reflecting over a dozen comedies and talk shows, the only writer collectively associated with Cheers, Seinfeld, and 3rd Rock from the Sun. He won a Best Short Form Programming Special CableAce Award for his 60 Minutes sendup for Showtime, and began his Hollywood career as a talent coordinator, writer and performer in the ’80s on The Merv Griffin Show.  His comedy memoir, Banging My Head Against the Wall: A Comedy Writer’s Guide to Seeing Stars, foreword by Jay Leno, was acquired by The National Comedy Center in 2019, one of the world’s 100 greatest places as cited by Time Magazine in 2019.

Andy Cowan IMDB

Formatting for The Neurotic Vaccine

Thus far, and new shows are always open to change in format (as we’ve discussed with Scott Galloway’s show for instance), the show begins with a therapy session with Andy Cowan and Dr. Scott Kopoian. Kopoian is more or less a co-host and is billed as such in the show’s title.

Andy Cowan The Neurotic

But not really a co-host, an actual therapist, who works out real life issues Andy Cowan is experiencing at any given time. It’s a fascinating and vulnerable look at someone who I’d consider a resounding success.

It just goes to show that everyone can benefit from a good bit of therapy.

The second and third acts have featured comedy departments followed by interviews with everyone from Jay Leno and Cathy comic creator Cathy Guisewite, to the final joint appearance by Jerry Mathers & Tony Dow (coupled with Andy’s vignettes depicting his own versions of Beaver, Wally, Ward, and June), Shark Tank‘s Mr. Wonderful, CNN’s Michael Smerconish, and actress Marilu Henner.

Andy Cowan The Interviewer

The interviews are fantastic. They are wide ranging in subject matter and he has a knack for getting the guest to loosen up a bit. He may not love the comparison to Joe Rogan (we haven’t discussed it), but there’s some similarity, not in technique, but in outcome.

Like, I fully expect Andy could get Elon to smoke a blunt on camera. Not that he would, or maybe Elon just likes the devil’s lettuce, but I could see it happening one way or the other.

The interviews are entertaining and cathartic. As much so as the therapy session that kicks off the episode. Listen to this interview with Jay Leno about being glad bad things happen.

And seeing as Jay’s had a string of car related mishaps lately, it sort of resonates. Despite what happened with Conan. That one still hurts.

It’s damned near Buddhist.

So, let’s talk about how Andy Cowan gets this podcast out to a ravenous listener base.

How I Pod: The Interview

I’m nowhere near the interviewer Andy is, but he was kind enough to help launch this new category on the site over email.

Why did you choose such an intimate, vulnerable, format? Obviously it’s engaging for the listener, but that type of vulnerability feels authentic as a frequent user of therapy.

I’ve long been drawn to psychology and human behavior as jumping off points for comedy. My undergraduate degree was in psychology. And I was an early fan of The Bob Newhart Show which tapped into those two worlds, as did Seinfeld in its own way, a show I wrote for.

In my early standup and original pilots, my goal had always been to share my personal take on life’s everyday challenges that people would hopefully connect with in their own ways. Therapy seemed like an honest way into that.  

How did the format come about? Was it collaborative, or your exclusive idea? I find it unique in the podcasting space because there are segments that are distinct. My favorite is the therapy, thus far, but that could easily change. The oblique comedy sketch is fantastic.

In 2000, I created a live two-hour weekly video show for the web called Up & Down Guys, partly written bullet points, partly extemporaneous.

I was the “down guy” who saw the glass half-empty. My co-host was a friend I’d met several years before, someone with whom I’d sensed an offbeat natural chemistry, psychologist Scott Kopoian, the “up guy” who saw the glass half-full.

And the opposites angle seemed like another natural – one of the themes in my 2018 comedy memoir, Banging My Head Against the Wall: A Comedy Writer’s Guide to Seeing Stars, that explores how fruitful the opposite can be in comedy, including George Costanza’s decision to follow the opposite of his instincts to gain success, a notion from my own life that turned into my Seinfeld script, “The Opposite.”

As in The Neurotic Vaccine, Up & Down Guys also opened with therapy and dovetailed into later post-therapy distinct comedy departments, some of which have transitioned to The Neurotic Vaccine. Others I waited to do until The Neurotic Vaccine, like “Neurotica Theater.”

I thought it was offbeat to throw my therapist, a civilian, into occasional performing vehicles with me post-therapy. In another department on Up & Down as well as the podcast, we’ve featured “big gets” who don’t want to put their voices on the air, so you only hear my and Scott’s ends of the conversations. (A subtle nod to Bob Newhart’s one-sided phone conversations.) I used to go full tilt to really sell that I was talking to Bob Hope or Senator John McCain.

We’d also have a few actual guests in the old show like the late comedian Robert Schimmel, who talked about the up and down moment when he was called in to read for the part of George Costanza on Seinfeld but unknowingly trashed the pilot script in front of Larry David and lost his chance to audition!

We wound up doing fifty hours of Up & Down and I never worked harder to try to sell a creative project. Interest from a big radio station in L.A. led to an L.A. Times piece but the radio gig didn’t wind up panning out.

Lorne Michaels’ company even found Up & Down intriguing and floated the notion of a TV version. I later did Up & Down for a short time with another up guy/therapist on L.A.’s public radio station, KPFK.

Years later when my thoughts turned to a podcast, The Neurotic Vaccine seemed like a more interesting title not to mention evocative of the times. And Scott was again “up” for it, having moved by then to Portland.

Not being a strictly down guy, I could also now tap into other aspects of a slightly offbeat mindset under the “neurotic” umbrella.  Plus, I’d no longer have to explain that we’d christened Up & Down Guys years before SNL’s Debbie Downer!

How do you both produce the podcast. Are you in the same room, is it a zoom call (driving in the valley is a pain), so remote is great.

I produce The Neurotic Vaccine in my home office off my Windows desktop.

I constantly jot down the therapy notions to explore and comedy departments. I reach out to interesting guests through their agents, managers or publicists, and suffer through the usual non-responses or no’s. But with persistence, we’ve been able to nab some terrific ones, including Jay Leno on the first episode and Shark Tank’s Mr. Wonderful, Kevin O’Leary, whose director of publicity wrote back, “We get so many podcast requests.

But clearly yours is not a typical podcast : )

We’d be delighted to be a part of this.” And this was before The Neurotic Vaccine launched and started climbing the comedy interview podcast charts in America, Canada, and of all places, Denmark and Greece!

That show 5 with O’Leary is one of my favorite episodes where I get to recreate Shark Tank and pitch him all kinds of offbeat business propositions, complete with music and the sound effects of my rejected ideas getting “shot behind the barn.”

When it comes to fashioning decent interviews, I still often draw on what I learned pre-interviewing celebrity biggies like Orson Welles during my first Hollywood job in the ‘80s as a talent coordinator for The Merv Griffin Show.

The guest interviews as well as those with Scott are conducted over a video Zoom session. The pandemic was an ideal time for stockpiling the initial episodes and doing everything at home, but as I’ve explained in therapy to Dr. K, being kind of a homebody shut-in is my sweet spot in “normal” times!

What is your editing process like? Do you do it personally, or have someone else edit?

I edit everything myself on Hindenburg Journalist Pro, with an occasional assist on Audacity.

Can you give me an overview of the gear you’re both using? I assume the interviews are remote and over a piece of software?

I combine Scott’s and the guests’ separate Zoom audio files with my more pristine Hindenburg audio file and go from there, trimming, augmenting, adding music, stingers, special effects.  I work off an evo4 audio interface with a cardioid mike.

The therapy piece, is it done in one take, or is that somewhat scripted where it would need several takes. Because the back and forth is akin to an Olympic badminton event. I’m in awe.

Benztown+McVay Media Podcast Networks’ on-hold status for the podcast during much of the early stages of the pandemic gave me the luxury of time I wound up spending shaping, reshaping and nurturing our first season of shows.

Scott reads his lead-in, then leaves it open for me to dive into whatever general theme I’ll be personalizing on that episode and responds when he sees fit and/or when I suggest he add a comment. 

I discovered how to grab the best of what’s extemporaneous, the happy accidents I always hope to capitalize on, along with what I read from my notes and bullet points, and later clean up, trim – and also add – elements and pickups that aren’t extemporaneous, be they for the therapy or post-therapy departments or guest spots, towards the goal of making the end result organically flow in a way that I hope sets it apart from other podcasts.

There are so many moving parts!

Timing with comedy as well as music (another interest of mine) is crucial: Waiting a beat here, trimming a beat there; it starts to feel like laying out a tune. I could use a neurotic vaccine for my anal-retentiveness.

For season 2, I’ll need to find a middle ground and ease away from some of the rigors. I’m already anticipating that I’ll have Dr. K advise me – not everything has to be perfect! But after literally years and years in the making, this project has tapped into every creative muscle I have.

That feels good and empowering. But I’m also a little sore!

Go Listen to The Neurotic Vaccine

Andy Cowan is a great writer, and stand up podcaster. I personally thank him for getting this kickstarted which I’ve been meaning to do for quite some time. I hope seeing how other podcasters are creating their shows will inspire you to start your own.

Afterall, at this point, everyone should have a podcast. You just need to dial in the direction and focus.

The post How I Pod: Andy Cowan & The Neurotic Vaccine’s Wild Success appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

This was back in college, and as a Philosophy major I stumbled upon his book The End of Faith. I found it empowering that someone with a mere B.A. in philosophy (albeit from Harvard) could secure a book deal.

I also found it empowering that he didn’t shy away from controversial topics. After all, controversy is part of the essential Sam Harris. So it was with an open mind that I approached that book.

I would later read the rest of his library as it came out. Lying (which has particular importance at the moment vis a vis Sam Bankman-Fried), A Letter to a Christian Nation, Free Will, Waking Up (his treatise on the importance of meditation), Making Sense, and This Will Make You Smarter all found a place on my physical bookshelf.

Podcasts Sam Harris – Waking Up | Making Sense

Thus I was excited when I discovered his podcast during the pandemic. At the time it was called Waking Up, but later changed to Making Sense to avoid confusion with his meditation app of the same name.

We had a new baby and were on lockdown in a quiet neighborhood. So I did a lot of walking, pushing a stroller, with headphones in, listening with rapt attention to Sam’s show.

As in his books, he doesn’t stray from looking at bad ideas, or the human mind, with scientific and philosophical rigor. A large portion of his work has been devoted to looking forward to the human race’s future.

And the existential threats we pose to ourselves that are hiding in plain sight. So let us then dive into the best podcasts Sam Harris has created to date in my opinion.

You can let me know if I’m wrong on twitter… though Sam Harris won’t be there.

Psychedelics

Sam Harris has several shows that feature the benefits (and drawbacks) of using psychedelics. I’ve featured a couple of them right up front because it’s one of the more interesting discussions, and something that isn’t necessarily left or right.

It’s a discussion that deals with mental illness and thus, cuts across all swaths of society.

#306 — Psychedelics & Mortality

Why this Episode is Important: In short, we’ve been fed a lot of nonsense about the potential benefits of psychedelic medicine, and it’s worth hearing from someone who has actually put their scientific career on the line to study it.

Don’t do drugs. Just say no. These are mantras drilled into the heads of every Gen Xer and “Elder Millennial.” We know these statements because they were everywhere. In our schools, plastered on billboards, t-shirts, and stickers.

They even invaded our video games.

But as we grew up, we learned that wasn’t the whole truth. The generations before us grew up with mantras like “Turn on, Tune in, Drop out,” from psychedelic pioneers like Timothy Leary. Making sense of the conflicting, empirical information we saw, versus what we were told was difficult.

Now what if we add death into the mix. This is where episode 306 comes in.

Sam discusses psychedelics with Roland Griffiths, Ph.D. He’s one of the leading researchers on mood altering drugs, and how psilocybin can be used to create spiritual, transformative experiences in patients. They discuss his Stage 4 cancer diagnosis and the nature of consciousness itself.

It’s a fascinating discussion for anyone who has ever suffered from depression, PTSD, or other mental illnesses. And for those who think they were lied to by the Government. Because you were.

#242 – Psychedelics and the Self

Why This Episode is Important: We don’t really have an idea of the scope of what psychedelic treatment’s scale is. Do we need to drop out to get the benefits?

Another really interesting discussion on psychedelics with Dr. James Fadiman on how these treatments can be used to know thyself.

They discuss the practice of micro-dosing, the different types of psychedelics available (natural and synthetic), who shouldn’t take these substances, and ultimately how they can be used to expand consciousness.

They also discuss why one shouldn’t take these drugs by themselves as a guide drastically decreases the chances of having a “bad trip.”

Sam taking on the subject of psychedelics is an interesting one. There’s quite a bit of discussion on personal experience, so it shows a bit of vulnerability that you may not be expecting.

#304 — Why I Left Twitter

Why This Episode is Important: In 2023, Twitter is a revolving series of messes fueled by the hubris of it’s owner, Elon Musk. The introduction to this episode is a fantastic explanation of what this type of communication medium is doing to us as a society, and as individuals.

I love listening to Cal Newport. After Sam explains why he deleted his Twitter account. Spoilers – Twitter sucks and is making people worse. It’s full of fragmented, broken conversations, and is sewing American division.

Looking at you January 6th run up. So, it’s not as though that’s particularly shocking that someone who is devoted to the advancement of the species would try an delete a vice that is breaking the species.

If we look at the latest Congress’ oversight hearings on the “weaponization of the Federal government,” we can see how quickly media bias at the big social media companies took center stage.

So, while this part of the show is relatively short, the rest of the discussion with Cal Newport is superb and focuses further on the fragmentation of modern life. How our time management has taken a collective hit and what we can do about it moving forward.

If you’re concerned about how fragmented our tribes have become, then this is an episode you need to listen to.

#301 – The Politics of Unreality: Ukraine and Nuclear Risk

Why This Episode is Important: We are likely closer to a malignant nuclear detonation than we have been in decades.

Central and Eastern Europe have been having a bit of a moment over the past couple of years. Well, really, around a decade since Russia decided to exercise some expansionist escapades. How the global order is shifting is unknown, but we can see how Russia is trying to shift the unipolar world.

If you grew up in the 80s or before, as I did, the thought of nuclear conflict was a real source of anxiety. It’s hard to shake now, nearly 40 years later in my case.

That’s why this episode with Sam and historian Timothy Snyder was so interesting… and calming. They discuss what the real factors behind the war in Ukraine likely are, and what the risks of escalation could be.

More importantly, they discuss the real possibility of de-escalation.

#300 – A Tale of Cancellation

Why This Episode is Important: Maybe we could all use a bit thicker skin.

The term “Cancel Culture” is thrown around a lot, but in this episode, Sam Harris takes a novel, and clever shot across the bow of those who would silence artists, writers, and journalists.

He interviews filmmaker and former firefighter Meg Smaker about her film “The Unredacted (Jihad Rehab).”

Sam is no stranger to taking on, intellectually, jihadi movements. But he does so knowingly. A jihad doesn’t require violence and the discussion dances around the intellectual side of the movement.

They discuss the coordinated effort to silence Smaker’s film and have it pulled from film festivals. There’s a difference between a jihad to advance the course of Islam and a violent jihad. There’s a difference between cancelling those who deserve it, and capitulating to bullies.

That’s what this discussion is about.

#280 – The Future of Artificial Intelligence

Why This Episode is Important: GPT-3 is one of the most disruptive and exciting technologies of my professional life. And I’m saying that as a writer. It’s worth knowing what it can do and what it can’t do. It’s not SkyNet.

AI… artificial intelligence. Chat GPT. GPT-3.

The Making Sense podcast was ahead of the curve here. In this episode, Sam Harris sits down with Eric Schmidt, former CEO of Google, to discuss the ramifications and existential risks of AI.

As a writer, obviously, the recent hullabaloo about ChatGPT and its impacts on the job market has me paying close attention. I was paying attention to this episode when it first aired and I still think it’s worth a listen to those who think AI may be coming for your job.

#241 – Final Thoughts on Free Will

Why This Episode is Important: This wrap-up of the series of discussions of free will may keep you up at night. But maybe that is exactly what was supposed to happen.

We live in a democracy. We believe in meritocracy and that we’re responsible for our actions.

But… what if we’re not?

What if there is no mental model that matches up with free will? What if what is predetermined, and baked in is a lot stronger than we think? The writings of Spinoza fascinated me as a young undergrad because the implications are enormous!

Sam Harris has written extensively on the subject of free will and this episode presents his final argument, in audio format, on the subject. If you really haven’t given much thought to free will (because the default is we think we have it), then you must listen to this episode as well as the other related episodes linked here.

#239 – Yet Another Call from Ricky Gervais

Why This Episode is Important: It’s Ricky Gervais and these episodes set the tone of what Absolutely Mental would become.

A special episode indeed. The call in episodes with Ricky Gervais are simply fantastic and lead to their own spin off mini series podcast.

There’s not a tremendous amount to say about these calls with Ricky other than his wit is razor sharp, he’s quick, and hilarious. If you haven’t watched his television show “Afterlife,” you are doing yourself a disservice.

Sam Harris is not a comedian, and Ricky Gervais, not a philosopher. At least neither by trade, but it is brilliant to see what two generational minds do when put in a room together.

#205 – The Failure of Meritocracy

Why This Episode is Important: The concept of meritocracy ignores the fact that you have no control over the circumstances you were born into. What’s known as the veil of ignorance. So how does meritocracy survive in such an environment? Thus, what do we owe each other?

Meritocracy is the dream right? Work hard. Bootstraps. White picket fences. A gold watch. These are the things we dream about. Or dreamed about.

Sam Harris and Daniel Markovits about how the meritocracy system has come up short for younger generations and how boomers may have pulled the ladder up behind them.

Harris begins by asking Markovits if he sees meritocracy as a problem. Markovits agrees that it is a problem but notes that we don’t have another system to replace it with because no one has come up with a better model for distributing opportunities than meritocracy.

Is it corporate courage that has changed the way we work? Cutting jobs and making people bounce around? Is a universal basic income warranted? These are all important questions in a shrinking middle class, because wealth matters, and it is being concentrated like an orange.

#194 – The New Future of Work

Why This Episode is Important: How we work has been a fascinating point of contention throughout my professional life. Ever since reading ReWork by Jason Freid. This one will get you contemplating your own professional future. Maybe I’ll be a bee keeper.

Matt Mullenweg, the co-founder of WordPress (the most popular content management system in the world) and Automattic (the company behind WordPress), has a lot to say about the changing nature of work and how it’s organized.

In this episode of Sam Harris’s podcast, Mullenweg discusses how distributed work has evolved over time and what we can expect in the future. He talks about how knowledge workers are becoming more independent and working from home more often, and how this trend will continue as technology makes remote working easier, faster, and more efficient.

We all watched the implosion of WeWork and how shared spaces weren’t the answer. But with more companies demanding workers come back into the office, what does the future of work really look like?

#157 – What Does the Mueller Report Really Say?

Why This Episode is Important: Because every pundit up to and including the Attorney General and the President of the United States had a self-serving opinion on what this most important of reports said. But what did it really say?

The Mueller Report will likely go down in history as one of the most important documents that more or less said nothing actionable.

There was politics, intrigue, and downright lies that obscured what was really in the report. Both sides claimed enormous victories that left the rest of us wondering, what the the Hell this thing really said.

In this episode, Sam Harris sits down with Benjamin Wittes to talk about what was in that report. What it really, ultimately, said, and what it means for the future of the country.

Spoiler: It’s not good folks.

#140 — Burning Down the Fourth Estate

Why This Episode is Important: American’s fell out of love with partisan news more than a century ago. But it’s back and we aren’t exactly dealing with that well.

Voters have developed a distrust of news media, otherwise known as the fourth estate.

Matt Taibbi and Sam Harris discuss the polarization of American politics through the lens of media. Voters live in media bubbles where they aren’t exposed to opposing ideas in any useful way.

Harris then brought up the controversy over the killing of Jamal Kashoggi, which had recently been revealed by Turkish intelligence officials—the Saudis have been maintaining that he left their consulate alive and well on October 2nd. Both Harris and Taibbi expressed disgust at this cover-up.

Truly, it’s difficult to imagine a scenario where open societies exist without the fourth estate functioning on all cylinders, and this discussion really should open some eyes.

#130 – Universal Basic Income

Why This Episode is Important: There’s a theme building. If work is changing and AI is poised to displace white-collar jobs, what are we going to do as a society?

Andrew Yang is synonymous with UBI, or “Universal Basic Income.”

The rise of automation in the manufacturing industry is well known. It’s been happening for several years now and has been a source of concern for some time. But what about the rise of artificial intelligence and its impact on thought workers?

It’s no secret that AI is making inroads into all sorts of industries as it matures, from healthcare to financial services. And while many people are worried about the impact this will have on their jobs, they may not realize how profound this change will be.

So what can we expect to see in the next decade or so?

That’s what Sam Harris and Andrew Yang discuss in this episode where the tenants of UBI and corporate cowardice are discussed at length.

#116 — AI: Racing Toward the Brink

Why This Episode is Important: Human beings like to be the center of attention and we look at our creations through that lens. But what is AI actually going to do? Will it even care about us?

Moving beyond ChatGPT and other linguistic learning algorithms, this episode explores more of your SkyNet, Terminator type of AI.

Just because we can create something, ought we?

That’s one of the most troubling questions humanity hast to ask itself. Our yearning to push the brink of what we can do is strong. But we also know that we tend to screw up a lot.

Should we be constructing minds that are completely artificial. Minds that we may not be able to control. Should we try to control them in the first place? This is a wide ranging discussion of AI that avers towards making the listener think about the implications of unintended consequences.

Something we’ve shown a complete incompetence towards over the past hundred or so years. At least. At… least.

There are quite a few podcasts Sam Harris has done on AI, and the implications. Will AI even care about humanity, or will it think of us more like a trail of ants? Yeah, we don’t necessarily want to step on them, but we also don’t want them in our pantry.

Interesting topic.

#112 — The Intellectual Dark Web

Why This Episode is Important: It teaches us how to apologize and recognize that sometimes we make some bad associations.

At a certain point it was “cool” if you were a cisgendered white male to be part of the Dark Web… but the one for intellectuals. Not that 4 Chan Q Anon crap.

You got to play faux status games and explain what moral knowledge was to those less suspecting. Discuss mating strategies and the basic neuroscience behind dating.

Now, this is an older episode. Sam Harris has since disavowed any such membership in this shadowy web of intellectual sophists. That doesn’t make the interview/discussion with Eric Weinstein and Ben Shapiro not worth a listen.

If you can’t listen to something egregious and learn a lesson, that’s not great. It’s not even good. It’s not even fair.

We’re better off from learning from our mistakes, like giving old Ben Shapiro a platform. We’re better off for learning from his rhetorical nonsense. Is he a great guy? No. Can I learn something from him? Yes.

Open minds.

#111 — The Science of Meditation

Why This Episode is Important: Meditation is not religion. It has a scientific benefit. Something prayer hasn’t reproduced.

The benefits of meditation aren’t magical, they’re science.

Western science is beginning to come around to the benefits of meditation, which eastern schools of thought have been touting for literally thousands of years.

Studies have shown that meditation can help with everything from stress relief to pain management, and even make us more intelligent! In fact, there are so many studies showing these benefits that we could probably write an entire book about it. In fact, Sam Harris has.

In this episode Sam discusses the latest science on meditation with Daniel Goleman and Richard J. Davidson. It’s a phenomenal discussion and worth missing your subway station to make sure you get it all in.

Assuming you’re in New York City of course. If you’re not, use your public transportation metaphor of choice.

#89 — On Becoming a Better Person

Why This Episode is Important: You can only give your integrity away once. So it’s important to build character that doesn’t allow for that to happen.

What does it mean to be blameworthy? How about praiseworthy?

We throw around these terms, these labels, and don’t often explore what it means to attach them to a person, let alone a person’s actions.

In this episode Sam sits down with David Brooks to discuss his book The Road to Character. Character is something that has been sorely lacking in society of late, both in definition and in substance.

So it was especially enjoyable to have to bright thinkers discuss what it means to have character in an age where the term seems antiquated. Really one of the best podcasts Sam Harris has made.

#81 — Leaving Islam

Why This Episode is Important: It’s a primer on Sam’s larger work that launched his career. While he no longer spends much time on the subject of Islam, this is a great primer to his views..

The entirety of my adult life has orbited around a confused discussion of Islam.

From the war on terror, to Palestine it has been difficult to get a straight answer on the subject. To Harris’ credit, he has spent a great deal of time promoting atheism, albeit with a genuine curiosity towards the first principles of Islam.

Like Christianity, or Bitcoin, there are layers built upon the core code that have distorted what those core tenants are. Islam is no different in that regard.

This discussion with Sarah Haider is enlightening. Listening to it now, in 2023, when there are uprisings in Iran and the Taliban has taken back Afghanistan, it is more informative than ever.

#47 — The Frontiers of Political Correctness

Why This Episode is Important: There shouldn’t be topics that we can’t discuss. Especially the hard ones where people tend to have entrenched beliefs that are difficult to shake.

Are there certain subjects that are off limits? That cannot be discussed? As Dave Chapelle said, is there a stove too hot to touch?

This episode originally aired in 2016, but the underlying subject matter is more poignant than ever. We should be able to discuss “taboo” subjects without fear of cancellation. We should expect reprisal, but only rhetorically.

That’s what makes the public square great. That we can discuss the subjects that are slowing us down. That are holding us back. Sam’s discussion here hits on many of those difficult subjects.

Not for shock value, but for the benefit of public discourse.

#37 — Thinking in Public

Why This Episode is Important: It’s Neil deGrasse Tyson at his apogee on a podcast. Yes, he’s had good appearances on the Joe Rogan Experience, but this one is my favorite.

Neil deGrasse Tyson has shown us how the game is to be played.

He’s respected. He’s a genius. And he’s dumbing down subjects such that morons like my can understand them.

This talk between Sam and the aforementioned deGrasse Tyson goes on to show how public discourse should be handled. It should be heavy in subject matter, but lighthearted in execution.

Life isn’t that serious and not a single one of us makes it out alive.

#20 — Still Sleepwalking Toward Armageddon

Why This Episode is Important: It snaps us back to a reality where that “society is heading in the wrong direction” question has some real-life consequences.

When the terror attack in Paris happened, it shocked the world.

It was simple, precise, unexpected, and effective. In this episode, Sam reflects on the conflict between a pluralistic, liberal, open society, and an ideology bent on upending that.

And what can be done about it. Sobering to say the least.

#3 — WAKING UP: Chapter One

Why This Episode is Important: Sam has taken the science of meditation and made it his mission to make that science applicable to everyday life.

Spirituality without religion. That’s kind of Sam’s modus operandi.

This early episode of the podcast is the first chapter of his book, Waking Up. For those who are interested in mediation, and spirituality, but can’t stomach the dogma, this is a must listen.

#63 — Why Meditate?

Why This Episode is Important: A down to earth discussion about the benefits of meditation is beneficial to anyone. If you’ve ever been curious about meditation, this is the episode for you.

Jack Goldstein is a one of the finest vipassana meditation teachers in the west.

Originating roughly 2,500 years ago in India, vipassana meditation is one of the oldest continuously taught practices in existence. In this episode, Sam and Jack discuss the origins of the practice as well as the benefits to the individual this type of mediation offers.

What does it mean to be enlightened? Where does one derive ethics? These are the subjects covered in this wide ranging talk.

#62 — What is True?

Why This Episode is Important: We know a lot less than we think we do. That little bit of postulation can make us humbler and more accepting of other view points that conflict with our own.

One of the first things I learned as a philosophy undergrad was that over more than 2,000 years of western philosophy, there is no agreed upon definition of what is true. That’s the basis of epistemology.

Now, is Dr. Jordan Peterson an expert on what is true? Probably not. But that doesn’t make this discussion about a very murky subject any less interesting.

Take everything said here with a mountain of salt, but as a psychologist, Dr. Peterson is interesting. We’ll dive into his podcast in later posts, but it is an interesting discussion regardless.

#103 — American Fantasies

Why This Episode is Important: Belief and knowledge are like cousins who can’t agree on anything at Thanksgiving. American’s excel at this epistemic conflict.

American’s believe a lot of things. A lot of unfounded things. We hold ideas that have no basis in reality, and as a result, cost ourselves quite a bit of grief.

This discussion features host of Studio 360, Kurt Andersen, to discuss just how ripe Americans are for believing in things that there’s no objective reason to believe in.

Sam and Kurt discuss the puritan ideals that the country was founded on and how those ideals filtered down through history to create some really confounding movements. They discuss Trump, of course, but populism in general and why populism seems to have developed a strong mistrust in expertise as a concept.

It’s a really compelling argument for fixing some of the broken institutions we currently have and trying to redevelop some trust in those who know what they’re talking about.

#270 – What Have We Learned from the Pandemic?

Why This Episode is Important: For the past 3 years we have experienced a collective, global, trauma. But what, if anything, did we learn from the experience?

That Americans believe ideas they have no reason to believe. Basically.

America’s response to the pandemic was abysmal. There’s good reason that we’re still dealing with variants, long COVID, and the like in 2023. Our collective response was fragmented, broken, and not at all taken seriously.

We peddled conspiracy theories for political gain. In short, it was pretty ridiculous the country was shut down for so long. In this episode Sam and Nicholas Christakis discuss the response, where we failed (everywhere essentially) and how this is a primer for a more serious future matter.

#295 – Philosophy and the Good Life

Why This Episode is Important: Everyone needs more philosophy in their lives.

I was drawn to philosophy as an undergrad for a reason. I believe that the unexamined life is one that is full of angst and unnecessary regret. There really is something to philosophy being a gateway to the “good life.”

Or at least a nice life. Your best life. Not mine. The best version of your life possible. That’s why stoicism is having such a resurgence in the popular zeitgeist.

Kieran Setiya and Sam discuss how philosophy can influence our thinking and temper some of our more troubling thought patterns. Quell the FOMO if you will.

It’s a fantastic discussion and a perfect example why I think everyone should read more philosophy on a regular basis.

The Joe Rogan Experience

Why These Episodes Are Important: They show that Sam can bring his intellect out of his own environment and share it with most any audience. A real treat.

An honorable mention goes to the episodes Sam appears on JRE. Since Rogan is also a proponent of psychedelics, there are some interesting discussions on the topic.

I’m also a fan of the episode that features Sam Harris as well as Dan Harris. It showcases both of their phenomenal work introducing meditation to the layman. It is an episode that dovetails nicely with Kiernan Setiya’s episode on Making Sense.

Making Sense of it All

Sam Harris may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I think that has more to do with his association with the dark web of so called intellectuals of which he really isn’t a part.

That’s pure sophistry. Lumping Sam Harris in with Ben Shappiro is universally a bad idea that helps nobody and isn’t a fair comparison.

Ideally these episodes will shine some light on why Sam Harris is a quality thinker and someone who can shake up your thinking somewhat.

The post 27 of the Best Podcasts Sam Harris Has Produced appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

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.

As of April of last year DiscoverPods has a new management and new ownership. Mainly I’ve come on board as the majority stakeholder in this here venture.

You may have noticed some changes while we are still working through the transition. Let me explain what’s going on and why Kevin and I are so pleased you’re with us on this journey.

First, a bit of background. I started working as a freelance writer here at DiscoverPods way back in December of 2019 when I wrote my first post for the site from a local pub in my wife’s hometown on a particularly sunny day in England.

England with sun. I know, it’s confusing, but it was something of an omen. A sign if you will, that this was a project I’d become deeply involved with.

What the New Ownership Has Been Up To

Fast forward through the pandemic and having a couple of babies at home, Kevin and I decided to move forward with this site as a joint venture. So, here’s what we’ve been up to.

• Updating the site’s back end. We were lagging a bit with Google’s new transition. We are, after all, cool tech nerds, and that part needed a face lift.
• Updating the editorial direction of the site. This is after all a site designed to find the best podcasts available. Something of a needle in a haystack.
• Ensuring that our advertising reflects the site’s direction. We have partnered with some of the best podcast service providers in the space to make sure that when you go to make your podcast this year (and you should), that you have the right tools at your disposal.

Where We’re Headed

Looking forward to 2023 we will be finishing up the podcast awards for 2022 and getting back to a standard editorial schedule now that Google is done beating us up.

Lastly, sincerely, thank you for hanging in there with us while we tidied up a bit and we want you, the reader, to be an integral part of the site moving forward.

Is there a podcast that you’re obsessed with that we haven’t covered? Let us know by suggesting it for a podcast spotlight.

As the industry matures and more people are adopting podcasts, we’re excited with where the industry could be heading. We intend to be a voice in that discussion moving forward with our editorial direction.

We want you to be a part of that voice as well. As we move forward with the new ownership structure, your voice is as vital as ours. We may listen to more podcasts than the average bloke, but that doesn’t mean that we hear everything. If we’re missing voices or communities that are underrepresented, we want to know about it.

We love indie podcasts as much (if not more lest I betray my punk rock youth) as slickly produced corporate based or NPR style podcasts.

We’re excited for what this burgeoning 2023 will bring and we appreciate your being along for the ride. If you haven’t been here in a while, check out some of the latest posts we’ve been working on.

• The 15 Most Interesting Podcasts: The Ultimate Guide
• The Dissect Podcast Is My New Unexpected Obsession
• NASCAR Podcasts We Love That are Both Popular and Underrated
• The 76 Best Mystery Podcasts to Pique Your Interest
• Murdaugh Murders Podcast The Fascinating Meltdown 100 Years In The Making

While not completely indicative of the editorial direction, we continue to put out content our visitors are actively looking for. If you have a question or concern, a suggestion or would like to contribute, you can reach out to me directly.

I’m excited to hear from our readership, and here’s to a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2023.

Sincerely,
James
james@discoverpods.com

The post New Ownership & a New Era for DiscoverPods appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

Afterall, like anything else, there aren’t really any shortcuts to mastery, so practice makes… well, not perfect, but helps with the journey towards inner peace, tranquilly, and success.

Which begs the question.

Who is the Stoic Philosopher?

The stoic philosopher is anyone, professional or everyday person who wishes to better themselves and gain a sense of self mastery through the regular practice of stoic philosophy. In short, anyone can be the stoic philosopher.

Some of the most famous stoics came from all walks of life. Epictetus, was born a slave in the Roman Empire, and went on to become one the most ardent practitioners of stoicism.

Marcus Aurelius on the other hand, was, at one time, a Roman emperor. So, you see it can run the gamut as to who the stoic philosopher is.

Modern stoicism, can be less academic and more actionable for the average person. That was the mission of The Daily Stoic (Ryan Holiday, 2016) with his book and associated podcasts.

So if we know who the stoic philosopher was and can be…

What is modern stoic philosophy? Is Stoicism a religion?

Modern stoic philosophy is based on a set of precepts that help create self mastery, and move one’s life in a positive direction. It’s not a religion, but a set of principles for daily living.

There are no punishments for getting it wrong other than you may not feel so great and could develop less than ideal habits.

One of the most famous stoic philosophy quotes comes from Meditations (Marcus Aurelius, 2008):

“The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.” ― Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

And to be clear, that’s from the 2008 translation, he didn’t write it in 2008. So, the crux of the philosophy is to create better thoughts. Create better thoughts and you’ll create better habits. Better habits get you better results, and better results get you more peace of mind.

Sounds like a pretty good deal, but the catch? The stoic philosopher must put those ideas into practice. Which, is where this list of podcasts comes in.

As we know by now, podcasts are a great way to visit ideas in depth, and without everyone around you necessarily knowing what you’re listening to. It’s an individual practice for the thoughts inside an individual mind.

So let’s get into what these stoic philosophers were trying to share with us through the modern advent of the podcast.

The Best Podcasts for the Stoic Philosopher

Now, I admit, “best” is something of a loaded, subjective term. Especially when it comes to philosophy. Considering the whole field hasn’t agreed on a definition of “truth,” in the last couple thousand years, your mileage may vary.

But these are some of our favorite podcasts. Some of which are more academic or instructive than others. Some are focused on putting the practice into action without the listener having to know the basis of the underlying philosophy.

Both approaches have a ton of merit and both have tremendous value. So take what you like and apply it to your own life to be the stoic philosopher for the modern age.

The Street Stoic

I absolutely love the fusion of ideas through different artistic mediums. I mean you can pick up a lot from old stoicism books, but having the same ideas expressed through a new art form is an absolute delight.

It’s about accessibility.

In this podcast, hosted by Dramos, stoic ideas are seen through the lens of hip hop lyrics. It shows how much has changed from the time of ancient Greece, and just how little has changed simultaneously.

This is a podcast we are going to do a spotlight on in the future. Without question. I can’t wait to see more of what they produce.

The Daily Stoic

You can’t have a list of stoic philosophy podcasts without talking about Ryan Holiday and what he’s done for the general awareness of the practice.

At this point, if you’re not aware of the podcast, as someone who majored in philosophy, I’m bummed out, but that’s okay. You can go subscribe right now.

The format of the show is easy to digest. Every day there is a new lesson to ponder, so I like to do this right after I get up, while the coffee is brewing. Something like that, because, generally, they are less than 10 minutes in length.

Perfect for a bite sized lesson of early stoa, middle stoa, or late stoa. Throw in some other greek philosophy for good measure, and you’ve got something to bring down your anxiety and get you out of daily stressors.

There are also Q&A shows that allow listeners of the show to submit their questions and interviews with modern stoic philosophers, or just some interesting people discussing their practice.

It’s where I’d start if I knew nothing about stoicism and wanted to dip my toes in the water.

Gratitude Through Hard Times

Think there have been some hard times lately?

Over 200 episodes and counting this podcast features host (and philosopher) Chris Schembra facilitating discussions that blend ancient (or classic) philosophy with science to help people find gratitude when it seems like everything around them sucks.

And for the past several years it has seemed like everything around us has sucked. It is messing with our collective psyche. Finding gratitude even when everything seems awful helps restore balance. It’s a very interesting concept and there are now hundreds of episodes to explore.

As an aside, this podcast sprang out of his best selling book of the same name. It was a fantastic read before bed and coupled nicely with starting the day with a dose of Ryan Holliday.

Subscribe and start the journey.

Cafe Truth

Remember in the intro when I said that stoicism beliefs are more about the practice and the journey than the destination?

Well that’s what this podcast is about. Rather than being directly instructive, hosts Kevin and Florian have discussions about how to navigate the waters of life.

It turns out there’s more commonality in our problems than we think. Trying to find your way in the world today takes everything you got… wait, where have I heard that. But that’s what you have to do.

So this is a very entertaining and thought provoking look at being a better person in a stressful, rapidly changing world, where it seems like every day you wake up to some more bad news.

This is, without a doubt, one to put on your podcast app of choice.

Practical Stoicism

Sometimes the stoic philosopher needs some more academic direction.

This podcast is designed to ease the listener into stoic philosophy, even if they’ve never really heard of it before. The show is now well over 100 episodes, so there is something worth listening to whenever you have the time.

The format of the show is usually host Tanner leading us, the listeners, through a particular mediation from Marcus Aurelius or quote from something like the Discourses of Epictetus (Epictetus, 1535), and then having a short discussion on that quote. It makes the episodes roughly 15 minutes in length, so, like the Daily Stoic, it is pretty easy to fit into even the busiest schedule.

There are also longer episodes, around and hour, that are a discussion with an author discussing their book, but the guests are always relevant to the show.

If you’re just starting out, this is an engaging host with an entertaining and informative outlook on specific chunks of the stoic philosophy.

Well worth a listen if you’re trying to learn the nuts and bolts.

Stoic Wellbeing

People don’t like change. An object at rest tends to want to stay at rest. The problem is that to halt change, one would need to control every variable in the universe, and let’s say to do so would be, at best, a stretch.

Thus when we resist change, when we don’t actively adapt, and control only what we can control, it creates an enormous amount of stress and angst. This podcast sets out to alleviate that stress. To mute that angst. To get the listener comfortable with change.

Sarah Mikutel has created a self-help podcast that uses personality trait tools and stoic philosophy to get people to actually change their lives.

The approach is soft, anecdotal, backed up with facts, is very listenable. Episodes are about a half hour long and focus on mastering emotions, effecting change, and setting goals that can be kept. In short, putting stoicism into practice.

It is always good to know the philosophy, but to put it into action makes you the stoic philosopher you want to be.

The Stoic Coffee Break

This is another great example of a podcast focused on making real life changes through the implementation of stoic principles. It is a weekly meditation that’s fairly short, around 10 minutes, that is great for kickstarting your day.

From meditations on cognitive dissonance, reframing our beliefs, and how to be more self-confident, these bite sized meditations are designed to get the listener unstuck. To get them moving their lives in a positive direction.

And who can’t benefit from 10 minutes like that?

The show also features the occasional interview in addition to the meditation. Those shows are interesting because getting an outside perspective always benefits inward reflection.

At this point there are more than 230 episodes, so take a listen and maybe move your life forward a bit in 2023. After all, it’s all about showing up and pushing through our personal challenges with what we can control.

The Gen Z Stoic

This is a new podcast, having only released three episodes thus far, but they’ve come out of the gate storming.

I think of myself as young, but I’m, what’s the term… old. I’m one of those geriatric millennials that were a fad a while back. So it warms my old heart to see the next generation picking up the torch and doing so forcefully.

See, my generation spans analog and digital. We listened to cassettes and were the first generation really on the internet. Starting with AOL for crying out loud. We enjoyed a time when life was a little slower. You weren’t constantly bombarded with your phone pinging you. You could plan to show up somewhere and everyone would have to be on the same page.

Gen Z isn’t like that. They grew up (and are growing up) in an entirely digital age. They were born into the constant bombardment of distraction.

So to see Wren and Mateo practice a “new wave of contemporary stoicism” is exciting. You can bet your bottom bitcoin I’m subscribed to this one.

The Strong Stoic

What I really love about the Strong Stoic is that host Brandon Tumblin is practicing philosophy. He’s taking on hard questions and pondering them. Wrestling with them. Struggling with them.

That’s an admirable trait and it makes his podcast accessible to the average listener looking to get into stoic philosophy.

Recently he had a response, from a philosophical perspective, of Ye praising Hitler. It was one of the most interesting episodes of his show thus far.

The latest series, as of this writing, is Brandon struggling with the concept of grace through a stoic lens. It’s a fascinating, and dense, look at a topic that doesn’t get enough attention outside of strictly religious circles where that concept is, well, not always applied in the most authentic way.

The One Off Podcast Episodes

There are some one off episodes on the subject worth mentioning. These single episodes are a great place to start if you have no idea where to begin.

Ten Percent Happier – Stoicism 101

Dan Harris was an anchor on Good Morning America and a field reporter who had done quite a bit of work during the war on terror. He saw some things. As a result, he started self medicating, and eventually had a full blown panic attack on live TV.

He’s been very open about this which has been great for the mental health community. Eventually he started the ten percent happier project that morphed into an entire movement. So, he left ABC to work on it.

In this episode, he has on Nancy Sherman to discuss how stoicism is so much more than contemporary life hacks and it deserves a lot more reverence than it may be currently getting.

Fascinating look at another excellent perspective on this ancient wisdom.

Modern Wisdom

On episode #497 (wow), Donald Robertson, a historian of stoicism takes a deep dive into Marcus Aurelius, and has some pretty unorthodox views to share.

Because he’s a historian, Donald takes a different perspective on the philosophy as well as the man. Which is a refreshing change of pace.

We’re used to hearing about what Marcus believed, but not necessarily how he got there. Did he plagiarize some work? Maybe. Did he take psychedelics on occasion? Perhaps. Was emperor Nero really that batty?

But he also talks about how the stoics would approach certain problems. Like how Marcus learned to deal with the fame of being emperor. Sometimes that sort of thing will go to your head (see Nero above).

It’s a very well done interview and discussion of something we all thought we knew. It’s nice to get new perspectives.

Putting Stoicism into Practice

Memento mori. Right? Life is all about finding meaning and purpose, but we are so often distracted and bombarded by distraction. It is becoming increasingly difficult to find the signal in the noise, and it is stressing us out.

Like Marcus learning to deal with fame, we can apply the same principles to what is plaguing our lives on a daily basis. Hopefully these podcasts will help to find the signal of our purpose within the noise of our everyday lives.

The post 11 Best Podcasts for the Stoic Philosopher to Practice appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

Watching videos and using tablature to learn the fundamentals, missing out on the audio element altogether. Meaning when they go to jam with other players, later on, new players are missing out on these skills.

That’s where these superb guitar podcasts come into play. Into play… yeah. So let us dive into the world of podcasts that are designed to help new players get those fundamentals down. Since learning to play an instrument is so high up on New Year’s resolutions, let us see if we can’t help out a bit.

What Makes a Good Guitar Podcast?

What makes a good guitar podcast is somewhat subjective, but there are a few common threads that weave their way through the best ones. There are a million guitar podcasts out there, and an awesome one is going to cover a lot of material so a new player can keep coming back for more.

Well, sort of. Because a focused, limited-run podcast can also make a great guitar podcast. One focused on a particular period of jazz or rock, for instance. Much like any great history podcast, sometimes there’s only so much in a narrow focus.

Tips For Guitar Playing Success

With 145 episodes as of this writing and an average run time of roughly 9 minutes, this is one guitar podcast that’s not only devoted to making you a better player but is easy to fit into a busy day. One thing that makes new players hang up their ax for good is that lessons are too complicated or take an hour or more.

That’s just a lot of information to digest off the rip.

Each week, the show’s host, Marlene Hutchison, breaks out a new lesson, revisits one with comments in the show notes, or a guitar-related topic that needs to be touched on. It’s a show that really has newer players at heart. After all, she is the creator of learn to play in a day.

That may be a tad ambitious, but this is absolutely a show that deserves a new player’s attention.

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Guitar Music Theory

A second problem new guitar players miss when they learn how to play guitar is guitar music theory itself. Even if you understand a keyboard (and you should first), the fretboard can be an intimidating, foreign environment.

Well, Desi Serna, is a fretboard expert and hosts this informative, approachable podcast. As a self-taught player, I find myself going back to this guitar podcast, again and again, to pick up lessons I missed along my 20-year journey playing this instrument.

Many episodes have accompanying videos on Desi’s YouTube channel, so if you need a little visual lift, it’s often there. This is another show that makes the theory behind the instrument accessible and is a subject I wish I hadn’t missed.

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Fingerstyle Guitar Hangout Podcast

Adam Rafferty hosts 23 episodes on another style of how to play guitar I somehow missed. The fingerstyle play opens up an instrument far more than a pick ever could. If you’ve ever wanted to play around with alternate tunings like open C or something even more abstract, chances are your picking hand is going to be playing an important role.

If you missed out on this style of play, Adam has created a show geared toward new players and seasoned old dogs looking to learn new tricks quickly.

Episode 17, featuring Michael Fix of Australia, is my personal favorite episode thus far, but there’s something for everyone interested in this style of play.

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Anyone Can Play Guitar

I love the premise of this guitar podcast. The English band Radiohead has a long and eclectic career. Naturally, they’ve done some genre-blending, incorporating rock, electronic, and jazz, in making their albums over the decades.

Nick Kindelsperger and Austin Diaz, a food critic and Latin teacher, respectively, make their way through learning the entire catalog. Thus proving anyone can play guitar. Since Radiohead is one of my favorite bands, this premise, and this podcast are an absolute delight to listen to.

Even if you’re learning, it can serve as inspiration or motivation where you may not have known you needed it.

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Jazz Guitar Life

This one hasn’t been published in a minute, but if you love Jazz, you need to binge the 9 episodes that have been published.

Host Lyle Robinson sits down with some of the greatest living jazz guitarists to discuss everything there is to cover about music. It’s a masterclass in one of America’s greatest homegrown art forms. Everything from electric tone to acoustic rhythm is covered at one point or another.

While you’re exploring this particular show, feel free to see what other phenomenal jazz podcasts exist. Watch the Ken Burns documentary. Immerse yourself in the Jazz Guitar Life. That’s what jazz is all about, after all.

Listen on Apple Podcasts

The Tone Mob Podcast

No list of amazing guitar podcasts should exist without mentioning the Tone Mob podcast. Guitar tone is as important to learning how to play guitar as is tuning. As is learning to strum a chord.

Blake Wyland started the show in 2015, so it is an OG podcast with hundreds of episodes now available. What started as nerdy, deep dives into amps, rights, and pedal boards, quickly grew into one of the most important guitar podcast interview shows in the world of podcasting.

It’s so much more than technical details, it’s stories, personalities, and idiosyncracies that make this instrument we love much more than a block of wood. If you ever find yourself frustrated with the pace of your progression, download a few episodes of the Tone Mob Podcast. You’ll find yourself strapping on again in no time.

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Guitar Nerds Podcast

If the Tone Mob Podcast evolved into something more “human,” the Guitar Nerds would adhere to the gear nerd root we all share. What makes it a great guitar podcast is the scope of material and guitar material they cover.

Want to know what to get your niece as her first guitar? There’s a 100% chance they have covered that in the nearly 500 episodes produced thus far.

Go back to the earlier episodes, and the easier how to play guitar materials are there. Then progress right along with the hosts as they begin to cover more complex topics, more intricate gear reviews, and more obscure topics as you progress as a player.

Part of being a growing guitar player is immersing yourself in the guitar world, and that’s something the Guitar Nerds podcast will help you to do.

Listen on Apple Podcasts

An Awesome Guitar Podcast is Art in Itself

You know when you’re listening to a good show. The passion for the subject is drilled into your ears as if the player were on the stage. This combination of pods will not only teach you the fundamentals of how to play guitar, but they will help immerse you in guitar culture.

If you’re going to be an impassioned player for life is equally important as the route fundamentals.

The post How To Play Guitar Fundamentals With 7 Awesome Guitar Podcasts appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.