podcast opinions: podcasts i’m loving right now
If you haven’t already heard, podcasts are an amazing way to learn new things, hear new ideas, listen to discussions & most of all, it’s a great way to pass the time on your commute to work/school. I love the fact that because it’s only audio, I can listen to them while driving, on public transit, while cleaning my room, or if I’m having trouble sleeping. Most of the podcasts I listen to are entertainment, human interest & growth based. Truly, the best thing about podcasts is that they are so raw, real & inspiring. I honestly learn something new in every single one I listen to.
I consider myself a person who knows a little about a lot of things, so whenever someone asks me for podcast recommendations, I always have a list handy. Here are a few of my favourite podcasts:
Armchair Expert
Dax Shepard loves talking to people. He discusses the challenges and setbacks that his guests deal with, ultimately lead to growth and betterment. The main reason I love this podcast is Dax Shepard’s makes a very good point that we rarely learn from people’s triumphs, but rather learn more from their failures. I found it truly enlightening that this little nugget of truth could be so simple yet so profound. Plus at the end of every episode, the producer Monica Padman does a fact check of everything discussed, it’s honestly really interesting.
Brave Not Perfect Podcast
CEO and Founder of Girls Who Code, Reshma Saujani is on a mission to show that being brave, not perfect, is the secret to changing the world. She interviews changemakers from all walks of life, with one thing in common. They decided it was more important to be brave, rather than perfect. I especially loved the AOC episode, I made a mistake, deal with it. (ft. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) I was honestly so inspiring and relatable, I cried multiple times. If there’s anything I’ve learned from Reshma, it’s that getting things done is better than making things perfect and that you’ll learn far more from making mistakes than from standing still.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
Jay Shetty is full of knowledge, and more importantly, he wants to share that knowledge with the world. His podcast titled, ON PURPOSE, has a goal to make wisdom go viral. He has fascinating conversations with some of the most insightful people in the world and continually shares his outlook on life with their listeners. Every episode makes me think a little differently and gives me a new perspective on all kinds of subjects.
Pretty Big Deal with Ashley Graham
Honestly, Ashley Graham is pretty amazing. The guests she has on her show are wickedly inspiring. I love that she interviews so many successful women and sheds light on what makes them a pretty big deal. My favourite episodes so far are the Serena Williams one and the Ariana Huffington one.
An amazing podcast by venture capitalist Arlan Hamilton that goes behind-the-scenes and teaches listeners how to make your first million dollars, get your first million downloads, or find your first million customers. As the Founder and Managing Partner of Backstage Capital, she has raised more than $10M, and has invested in over 100 companies led by people of color, women, and/or LGBTQ.
Fat Mascara
Recently I’ve really been into makeup and skincare more than ever before. I came across this podcast because I was curious to see if there were any podcasts featuring discussions on these topics. Safe to say, this one is now one of my faves. The Fat Mascara podcast is so fun to listen to! Hosts Jessica Matlin and Jennifer Goldstein bring insight to the world of beauty on their award-winning weekly podcast. Since they are both beauty editors by day, Jess & Jenn are plugged into the industry’s latest news and share their inside access along with candid stories of their beauty adventures. Each episode, they also get advice from their favourite people in the beauty business, including beauty influencers, makeup artists, hair stylists & other industry experts like dermatologists, manicurists, perfumers, and more. I truly feel like you’re listening in on a conversation between friends. Plus I’ve honestly learned a lot about the industry and why certain things are good for your skin. The best part about it is that pretty much every product, service or detail they mention in each episode is linked on their blog in the episode recap section. So helpful!
How I Built This with Guy Raz
I truly cannot say enough good things about this podcast. This is a podcast about extraordinary entrepreneurs, innovators, idealists, and the companies they built. Guy Raz interviews these founders and finds out their inspiration behind each idea and how they made them come to life.
Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness
A weekly podcast where Jonathan Van Ness (from Netflix’s Queer Eye ) explores topics he’s curious about. He hosts experts in their respective fields to better understand topics he’s curious about. JVN is passionately curious about so many topics, it really makes for such an interesting show. Plus just listening to his voice instantly boosts my mood. I especially loved listening to the Self Love episode with Jameela Jamil, the Skincare episode with Victoria Tsai, the founder & CEO of skin care company Tatcha.
Chris Hardwick
ID10T is an interview show which features casual conversations with notable comedians or entertainers discussing their lives and passions. Often times Chris hosts guests who he knows personally so the conversations are definitely some of the most interesting ones.
Actor, filmmaker, social media influencer, Kiran Rai hosts this podcast and discusses. social issues, relatable & fun stories with her guests. She hosts some amazing South Asian Creatives who are changing the game in their respective fields.
THR Awards Chatter
The Hollywood Reporter Awards Chatter a podcast is hosted by Scott Feinberg and features that features in-depth interviews with some of the most interesting and accomplished people in show business. They dive deep into the life story of the interviewee and learn about why they do what they do.
WeAreNetflix Podcast
A great podcast about the inner working for Netflix. Hosted by Senior Software Engineer, Lyle Troxell, fellow employees talking about work and life at Netflix. What I like about it, is that you get to hear first hand about the different departments, how they do things, create new projects & how they hire.
Thrive Global with Arianna Huffington
Hosted by Arianna Huffington, she sits down with notable leaders, celebrities, athletes and influencers to learn how they prioritizing well-being. The main thing this podcast advocates for it self-care, in any form. How these successful people prevent themselves from overworking or suffering burnouts. I especially LOVED Episode #8: Ashton Kutcher.
Brown Girl Works
This podcast focuses on South Asian professional and entrepreneurial women who are leveling up their careers. Each episode, you get to hear experiences, mistakes and tips from successful South Asian women who defy cultural stereotypes and overcoming personal challenges. My favourite part about the BGW podcast, it that it’s a community of supportive like-minded South Asian women who are here to encourage, share experiences, mistakes, and offer inspiration to drive the next wave of South Asian female professionals.
Honorable Mention:
Tech-nically Speaking (shameless plug here)
Tech-nically Speaking is a podcast where tech gets simplified. We talk about everything from industry news, reviews and more. Full disclosure, I am a host for this podcast, and it’s a great joy to talk about tech with my co-host Sachin (aka TheCanadianTechie) especially from a Canadian perspective. You can find us on every podcast streaming platform.
Side Note: My favourite way to listen to podcasts is by using the Pocket Casts App, I really like the layout and intuitive flow of the app, how easy it is to search for & discover new shows, and organize my playlist que. Plus I can listen on multiple devices, including mobile & web. I definitely recommend checking it out.
Let me know in the comments below what some of your favourite podcasts are, I’d love to discover more!
