I discovered podcasts five or so years ago when I first became interested in self-development. At the time I was commuting for an hour to and from work which often involved lots of dead time, standing waiting for trains, walking from point a to b to c to d, not to mention the crowded train journeys when people were too jam packed in to even contemplate opening a book
It was an absolute revelation to me when I realised I could make all of that often pretty unpleasant time so much more enjoyable, educational and inspirational, with the simple act of slipping a couple of buds into my ears and the careful selection of a podcast of my choice.
I’ve never looked back, and a few years later now have a trusted and regularly expanding library of subscribed series always at my disposal, keeping me informed and entertained whether I’m driving the car, or out on a run.
I credit podcasts with helping me create life-changing habits, triggering professional breakthroughs, coping better with the terminal illness of my parents and the subsequent grief after losing them, with improving my tennis technique, opening my mind to alternative viewpoints and much more besides.
They are a consistent companion, the familiar voices of the hosts now almost feeling like trusted friends, and I can’t imagine ever going back to the not listening to podcast days of the past.
From fresh perspectives, to actionable tools, daily rituals and tonnes more, I’ve got so much from these audio gems that I want to share a few of my favourites in the hope that you too will enjoy as much value as I have from them.
4 podcasts for personal and professional growth
The Tim Ferriss Show
I was already a fan of Tim Ferriss from his books such as The Four Hour Work Week, The Four Hour Chef, and the Four Hour Body, which set him apart as a trailblazer in the field of productivity, habit formation, human experimentation and life optimization, so it was no surprise to me that I took to him in audio form too.
The format of Tim’s podcasts is consistent, tried and tested: Invite a world class performer or achiever on to the show and ask them a series of brilliantly crafted questions that get right to the very root of what it is that has helped drive their success. He really has perfected the art of the probing question and the result is meaningful conversations with great depth with some of the most inspiring and high achieving individuals in the world today, across an amazing breadth of industries, from movie stars, to billionaire CEOs, investors, sports stars, chess champions and everyone in between.
Although not designed for a quick listen (breaking the common podcast format of 30-50 minute episodes, Tim’s episodes can run for two hours, sometimes longer), such is the quality of the dialogue and insight, they never seem too long.
Recommended episodes:
- Tim Ferriss Interviews Arnold Schwarzenegger on Psychological Warfare (And Much More)
- Sir Richard Branson — The Billionaire Maverick of the Virgin Empire (#272)
- Sharon Salzberg, World-Renowned Meditation Teacher (#277)
Michael Hyatt: This Is Your Life / Lead to Win
Michael Hyatt is like the wise uncle we all wish we had. A former CEO, he has built his online reputation as an expert in leadership and professional growth, and his podcasts cover topics such as vision and goal setting, leading teams and productivity.
Michael has also mastered the art of the slick podcast format, his shows typically involving a host who interviews him as he delivers his musings and insights across the chosen theme of each episode.
His now discontinued This Is Your Life series was always filled with clearly thought out, actionable insights that I could apply directly, and around the time when I was listening to it on a daily basis I recall a conversation with a colleague who was training to become a professional life coach herself. When telling her the kinds of changes I was making to my approach to life and work as a result, she remarked that it sounded like I was coaching myself!
It’s little wonder that a couple of years later Michael Hyatt is now regarded as one of the leading online life and career coaches, with a range of valuable resources, courses and tools for those wanting to make positive change in their lives and careers.
But you can get the benefit of a lot of his knowledge for free just by accessing his podcast archive.
Recommended episodes:
- 10 Biggest Mistakes People Make in Setting Goals (and How to Fix Them) [Podcast S02E10]
- 5 Strategies for Building New Habits [Podcast S07E04]
- 8 Secrets to Escape the Overwhelm [Podcast S08E10]
- #081: How to Create More Margin in Your Crazy-Busy Life
The 5am Miracle
I have to admit that the style of host Jeff Sanders wasn’t exactly to my tastes – a little too enthusiastic for my reserved British sensibilities – but I was getting so much value from his episodes that I couldn’t stop listening. So give him a try too.
The premise of the 5am Miracle is pretty self explanatory. Get up earlier each day and you’ll be amazed by how much your life can transform by giving yourself two or three precious hours to do whatever you choose whilst the rest of the world is still hitting the snooze button.
Don’t be put off if you think that 5am is a little extreme, which I’m pretty sure it is for most people. If you can manage to get up even an hour earlier than you do today I’m confident you’ll soon experience tangible benefits in your life as a result of however you decide to use that time, be it exercise, meditation, reading, journalling, painting, playing guitar, whatever.
Jeff’s enthusiasm for the concept of trading lower quality tired hours at the end of your day, for uninterrupted, peaceful you-time at the the beginning of the next day is infectious and definitely worth a try for anybody.
Recommended episodes:
- Mornings 101: How to Become an Early Riser
- 7 Productive Habits to Complete Before 7:00 AM [Podcast #151]
- The Best of the Best from the First 200 Episodes [Podcast #200]
The Rich Roll Podcast
Rich Roll is a more recent discovery, particularly since I’ve been following a vegan plant-based diet. Rich’s unique story is that of a former hot shot lawyer who indulged in all of the trappings of that lifestyle before developing issues with alcohol, drugs and health that threatened to have him lose it all.
Thankfully, he discovered fitness, a vegan diet, meditation and completely turned his life around, becoming a phenomenal ultra marathoner, iron man and all round renaissance man. He is an inspiration to anybody wanting to transform their lives for the better, physically, mentally, spiritually, and his interview guests dive deeper into topics related to these areas.
Recommended episodes:
Honourable Mentions
Great podcasts that didn’t make the top 4, but that have also given me a great deal of insight:
The Unmistakable Creative
Srni Rao’s interview guest list features creatives, high achievers and thought leaders that cover the full spectrum of creativity, personal development and leadership. He asks brilliantly probing questions which really make his guests think hard and open up.
Recommended episodes:
- The Neuroscience of goals
- Using Non-Verbal Communication to Change Human Behavior
- A proven way to build good habits and break bad ones
Ted Radio Hour
If you’re a fan of Ted Talks on YouTube you’ll love Ted Radio Hour, which curates nuggets from some of the best TED talks into themed episodes on topics such as Getting Better, Why We Hate and Hidden Potential. Expertly connected by the brilliant host, Guy Raz, Ted Radio Hour is a great listen.
Recommended episodes:
How I Built This
Another Guy Raz production, How I Built This profiles the founders and tells the stories of some of the most iconic and interesting companies around today, providing insights into their early days of trial and error, through their first major successes, crippling setbacks and eventual flourishing. It’s a must-listen, packed full of learnings for anybody thinking about starting their own business one day.
Recommended episodes:
The Plant Proof Podcast
A relatively new podcast on the scene, Aussie host Simon Hill is passionate about spreading the benefits of a plant-based lifestyle, interviewing nutritionists, athletes, chefs and scientists to deliver a full range of perspectives on living vegan, plant-based lifestyles. Join him as he embarks on his journey of discovery.
Recommended episodes:
Six Pixels of Separation
Although primarily a podcast about digital marketing, host Mitch Joel is a brilliant interviewer, shaping really great conversations with his guests who are often thought leaders and authors on topics as diverse as leadership, connectivity, cultural trends. His is definitely an archive I’d recommend visiting to uncover some gems and gain some new perspectives.
Recommended episodes:
- SPOS #585 – Killing Marketing with Robert Rose
- SPOS #553 – Reinvent Yourself With James Altucher
- SPOS #525 – Ego Is The Enemy With Ryan Holiday
And one wildcard:
Adam Buxton
This one is really left-field and has practically nothing in common with any of the above other than the fact that it is a podcast.
But Mr Buckles’ inimitable style and down to earth conversations with heroes of British comedy and entertainment are always guaranteed to bring a huge smile to my face and are sometimes exactly the light relief you need after a tough day in the office.
