All of us learn differently — and if you’re the kind of person who does really well with, say, audio books, but can’t focus on the words on a page, learning via podcast may be something worth looking into. Once a fringe medium for audio dorks and one-time public radio hosts, podcasting is now a major industry, with big names like Adam Carolla and Joe Rogan drawing millions of listeners to their on-demand audio productions. For creative entrepreneurs, there are tons of experts and industry insiders just waiting to share their intel by way of the digital airwaves, not to mention podcasts dedicated just to design, critical thinking, entrepreneurship, and artistic pursuits like music and storytelling.
Here are just a handful of the podcasts available — for free — that can help change the way you think, discover a new passion, or maybe even help you get out of a creative rut.
Studio 360: The podcast version of the PRI show by the same name, Studio 360, hosted by Kurt Anderson, is a weekly guide to what’s new and cool in pop culture and music. Hear interviews, critical analysis, and new music you’d never have discovered otherwise. Think of it like a really smart digest of all the headlines you skimmed past or otherwise missed this week.
HBR IdeaCast: You’re already a regular reader of the Harvard Business Review (right?), but have you thought about taking it in through your ears while you’re, say, commuting? According to the HBR, the IdeaCast “features breakthrough ideas and commentary from the leading thinkers in business and management.” This podcast will make you smarter.
The Accidental Creative: We could describe CreativeLive instructor Todd Henry‘s podcast for you, but honestly, he does a better job of it: “The Accidental Creative podcast addresses how to thrive in the create-on-demand world by instilling practical, everyday practices that help you stay prolific, brilliant and healthy in your life and work. Featuring interviews with artists and leaders such as Seth Godin, David Allen, Steven Pressfield and others as well as best practices for staying creatively engaged, The Accidental Creative deals with real-world issues in practical ways. Listen in and join the conversation at AccidentalCreative.com.” Boom.
Entrepreneurial Thought Leaders: Brought to you by the certified geniuses at Stanford, the ETI podcast features conversations thinkers like Sal Kahn (of Kahn Academy), and the creators of TaskRabbit and Yelp. It’s basically like eavesdropping at a really cool conference, without having to get on a plane or choke down a continental breakfast scone.
TED Radio Hour: Hosted by public radio darling Guy Raz, the TED Radio Hour is the hottest NPR show on the market — and yes, you can get it as a podcast. Curated by themes each week, the TED Radio Hour dives beyond TED Talks, speaking with the talkers themselves about big issues like collaboration, love, and communication.
Duct Tape Marketing: From CreativeLive instructor John Jantsch, the Duct Tape Marketing podcast is great for business owners looking to get more creative and strategic with their selling. John asks the tough questions like “is networking a waste of time?” John’s kind of a pioneer in the world of business podcasting — so you really should listen when he talks.
Dorm Room Tycoon: Another interview series with genius thinkers and creators, DRT is comprised of super-smart conversations with the kinds of people who make cool stuff and then sell their ideas for bundles of money — which takes a lot of creativity and problem solving to do.
99% Invisible: Host Roman Mars does a really cool thing with 99pi, which is that he takes architectural structures, features, or quirks, and then finds the most interesting historical angle through which to explain them. It’s like having the most interesting art history or design professor in college — and it’ll definitely change the way you think about the buildings around you.
