As of January 2022, there are over 2,000,000 podcasts and over 48 million episodes. With statistics like this, it's nearly impossible to narrow it down to the best of the best. Don't fret. We've got you. We have an obsession with not only devouring podcasts and audiobooks, but then subsequently talking about them, and we've curated this collection just for you. A collection we've affectionately named "Listens We Can't Stop Talking About." Enjoy.
If you love business history and captivating stories from the past. You will love this week’s Listen from the Acquired podcast, which delves into the fascinating history of Nintendo—a company that began as a playing card manufacturer over 130 years ago. From the creation of iconic characters like Mario and Donkey Kong to the family's four generations shaping and dominating the gaming world, this narrative was thoroughly entertaining. This episode is undoubtedly one of our favorites from Acquired, although we must admit, we feel that way after every episode is finished. Happy listening!
Perfect for the long holiday weekend is Episode # 283 “What if you saved your family from annihilation?” A man who experienced awful abuse as a child decided to cut ties with his father, which resulted in an incredibly scary story that could have ended very differently. What truly inspired me was this man’s ability to rise above his circumstances and end a cycle of abuse and forgive his mother, when he could have made very different choices. Inspiring, terrifying, and all engrossing, this episode is sure to make you feel all the feels.
I came across This is Actually Happening one day when scrolling through popular Wondery podcasts - not sure what it was about, I picked an episode at random and was immediately invested in the story and outcome. This is Actually Happening tells true stories of events that dramatically altered the lives of ordinary people. While definitely NSFW or kid appropriate, and containing some seriously challenging subjects and stories, every week, This is Actually Happening takes me on a journey that makes me laugh, cry, and view people and circumstances in a new and more compassionate way.
Ever encountered someone with an uncanny sense of direction but a perpetual struggle distinguishing left from right? And what about muscle memory—did you know that the scientific term for it is spatial reasoning? Like many of the Knowledge Project episodes, #146 delivers insight from someone at the top of their game that will help us all create an unstoppable advantage. The podcast dives into the fascinating science behind spatial reasoning and why we should all be learning more about the importance of this attribute both mentally and physically.
The esteemed guest, Barbara Tversky, a cognitive psychologist and Nobel Prize laureate renowned for her groundbreaking work on heuristics and biases, shares her expertise in this thought-provoking episode. Tversky delves into the profound ways in which our actions influence and shape our thoughts, challenging the notion that our emotions are fixed.
Our team has been enjoying the Knowledge Project podcast, and every episode we've listened to so far has been a cool source of enlightenment and fresh insights. With each installment, we find ourselves engrossed, delving deep into the subject matter and uncovering new knowledge.
We cherish those moments when rather than clinging to our beliefs like life-support, we open ourselves up to the ego crushing possibility that we may in fact be wrong. As a lawyer, married to another lawyer, who is also an engineer, with a PhD holding father, and an MD brother, you could say, our family values higher education. After listening to Daniel Pink, I began questioning all my life decisions. Apparently, the “MFA is the new MBA”. Accounting, lawyering, finance - these skills can be automated and outsourced, and of course with the newest iteration of AI with ChatGPT, this is more obvious than ever.
According to Daniel Pink, creative and symphonic thinking, storytelling, problem solving, and leadership - these “soft skills” can’t be automated and are needed more than ever as technology and outsourcing become more and more common. Now, I'm re-evaluating how I prioritize experiences and education for my children. Definitely worth a listen for some thought-provoking conversations around the value of left and right brain, and where we should be seeking our education.
Rich Roll and his guests are ten for ten when it comes to leaving me motivated. Not only are his questions poignant, but he has an impeccable knack for relating the advice of his guests to our every day life. His interview with Seth Godin tops my list for one of his best interviews, as it highlights the struggle of finding purpose and embracing failure throughout our life. He also provides incredible ideas and insight into working to solve the climate problem.
There are so many takeaways and nuggets from this conversation that directly relate to our personal and professional journeys. My favorites in no particular order: (i) the value of meaningful specifics - pick a lane and go hard; (ii) make a decision, take action in that direction, and you can always change your story; and (iii) to change our systems, teach kids how to lead, solve problems, and be good people. Godin's ideas on solving climate change are inspiring, as they feel attainable even in the face of depressing environmental stats. I already reduced the beef consumption in our household based on his logic and explanation - don't roll your eyes, just hear him out. Seth Godin never disappoints, but this is a must-listen.
How To Become Batman by Invisibilia, is the perfect lazy-Sunday listen that came highly recommended from a Buderflys user. "One of my favorite things to do while traveling on business, is listen to podcasts. On a memorable trip to Tokyo, I listened to this episode on a crowded train, simply mesmerized by the story and thinking about how a blind person might be able to navigate the Tokyo subway system. We came away from this episode believing it is in fact possible to become Batman, that blind people can see, and rats can do anything as long as they have someone believing in them." Thanks, Yoriko for giving us this weeks recommendation, where we contemplated the surprising effects our expectations can have on the world around us. What are you listening to?
It’s the start of a new year which aligns perfectly with building new habits and a full awareness of oneself. This year we are kicking it off by studying and searching for the elusive but crucial concept of “enough.” For the meditation side of this equation, we turned to the famed meditation skeptic Dan Harris and his podcast 10% Happier. In this episode, Harris interviews Morgan Housel author of the book Psychology of Money. Money is often part of the equation when searching for “when is enough, actually enough?” This engaging interview explores the difference between being rich vs. wealthy, happiness vs. contentment, and how financial success is more about behavior than intelligence. And in case you were wondering, I bought Housel’s audiobook after listening to this podcast, because it turns out, this podcast was just not ENOUGH, I needed to know more (;
January in Denver centers around the National Western Stock Show and all things agriculture and denim. So, it seemed fitting to listen to a brief history of blue jeans and indigo via Articles of Interest, the podcast about what we wear. We love the premise behind this podcast because what we wear means so many different things to each of us. An article of clothing can represent what we believe in, it can feel like home, it can make us feel hip or not, it can support old traditions, or it may just be utilitarian. For us, comfy, worn-in, blue jeans are a uniform worn daily, that spark nostalgia. But at the same time denim can be acceptable in the office, or for a nice dinner. They're magic. And absolutely the only acceptable attire at the Stock Show. Enjoy this blue jean daydream of a listen.
This is a love letter to science and the scientific brain wrapped in a misleading candy-coated cover. If you've ever had a meal prepared by a chemist, it was undoubtedly one of the best you’ve had. Ever have a real conversation with your dog, where you are sure they got the gist of what you were saying? Ever have to battle to succeed in an outdated legacy system? For us the best books are the ones that don’t have a single ounce of cliché. Lessons in Chemistry passed this test. The bubble gum cover seems to imply a “beach read," and while it was a page turner, we found it wildly interesting, smart, witty, and satisfying. While we don’t read a ton of fiction, we would recommend this book by Bonnie Garmus to anyone whose ear we can bend.
Stuck in post-holiday ski traffic, we decided to listen to Heavyweight with Jonathan Goldstein. After multiple episodes we found ourselves laughing, crying to these tremendously relatable stories. Woulda, coulda, shoulda. We all have moments where we wish we could go back and change the course of time. Jonathan's specialty is working with listeners to do exactly this - serving as a part-time therapist with a time machine. From a chance meeting in a foreign country to tracking down a lost cousin, these journeys speak to the heart. There's a reason this listen made the top ten of 2022 from the New Yorker. Happy Listening!
I think we can all agree that companion podcasts are the best. The laughs continue after a TV show has finished. We thoroughly enjoyed The Office Ladies and The Always Sunny Podcast and we're excited to have come across Fly on the Wall. Dana Carvey and David Spade kill it rehashing great SNL moments with hosts, cast members, writers and even musical guests. We just listened to the tribute episodes celebrating the comedic genius of Chris Farley. The laughter brought us to tears. We can't wait to listen to the Chevy Chase episode, since we just finished our annual viewing of Christmas Vacation. "If I woke up tomorrow with my head sewn to the carpet, I wouldn't be more surprised than I am right now."
Have you ever been Rickrolled? We've fallen victim many times but most recently it took the form of an email from our kid - Check out my grades for the semester. We blindly clicked the link, excited to celebrate mostly A's and B's, then "Never gonna give you up. Never gonna let you down. Never gonna run around and desert you." Over thirty years later...how did this 80's mega tune become a mega meme? Wanting to know more about this earworm - we listened to episode 233 of Song Exploder. The song that was #1 in over 25 countries and the video that has over a billion views was created by mixing Britain, a break up, and a baritone? Give this a listen and Rick will tell you the whole story.
