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.
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.
Traveling this holiday? Be sure this recommendation is on your list. Seriously. Your drive or flight time will fly by listening to Radiolab's The Dark Side of the Earth. Astronaut Dave Wolf, has been to space 4 times, completed 7 spacewalks and logged over 4,000 hours up there. When asked to tell a story about darkness, he describes the extremes of light and dark in space, relives a heart-pounding close call, and shares one of the most tranquil moments of his life. Out in the blackness of space, the contrast between light and dark is unimaginably extreme – every 45 minutes, you plunge between absolute darkness on the night-side of Earth and blazing light as the sun screams into view. These terrifyingly beautiful images are crystal clear, thanks to Wolf's stories. Our minds and ears were consistently filled with excitement and wonder up until the very last second.
Though not new, this is a wild ride! All of you fellow 80s kids will enjoy this futuristic, virtual reality fantasy treasure hunt and trip down memory lane. From Back to the Future, to The Shining, the plot is action packed and brimming with easter eggs. In fact, we found ourselves checking YouTube to relive some of the nostalgic moments referenced throughout. Will Wheaton is the perfect narrator and even reads a reference of himself - so meta! We suggest you listen to the audiobook, then watch Spielberg's 2018 film version this holiday season - it's the perfect escape. A shout out to our customer Becky for the recommendation.
In honor of Women-Led Wednesday - we feature our fearless leader, our founder, Shea. She’s a mother of three boys, an avid skier, a loyal friend and a patented inventor. She’s a crazy creative thinker - she can see around corners where no one else can. Check her out in the latest episode of Innovation meets Leadership as she tackles how to develop an effective product while reiterating, the importance of focusing on the customer's needs by providing a solution to a problem. The problem: 87% of earbud users experience pain and discomfort. The solution: Buderflys - the earbud that constantly flexes with your ear providing the most comfortable listening experience.
