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 someone asked you if you were part of a modern-day cult, you'd answer "no," without giving it a second thought. Right? Well, guess what, you're probably a part of a modern-day cult. From Taylor Swift to Starbucks, think about what you're obsessed with from our cultural landscape. You better believe we identified with many of the "cults" featured in this quirky 30 min podcast. Especially "The Cult of Trader Joe's" with the Holidays right around the corner. If you're a fan - TJ's is the jackpot from late November through December. You won't want to miss this cult classic or their microwavable fondue (available now.) No, this is not a sponsored post. Why?
This is a podcast about the bond between two people who have made something together. Touching on a variety of partnerships – business, romantic, creative, but all truly unique and complex. Host Hrishikesh Hirway from one of our favorite podcasts, Song Exploder, has done it again with this banger. A beautifully intimate portrait packed into 20 min episodes, and with each one we find ourselves thinking about our own partnerships and how they came to be. Like the time, we chatted with a friend of a friend about their new business at a dinner party which led to a decade of collaboration, or the creative partnership with a child that breeds magic on the daily. Highlight episodes include Lin-Manuel Miranda & Thomas Kail on the creation of Hamilton and Kevin Systrom & Mike Krieger the founders of Instagram. Sometimes chance meetings, recognizing someone's strengths and weaknesses, picking up queues - it's all about that vibe and how it can lead to fantastic partnerships. Who's your partner?
This weeks recommendation comes from our Social Media Maven, Shaleen. "An oldie but goodie, I read this book years ago and decided to check it out via audio. This is without a doubt, hands-down, one of the best audiobook experiences I've ever had. I'm not kidding - I cancelled my weekend plans to enjoy an evening in 1890's Chicago. Erik Larson's retelling of the rise of Chicago during the World's Fair and the true, evil tale of H.H. Holmes, made it difficult to pause. It's hard to believe either of these stories took place in reality, but as we often find, truth is stranger than fiction. And it has to be said - Scott Brick's narration is pitch perfect. Stop what you're doing and check this one out."
We can't get enough of Business Wars from Wondery. Why? Because if we learned anything from The Godfather, it's that business is war. Whether it's Levis vs. Wrangler, Tik Tok vs. Instagram or Netflix vs. HBO, these multi-episode series are fascinating and informative. We love learning about what drives these companies, especially those relating to inventors and investors (a hot button for us). Each listen allows us to glean some knowledge about the industry as well as the specific players, providing an understanding of how these battles shape what we buy and how we live... so you know we're binging this through our Buds. Our favorite so far -- the clash of two ice cream companies. It's your classic David vs. Goliath story and very much mirrors Buderflys' current market situation. Go ahead and take a stab at our Goliath by giving this one a listen and be sure to let us know what you think!
By now everyone who loves true crime, knows about this podcast. But at first, we had our doubts. How can the subject of murder play off as comedic? Somehow it just works - hosts Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark had us feeling like we were just hanging out with a few friends enjoying some quality dark humor, as one does. This episode in particular spins the tale of Adolph, Chicago’s Sausage King, attempted murder of his wife Ada and how this very messy and public attempt gets foiled by CPD. The hosts’ wit and relatability make this episode less "dark and creepy" and more macabre than other true crime podcasts we’ve featured. Enjoy!
I was originally attracted to this podcast because of my deep love for the outdoors, but the title of this episode really appealed to me as it basically sums up my early adult life “Bad Decisions, Good Stories." Hosts Michael Roberts and Maren Larsen enlist several brave (maybe not so smart) Outside writers and editors to share stories in which they were underprepared for the adventures they attempted to tackle. The tales, told “fireside," are all too relatable and harkens me back to earlier days of adventuring when gusto overtook common sense. Listening to others’ follies allowed me to reflect on my own epic misadventures and to be thankful that I am no longer as foolish as I once was. Signing off to hike Mt. Elbert - where light to moderate snow is predicted…Devon. (Our Head of Brand Strategy)
This listen comes highly recommended from our Founder, Shea. She just finished Build by Tony Fadell - ya know, the Senior Vice President of the iPod division at Apple Inc. and Founder of Nest Inc. "It was hands down one of the most important product books I've ever listened to in my career. In many ways it mimicked my own origin story of building Buderflys. It felt a little strange that he wrote something that so intimately felt like my own experience of growing my company, while at the same time, wildly validating. Beyond this crazy relatable experience, this book offered incredibly delineated insight into the investment world, building products, growing teams, and the constant ups and downs of the entrepreneurial experience." So yeah, we get why this one hit so close to home for our girl Shea.
Hey! Annie here, Head of Operations for Buderflys. As a Colorado native and music enthusiast, I highly recommend this listen. My most memorable concert at Red Rocks was Jack White. The storm came in and swirled, dumping buckets and giving us a lightning show. And what did Jack do? He just kept playing. He threw off his shoes because he was sliding all over the place. Red Rocks is always magical but this night in particular it was spectacular. So, when I saw that Jack White was featured on my favorite music podcast, Broken Record, it jumped to the top of my queue. He is just one of the coolest cats out there - creating music, fostering a great lineup of artists with his own label and keeping vinyl alive. With Rick Rubin and Malcolm Gladwell behind the podcast, you know you can expect the best.
We begin with immense anticipation and excitement and end in shock and sadness within a few minutes . . . this memory comes right back into focus with this podcast. Evan Chung tells the story of the 500,000 American teachers who competed for an unprecedented prize of a spot on the Space Shuttle Challenger, the grueling selection process and the aftermath of a tragedy that hit so close to home. This listen brought back such visceral feelings as we remember exactly where we were when this happened. In Mrs. Loftus' 4th grade class, she rolled in the TV cart to watch live -- the launch of the Challenger. Where were you?
We love when our Buderflys family comes through with a recommendation like this one. Not only is Lewis Howes (former Pro Athlete turned NY Times Bestselling author) a great interviewer but every episode helps to fill your head with informative and positive thoughts to keep you going. He widens your perspective and promotes a growth mindset. Lewis does an amazing job of connecting with his guests which range from Shaun White to Jay Shetty all while connecting with his listeners. From discussing strategies to win any negotiation and how to beat procrastination, to money habits to prepare for inflation and developing a super-human level of self-confidence, he covers it all. With over 1,200 episodes, there are so many choices. Listed in the Top 50 of all iTunes podcasts this is definitely on our list as a general "go-to."
At 44, Kenan is not only the first cast member of SNL to be born after the show had already begun its now 47-year run in 1975, but also the longest-tenured cast member. In this episode of Smartless we learn What's Up With That?! Not gonna lie, we were kind of giddy to hear from one of our all-time favorite cast members. He doesn't shy away from revealing life as a child star to Emmy nominated celebrity status. Kenan's resume is padded. He's working bicoastal, raising two kids and is a huge hockey fan. But our favorite part of the episode is when Will, Jason and Sean get the skinny on whether or not the subject of his impersonations are fans of his performances. Let's just say that Mike Tyson and Steve Harvey had two very different reactions. Our favorite life lesson from this episode? "We're all just one hat and 40 buttons away from being Steve right now."
How did two brothers without any engineering education become pioneers in aviation and teach us to fly? As a nod to the beloved historian and two time Pulitzer Prize winner, David McCullough, we have gone back through the archives to cherish all he has done for us throughout his career. This Weeks Listen comes from our Founder/CEO Shea, and tells the story of this classic American entrepreneur. A story that was very close to Shea’s heart. The Wright brothers' pure love of innovation and curiosity around building something that has never been done before, mirrored Shea’s inspiration in the founding of Buderflys. In this amazing story of persistence, focus, hard work and the willingness to take HUGE risks, the Wright Brothers caught that spirit of invention that was prevalent at the turn of the century and is still engrained in our culture today. With the recent passing of McCullough, we wanted to give him a loving tribute. Dubbed by the New York Times, "Best-Selling Explorer of America's Past," we have thoroughly enjoyed all our journeys with you Mr. McCullough.
