I have 30-50 minute commute to and from work everyday. During that drive I like to draw inspiration from a number of different sources, to include talk radio, music, and audiobooks. I typically pick something that’s not just going to be fun to listen to, but that’s going to put me in the right mindset to perform and achieve my goals at work and in life in general. To that end, the medium I keep coming back to most often are podcasts. What a great option to explore all kinds of topics, from health and fitness, to productivity to understanding how we learn! I LOVE PODCASTS.
Sometimes I’ll have to hunt for a good episode and can go through a dozen or so before I hit a really good one that speaks to me. However, when I do, I am enlightened, surprised and just feel like I can do more and be more simply from listening to someone speak about their thoughts and experiences. Below are my top 5 favorite podcasts. Although I listen to far more than just these, I chose the below shows because either I really like the host(s) or simply because they are the podcasts that most often inspire and motivate me!
1 – The Tim Ferris Show – Tim is one of the biggest names in self-improvement and life optimization. I like how he interviews a variety of guests from all sorts of different fields and is just as apt to have a business guru on the show as he is a professional basketball player (LeBron James!). I particularly like the two interviews he did with Arnold Schwarzenegger, episodes #60 and #216, which are filled with great storytelling and convey such a sense of possibility. If you can’t find all of these episodes on your favorite mobile platform, be sure to check out Tim’s site at https://tim.blog/
Check out-
#60 and 216 Arnold Schwarzenegger. Arnie discusses bodybuilding, early business ventures, life philosophy and politics
#125 Derek Sivers. Derek is the man behind CD Baby and has been a big name in online business since….well, just about for as long as we’ve had the internet. He has a great story and is really interesting to listen to.
#370 Adam Savage. Adam is one of the guys behind MythBusters and is a household name in the maker industry. If you love being creative and are interested in making things (whether physical objects or intangible), you’ve gotta check out this episode!
#349 LeBron James. A rare peak inside the legend’s routines and training w/ both LeBron and his trainer.
#124 Jaime Foxx. MAN, what a talented guy Jaime Foxx is! Music, comedy, parenting, and more. This wide ranging conversation is FASCINATING. I just learned there is a second “reverse” episode, where Jaimee interviews Tim, so if you want to check that one out it’s #167.
2 – The Art of Manliness – Brett McKay has also been in the self-improvement game for a long time and has run the website of the same name since 2008. The website as well as the podcast cover all sorts of topics and skills. A few of my favorite shows include…
#470 with James Clear. Pretty much the authority in my opinion on habits and practical applications of making and breaking habits
#467 3 Big Questions to Help Frantic Families Get on Track with Patrick Lencioni. This one is about you and your family living your lives with intention. Patrick gives some good tips on how you and your family can bring calm and clarity to your daily lives.
#512 Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World. This episode w/ David Epstein lays out the case for why some of the most successful people have competence in several different fields, rather than having all of their expertise in one area.
3 – Kwik Brain with Jim Kwik – Jim Kwik is pretty big on the scene when it comes to learning and reading faster. I like his podcast because 1) because the episodes are short and 2) because he treats it kind of like a little school, where you listen to the first foundational episodes and then future episodes build off of those or reference them. Some of my favorites are below-
#3 10 Keys to Unlock Optimal Brain Health. Short but important tips.
#5 My 10 Favorite Brain Foods. I don’t know why I like this one so much! Maybe just because it gives me an excuse to eat blueberries and dark chocolate!
#15 How to Create New Habits Fast with Dr. BJ Fogg. With one of the foremost thinkers on habit formation.
4 – Side Hustle School with Chris Guillebeau – Another one with short episodes around 10 mins. each. If you have a longish commute like me, you can cram in a lot of entrepreneurial inspiration in that time! Chris takes the time to comment on pros and cons of the case studies as well. The sheer variety and number of side hustle ideas here is astounding and will have you feeling like you can start a successful side hustle too! There are some fun ones here as well, including some nerdy stuff!
#933 Star Wars Fan Forges Lightsaber Empire
#977 3D Printing Brings Cosplay into 21st Century
#972 College Student Bakes 1,500 Cheesecakes to Pay Tuition. I was hungry, lol.
#996 Perfect SAT Score Leads to $20 Million Tutoring Biz. WOW.
#1004 The Hero’s Journal Helps You Make Progress Toward Your Goals. Gotta pick one of these up!
#1082 Modest Men’s Style Blog Nets Six-Figure Income. I’m a fan of Brock’s Youtube channel, so it was fun to hear his story here.
5 – Impact Theory with Tom Bilyeau – I’ve been listening to this one off and on for the past few months. Tom is VERY passionate and can sometimes tend to talk over guests, lol. Nevertheless, I love the format and that he’s so excited to discuss big ideas and how to be better! Some of therse are listed by date, rather than number.
Dec 12, 2019 – Conversations w/ Todd (Herman). Herman is the man on using “alter egos” as a way to break past the barriers that your “normal” self would be hesitant to go through. I recently picked up his book and am stoked to read it!
Jul 30, 2019 – Ultra Successful Musician Explains How to Beat Anyone at Their Own Game. With Randy Jackson! I just knew Randy Jackson as the “was a little pitch-y” and “it’s gonna be a no for me, dawg” guy from American Idol. Here he talks life philosophy and explains his background comin’ up as a young musician. This guy’s been there! Super interesting.
#138 Marie Forleo – I hadn’t heard of Marie before but I loved this interview with her. She’s one of those people who when she talks is just completely at ease with herself, open, and authentic. That sounded pretentious, but trust me this is a really good episode! One of my favorites.
Aug 8, 2019 – Mark Bell – Mark Bell is a legend in the strength training industry! He’s full of knowledge and has a colorful personality. A good match for Tom!
Like I said, I LOVE podcasts! I listen to way more than those listed here, but these are some of my go to’s with some of my favorite episodes. What are some of your favorite podcasts? Are there any awesome episodes I missed here? What’s your favorite episode of Impact Theory? What lessons have you learned from Tim Ferris? Sound off in the comments section below, or drop me a line at upgradedragon@gmail.com!
