Some of the best content being created today comes in the form of podcasts. In fact, the only problem presented by podcasts is choosing which ones to listen to.
Podcasts are the perfect companion for commutes and other downtime. Entertaining and educational, the best podcasts offer an unbeatable opportunity for busy professionals to engage with experts and deepen their knowledge in their particular area of interest.
Among the following six podcasts are our favourites from the leadership and management world, plus some great recommendations from IML ANZ Members.
1. STARTUP
Its blurb calls it a series about what it’s really like to start a business. In 2014, podcast producer-turned-CEO Alex Blumberg turned the microphone on himself to document his venture into the world of start-ups. Blumberg wanted to make the leap from editorial to entrepreneurship. His dream was to create a profitable production house of high-end, narrative-driven podcasts. With business partner Matt Lieber, he succeeded. StartUp quickly became one of the world’s most popular podcasts.
The first series related the founding of Blumberg’s business, Gimlet Media. Season two followed the journey of another hopeful start-up, Dating Ring, while a five-part micro-series updated listeners on Gimlet’s progress, offering further insight into running a business and the precarious task of managing success sustainably. The third fascinating season provides a change of pace, telling the stories of many companies united by the need to change to have any chance of success.
2. BUSINESS ADDICTS
Loren Bartley and Fiona Redding are the first to admit that they love business. It’s a passion the Melbourne-based duo has channelled into creating a popular podcast, dubbed Business Addicts.
Both women have backgrounds rich in business experience. Bartley moved on from a varied career in sports management to run her own social media business Impactiv8, while Redding is a life and business strategist who runs the Happiness Hunter.
It’s a passionate, lively, and authentic listen. Each episode features interesting interviews with specialists from the business world. Highlights include professional speaking tips with Warwick Merry, preparing for tax time with Amanda Newton, and getting the most out of LinkedIn with David Hobson.
3. WORKLIFE WITH ADAM GRANT
Hosted by organisational psychologist and TED sensation Adam Grant, WorkLife offers practical advice on how to tackle life in the workplace. As the author of the groundbreaking books Give and Take and Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World, Grant continues to take listeners inside the unconventional, exploring how we can all enjoy our day-to-day work just a bit more.
The weekly podcast covers curly topics that include how to become friends with rivals, thriving in the midst of criticism and networking tips for people who hate this exercise.
4. DEAR HBR
A kind of technological evolution to the ‘letter to the editor’, Dear HBR responds to the concerns, worries and challenges of leaders. With empathy, experience, and humour, veteran Harvard Business Review editors and co-hosts Alison Beard and Dan McGinn explore solutions to common workplace dilemmas. Bolstered by insights from guests and academic research, they help you navigate thorny situations to find a better way forward.
Topical and relevant, each episode gives the listener the sense of sitting in on a conversation with friends. Not everyone agrees, but that’s what makes the podcast worth a listen – a glimpse into different perspectives.
5. THE MENTOR
The Mentor is a useful resource for anyone who is thinking of perhaps starting their own business. The podcast digs into the stories of Australian entrepreneurs to discover why they set out to create their own path, the obstacles they faced and how they move forward with their ventures.
Host Mark Bouris AM also draws upon his own experience of the ups and downs of business in Australia. The result is that each episode is marked by its candour. The ideas aren’t airbrushed and you get to learn about the true experience, including the not so pleasant bits. Bouris interviews some incredible entrepreneurs to deliver real insights during each episode.
6. HOW I WORK
We all need a bit of help when it comes to improving productivity. How I Work is the perfect podcast for those looking for productivity hacks from some of the most innovative leaders around. Melbourne-based innovation psychologist Dr Amantha Imber, founder of Inventium, hosts the podcast which has hit #1 on iTunes.
Imber explores her interviewee’s habits, rituals and strategies so that each episode delivers practical tips on how the world’s most successful people manage their day. It’s attracted some big-name guests such as television writer and producer, Julian Morrow; entrepreneur, Naomi Simpson; best-selling author, Dan Pink and Boost Juice founder, Janine Allis, to name a few.