Business Mastery | Five Must-Listen Business Podcasts in 2017
In the last years, the Podcast industry has boomed.
From San Diego to Shanghai we saw the rise of hundreds of podcasters.
In the US alone from 2008 to 2016 the podcast consumption grew at a double-digit rate, and it does not seem to stop.
What makes the podcast industry so amazing? Let’s dive into it!
What is a podcast?
Simply put, a podcast is the on-demand version of the radio. In short, during the 80s you had to rush to listen to your favorite DJ speaking through the radio; nowadays you can listen to your favorite show at any time, anywhere, with a single finger’s tap.
Is it worth your time listening to a podcast?
The most significant aspect of podcasting is the fact that you can listen to your favorite show while you are doing other things. On the other hand, you have to be careful how you use this amazing tool. In fact, although I do not recommend you multitask. There are certain situations in which, listening to a podcast while doing something else may enhance your productivity.
In short, certain activities do not get along with podcasting, while others do. The basic principle is to avoid those activities that use the same part of the brain than listening to a podcast requires.
In other words, it is important to prevent those activities that require deep or full attention (such as reading). Therefore, the more an action comes automatic, the better that is suited for listening podcasts.
Some examples?
walking
washing dishes
commuting
cleaning
at the gym (while on the treadmill)
If you need inspiration on when is a good time to listen to a podcast check out what other podcast lovers say on Quora.
On the other hand, I suggest a balance. Even though, those activities are “mindless” it is important to use them to be practice mindfulness. Therefore, the 50/50 rule applies.
Thus, fully focus on the mindless things you are doing for half the time. Use the other half of your time to listen to your favorite podcasts.
Now that we defined the best way to use this fantastic tool let’s see what the business podcasting world offers to you.
Our Top Five Selection
We are going to recommend five podcast shows that can boost your business acumen. Also, for each show, we are also going to recommend some exciting episodes. By the end of this article, you will have a list of podcasts you can listen thru the whole year.
Freakonomics
Stephen Dubner, the co-author (with economist Steven Levitt) of the most original economics book, Freakonomics, is also the author of the homonym podcast.
The uniqueness of this podcast stands in Dubner’s ability to address a major issue in the most entertaining way possible. Also, in many episodes, Dubner brings the economic theories to test them in the real world.
If you want to develop a real understanding of economics, away from the sterile world of academia, this podcast must be added to your library!
Below some episodes we highly recommend,
How to Be More Productive
How to Make a Bad Decision
How to Become Great at Just About Anything
How to Create Suspense
Should We Behave Like Economists Say We Do?
The Smart Passive Income
In Business Mastery | Five Must-Read Business Books in 2017 Pat Flynn’s book, Will it Fly was recommended as one of the best business books to read in 2017.
In addition to that, Pat Flynn’s podcast, The Smart Passive Income is an endless stream of invaluable resources that can help you boost your business and bring it to the next level!
Below some episodes we highly recommend,
How to Create Your Life Vision Plan
Tips and Tricks for Getting the Most Out of the Conferences You Attend
What I Wish I’d Known Before Starting My Own Business
Money and Legal Considerations for Starting Out
Mentors and Masterminds with Ellory Wells
EOFire
John Lee Dumas, the founder & host of EOFire (Entrepreneur On Fire), is among, the most successful podcasters in the world. Among his most successful enterprises, there is The Freedom Journal, a tool that helps you to set, implement and achieve any goal within 100 days!
With a total gross income of almost $2.5mln for 2016, you can understand the level of success that John Lee Dumas reached in only a few years. As you can imagine, he attributes part of his success to his ability to set, implement, and track his goals.
Dumas’ podcast is the manna for aspiring businesspeople.
Below some episodes we highly recommend,
How to become a niche marketing and sales systemization powerhouse with Matthew Pollard
Leverage your income and impact by turning your knowledge into an online course with Troy Dean
How to innovate and launch ideas that stand out in a crowded marketplace with Tamara Kleinberg
Escaping the nine to five with Amy Mewborn
Social media tactics to go viral worldwide with Rachel Pedersen
The James Altucher Show
When I first started to write, I needed someone that I could use as the source of inspiration. Although reading the classics helped me a lot, there is one person that I believe has an amazing story-telling ability, and that is James Altucher.
Not only I find his writing skills superb; this man also put together a podcast series, where he interviews many incredible people.What sets James Altucher (pronounced as he specifies “James I’ll touch her” but very fast) apart is the ability to talk about his life’s failures like none in the business world.
Saying that his life has been a mess is a euphemism (he made and lost millions several times), yet he tells it outspokenly.
Even though the audio of this podcast is not always optimal, it is very worth listen to it,
Below some episodes we highly recommend,
Scott Adams – How to Use Mass Persuasion Techniques to Become President of The United States
Seth Godin – Change Your Mind, Choose Your World & More Genius Advice
Chip Conley – How To Find Your Calling (what I learned by accident because of AirBnB)
Robert Cialdini – The 7 Techniques To Influence Anyone Of Anything
Jordan Harbinger: The Mindset We All Want
The Tim Ferris Show
In this blog, the name “Tim Ferris” showed up in many articles (from Solopreneurship 101: Finding Your Muse a La Tim Ferris (How to Find Your Business Muse in Three Easy Steps) to MBA or Start-Up? The three variables to take into account).
Therefore, Ferris does not need any presentation. His show is among the most useful in the world for few reasons.
First, Tim Ferris tests everything he does. In other words, when he gives you the advice; you can expect it to be real.
Second, his podcasts span across several disciplines; from business to dieting, there is a broad range of resources that Tim Ferris makes available to his audience.
Third, there are few people in the world with his ability to deconstruct world-class performers’ routines, and habits and make them available to you! It is a podcast you must have in your library!
Below some episodes we highly recommend,
Becoming the Best Version of You Matt Mullenweg:
Characteristics and Practices of Successful Entrepreneurs
Tony Robbins on Morning Routines, Peak Performance, and Mastering Money
The Tim Ferriss Podcast is Live! Here Are Episodes 1 and 2 (Kevin Rose and Joshua Waitzkin)
Tim Ferriss Interviews Arnold Schwarzenegger on Psychological Warfare (And Much More)
