How Podcasts Changed My Life

I discovered podcasts, I kid you not, about a month ago.  I knew they existed, but I just didn’t understand why people listened to them.  I pictured all podcasts being like NPR (which is fine, but I just figured it was all so serious).  I didn’t even know where to find them!

If you’re like me and you’re thinking “what’s the deal with podcasts…?”  Keep reading.  This one’s for you.

Let’s start with where to find them:

I found my first podcast on Spotify (aka the best $15 I spend every month).  I was getting ready to do some cleaning and realized there was a podcast option on there and I decided to give it a click. In case you’re unaware, this is how you find your podcasts on Spotify 

If you have an iPhone or iPad, you can also access them by going into one of those built in apps called “Podcasts”  and you can access podcasts for free. I literally didn’t even know they were free!

You can also find podcasts on some of your favorite websites if they happen to have a podcast.

When I discovered podcasts, I did what any millennial does:  I asked my Facebook friends for suggestions.  They all gave me tons of great ones to listen to.  I listened to at least one or two episodes of everyone’s suggestions.  Some I liked a lot more than others and I totally binged on those…

I’m sure you’re thinking, “okay, Katie, that’s cool, but like…how did that discovery change your life?”  To show you how, I’m going to share some of my favorite podcasts and how they have had a positive impact on my life.

++ 99% Invisible

This was my first podcast.  If you haven’t listened, I highly recommend you go download an episode now.  Listening to Roman Mars speak is one of my favorite parts of each week. But how did 99PI change my life?  It’s all about the thought that goes into the things we never think about.  It really makes me appreciate the little things.  It brings up forgotten parts of our society and the small things that make up all the bigs things in our life.  When I look around I see the things that are 99% invisible and I like that.

++ Stuff Mom Never Told You 

If you’re a woman and you haven’t listened to this podcast, stop what you’re doing and go listen.  I have never considered myself a feminist, but Emilie and Bridget make me really think about why we need feminism.  They help me to recognize some of the completely absurd things that occur around me.  Because of this podcast, I pay attention to the world trying to disadvantage me because I’m a woman and I don’t let it happen to me. It’s not all about feminism, but it’s definitely all about being aware of who we are in today’s society.

++The Influencer Podcast

If you’re a blogger, a brand, or just a person who wants to be better at interacting with people in the online world, you need to listen to this podcast.  Julie Solomon has changed me!  They way I think about influencing others is forever altered because of what she and some of the guests on her show have shared. She is truly what inspired me to get back into blogging and share my heart.  She preaches authenticity and that is definitely what I’m going for.

So if you haven’t ventured into the world of podcasts, I recommend that you give it a shot.  You might just change your life.