Favorite Podcasts

I listen to podcasts all the time. Whenever I am not doing anything that requires my mental attention. If I am driving, cooking, cleaning, doing physical work, working out, etc. I am consuming more content. I love that you can listen to podcasts at 1.5 times speed so you can jam in more content. I am on my 5th set of wireless headphones. Normally I get my content from Itunes but Audible also offers a variety of channels.

My choice of topics changes over time. At any one time I normally have a few topics I am interested in, I consume as much information on that topic as possible then get bored and move to another. I started with Real Estate, Investing, Marketing, Management and Entrepreneurial topics. Currently I am into Data Science, Outer Space, Philosophy, Indepth News Stories & Interviews, Technology and Science.

The Tim Ferriss Showtim

By Tim Ferriss: Best Selling Author, Human Guinea Pig

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-tim-ferriss-show/id863897795?mt=2

Tim Ferriss author, best known for The 4-Hour Workweek (I am not a fan of his book), puts out the podcast by interviewing a variety of different people from all walks of life.  In the show, he deconstructs world-class performers from eclectic areas (investing, chess, pro sports, etc.), digging deep to find the tools, tactics, and tricks that listeners can use.  The show are really in depth running for 2-3 hours.  On more than one occasion Tim has stated he does the show for his own knowledge, but the benefits he he gains he provides to his audience.

There are some specific episodes that I have pulled a lot of information and entertainment from.

  • Naval Ravikant Interview

    – Probably one of my favorite podcasts of all time. Naval is the founder of AnglList that offers funding for startups.  Naval discussed meditation and mindfulness.  He also listed many of his favorite books.  He also stated how he does not finish every book but instead starts and stops and various places.

  • Chris Sacca Interview

  • Derek Sivers Interviews

  • Mike Rowe Interview – Mike does the TV show Dirty Jobs – he has a lot of great life stories that are entertaining.

  • Tony Robbins Interviews

Fareed Zakaria GPS By CNNfareed

Fareed Zakaria GPS takes a comprehensive look at foreign affairs and global policies through in-depth, one-on-one interviews and fascinating roundtable discussions.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fareed-zakaria-gps/id377785090?mt=2

 

Linear Digressionslinear-digressions

By Ben Jaffe and Katie Malone

In each episode of Linear Digressions, Ben and katie explore Machine Learning and Data Science topics in a way that’s much more accessible than academic papers.  They work comedy into the opening and use real world examples. Katie worked at the Haydron Particle Collider and I believe they met while working at Udacity.   Ben is programmer by trade and Katie is the more knowledgeable of the two. She breaks down the topics and explains them to Ben in ways to make it easier to understand.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/linear-digressions/id941219323?mt=2

 

TED Radio Hour By NPR ted

The TED Radio Hour is a journey through fascinating ideas: astonishing inventions, fresh approaches to old problems, new ways to think and create. Based on Talks given by riveting speakers on the world-renowned TED stage, each show is centered on a common theme – such as the source of happiness, crowd-sourcing innovation, power shifts, or inexplicable connections. The TED Radio Hour is hosted by Guy Raz, and is a co-production of NPR & TED.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ted-radio-hour/id523121474?mt=2

 

Fresh Air By NPRfresh-air

Hosted by Terry Gross

The show features intimate conversations with today’s biggest luminaries. I have been listening to Fresh Air for about 25 years. I really like more in depth interviews.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/fresh-air/id214089682?mt=2

 

StarTalk Radiostar-talk

Hosted by Neil deGrasse Tyson

Science meets comedy and pop culture on StarTalk Radio! Astrophysicist and Hayden Planetarium director Neil deGrasse Tyson, his comic co-hosts, guest celebrities and scientists discuss astronomy, physics, and everything else about life in the universe.  The show is both funny and very educational.  He has had some great guests include Bill Nye, Peter Diamandis, Elon Musk, Ray Kurzweil, God and more.  When Dr Tyson remade Cosmos that was awesome also.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/startalk-radio/id325404506?mt=2

Dan Carlin’s Hardcore Historyhardcore

By Dan Carlin

In “Hardcore History” journalist and broadcaster Dan Carlin takes his “Martian”, unorthodox way of thinking and applies it to the past. Was Alexander the Great as bad a person as Adolf Hitler? What would Apaches with modern weapons be like? Will our modern civilization ever fall like civilizations from past eras? This isn’t academic history (and Carlin isn’t a historian) but the podcast’s unique blend of high drama, masterful narration and Twilight Zone-style twists.

This dude deserves to get paid. He puts a lot of time into his work. His World War 1 podcasts called “Blueprint for Armageddon” was 6 shows and about 25 hours of great information. Maybe I should have paid more attention in school?

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/dan-carlins-hardcore-history/id173001861?mt=2

 

Tropical MBA – Location Independent Entrepreneurshipdan-ian

By Dan Andrews and Iam Schoen

Dan Andrews and Ian Schoen share the stories of entrepreneurs who are building businesses and are in it for more than bottom line profits. TMBA gets published every Thursday morning.
I have been listening to their for about 3 years. They talk about have an location independant business, in their case it was in Asia or Europe. They sold their primary business but continue to look for their next business and put out great content.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/tropical-mba-location-independent/id325757845?mt=2

A few of their best shows are:

  • Rip, Pivot, Jam –

    • It is have been over a year since I listened to this and at least once a week I says these words to myself.  Rip – You take an idea you say somewhere, it can be someone else’s.  Pivot – You tweak it, new vertical, make it better, new market, something different.  Jam – You go at it hardcore.  With this mindset you should never get down that “all the good ideas are taken”.

  • 1,000 True Fans, 100 True Customers, or 10 True Clients –

    • In this case your start with 10 true clients, you find something they need and are willing to pay a good sum for. Next you develop and product or service you can replicate and roll out to 100 true customers, then you spin that out to a broader group and maybe at a lower price point to 1000 true fans.  The key is you are using the 10 higher paying clients to hone what people will pay for and what you can easily replicate.

  • If It Makes You Money, You Shouldn’t Be Doing It (The SOP Episode)

    • It took me a little while to get what they mean’t by “If It Makes You Money, You Shouldn’t Be Doing It”.  As a business owner it is your job to figure out how to make it work, and develop an efficient money making process, not the employees job. When you have the task, process or job down to where an employee can complete the task for less then cost, you should step out of the way, and work on your business, not in your business.
    • SOP – I swear by the SOP – Standard Operating Procedure Manual. Everyone in my office hears me say – look in the SOP, when they ask me a question.

 

Philosophize This!philosophize-this

By Stephen West

Just one guy and a passion for philosophy.  He breaks down the ideas and offers real work examples.  For anyone interested in an educational podcast about philosophy where you don’t need to be a graduate-level philosopher to understand it.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/philosophize-this!/id659155419?mt=2

 

 

Planet Moneyplanet

By NPR

The economy, explained, with stories and surprises. Imagine you could call up a friend and say, “Meet me at the bar and tell me what’s going on with the economy.” Now imagine that’s actually a fun evening.  Every week is a new topic.  This has been a great way to have 20 minutes of info on topics I probably would not know anything about.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/planet-money/id290783428?mt=2

 

Radiolabcover170x170 (1)

By WNYC Studios

Radiolab is an investigation told through sounds and stories, and centered around one big idea. In the Radiolab world, information sounds like music and science and culture collide. Hosted by Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich, the show is designed for listeners who demand skepticism, but appreciate wonder.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/radiolab/id152249110?mt=2

 

 

Exponential Wisdompeter

By Peter Diamandis & Dan Sullivan

Peter Diamandis and Dan Sullivan discuss how exponential technologies are creating massive opportunities for entrepreneurs all over the world and the impact of hyperconnectivity on global innovation.  Peter Diamandis started the X-Prize, wrote two on my favorite books, works with Craig Ventor at Human Longevity Inc, is an investor in Planetary Resources who have the goal of mining asteroids.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/exponential-wisdom/id1001794471?mt=2