For me, podcasts are like talking to people I want to learn from indirectly. Some podcasts are in the format of an interview, which is more like having a meeting to enjoy a conversation with brilliant minds, and some are stories to engage in and learn from. For example, while listening to a talk on Re:thinking with Adam Grant and Andrea Jones-Rooy, where they were discussing a TV ad, I found out that I can utilize a similar idea in my own company to promote our courses.
I usually listen to podcasts when I am out for a walk or working out at the gym, so the next time you see a person zoned out in the gym or talking to himself while doing the sets, don’t judge them. They might be listening to a serious podcast!
Here I will name a few podcasts that I have enjoyed listening to for the past couple of years and mention my favorite episode. Just keep in mind that I haven’t listened to every episode of these podcasts since not every topic they discuss falls into my interests.
Business Wars
Listening to this podcast is like watching a movie in your mind with the brilliant narration from David Brown. Lots of sound effects and a designed storyline make it the most fun way to learn about business strategies. If you are tired of learning materials for marketing, branding, and competitor analysis, this podcast can be a good starting point to enjoy learning. My favorite part is season 7, episodes 49 to 55, which discuss the competition between two major soda companies, Coke vs, Pepsi.
Freakonomics
This show is named after Dunbar’s book on economics and his unique thoughts on everyday matters. If you are interested in economics but do not have a background in the field, you will enjoy listening to this show and learning more about the “hidden side of everything” from an economist’s viewpoint. I recommend listening to the episode named nap time for everyone!
Adam Grant: Work/Life and Re:thinking
Adam is my favorite writer. I read his books, follow him on social media and listen to his podcasts. It is more than evident that I am a big fan of his work. I love how he uses science to answer questions that really matter. With no more explanation here are my favorite episodes from work/life and also his new show Re:thinking. bouncing back from rejection and why data don’t have all the answers.
Hidden Brain
The name is self-explanatory. If you are into psychology and human behavior, you’ll enjoy listening to this show and learning from prominent guests on each episode. My favorite episode which I have listened to several times is You 2.0: Pursuit of Happiness
Idea Cast
If you enjoy reading Harvard Business Review articles, you will also enjoy listening to the writers talking about their ideas in a more informal setting. The topics are pretty diverse from marketing to strategy and from psychology to economics. The quality of the content on each episode is highly dependent on who are the guests, so if you want to listen to one of them, make sure to check the guest’s name in the description. Since I am fond of AI and Machine Learning, I enjoyed listening to the episode named To Improve AI Outcomes, Think About the Entire System
Helli Talk
Helli is a brilliant Iranian podcaster, who talks about personal development. Not only do I enjoy listening to her podcasts, but also I love the content she shares on her Instagram account. I had the chance to work with her when Bookapo, my first startup, sponsored some episodes of her podcast. Her professionalism proved that she knew what she was talking about. I would definitely recommend her podcast, and if you want to start listening I would suggest starting from the very beginning and not missing a single episode.
Tabaghe16
Soheil, the host of this podcast is heavily influenced by Joe Rogan (The most famous podcaster in the world) but has the advantage of only talking about topics related to startups so not only can you enjoy listening to a talk but also learn from experienced entrepreneurs. Most episodes are more than one or two hours, so they make sure to go into detail about each success and failure story. My favorite episode, by far, is the one in which Martin Basiri was sharing Apply Abroad’s story. Another advantage of this show is that a video version is also available on youtube for those who find it hard to follow long conversations only via listening. (For sure, I’m one of them)
Raadio Rah
I find similar-minded people by asking them about their favorite books. Mojtaba Shakoori, the brilliant mind behind Raadio Rah, could have been a very close friend of mine if I had the chance to know him in person as I love every single one of the books he talks about on his podcast. I know him from a TV show (Ketabbaz) where he used to talk about a book each week. His podcast summarizes the main points of books from his viewpoint. The only thing I do not like about his work is that he tries to make a fusion of science and spirituality which I believe should remain separated. Episode Number 7 from season one is my favorite episode where he talks about toxic perfectionism.
