8 Podcasts We Love that Will Blow Up Your Personal Growth

Podcasting has improved many people’s personal growth as the industry has taken a huge leap forward over the past 12 months. This follows a somewhat lackadaisical effort a few years back, but with the barrier to entry simplified and the ease at which a podcast can be created, things have really improved.

Add in the lengthy commute time for many people, more time being spent exercising or in the gym and a general desire to learn and utilise time wisely, it’s no surprise that content is being consumed through the podcasting medium more than ever.

At Wide Open, we take learning, self-improvement and personal growth seriously, and listening to podcasts helps immensely!

Personally, I got back into podcasts when my daily commute was edging 45 minutes. I was getting tired of the boring radio shows that repeated the same song or the hyper-critical news bulletins. Over that time I’ve subscribed and unsubscribed to various podcasts, but there have been some that have been really helpful and I want to share them with you.

Unleash your personal growth with our 8 favourite podcasts

1. REVISIONIST HISTORY – Malcolm Gladwell

This podcast is the newest addition to my library and I love it. Malcolm has written a swag of best selling books and is just really smart. His new podcast came about because he was tired of writing and wanted to freshen things up. With parallels to This American Life, Revisionist History is for people who love storytelling and re-learning fresh insights from the wisdom of history. For more info, click here.

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2. BUILDING A STORY BRAND –  Donald Miller

Hints, tips and tricks from some of the biggest names in marketing. Donald Miller is a best selling author in his own right, but has launched his own storytelling conference, business and consultancy. He interviews some big names and provides specific suggestions to implement into your own marketing immediately. The best bit is when he critiques a website live, offering solutions and suggestions to help convert browsers into customers. Really love this one and the simple advice he offers is worth a listen.

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3. UNMISTAKABLE CREATIVE – Srini Rao

As the title suggests, this podcast is all about one on one interviews with people who are doing creative, personal growth work. People from painters to coaches, authors to actors and everyone in between, Srini debunks the myth that creativity is only for a select group of people. The thing I love most about The Unmistakable Creative is the people he interviews are not household names. This emphasises the truth that anybody can be creative, and the stories are inspiring and amazing. The questions from guest to guest are pretty similar which can get a little repetitive, but it does help the predictability of what’s coming up. This one has been in my library since the start, so it’s a keeper! Check The Unmistakable Creative here.

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4. THE GOD JOURNEY – Wayne Jacobsen & Brad Cummings

Tired of the same old religious discussions? Me too. This podcast has got a bank of over 500 episodes and drops every Friday. Wayne and Brad, co-authors of the best selling book The Shack, discuss Christianity from a perspective most others couldn’t be bothered. There are no topic off limits and it feels like you’re sitting in their lounge room having the conversation with them. There are a few controversial moments, but hey, who doesn’t love a bit of controversy, as that’s where most personal growth happens! I haven’t missed an episode with these guys and it helps pull back the curtain on what life is actually all about. Highly recommend! Take a listen today.

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5. THE TIM FERRISS SHOW – Tim Ferriss

Tim is also the award winning author with his books The 4 Hour Workweek and The 4 Hour Body. His podcast has a simple mission: to deconstruct high achievers and successful people from every corner of the globe and internet. You’ll find lengthy interviews from angel investors, athletes, politicians, millionaires and other fascinating people. He delves into the habits, disciplines and choices these people make which enable them to be the best in their chosen field. My favourite episodes would have to be when Brene Brown drops the f-bomb (episode #100) and the discussion with “The Iceman” on how he climbed passed the Everest death zone wearing only his jocks (episode #102)! True story! The Tim Ferriss show is equal parts crazy and helpful, if you don’t mind a bit  of swearing this is packed full of helpful hints. Click here to listen.

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6. THE SOUNDING BOARD – Craig Hutchinson & Damien Barrett

The Sounding Board take you behind the scenes of sports journalism with a strong focus on AFL. It gives me my dose of footy gossip with stories of how sporting clubs spin stories, tell lies and fake almost everything to put on a facade the public is be happy with. Both Hutchy and Damo are journalist veterans and I enjoy their banter and lighthearted style. The Sounding Board ensures my podcast library isn’t all serious. Love them or hate them, you’ll have an opinion, especially if you love AFL. Check it out.

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7. THE PORTFOLIO LIFE – Jeff Goins

Another podcast that helps you in building a brand and/or business whilst staying sane. I stumbled upon Jeff a while back and have enjoyed his candid approach. The Portfolio Life is about creating a life that is a portfolio, an array of tasks, jobs, careers and work which when compiled together make up the sum of who we are and the work we’re aspiring to do. He’s pivoted in the last few months to have more one on one interviews which I’m enjoying. Jeff is easy to listen to, knowledgeable in his field of work and lives what he preaches. Check it out!

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8. CONVERSATIONS – Richard Fidler

This was the very first podcast I subscribed to and it’s enhanced my personal growth. I don’t listen to everything Conversations produces, mainly because there is a new episode every day of the work week. Conversations is a replay of the show on ABC Radio National, so it’s high quality. Richard Fidler interviews the full spectrum of people doing interesting things. People from beekeepers to TV hosts, international authors and a midwife from Cape York, there is something for everyone. Really fascinating, worth a look.

So there you have it, my 8 favourite podcasts at the moment.

Each of these podcasts scratch a particular itch for me at any given time. My podcast library can be quite fluid as I change, grow and my personal growth needs shift.

If you haven’t caught the podcasting bug, have a listen to any of the people I’ve mentioned. If you do, I can guarantee your personal growth will start to bear fruit.

Have I missed any? What’s your favourite? Make a comment below.

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