The Power of Podcasts

Commutes suck. We all have them, whether it’s simply crossing the street or driving a few hours to a neighboring town. That time is often viewed as a waste.

But what if it wasn’t?

That’s where the power of podcasts comes in.

My average commute lasts 40 minutes, which means over the last two years since I’ve started my career, I’ve put in a little over 300 hours in the car or on the train. And during that time I’ve listened to about 600 hours worth of podcasts (2x speed is humanity’s greatest invention since the podcast).

My podcast list hits on a wide range of my interests, such as social commentaries, career best practices, audio dramas, and spirituality.

So over two years of commuting I’ve put in 600 hours of learning. Learning to be an informed citizen. Learning to be a productive employee. Learning to be the best self I can be. Learning to laugh and to love.

Imagine if I had spent those 600 hours listening to the newest pop music, or jamming along to old favorites. I’d currently have a ton of lyrics inside my head. And sure, maybe I’d be a slightly better singer (yeah, I’m one of those people), but I’d know a hell of a lot less about myself and the world in general.

So if you haven’t tried podcasts, I’d urge you to give them a shot. The amount of information you can stuff into your head during what would otherwise be a mundane and wasted commute is incredible.

Here’s a short list to start you off. I guarantee you’ll find at least one of these to be interesting, and if not, there’s bound to be a solid podcast for whatever sort of interest you might have.

• 99% Invisible
• The Money Show
• DecodeDC
• Alice Isn’t Dead
• Lore
• Love Your Work with David Kadavy
• Planet Money
• Freakonomics Radio

If you don’t have an app, I’d highly recommend Stitcher. If you’re on an iPhone, I’ve heard great things about Apple’s default app.

Regardless of the platform, go download a few podcasts and start turning your daily commute into an every-day learning session!