Podcasts I Love: Part One

I love podcasts. The best podcasts and podcast hosts combine brilliant storytelling with new perspectives or research.

Regular readers of my blog will notice that I often reference podcasts. Indeed, much of my writing is initially inspired by a podcast on a seemingly unrelated topic to the focus of my consulting practice of school and non-profit leadership, brand, and viability. And yet, the tangential issue sparks a connection and opens a new way to look at my industry's challenges.

I listen to a lot of podcasts on many topics. I’ve put my extremely culled down list of favorites into categories. It seemed easier that way. Below are favorites in two categories: Art and Design, and Business Ideas. In Podcasts I Love: Part Two, you will find two more categories: Education and Non-Profit Challenges, and Fascinating Things.  

I hope you enjoy and that you will share your list of favorites with me!

Art and Design

When I want to be inspired by design, art, architecture, and the built world, I listen to:

99% Invisible. The thoughtful storytelling about how we interact with architecture and design is fantastic. As a bonus, Roman Mars's voice is magical. I also really appreciate Avery Trufelman’s series within this podcast titled, Articles of Interest. The way she describes perfume scents in this episode is a piece of extraordinary writing.

Nice Try. The host, Avery Trufelman, was a producer on 99% Invisible and now has her own show. Season 2 is all about failed American utopian societies. We can make all sorts of parallels from that!

Portraits. The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery director, Kim Sajet, interviews a variety of curators, authors, and researchers. She considers specific pictures within the Gallery's collection.

Museum Confidential. I am an avid museum-goer and make time to visit a museum in almost every city to which I travel. I have taken trips with my daughter exclusively to visit specific museum collections. This podcast, hosted by Jeff Martin of the Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at museums and museum collections of all sizes and types.

The Week in Art. I have loved visual arts for my entire life and this podcast explores the top stories from The Art Newspaper.

Sidedoor. There are millions of objects in the Smithsonian Institution's collections. In this podcast, host Lizzy Peabody tells us more about particular objects and the stories behind them. Since the collection is so vast, the topics are broader than expected. I loved this episode about Ponzi and his scheme, which was initially investigated as mail fraud.

Business Ideas

When I want business insights, I listen to:

HBR Ideacast. This podcast showcases leading ideas and concepts in business today. I enjoy thinking about how different industries are remarkably similar in many ways.

Freakonomics. Stephen J. Dubner. I’m not sure that I need to say more about this show.

At the Table. Hosted by Patrick Lencioni and his team they dive into real issues and wins businesses have. I like his no nonsense approach and his request to consider patterns and ruts. Are they working?

Hello Monday. Hosted by LinkedIn's Jessi Hempel, she talks with LinkedIn's influencers and dominant voices to find out how they got started and where they focus their energy and thought.

Knowledge@Wharton. The vast amount of content coming out of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania is mind-boggling and worth considering, if only for the university's marketing and profile-raising initiative. Once you get beyond that, the content itself helps one see how many industries are approaching their challenges. Guests are often authors of recently released business books.

Work Life with Adam Grant and Rethinking with Adam Grant. Adam Grant is a researcher who has dedicated his professional life to “making work not suck.” A noble cause, indeed.

Note that I did not share any news podcasts. News is everywhere, easy to find, and oddly divisive, so I’ve avoided that here. However, I do hope that you find inspiration, information, insight, and answers to things you wonder about within this list filled with nuggets of thought and awareness expansion.

For more podcast suggestions, read Podcasts I Love: Part Two.

The author, Jill Goodman, is a consultant working with independent school leaders to advance their school’s mission, enhance their processes, and bolster their skills.

Note: This article was updated in 2024