Work and life hacks are just a click away thanks to these podcasts from both big-name gurus and lesser-known pundits.
We know how it is. You’re in a competitive business and it’s imperative to keep your work game in top form. What are the new productivity hacks that allow you to squeeze more out of every day? How do you become a Zen master of focus? What are the best practices to engage with clients, customers, co-workers — not to mention your inner circle of family and friends? Those are just a few of the many questions raised and resolved in the ever-expanding world of productivity podcasts, where experts from all walks of life bring their unique perspectives to confronting and conquering the challenges of work and beyond. We culled through some of our favorites — from big name gurus to lesser-known pundits — to give you some great options to explore. Tune in and tune up your skills to make the year ahead so successful you just may need to start your own podcast.
Right now, terms like “find your red thread,” “bold vs. brave work,” and “leading from the middle” probably would just leave you scratching your head. But tune into this weekly podcast by author and team leadership ninja Todd Henry and you’ll not only understand what these terms mean, you’ll be applying them to your own work and life. Henry also invites guests such as Ramit Sethi, Dorie Clark and John Jantsch to provide their unique insights, which are often tailored for those in the creative fields. For a deeper dive, Henry is also the author of five books, including Herding Tigers and Die Empty, with some of his titles also now available as courses designed to up-skill team leadership and personal growth.
You probably know him best as the game-changer whose 2007 book, The 4-Hour Workweek, shifted the way millions approach the traditional work week. Ferriss has gone on to create a hugely successful podcast series, The Tim Ferriss Show, which continues to hover at or near the #1 spot of all Apple podcasts and is at 700 million downloads and counting. He’s been called the “Oprah of Audio” for his ability to ask unexpected and thoughtful questions of a rock-star lineup of athletes, entrepreneurs, actors and others (including actual rock stars) about their productivity habits, morning routines, favorite books, tactics and tools for a successful life and career.
Besides her podcast with more than 100 million downloads, Gretchen Rubin has a blog, offers a slew of courses, manages her well-known Happiness Project and related app, and is a prolific author with 10 titles to her credit. When does this woman sleep? Well, her New York Times bestseller, Outer Order/Inner Calm about decluttering work and life, might give you a hint about her superpowers that allow her to accomplish so many tasks. On her podcast, Rubin discusses everything from subjects that fall under her “A Little Happier” life hacks (like what it truly means to rise to the occasion) to interviews with experts on how to take the first steps in dealing with burnout.
Maybe you’re contemplating a move to change lanes onto another career path or are already blazing a new trail with your startup. Then now would be the perfect time to check in with Side Hustle Pro, which bills itself as “The first and only podcast to spotlight bold, Black women entrepreneurs who have scaled from side hustle to profitable business.” Founded by Nicaila Matthews Okome, who made a highly successful leap from a full-time digital marketing gig at NPR to running her own podcast and media enterprise, Side Hustle Pro offers informative episodes for everyone from newbies to battle-tested pros. Browse titles like “How to overcome doubt and move forward with your side hustle,” as well as interviews with successful Black entrepreneurs including KJ Miller of Mented Cosmetics and influencer Dayna Bolden.
You’ve undoubtedly heard the saying “time is money,” and it’s a safe bet few people think more about time management — and other forms of productivity — than Mike Vardy. Podcaster, blogger and productivity coach, Vardy defines the mission of Productivityist as “a company built with the quest to help you define your day, filter your focus, and make every moment matter.” He does that by hosting weekly interviews with renowned experts from a variety of fields such as New York Times bestselling author and “#1 Executive Coach” Marshall Goldsmith; Becca Ribbing, author of The Clarity Journal; and athlete and actor Adrienne Smith, talking about “giving it all you’ve got.”
