The best podcasts for creatives and entrepreneurs
There’s nothing quite like a good podcast to get those creative, inspired juices flowing.
In today’s golden era of audio, podcasts don’t just keep you company while you walk the dog or distract you from hurling obscenities at people on I-35 (though, hopefully, they do that!); they’re tools for inspiration, valuable insight, and creativity. Especially if you’re an entrepreneur or creative business owner (or you aspire to be), listening to the right podcast can help you grow your business, achieve your goals, and feel more creative in your day-to-day life. Here are some of our current faves:
On Being. The popular On Being is all about “pursuing deep thinking and social courage, moral imagination, and joy, to renew inner life, outer life, and life together,” through interviews with artists, creatives, entrepreneurs, and other inspirational figures like Brene Brown, Mary Oliver, Paulo Coelho, and more. No, it’s not explicitly a business podcast, but it’s one of the most mentally invigorating podcasts of our time—basically the equivalent of drinking a strong cup of coffee.
Beyond the To-Do List. For a motivating, informative, yet super-entertaining look into the lives and routines of big-time creatives and entrepreneurs, Beyond the To-Do List is great. All it takes is listening to one episode to come away with tried-and-true tips on time management, productivity, and “getting the right work done”.
Magic Lessons with Elizabeth Gilbert. Magic Lessons, the hit podcast from the infinitely soothing and wise Elizabeth Gilbert, features her interviewing famous creatives and people who’ve overcome their fears and unlocked their inherent creative potential. If this premise sounds a tad corny and overdone, rest assured that it’s anything but. Give it a listen; you’ll be hooked immediately. (And be sure to pick up a copy of Gilbert’s Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear while you’re at it.)
TED Radio Hour. Hosted by Guy Raz, TED Radio Hour essentially re-packages TED Talks into radio format. Each show focuses on a common theme (the source of happiness, inexplicable connections, social change ) and brings these themes to life through conversations and sound bites. It’s inspiring, to say the least.
The Strategy Hour Podcast. From the founders of the ever-popular Think Creative Collective, The Strategy Hour Podcast is a three-times weekly show that stays on top of business best-practices and provides actionable strategies on how to (actually!) build a profitable creative life. If you want to truly get it done, The Strategy Hour Podcast will be your jam.
Being Boss. Billed as a “podcast for creative entrepreneurs, freelancers, and side-hustlers”, Being Boss delves into the nitty-gritty of what it means to run a business on your own terms. Whether you’ve fully established your business, you’re looking to grow your business, or you want to learn how to turn your side hustle into you full-time gig, this is the podcast for you.
The Tim Ferriss Show. Best known for his game-changing book, The 4 Hour Workweek, Tim Ferriss has become a highly influential figure in the entrepreneurial world, for good reason: When it comes to managing time and productivity, the man knows what he’s talking about. If you’re a Ferriss newbie, may we direct you immediately to the now-infamous Michael Pollan episode, which Ferriss called “the most important podcast episode I’ve put out in the last two years.”
