On This Week's Episode...

Podcasts appear to become increasingly more popular, especially through this quarantine time. I never saw myself as a podcast person a few years ago - but now, I can't get enough! I saw them as an extension of Talk Radio - and I canNOT stand it. My granddaddy used to love listening to talk radio, and as a child I wanted nothing more than to listen to the local pop station.

There are so many out there - and can fit any niche in life. You just have to peruse wherever you listen to music and see what's available.

Personally, I use Spotify. I have a premium account and have more music and podcasts saved in my account than the length of my lifespan! 

But in all honesty - podcasts are a GREAT way to learn, develop yourself, and in some cases, escape reality. 

True Crime

As a true crime junky - I am a sucker for any conversation around unsolved murders or serial killers. I have NO shame in that.. my roommate and I are always on the hunt for a good true crime documentary. 

The first true crime podcast I listened to was Dirty John. The L.A. Times and Wondry put it out - and it was INTENSE. It is what they based the Bravo mini series on, as well as the current show on TBS. It definitely made me question online dating for a while, and made me extra paranoid to be out alone - but we've since moved past that. The storytelling on this podcast certainly kept me hooked! 

Another great true crime podcast is My Favorite Murder. What is better than two best friends, talking about serial killers?! They are so funny and truly bring a new level of excitement to the topic of serial killers. I first heard about them on another podcast, that I will discuss further down this list.

I also enjoy the Dateline NBC podcast. As a young adult, I often stayed up late to catch an episode - I should have known then that I would have a soft spot for this stuff. It's essentially just the audio from past episodes - and some of those stories are chilling. It's definitely a slippery slope, because for someone like myself with an active imagination - it's hard to shut my brain off and just listen to the stories without visualizing them. But definitely a great time killer! 

I know this is a very controversial topic right now, especially with the documentary being released on Netflix last week. Epstein: Devil in the Darkness shed some very illuminating light on his life (and how absolutely disgusting he was). But it also brought to light some things that may or may not prove if his death was actually a hired hit. It was super disturbing to listen to, so be forewarned that it does get really intense! 

The next chunk of true crime podcasts that I spent some time with were part of a series (I think!). The first one I listened to was Fatal Voyage: The Mysterious Death of Natalie Wood. I didn't know much about her or what happened to her, just that she died and the case has never been solved. It took a deep dive into her personal life as well as the company she kept in Hollywood. 

The next part of the series, and probably one of the most intriguing podcasts I have ever listened to, was Fatal Voyage Presents Diana: Case Solved. I remember standing in my aunt and uncle's living room watching the news footage of her car mangled, and her death announcement. As I got older, I started to hear about conspiracy theories and this podcast brought a lot of them to light. It has certainly changed my view of how things transpired. 

The final part of the series (so far) that I have listened to is Fatal Voyage: The Death of JFK Jr. As a life long fan of the Kennedy family, this podcast certainly opened my eyes to what life was like after JFK was assassinated, and how Jackie made sure she was a huge part of JFK Jr.'s life. The information I learned while listening to this series made me question some of my feelings about the family, but not for very long! 

Personal Development

This has been a topic of discussion quite often lately on here. When I started this blog, I saw it as an outlet to let my creativity flow, and in the process have learned a lot about myself. I am a part of a community that promotes personal growth, and I have finally taken the leap to devote time daily to it. 

First and foremost - there are SO many podcasts out there for personal development. These are just the ones I happen to listen to regularly. 

In this corner.. we have the Rise Podcast with Rachel Hollis. Rachel has been a beacon for me when it comes to personal development. Our lives could not be more different, but her advice and example in this world has been such a blessing. I loved her book Girl, Wash Your Face. I am currently a part of her #Next90Challenge through The Hollis Company (freeeeee!), and have Girl, Stop Apologizing cued up next on my iPad. Her insight to things is incredible, but the truth she delivers is sometimes stuff we don't want to hear.. and she does a great job of delivering it in a way that sticks! 

In the other corner we have the Often Ambitious podcast. I started listening to this podcast because of the name - how unique! Little did I know, that the network marketing company I joined last February would be my opportunity to meet these two dynamite ladies! They are top earners in the company - but do not shy away from the honest truth when it comes to healing yourself and growing. 

Another NWM podcast coming your way - Your Virtual Upline with Bob Heilig is a TOTAL game changer! He speaks to navigating owning your own business, but also drops personal development nuggets. He has so many episodes - I haven't even begin to hit half of them yet - but they are so worth the listen! 

I am stoked about this one on so many levels! The Ed Mylett Show is an incredible personal development podcast. I have had the privilege of hearing Ed speak at the Rise Live conference last month (put on by Rachel Hollis and the Hollis Co!), and definitely felt an emotional shift. I am attending a virtual conference in September with my NWM company, and Ed Mylett is one of the speakers! I am so excited. 

One of the newest additions to my podcast rotation is the Boldly Courageous podcast. This is another uniquely named podcast with some SERIOUS life lessons. I met Melissa at an even for my former NWM company a few years ago, and since then have followed her journey very closely. I've taken part in some of her trainings, and let me tell you.. she is a POWERHOUSE. This podcast has given me the permission I have been needing to give myself to live life unapologetically and be who I am! 

Entertainment

I am a HUGE fan of stand up comedy, but also a good tv show. I got into stand up comedy early in life and enjoy the belly-laugh-to-the-point-you-cant-breathe feeling. I have a twisted sense of humor, so the deep dark world of stand up is sometimes my podcast of choice. 

For starters, we have the Congratulations podcast with Chris D'Elia. He is one of my all time favorite stand up comedians, and hearing his view on current affairs can usually make me double over in laughter. Chris does a great job promoting other comics, while taking jabs and making jokes. 

Another great one is WTF with Marc Maron. If you know Marc Maron and his style, you know this is an epic listen. He is not everyone's cup of tea, but MAN is he funny! I particularly enjoyed his role on the Netflix show GLOW. 

Rounding out the comedy section is a miraculous blend of hilarity and my passion - history. The Dollop Podcast with Dave Anthony and Gareth Reynolds is by far one of my favorite podcasts EVER. Two stand up comedians talking about historical events we may not have read about in the history books ... and if we did, a deeper look into what actually went on. Dave Anthony always knows what the topic will be before recording the episode, while Gareth has absolutely no idea.. so his reactions are genuine and HILARIOUS. 

I did enjoy, when I was watching the Handmaid's Tale, listening to Mayday: The Handmaid's Tale Podcast. It really helped me sort out what happened in the episode I watched, and helped me shift my understanding. The Handmaid's Tale is such a heavy show, so it helped to decompress. 

I challenge you to step out of your comfort zone and try looking for podcasts that fit your passions. You would be surprised to see how much you add to your life! Whether it's a good laugh every day, some personal development, or some insight to your favorite TV show!