Podcast Paradise By Anna Doren

I've recently been listening to a lot of podcasts.  In the past, I sporadically listened to ones and loved the "true crime" genre — if you haven't listened already, I highly recommend checking out "Serial" and "Stranglers."

The storytelling is excellent and perfect for long car rides when you need to keep yourself entertained but focused.

Lately I've especially loved some podcasts that I find inspirational/informative.  Here are my three favorites:

"At Home With"

Lily Pabbles and Anna Newton visit homes of inspirational women who conquer the world in their own way and share insights into how they've created homes that fit their lives.

They skillfully interview a different woman each episode about their careers and homes, narrating their surroundings as they move from room to room.

I love home decor and it's so fascinating to get a peek into the private lives of women who have accomplished so much.

It feels like you're sitting in on a conversation with your older, more experienced friends.

They discuss everything from the provenance of various furniture pieces to challenges that their guest has faced in their careers.  

As a recent college grad in the process of finding my own path, it's comforting to hear how these successful women had difficulties, took risks, and experienced failure that lead them to their dream job.

Recommended: Eepisode 3- Terry de Gunzburg, Founder, By Terry 
Found on podcast and acast app (the later has images of the homes)

"Tell Me Something I Don't Know"

This podcast runs like a game show, in a lighthearted, goofy, informative way. I always learn something new and it's great for long drives because you always have a new fun fact to share when your reach your destination.  

Each episode has a different topic and is recorded in a different location.  

Topics include anything and everything. For me, it has the same appeal of the show "Drunk History."

I love hearing experts share their knowledge of an area they’re passionate about in a format that’s more fun than a dissertation.

Episodes feature a panel of various celebrities that chat with the host, Stephen J.Dubner (of “Freakonomics” radio), and three different experts.  

The purpose is for each expert to share something they don't think the panel or audience knows yet. The facts are discussed and their importance and obscureness is debated. It's fun, something that teaches you something new and surprises you every time.  

"TMSIDK" reminds me of that cool teacher, you hopefully had a some point, who gets off topic but gets the whole class to participate and learn something new about the world.

Recommended: Really any of them — I enjoyed "Cities" and "Urinetown"

"Modern Love"

I've had this downloaded in my phone for ages. I saw it recommended online and it felt like a well rounded thing to have a podcast based on a column from the New York Times in my library.

But I was hesitant of the topic, love.

Maybe because I was in a less than great relationship at the time and didn't want to realize how bad it was, maybe because I'm cautious of getting caught up in girly fairytales that get me sidetracked from my goals.  

But when I started listening I couldn't stop.

Different actors read articles from the NYT of their choosing and share fascinating stories.  

The love discussed isn't all romantic, as I’d first assumed.

There are stories of people learning to love themselves and accept their pasts, of a parent's love, siblings’, and the various forms love takes in people's lives.

The stories are brilliantly told and take you on a journey to understand them.

Afterwards, the author discusses their story and shares details on what has happened since they wrote their story and the actor shares why they chose to read that story.

Recommended: "I Need to Woman Up," “Manic Pixie Dream Girl,”  and "I Will Be Your Mother Figure" — the later made me cry and I would not recommend listening to it while driving.

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