In the last few years, the Podcast industry has boomed.

From San Diego to Shanghai, we saw the rise of hundreds of podcasters.

What makes the podcast industry so amazing? Let’s dive into it!

What is a podcast? 

Simply put, a podcast is the on-demand version of the radio. In short, during the 80s, you had to rush to listen to your favorite DJ speaking through the radio; nowadays, you can listen to your favorite show anytime, anywhere, with a single finger tap.

Is it worth your time to listen to a podcast? 

The most significant aspect of podcasting is that you can listen to your favorite show while doing other things.

On the other hand, you have to be careful about how you use this fantastic tool.

Although I do not recommend you multitask.

In certain situations, listening to a podcast while doing something else may enhance your productivity.

In short, specific activities do not get along with podcasting, while others do. The fundamental principle is to avoid those activities that use the same part of the brain as listening to a podcast requires.

In other words, preventing those activities requiring deep or full attention (such as reading) is essential.

Therefore, the more action comes automatically, the better that is suited for listening to podcasts.

Some examples?

• walking
• washing dishes
• commuting
• cleaning
• at the gym (while on the treadmill)

On the other hand, I suggest a balance. Even though those activities are “mindless,” it is essential to use them to practice mindfulness. Therefore, the 50/50 rule applies.

Thus, entirely focus on the mindless things you are doing half the time. Use the other half of your time to listen to your favorite podcasts.

Now that we defined the best way to use this fantastic tool, let’s see what the Business podcasting world offers to you.

Our Top Selection

We will recommend a few podcasts that can enhance your business acumen. Also, for each show, we will suggest some good Episodes. By the end of this article, you will have a list of podcasts you can listen thru for the whole year.

Digital Business Models Podcast

I’ve covered business modeling and business models from any perspective on this blog. I thought the time was right to launch a Digital Business Models Podcast. The aim is to give you the best resources for digital business modeling in an audio format you can consume anytime.

a16z Podcast

As reported on the official site, “The a16z Podcast discusses tech and culture trends, news, and the future — especially as ‘software eats the world. It features industry experts, business leaders, and other interesting thinkers and voices worldwide. Multiple episodes are released every week.”

This podcast is a must-have in your audio list, especially if you are a founder or you run a startup!

Some great episodes:

• How the Internet Happened
• Talent, Tech Trends, and Culture

Akimbo A Podcast by Seth Godin

Seth Godin doesn’t need introductions. He launched a podcast called Akimbo. As Seth Godin explains, “Akimbo is an ancient word, from the bend in the river or the bend in an archer’s bow. It’s become a symbol for strength, a posture of possibility, the idea that when we stand tall, arms bent, looking right at it, we can make a difference.”

This is The Podcast if you’re trying to make a difference with your product as it helps decode how cultures are created! We suggest going through all of the episodes!

Masters of Scale

Hosted by Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn, former PayPal Mafia and author of Blitzscaling (I also put together the Blitzscaling business model innovation canvas), Masters of Scale is a resource you can’t miss.

Plenty of useful interviews with entrepreneurs who are masters of scaling businesses; this podcast is incredible!

Below are some of the episodes we liked the most:

The Startup Chat

Hosted by two serial entrepreneurs, this is another podcast that can help you during both hard times and times when you need to find a solution for your business. Here are a few episodes we liked the most:

• Tips to Generate Customer Insights
• How to Stay Mentally Healthy in a Startup
• How to Create Vision & Mission Statements
• Growing from $1MM to $10MM
• Consistency In Execution

Freakonomics

Stephen Dubner, the co-author (with economist Steven Levitt) of the most original economics book, Freakonomics, is also the author of the homonym podcast.

The uniqueness of this podcast stands in Dubner’s ability to address a major issue in the most entertaining way possible. Also, in many episodes, Dubner brings economic theories to test them in the real world.

If you want to develop a real understanding of economics, away from the sterile world of academia, this podcast must be added to your library!

Below are some episodes we highly recommend,

• How to Be More Productive
• How to Make a Bad Decision
• How to Become Great at Just About Anything
• How to Create Suspense
• Should We Behave Like Economists Say We Do?

The Smart Passive Income

In Business Mastery | Five Must-Read Business Books in 2017, Pat Flynn’s book, Will it Fly, was recommended as one of the best business books to read in 2017.

In addition, Pat Flynn’s podcast, The Smart Passive Income, is an endless stream of invaluable resources that can help boost your business and bring it to the next level!

Below are some episodes we highly recommend,

• How to Create Your Life Vision Plan
• Tips and Tricks for Getting the Most Out of the Conferences You Attend
• What I Wish I’d Known Before Starting My Own Business
• Money and Legal Considerations for Starting Out
• Mentors and Masterminds with Ellory Wells

EOFire

John Lee Dumas, the founder & host of EOFire (Entrepreneur On Fire), is among the most successful podcasters in the world.

Among his most successful enterprises is The Freedom Journal, a tool that helps you set, implement and achieve any goal within 100 days!

With a gross income of almost $2.5mln in 2016,  you can understand the level of success that John Lee Dumas reached in only a few years.

As you can imagine, he attributes part of his success to his ability to set, implement, and track his goals.

Dumas’ podcast is the manna for aspiring businesspeople.

Below are some episodes we highly recommend,

• How to become a niche marketing and sales systemization powerhouse with Matthew Pollard
• Leverage your income and impact by turning your knowledge into an online course with Troy Dean
• How to innovate and launch ideas that stand out in a crowded marketplace with Tamara Kleinberg
• Escaping the nine-to-five with Amy Mewborn
• Social media tactics to go viral worldwide with Rachel Pedersen

The James Altucher Show

When I first started to write, I needed someone that I could use as a source of inspiration. Although reading the classics helped me a lot, there is one person that I believe has an amazing story-telling ability, and that is James Altucher.

Not only do I find his writing skills superb, but this man also put together a podcast series where he interviews many incredible people.

What sets James Altucher (pronounced as he specifies, “James, I’ll touch her,” but very fast) apart is the ability to talk about his life’s failures like none in the business world.

Saying that his life has been a mess is a euphemism (he made and lost millions several times), yet he tells it outspokenly, and he is now more successful than ever!

Below are some episodes we highly recommend,

• Scott Adams – How to Use Mass Persuasion Techniques to Become President of The United States
• Seth Godin – Change Your Mind, Choose Your World & More Genius Advice
• Chip Conley – How To Find Your Calling (what I learned by accident because of AirBnB)
• Robert Cialdini – The 7 Techniques To Influence Anyone Of Anything
• Jordan Harbinger: The Mindset We All Want

The Tim Ferris Show

In this blog, the name “Tim Ferris” showed up in many articles (from Solopreneurship 101: Finding Your Muse a La Tim Ferris (How to Find Your Business Muse in Three Easy Steps) to MBA or Start-Up? The three variables to take into account).

Therefore, Ferris does not need any presentation. His show is among the most useful worldwide for a few reasons.

First, Tim Ferris tests everything he does. In other words, when he gives you advice, you can expect it to be real.

Second, his podcasts span across several disciplines; from business to dieting, there is a broad range of resources that Tim Ferris makes available to his audience.

Third, there are few people in the world with his ability to deconstruct world-class performers’ routines and habits and make them available to you! It is a podcast you must have in your library!

Below are some episodes we highly recommend,

• Becoming the Best Version of YouMatt Mullenweg:
• Characteristics and Practices of Successful Entrepreneurs
• Tony Robbins on Morning Routines, Peak Performance, and Mastering Money
• The Tim Ferriss Podcast is Live! Here Are Episodes 1 and 2 (Kevin Rose and Joshua Waitzkin)
• Tim Ferriss Interviews Arnold Schwarzenegger on Psychological Warfare (And Much More)

Other Podcasts Worth Listening

• This Week In Startups
• Lex Fridman
• All-In Podcast

Top Podcasts for Business and Personal Growth

• Digital Business Models Podcast: Covers business modeling and digital business models.
• a16z Podcast: Discusses tech, culture trends, and the future with industry experts and business leaders.
• Akimbo A Podcast by Seth Godin: Explores how cultures are created and how to make a difference with your product.
• Masters of Scale: Features interviews with entrepreneurs who are masters of scaling businesses.
• Marketing School: Provides practical marketing insights for growing your digital business.
• The Hustle & Flowchart Podcast: Focuses on marketing tactics, step-by-step processes, and unique business models.
• Product Hunt Radio: Offers insights for growth marketers, entrepreneurs, and startup founders.
• The Startup Chat: Hosted by two serial entrepreneurs, it helps during hard times and finding solutions for your business.
• Freakonomics: Explores major issues and economic theories in an entertaining way.
• The Smart Passive Income: Provides invaluable resources to boost your business and take it to the next level.
• EOFire: Hosted by John Lee Dumas, it features interviews with successful entrepreneurs.
• The James Altucher Show: Features interviews with incredible people and stories of success and failure.
• The Tim Ferris Show: Tim Ferris interviews world-class performers and deconstructs their routines and habits.
• This Week In Startups: Covers various startup-related topics.
• Lex Fridman: Delves into conversations about artificial intelligence, technology, and life.
• All-In Podcast: A podcast featuring various business and technology discussions.

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