Often one to follow trends rather than setting them, I’ve only recently discovered podcasts.
Podcasts are a great vehicle for absorbing content tailored to your specific interests. There are literally thousands to choose from. You can absorb useful information, advice and insights while you’re on the move, undertaking household chores or simply relaxing.
Tuning into audio alone focuses your attention. It’s less draining than screen time. And it feels more intimate than watching TV. The insights and learning you gain create feel-good chemicals in the brain. So podcasts, as well as being educational, are good for you. I’ve discovered some that are are well worth a listen.
3 great careers podcasts
- Influence and Impact for Female Leaders by Carla Miller.
Carla Miller is a coach, women’s leadership trainer and author of Amazon #1 Best seller Closing the Influence Gap . Her weekly podcast frequently features interviews with women who are experts in their field.
I listened to episode 99, The Authority Gap featuring Mary Ann Sieghart, author of the book of the same name (I am a big fan). Their conversation covers the many frustrations women experience in the workplace and the reasons why. The ensuing eye-opening discussion is sobering but also highly entertaining.
(As an aside, and inspired by Mary Ann’s book, I wrote a tongue-in cheek-post on this topic: Breaking the bias: Men: Know your place.)
2. Eat, Sleep, Work, Repeat by Bruce Daisley.
Bruce Daisley is author of Times Best Seller, Fortitude: Unlocking the Secrets of Inner Strength. His podcast focuses on happiness and work culture. Episodes feature interviews with ‘psychologists, neuroscientists and work place experts to understand how we can improve our jobs. The series has a focus on science and experts, over gurus and opinions.’
I selected Understanding the Status Game of Work, featuring author Will Storr as I’m a fan of the book, which is a fascinating read.
Their conversation explores the pivotal importance of status. The higher your status the greater the impact on your health and wellbeing. Our social lives at work have been impacted by virtual working and this has led to an increase in anxiety. Tribal by nature, we need to feel a sense of belonging and to be valued by our employer and our colleagues. Storr discusses what happens when employees are not well-treated at work. The impact on individuals who experience exclusion, and by default, loss of social status, is extremely damaging.
Status Games start in adolescence. Teenagers are hungry for status but lack self-confidence. They can become obsessed with what others think of them. Their attention-seeking behaviour is all about learning to develop their social capital.
Throughout life, we are all embroiled in multiple status games. Not just in the workplace but within families, on social media, and within friendship circles.
The podcast also explores some of the status games currently playing out in the public eye and the impact of these and is well worth a listen.
3. The Squiggly Careers Podcast by Sarah Ellis and Helen Tupper.
This podcast features a series of conversations between friends. Each has a background in Marketing. They have also co-authored The Squiggly Career and You Coach You both of which are Times best sellers.
The chemistry between the two presenters makes for very engaging podcasts. Episodes are packed with helpful, friendly careers advice and supported with online, practical tools. You can subscribe to receive a weekly pod mail and live Zoom sessions.
I listened to episode 296, How to take control of your career . Approaches used include visualising your future career and what you want, exploring how to fill any gaps in your missing skills, experience and connections. Questions, clearly drawn from their coach training and own experiences, provoke useful reflection and deep personal engagement in the process.
Podcasts are personal
I trawled through a fair few before selecting the three above. Some just didn’t do it for me. I fell asleep to one and became very irritated with another. So it’s worth experimenting until you settle on those that resonate with you.
