Madeline
Listening to podcasts are great for running errands, cleaning the house, going for a walk, getting ready in the morning. But the best time to listen to podcasts is while at work. For those looking for a few ideas of podcasts to listen to at work, this is my list of ten fascinating podcasts to listen to at work. Topics cover everything from business to history to general facts.
Stuff You Should Know
Stuff you should know is one of the oldest podcasts that is still running that you can find. The hosts, Josh and Chuck, are playful and fun. The topics are very general and very work friendly. They cover everything from “How The Nobel Peace Prize Works” to “Why DC is not a State” to “How MRIs Work.” It is one of the best general facts podcasts out there.
Listen to Stuff You Should Know
Stuff You Missed In History Class
The same network that came out with Stuff You Should Know has a history specific podcast with hosts Holly and Tracy, Stuff You Missed In History Class. It is similar in that the topics are broad but this podcasts is focused specifically on history. It covers topics such as “Who was the real Sherlock Holmes?” to “The Swill Milk Scandal of 1858” to “Mother Goose.” For those who are interested in history, this is one of the must podcasts to listen to at work.
Listen to Stuff You Missed In History Class
This Day In History Class
This Day In History Class was a branch off from Stuff You Missed In History Class. It is a shorter format that is released daily covering topics that occurred that day in the past. Although the show has been running a few years, each year is a new topic about that specific day in the past. This quick and easy listening podcast makes it one of the many podcasts to listen to at work.
Listen to This Day In History Class
The Jordan Harbinger Show
Switching gears a bit, where the previous shows are family friendly, The Jordan Harbinger Show digs a bit deeper into darker topics. Although the host, Jordan Harbinger, started on a different podcast, after a fight wit his partners, he branched off on his own and started this show. Twice a week he interviews people you have heard of and on Fridays, he answers listener submitted questions. Topics cover everything from escaping North Korea, Cyberweapons around the world, the KKK, and how to sell.
Listen to The Jordan Harbinger Show
Planet Money
Understanding how finance works can be a difficult subject for many. Planet Money, by NPR, covers some difficult to understand topics and puts them in a way the masses can understand. Leaving the finance decisions to the finance department is a good idea but understanding how it all works is also a good idea which makes this one of the podcasts to listen to at work. Topics cover everything from how Gamestop’s stock grew, is Google too big, and Unemployment in America.
The History Chicks
Similar to Stuff You Missed In History Class, The History Chicks cover history. The format of this podcast is much longer, sometimes reaching over two hours per episode which makes this one of the many podcasts to listen to at work. They specifically focus on bad ass women in history which is what makes this podcast unique from any other history podcasts. The women they have covered include Annie Oakley, Emily Post, Agatha Christie, and Anne Boleyn.
How I Built This
How I Built This is another great podcast by NPR. The premise of this podcast is to focus on how businesses have gone from an idea and into successful and, almost always, into billion dollar companies. The format is interviewing the founders who know all the details of growing a business like that. One of my favorite parts of the show is if they ask if the success is due to hard work or success. The answer to this question is almost always surprising. The companies covered include Whole Foods, WeWork, 1-800-GOT-JUNK, and Rent The Runway.
Business Wars
Any successful business idea will attract competitors and that is what this podcast is about which makes it one of the podcasts to listen to at work. This podcast is about these businesses competing and tells the story of the changes they make to stay in the game. Episodes include Ferrari vs Lamborghini, Coke vs Pepsi, Netflix vs Blockbuster, and Southwest vs American.
No Stupid Questions
When Steven Dubber, of Freakonomics fame, and Angela Duckworth, of Grit fame, came out with a podcast covering listener questions about how the world works, it had to be added to my queue. Although the format of this podcast is conversational about the rules of the world, it digs into some really deep conversations. Some of the topics include “Why do we put things off to the vary last minute?”, “When is it okay to tell a lie?”, and “Do Dreams Actually Mean Anything?”
My First Million
Although My First Million is about the entrepreneurial sprit, the out of the box ideas these guys discuss make this show worth the listen regardless of your story. It is still one of the podcasts to listen to at work to get the creative juices flowing. The format of this podcast is much looser than many of the other podcasts on this list. A single episode may cover a number of topics or just one.
Final Thoughts About Podcasts To Listen To At Work
Finding a good podcast to listen to at work can be a difficult task if you do not know what you are looking for. This is a list to help guide you down the path on picking a great podcast for this occasion. There are plenty other podcasts that are great podcasts to listen to at work and I would love to hear if you have more ideas.
