Podcasts, whether motivational, humorous, or inspiring, can be valuable resources for today’s entrepreneur. You don’t need mobile service to listen, making these subscription-based (and often free) series perfect for long drives, subway commutes, or even at the office. And with compatibility across multiple devices, it’s easy to build daily doses of enlightenment into your hectic schedule.
There’s one problem, though: the number and variety of downloadable podcasts are staggering. A quick glance through the iTunes store can leave you overwhelmed and confused, if you don’t know what to look for.
To get you started in your search, tune in to these seven insightful podcasts. Seasoned business veterans and eager up-and-comers alike can benefit from giving these programs a listen.
1. This Week in Startups
Hosted by Jason Calacanis, “This Week in Startups” features interviews with major players in the tech industry—from CEOs to television personalities to prominent authors—in which they discuss their successes, failures, and what they’ve learned from their time in the business world. Calacanis’s entrepreneurial experience and skills as an interviewer make each 75-minute podcast highly instructive. Past guests include Jeff Weiner, Glenn Beck, and Peter Thiel.
2. Mixergy
The format of “Mixergy” resembles that of “This Week in Startups,” with host Andrew Warner inviting business leaders into his studio to share tips and tricks. However, there are a couple differences: Warner doesn’t just interview techies—his guest list features the heads of a sex toy company and a beef jerky delivery service. Also, his program operates on a “freemium” model, meaning that additional content (like master classes) is available for a fee.
3. Starting From Nothing
Perfect for entrepreneurs in the early stages of their careers, “Starting From Nothing” features various founders and how they built their companies from the ground up. The podcast is an outlet of The Foundation, an online program that helps newbies start software businesses. Each episode also comes with a free “Action Guide” outlining the steps required to implement the interviewees’ advice. Topics range from finding mentors to inventive sales tactics.
4. The Daily Boost
Here’s a podcast that’s easy to incorporate into your morning routine. Scott Smith is like an endearing Dr. Phil, serving up 10-minute motivational monologues with titles like “How Overthinking Is Slowing You Down,” “Expanding Your Level of Awareness,” and “Time. Focus. Constancy. Cool.” Is “The Daily Boost” a little campy? Sure. But it’s also oddly inspiring, and any entrepreneur looking for psychological guidance would be well served by heeding Smith’s simple and startlingly applicable advice.
5. The UnPodcast
Co-hosts Scott Stratten and Alison Kramer treat each 30-minute episode of “The UnPodcast” as a laid-back discussion, bantering with one another about the latest developments in marketing as well as new books and business trends. They follow a “what-not-to-do/what-to-do-instead” format, offering at times hilarious guidance to those who want to sell their businesses effectively and attract new customers or investors. In terms of both usefulness and entertainment value, this podcast hits a high note.
6. Entrepreneur on Fire
John Lee Dumas refers to his listeners on “Entrepreneur on Fire” as the “Fire Nation,” although that designation could be more appropriately applied to him. He brings a palpable energy to his interviews, which draw big names as well as smaller business figures, while simultaneously maintaining a level of composure that puts most podcast hosts to shame.
7. This Is Your Life
This podcast’s overarching focus is leadership and strategies to make anyone an effective leader. Co-hosts Michael Hyatt and Michele Cushatt shy away from entrepreneurial and economic jargon, taking more of a lifestyle coach approach to their program. Discussion topics on “This Is Your Life” range from the power of goal setting to the importance of smiling to unconventional uses for Evernote. They never fail to be engaging, uplifting, and inspiring.