When it comes to staying up-to-date in media, both personal & professional, what to learn can feel overwhelming.
Where to even start?
A wave of new information is thrown at us every day on platforms like social networks, streaming services, new programs, and because of the inevitable feeling of FOMO (fear of missing out), as consumers, we try and filter as much of this information to make us feel in-the-know. The truth? We can never fully be in the know. Instead, it’s important to focus on what interests, informs, and excites us most.
One of the ways I form well-rounded interests is through listening to podcasts. Did you know that what we know today as a “podcast” was considered an “audioblog” but didn’t infiltrate the mainstream until the early 2000s?
By looking at my own life, I can trace the change in my learning habits. As a child, Mama was the bridge to knowledge because she read to me. Then, after learning to read, I was able to learn solo. When I entered middle school, I started learning Spanish through listening to CDs. Later in high school, I listened to audiobooks on the way to sporting events. Then in my freshman year of college, I started consuming podcasts. Lots and lots of podcasts.
In college, I found that podcasts were easier for me to commit to, especially in the mornings. Most weekends I would go through my podcast shows and save the episodes I wanted to listen to in the coming week. Then I listened on the way from the student parking lot to my 8am class. I quickly realized that my improved creativity and a positive perspective were noticeably higher when I kept on this routine. So I started habit stacking (explained in this post). Much of education in college is physical–books, lectures, study groups, so listening to someone else via podcast always feels like a treat.
This makes sense for a few reasons:
-It’s refreshing to hear a voice other than your own when learning something new–there is a level of comfort there
-Videos are becoming a more popular way of consuming media
-Consuming content that is broken up into segments/episodes/seasons is easier to commit to than a larger body of work for a busy schedule
Allie’s Top 10 Podcasts
Personal Development: Note To Self
History and Mainstream Media: Even The Rich
Pop-Culture and an Insider Look: Welcome to Our Show
Psychology of the Mind: The Happiness Lab
Career Mindset: Masters in Business
Family Dynamics: Sibling Revelry
Intimacy and Health: Sex with Emily
Exploring Self: Anything Goes
Mindfulness: Mindful in Minutes (Sleep Meditation)
Current Events: The Daily / The Journal
My favorite places to listen to these podcasts:
-Beach: when I am walking from pier to pier
-Bathroom: during my face washing routine and skincare
-Car: on the way to Charleston or Rock Hill SC to visit family
-Kitchen: while I am washing the dishes
-Bed: while I am winding down for the night and catching up on texts
In addition to listening to podcasts, I have started producing one myself. Writing the Line (WTL) Podcast is about exploring the lines of life that excite, scare, and thrill. It’s a space for conversations focused on building relationships, making career and passion project moves, finding joy and gratitude every day, and more. While I am coming to these episodes with an -in-your-20s lens, I trust that life at every age can feel young and full of possibility. **queue “Edge of Seventeen” by Stevie Nicks–a song on March’s playlist Of The Month (OTM). Click here to get it!
Allie xxx
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