Without a doubt, we live in the golden age of audio entertainment. Music streaming has hit it's stride. Audible has made listening to audiobooks easy. And podcasts have finally earned the respect they deserve.

I've been a die hard Podcast listener for years now, but until recently, it was something I didn't really talk about. Most of my friends had never even heard of podcasts.

But lately, podcasts have exploded in popularity and for a good reason: the people behind the shows have complete creative control. There is no studio or producer giving notes, shaping the material into something other than what it's supposed to be.

It's pure artistic expression at it's finest and the exponentially growing number of listeners are a testament to it's power. 

If you are new to podcasts, you are in for a treat, otherwise, I hope you enjoy this list of some of my all time favorite podcasts:

Radiolab:

According to the folks at Radiolab, “Radiolab is a show about curiosity. Where sound illuminates ideas, and the boundaries blur between science, philosophy, and human experience.”

But it's so much more than that. The shows founder, Jad Abumrad, received a McArthur Genius grant to continue producing the show, and together with his cohost Robert Krulwich, they make radio magic. Just jump in anywhere, the episodes are so consistently great that you really can't go wrong.

(Image Source: WESA)

Invisibilia:

Invisibilia, in their own words, is a show, "about the invisible forces that control human behavior – ideas, beliefs, assumptions and emotions." It combines the best storytelling elements of shows like This American Life and Radio lab with deep scientific research and journalism to create a one-of-a-kind experience. Just about every single episode will blow your mind, but I recommend starting with "How to Become Batman" from season 1. Invisibilia has become, hands down, my favorite podcast.

(Image Source: WRVO.org)

This American Life:

By far the most popular podcast in the US. Hosted by Ira Glass, TAL is a highly produced series of radio documentaries. Each week they choose a theme and showcase a series of stories that exemplify the theme. I've been a fan for a long time, it's some of the best storytelling you could ever hope to hear.

(Image Source: Google Play)

The Tim Ferriss Show:

One of my all time favorites. It's a long form interview show where best-selling author and human guinea pig Tim Ferriss deconstructs excellence with top-performers from around the world to extract the tools, techniques, and routines they use to be so successful.

(Image Source: Itunes)

The Joe Rogan Experience:

This is the show that got me into podcasts in the first place and it holds a special place in my heart. Comedian Joe Rogan (yes the fear factor guy / UFC commentator) interviews fascinating guests from all walks of life and they go deep. The show regularly lasts for 3 hours which seems like it would be hard to get through but its not. I can't recommend Joe's podcast enough.

(Image Source: Whoismcafee)

Tangentially Speaking with Dr. Chris Ryan:

Tangentially Speaking is an interview show hosted by one incredible guy. Chis Ryan is a world traveler, deep thinker, and the best-selling author of Sex at Dawn. It's an interview style show that explores the deeper side of life, like why were here and what were meant to be doing. Chris is an authentic, charming, and incredibly knowledgable host. You'll definitely want to check this one out!

(Image Source: Whyproject)

Serial:

Hosted by this American Life Producer Sarah Koenig, “Serial tells one story—a true story—over the course of a season.” It's a fantastic show and season one was the first insanely successful breakout podcast of all time. It brought a lot of new listeners to the podcast world. Season 1 detailed the story of Adnan Sayed, a high school student who was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his classmate Hae Min Lee. But Adnan has always maintained his innocence and the case was largely based on the testimony of one witness. I can't recommend it enough.

(Image Source: Playbuzz)

Revisionist History:

Legendary best-selling author Malcolm Gladwell is the creator and host of this wonderful podcast, new for 2016. It's documentary style storytelling, part investigational journalism, and it's awesome. Each week Gladwell, reexamines something from the past, either an event, a person, or an idea. It's highly produced and a great listen. 

More Perfect:

The brainchild of Radiolab host Jad Abumrad, More Perfect examines the human stories behind some of the most important Supreme Court cases in US history. It has all the elements that made Radiolab a success and is fascinating to listen to. They knocked it out of the park with this one!

(Image Source: Radiolab)

Reply All:

Reply All is hard to pin down but at it's core, it's a storytelling show about the weird world of the internet. It's produced by Gimlet Media, a company full of This American Life veterans, and hosted by Alex Goldman and PJ Vogt, two quirky, intelligent, geeky guys. This show has a lot going for it and has become one of my favorites!

The James Altucher Show:

I've learned more from James than I have from most people that I've actually met in real life. The James Altucher Show is a long form interview show hosted by best-selling author, entrepreneur, and all around creative genius James Altucher. It has somewhat of a business bent, but James interviews successful people from all walks of life and there is always powerful lessons to learn. I highly recommend this one.

Got a great podcast recommendation? Leave a comment Below!

And make sure to follow me @mindover!