Have you ever listened to the same music playlist for weeks on end between classes? Does it ever get extremely boring and repetitive? This is exactly how I felt listening to the same 20 songs over and over again. Sometimes you just need a little more substance in what you’re listening to. Luckily, I’ve found that podcasts are an amazing way to still listen to something to keep you occupied, but actually, learn something at the same time. Whether it’s learning an interesting fact or hearing about a useful tool that will help you succeed in your classes, podcasts are a great way to solve your between-class boredom.
The good news is that just like music, podcasts are very easy to find and download on your phone or computer. On Apple products, there is already an application called “Podcasts” that is pre-downloaded on to your device. On the app, you can find thousands of podcasts to download and listen to, most of them for free. I’ve been tuning in to a variety of different podcasts for many years and found that almost all of them are of great quality to listen to. While it’s hard to go wrong and I encourage you to listen to any podcast that sparks your curiosity, here’s a list of seven of my favorites to get you started.
Gals on the Go – Danielle Carolan and Brooke Miccio
Both Danielle Carolan and Brooke Miccio are YouTubers who have also been listening to podcasts for a very long time. Recently, the two girls, who both attend the University of Georgia, decided to create their own podcast together. While there are only a dozen episodes of the podcast available right now, they are of great quality and are very relatable to fellow college students. The girls cover issues such as dating in college, how to get out of a funk, time management skills, and college application tips. This is definitely one of my favorites, and you will find yourself tuning in every week.
TED Talks Daily – TED
I’m sure at some point one of your teacher’s has played a TED talk for you in class. Yes, these are more educational talks, but it is a great opportunity for you to learn about a topic that interests you in podcast form. Unlike the video versions or the full-length TED podcast, TED Talks Daily podcast ranges from an average of 6-14 minutes in length. This is about the length of time it takes to walk from class to class. Whenever I’m looking for a short informative podcast to listen to on my walks, this is it.
Happier with Gretchen Rubin – Gretchen Rubin
You may have heard of Gretchen Rubin before, as she is the No. 1 bestselling author of both The Happiness Project and Better Than Before. This time, she decided to express her great advice and life lessons in podcast form. Each episode tackles a different facet of happiness and what you can do to achieve happiness in your own life. She has full-length hour-long podcasts as well as “littles” which are episodes under five minutes to give you a burst of advice in a short amount of time. Listening to this podcast has surely helped me become happier and more grateful for the little things in my daily life, and it can help you too.
The Daily Boost – Scott Smith
Every morning Monday through Friday, Scott Smith uploads a new motivational podcast for listeners. He has been creating them since 2006 and is now the most popular daily motivation program in history. His podcasts are an average of 10 minutes in length which is also perfect to listen to on your walk or drive to school each morning. The Daily Boost is filled with humorous lessons that give people advice on what steps they should take to live a better life and stay motivated. Whenever you’re feeling in a slump and need a little boost of inspiration, this is a great podcast to tune in to.
Meditation Oasis – Mary and Richard Maddux
While I wouldn’t necessarily listen to this podcast on-the-go, it is still an amazing one to listen to at night after a long day. Each episode contains a guided meditation for a different mental hardship. This includes meditations for when you can’t sleep, loneliness, anxiety, patience and many other dilemmas. Even if you’ve never practiced meditation before, the soothing voices and commands of Mary and Richard Maddux can make you relaxed even in the most stressful situation.
The Chalene Show – Chalene Johnson
I’ve been listening to this podcast for a few years now, and it never fails to make me laugh while teaching me important life lessons. Chalene Johnson is a best-selling author, celebrity fitness trainer and diet debunker. She aims to give listeners tips to live a healthy balanced life. While she has some episodes that relate to more adult topics like divorce, most episodes apply directly to college students. The episode topics range from increasing your willpower in five steps to talking with dietitians about when it’s a good time to do a detox. If you’re looking for an all-around great podcast on a variety of topics, this is a great one for you.
Stuff You Should Know – HowStuffWorks
If you haven’t gotten enough of learning in your classes, this is another one that is very educational and covers interesting and important topics. Josh and Chuck from HowStuffWorks cover topics like LSD, how marathons work and even why ballpoint pens are interesting. As someone who’s constantly asking random questions about why certain things exist or work in the world, this is a very cool podcast that actually answers many of my questions. If you’re also extremely curious about the most random of things, tune in to this podcast.