Because my commute home is just under 5 hours (oof), I started looking for things to keep me busy during the long drives because music can get really old really fast. I discovered podcasts around my first year of college and over the years I’ve now found some seriously good podcasts that are not only entertaining, but also can be really educational. So I decided to make a list of my top 5, and even threw in a bonus number 6 for y’all.
- Don’t Blame Me with Meghan Rienks
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This was the first podcast I ever found because I was subscribed to Meghan on YouTube and heard her mention it in a video. She doesn’t post much on YT anymore, but her podcasts come out every Monday. This is an advice podcast where Meghan and a guest or her producer, Melisa D Monts, take fan questions about life, school, sex, etc., and give their two cents. This show has some really great guests and covers such a wide range of topics and I’ve personally gotten some great pieces of advice from listening.
Pro-tip: if you prefer watching over listening, she uploads recordings of some of her episodes on her YT channel.
- Gals On The Go with Danielle Carolan and Brooke Miccio
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Danielle and Brooke met through YouTube and ended up going to the same college and joined the same sorority in Georgia. They quickly became an inseparable duo and started a podcast where they talk all things college, beauty, and more. Recently they extended their Wednesday episodes by adding a Monday recap called “The Happening” where they discuss pop culture and current events. Sometimes they give advice, do a Q&A, or just talk about life in general. Either way, it’s a great podcast to put on when you’re cleaning your room or driving to campus.
- I Love You So Much with Kenzie Elizabeth
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This podcast started last fall but I’ve only recently found it through recommendations by some of my other favorites. Kenzie is also a college student and her episodes mostly cover health and wellness, beauty, and college lifestyle tips. This has quickly become one of my favorites along with another I’ll mention below! She approaches subjects in a relatable way and gives you tips on how to achieve self love, productivity, and more. She’s a true girl boss and I’d highly recommend giving it a listen!
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Manifest with Tori DeSimone
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This is my other top favorite podcast for so many reasons. Tori DeSimone, formerly known as Tori Sterling, is a youtuber who used to make makeup and beauty videos on youtube. After realizing LA and college weren’t her scene, she found her passion with spinning classes and was able to open up her own spin studio in Philly. Tori still makes health and productivity videos on YouTube, but her podcast is not one to miss. In her episodes she talks about her own health journey and how to make your career and life dreams a reality. Some of her episodes include, “How to Get Your Shit Together: Organize and Take Charge of Your Life” and “The Ugly Side of Getting Healthy No One Talks About”. I really cannot recommend this podcast enough, especially if you’re a college woman trying to figure it all out.
- Approachable with Samantha Ravndahl and Alyssa Anderson
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Samantha and Alyssa have been best friends since they were in high school and recently started up a podcast to talk about important topics that might be hard to approach. Sam is a beauty influencer who used to be a makeup artist, Alyssa is an aspiring actress, and they’re both located in Canada. This podcast is different from the others in that it isn’t as trendy. Some of their topics include navigating loss, dealing with mental health, and choosing your career path. This has been my favorite educational podcast; it teaches you all the things about life and adulthood you wish you learned in school as well as gives you coping mechanisms for the hardships in life while somehow still being engaging and fun to listen to.
- BONUS: Happy Hour with Gretchen Geraghty
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This is a very new podcast by one of my favorite youtubers, Gretchen Geraghty, so I had to include it. Gretchen is a recent college grad who was formerly a lightweight rower for her school. She has struggled with health and body image as well as a severe injury during her college career. She talks about her own struggles as well as other topics like college advice and relationships. Like I said, it is a very new podcast so there’s only a few episodes out right now, but Gretchen is such a positive and kind person, her energy is truly infectious. Everytime I listen to one of her episodes I know my day is going to be brighter and more productive.
I hope you give some, or all (hehe), of these podcasts a listen in the future. As a college woman, I’ve struggled with all of the typical things: body image, mental health, and time management. While most of the time I love a good podcast to play in the background while I make dinner or clean my room, I actually have learned a lot from these and I truly think some of the advice I’ve gotten has changed my life for the better (as cheesy as that sounds). If you do decide to check any of these out, or if you have some of your own recommendations, you can tag the UTSA Her Campus chapter on any of our social media channels!