When starting your business journey it is very hard not to get trapped by shiny object syndrome. You quickly learn you need to master tons of new skills, and the thousands of courses and tools available are often all too enticing. In the early stages of your journey nine times out of 10 you are on a tight budget, and it is quite the balancing act trying to determine what will provide a solid return on investment and what you should pass on.
I navigated this road last year, signing up for a number of courses, attending loads of events, and investing in hundreds of tools and subscriptions. Some were life changing, some equipped me with incredible new skills and others I could have done without. This year I have been stricter, with a set budget that I’ve stuck to. One resource I will continue to invest in is podcasts. The incredible thing about podcasts is they don’t cost a cent, so this is a time only investment. Many of the business learnings and insights I gained last year outside a six month coaching course came from podcasts. It doesn’t matter what industry you work in, there are now so many podcasts that you are guaranteed to find a show, or at least an episode that fits your niche.
In the past we paid hundreds of dollars to listen to acclaimed experts present, now you can do the same from the comfort of your car or on your morning walk for FREE! I think that people sometimes overlook resources because they are free, thinking there can’t be any value in them if they don’t cost big dollars. If you are on a strict budget and haven’t discovered the world of podcasts yet I strongly encourage you to.
Here’s my favourite 10 business podcasts. It is just by coincidence that they are all hosted by strong, curious and inspiring girl bosses!
1. Being Boss – This is the show that started my podcast obsession. The hosts Kathleen Shannon and Emily Thompson are creative entrepreneurs who have built an incredible tribe of creative bosses. They keep it real, are funny, a little woo woo and witchy at times and incredibly inspirational. If they don’t motivate you to ‘do the work’ I don’t know what will. They are currently writing a book which I can’t wait to get my hands on. It is hard to determine my standout episodes but if I had to narrow it down I would say episodes with Tara Mohr, Jay Pryor and Brene Brown.
2. Soulful PR Podcast with Janet Murray – I may be a little biased due to my obsession with PR but I love this podcast. As a journalist for The Guardian and PR Specialist, Janet knows her stuff. She is a straight talker and great interviewer. You never feel frustrated that she hasn’t asked a question you are dying to hear as she usually gets to it. Her interview with Sara Tasker about Instagram was fantastic and I loved one she did with copywriter Stella Orange. Janet is quite the powerhouse. Aside from being an author, speaker and successful business owner she also runs marathons in her spare time! #girlbossgoals
3. The Business Experiment – This is the first Australian podcast I really got into and I love it. Shevonne and Jemima tell it how it is (there appears to be a theme here). They cover a lot each episode and as a business owner always seem to answer those questions that you are always busting to know more about. They make you feel like you’re not alone in this often lonely solopreneur world. I loved their interview with the Founder of Thank You, Daniel Flynn.
4. Mums with Hustle – Tracy Harris is a favourite of mine. This talented Mum Boss knows her stuff and somehow juggles a successful podcast and huge tribe of Mumpreneurs with a toddler and baby. All her episodes are unique to Mum bosses, and they make you feel like you’re not the only one completely sleep deprived and losing your mind! I was lucky enough to be interviewed on the show, you can listen to it here, I also love this interview with Marketing superstar Yael Keon.
5. The Ladies Lounge – Emma Franklin Bell and Anna Massie. The interview style of Emma and Anna is relaxed and really makes you feel like you’re eavesdropping on three friends chatting in their living room. A recent interview they did with Sally Obermeder and Maha Koraiem from Swiish was fantastic.
6. Profit, Power, Pursuit – Tara Gentile. I was introduced to Tara Gentile through an amazing Being Boss interview. The girl knows her stuff, and if you want to learn more about the art of sales and making money then she is the person to listen to. Her interview with Emily McDowell was a great listen, about what happens if your business takes off overnight, something we all dream of right?
7. Dream for Others – Naomi Arnold. This a podcast where Naomi has inspiring conversations with those who use their platforms to make a difference in the world. Anyone else a fan of the TV series One Tree Hill? If so you may enjoy this episode with Bethany Joy Lenz which shows how far she has come from the Hayley days and the incredible work she is now doing for a number of different charities.
8. Women, Leadership & Work with Megan Dalla-Camina. Megan is also a straight talking, wise woman who asks all the right questions. I got a lot out of the interview with the amazing Julie Parker as well as an interview she did with Lorraine Murphy from the Remarkables.
9. Get Merry – Merrymaker Sisters. If you are feeling a little flat all you need to do is listen to Emma and Carla Papas of the Merrymaker Sisters to pep you up. They recently did the most moving podcast interview I’ve ever heard with Rhys Ibbott, which certainly put things in perspective.
10. Magic Lessons – Liz Gilbert. This is not so much a business podcast but is incredible for getting the creative juices flowing. For those who have read Liz’s incredible book Big Magic it is a follow on from that, where she live coaches a diverse range of listeners who have lost their creative mojo. If you are looking for creative motivation it is a must listen! Her closing episodes in seasons 1 (Brene Brown) and 2 (Glennon Melton Doyle) will get you creating in an instant!
I’d love to hear what your favourite podcasts are. Let me know if you are also a fan of any on my list or if you have any tips of others I can add to my listening repertoire.