Listen Well – let your ears nourish you

Auditory content is having its moment. Whilst listening to music on the go was made cool with the invention of the walkman, mobile device innovation now means we can also listen to books, podcasts, webinars and work meetings wherever we go.

Until recently, many of us commuted to work each day, in cars, on public transport or on foot. And audio books and podcasts have became the ultimate “found time” to nourish your mind, heart and soul with inspiring, fun or educational audible content. Author Robin Sharma, in his bestselling book The 5am Club called it “Traffic University”.

There’s something intimate about listening to a podcast or audio book. You have the speaker talking directly to you, making you laugh out loud, or perhaps register an “aha” moment.

I’m a latecomer to podcasts, and it was only through the referral (and gentle nudging) of friends that I gave listening a go. Anything over a 1hr duration seemed a terrifying commitment. (My commute to work is 12 minutes each way, so anything longer than this would take me a week to get through!).

Once I got started, I haven’t looked back. Listening to speakers on a diverse range of topics has been inspiring, informative and often moved me to tears – all before I arrive at work of a morning!

If you’re just getting started, or had a false start previously, here are my top tips for listening well to audible content and reaping the benefits:

• Consider your interests: if you’re into crime stories, meditation or veganism, then go searching for content that covers those interests. Your best friend urging you to listen to On Her Game when you want to hear wellness stories from Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop series is not going to put you on a path to listening well;
• Consider your available time: looking to listen to something inspiring as you commute, work out, or cook dinner? Whatever the timeframe whilst you’re listening, search for content that has a similar duration. Longer podcasts for can lose their impact on you if you spend the first 10 minutes catching up on what the last 40 minutes was about because you listened to it last Tuesday;
• Make listening habitual: listening during activities you do regularly like driving, exercising or meal prep is useful because you do them habitually. You’re in the same space for the same time on the same days, and so listening as you drive/run/chop becomes second nature pretty quickly;
• Keep it fresh: Be on the lookout for new podcasters to keep it interesting. Once you find your ideal type of podcast you’ll be amazed how you’ll start seeing or hearing it mentioned in your circles (real and virtual), and how listening to one podcast guest will lead you to discovering other podcasts. Consider keeping a note in your phone of potential podcasts, audible books or podcasters so you’ve always got a go-to list ready when you’re looking to mix it up;
• Keep it versatile: you’ll likely find a podcast that is either niche enough to keep you coming back to learn more about a topic of interest or broad enough that it stimulates a range of areas you’re at least mildly interested it. And as devoted as you might be to a single podcast, you may often find yourself looking for something a little different. Your podcast or audible library can keep track of these for you.

So what do I listen to? I’m so glad you asked! When I hear a particular podcast that moves me or find a new podcaster I love, I can’t help but want to share it with everyone. Of course, as per my tips above, I don’t expect my loved ones to dip in if it’s not their cup of tea.

1. Oprah’s Super Soul Conversations – the daytime TV queen mixes up new interviews with audible, updated episodes from her talk show and covers an epic array of topics from spiritual beliefs to celebrity life stories and living your best life authentically. There is literally something for everyone on this podcast.
2. Goop by Gwyneth Paltrow – I’m not afraid to confess I adore Gwyneth. On this podcast, Gwyneth and her sidekick Elise Loehnen tackle many wellness topics including relationships, food science and resilience. These episodes can be fun, thought provoking and often feature fantastic authors who end up on my reading list.
3. Hey Soul Sista by Mel Histon. This beautiful podcast by my very good friend is down to earth, relatable and often gives me deep belly laughs. (I’m not biased here, I wouldn’t listen to this if it weren’t great, I promise you!). I love how real Mel gets with her guests, talking about deep life experiences such as the loss of a child, attempted suicide and pivotal career changes. Her guests range from everyday people like you and me, to published authors and local wellness gurus.
4. The Robcast by Rob Bell. My partner Craig got me on to this one, and several of my good friends are fans, too. Rob is a great storyteller, and mixes it up presenting some episodes on his own and others with invited guests including authors, spiritual leaders and his own family. I particularly like his episodes with his son, Trace.

So there you have it – tips and guidance on listening well, using time as you choose to nourish your mind, heart and soul just by plugging in to a podcast.

What are your tips and favourite podcasts? What’s got you fired up, inspired or motivated to live your most well life? I’d love if you’d share with us in the comments below!