When you take a road-trip, do you like to listen to things as you drive? Or do you prefer dead silence? Maybe having a good conversation?
I enjoy all three! And when you’re driving across the USA, you have plenty of time for each.
We’re in the middle of a five-week trip across America as we move back to Los Angeles from Chiang Mai, Thailand. Already, we’ve put on nearly three thousand miles, which means I’ve done a lot of talking with my wife as well as sitting in silence listening to my three year old sing “We wanna see Jesus lifted high” at the top of his lungs. Sometimes I sing with him.
Call me an old-fogy, but I get a little worn out after thirty-three renditions of the same verse. So, lately I’ve been letting him sing alone. Sometimes, even the two year-old gets tired of the same verse and challenges big brother with a who-can-sing-the-loudest contest bellowing a verse of his own favorite song: “walk, walk walk, in the light.” If you’re driving along I-75 in the middle of Kentucky, tomorrow, and you hear an oddly clashing combination of Walking In The Light of God and We Want to See Jesus Lifted High, don’t be alarmed. It’s just us. We got this family-road-trippin-across-the-USA thing down!
I’ve also done a lot of listening to podcasts. I don’t know if you get into podcasts much, but I love listening to them. When I’m not driving through three States in one day, I listen to them while washing dishes, sorting email, cleaning my office, mowing lawn, or picking the lint out of between families toes. Actually, I don’t do that last one. But if I did, I’d listen to a podcast while doing it.
It may or may not surprise you what all I listen to. I like learning about business, marketing, writing, theology, productivity, faith, mystery and missions. This list resembles a smattering of each, and certainly aren’t listed in any particular order. Here are some of my favorites:
1. Building a StoryBrand with Donald Miller
Whether you’re a businessman, marketer, writer, missionary, or public school teacher, you absolutely must start listening to this podcast. Donald Miller specializes in storytelling, and specifically, how to tell a story in your marketing. People listen to what you have to offer them because of the story and how what you’re offering fits into their story. And if you are trying to influence anyone for anything, you are offering them something. Learning how to connect that offer with people’s stories is essential to effectively influencing them, whether you’re selling them a product or sharing the Gospel.
2. The Portfolio Life with Jeff Goins
I admit, I only listen to this podcast when I’ve caught up on all my other favorites. But Jeff does well at exploring people’s calling and what it means to do meaningful work in life. I appreciated episode 154: Vocation and Identity, an interview with Dan Cumberland. I also appreciate what he has to say about a career of writing. And since I’m a writer, I get into that sort of thing.
3. The EntreLeadership Podcast
This one is put on by Dave Ramsey’s team, only it doesn’t just talk about money. It talks about leadership and business. I recently listened to an interview with Simon Sinek (and almost anything by Sinek is good). Another interview I found extremely helpful and practical was Becoming Permanently Profitable with Mike Michalowicz.
4. The Kent Lapp Podcast
I know Kent through some of his friends and family. It’s kind of cool being a hand-shake away from a real-live podcaster. However, in all honesty, this one has taken me a little bit to get into. He specializes in long-form content. His podcasts push 2-3 hrs and are often filled with much more than the main meat of the interview. As I’m discovering more of his purpose behind the podcast, though, I’m learning to enjoy it more. His goal is to stretch himself and learn from others. I admire that, and as I stretch in taking the time to listen, I am learning from them as well. He interviews people on things that interest him: business, theology, and lifestyle. It’s worth checking out, especially if you’re driving across Indiana or Kansas and have already passed their hill.
5. ProBlogger Podcast
Because I’m into blogging, I’m into this podcast. It touches on all sorts of things blogging! Everything from how to clarify your target audience to monetization to fixing broken links. Most of you may be bored by it. But then again, if you’re in the middle of New Mexico, you’re probably already bored. Never hurts to learn something new!
6. Serial
This podcast hasn’t been updated recently, but it runs two seasons of documenting criminal cases that may have ended with the wrong verdict. In fact, one of the cases is being revisited because of evidence this podcast brought out. Real-life mystery stories, or ethics cases fascinate me, and this one doesn’t fail. Check it out, even if you’re going through the hills of Pennsylvania.
7. Theology in the Raw with Preston Sprinkle
This is my favorite podcast to date. I love his podcast! I think it’s because he puts so much of what I believe and how I feel into words. And he’s much more eloquent and knowledgeable than I am, so I learn so much as I listen. Many of his podcasts have to do with Scripture (it’s authority, inerrancy, and translation), the LGBT community, racial tensions, Christians and violence, and so much more. His June 19 episode called, The Bible Parody, Inerrant, Correct, Relevant? is a perfect place to start if you’re looking to jump in. Check it out!
These are seven podcasts I listen to fairly regularly, especially when I’m on the road and trying to keep sane. What are your favorite podcasts to listen to? Tell me about them in the comments below.
