After I drop Annalyn off at school each morning, I turn up the radio and flip back and forth between my two favorite stations. I’m not searching for music, though; I’m hoping to find the morning show DJs talking.
I’ve loved listening to the silly banter of morning shows since I first began working full-time (and, therefore, began driving every morning). But ever since I left my full-time job to work from home, I haven’t really listened to a lot of talk radio or podcasts. My commute is the three minutes between my house and the elementary school, and that’s not really enough time to tune into someone else’s conversation. And during my longer drives, I often have a baby along for the ride who masquerades as a baby pterodactyl.
(I’m saying she screeches. Loudly. A lot.)
Then when I’m home, I either have that baby dinosaur around and we’re listening to children’s music or watching “Melmo” or other Muppets. Or she’s taking a nap and I’m working COMPLETELY SILENTLY. (She’s a light sleeper. Sigh.)
But lately I’ve remembered how much I love listening to podcasts or talk radio. When I was grossly underemployed in my last full-time office job, I kept sane by listening to various podcasts about working moms, pop culture and entertainment. And sanity wasn’t the only benefit; I also spent that time highly entertained and often left it informed or educated about a topic that mattered to me.
So I’ve decided it’s time I got on board the podcast train.
I’ve been using the methods Jessica Turner talks about in her book, The Fringe Hours, to figure out when and where I can listen to podcasts. I don’t struggle with making time for myself the way a lot of women she quotes in her book do. I don’t feel guilty doing something for myself or taking time for my own interests.
But I’m also not exactly rich with quality me time.
I’m not truly enjoying myself when I try to do four things at once, including something I like to do for fun. I’m not truly relaxing or refreshing my spirit when I cram my “me time” into the cracks and crevices of the chaotic everyday. And I realized that I’m actually doing myself a disservice by spending all my “me time” on my easy, go-to, fall-back hobbies of reading and TV when I’d probably find more enjoyment out of a new hobby or something I haven’t done in a while.
Like listen to a podcast while sitting in the carpool line after school, instead of scrolling through Facebook for 15 minutes or reading another couple of chapters of a mediocre book.
And while I periodically examine where I’m using my time, it’s always in an attempt to be more productive and to accomplish more. It’s certainly not a practice I’ve designed to find more time for fun! The Fringe Hours points out something I knew but needed to be reminded: there’s a time for work and there’s a time for play, and we simply must find a balance.
So I’m figuring out the when and where of this new [fun] thing I’m going to [intentionally] do – but I need your help figuring out the WHAT. Do you know how many podcasts are out there? SO MANY! {Sidenote: I have talked with a couple friends for YEARS now about starting a podcast of my own. One day, friends…one day.} I’ve started a list of podcasts to subscribe to, and I already listen to a few on a semi-regular basis anyway. But I’d love to make a good list of The Best Podcasts to listen to during my currently misused but soon-to-be better used fringe hours.
Will you help me make that list of The Best Podcasts?
Leave your recommendations in the comments, and I’ll compile a final list and share it in a few weeks!
Do you listen to podcasts? What’s your favorite?
If you haven’t read The Fringe Hours by Jessica Turner, I’d recommend it! It’s NOT about doing more and trying harder. It’s about making room in your life for the things that matter most – including yourself – and then letting go of the rest. It’s about choosing joy and making the most of your moments, and it’s on sale at DaySpring.
Evaluating my fringe hours and finding great podcasts to listen to work for me!
It’s time for Works for Me Wednesday. I’m looking forward to your tips, tricks, ideas and inspiration! If this is your first time linking up with WFMW here, PLEASE read the guidelines I shared in this post. Highlights include linking your specific post, not the front page of your blog, and making sure to include a link back to this site in your WFMW. Thank you!!
Big Mama & BooMama! I went back and listened to all of their old podcasts (same deal, filling my brain while underemployed) and they’re just a crack up.
I love them, too! Have they done any recently? I’ll have to look!!
I love this. I’m not exactly rich with my “me” time either (Grey’s Anatomy binge, anyone?) and this is something I’m trying to be better about! Here are the podcasts I like:
Inspired to Action (Kat Lee)
God-Centered Mom (Heather McFadyen – I’m sure I’m spelling that wrong)
Dave Ramsey Show (We are kinda obsessed with DR, not gonna lie)
Various Focus on the Family Podcasts – Marriage, Parenting, etc.
I’m also trying to get into Serial, but I have to listen with headphones cause it’s not kid-friendly. And I think Annie Downs is hilarious, so I have her podcast on my list too. :)
Let me know what you find!
Yay! Great list! (And, oh dear, I am well-aquainted with TV binges that eat up my time. SIGH.)
Great topic! I look forward to seeing what others are listening to. Some of my favorites are The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey, The Big Boo Cast, The Art of Simple, The God Centered Mom, and The Relevant Podcast.
Thanks, Kristi! I didn’t have Jamie Ivey on my list yet!
Well, I mean, I have to recommend Feathers :)
I also love Declare Conference, Mud Stories, That Sounds fun with Annie F. Downs, Hope*ologie, This is Your Life, How They Blog, Art of Simple, Inspired to Action, Influence (when they do it), God Centered Mom
What a great list! And yes, of course, to Feathers! It’s one of the main reasons I’m making my list in the first place!
Could you do a post on how to get podcasts? I would love to download some to my Android smartphone to listen to on my 45-minute-each-way commute, but I have no idea how to do it.
Yep, I’ll include that info!
Megan Tietz from SortaCrunchy just started a new podcast called SortaAwesome that I love. I also like The Art of Simple, and A Slob Comes Clean.
Yes, great ones I want to listen to! :)
I listen to The Moth, This American Life, Books on the Nightstand, and So Many Damn Books.
Thank you for the recommendations. I’m going to look them up!!
My favorites: This American Life, On Being, Invisibilia, Start Up, Sorta Awesome, Slate Culture Gabfest, The Popcast, NPR Pop Culture Happy Hour, Dear Sugar
Thanks!! I’d forgotten about Gabfest and hadn’t heard of Invisibilia. This is going to be a great list!
WHen I worked from home I often listened to podcasts while I worked. I really like Joyce Meyers podcast and Michael Hyatt’s too. Those are my favorite.
Great suggestions – thanks, Alyssa!
I just started Maltin on Movies and so far, I have really enjoyed it and there is a back log for me to catch up on. Happier with Gretchen Rubin is pretty new and in my opinion has way too many commercials for the length of the podcast but I do like the content most of the time. NomNom Paleo also just started a podcast that includes her kids and it’s pretty cute. On occasion I will listen to the Book Riot Podcast and The Read Aloud Revival Podcast and Stuff You Missed in History Class. Another one that I used to listen but haven’t in a while is 1000 Recordings Podcast which is a companion to a book called 1000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die. It’s two guys who are music geeks and they play clips of the different albums included in the book and talk about it. Of course, if you haven’t listened to Serial on This American Life (and you are into true crime stuff) definitely check it out.
Thanks for the suggestions!!