The 5 Most Helpful Podcasts
Have you noticed there are a lot of podcasts out there? Over 5 million at the start of 2023, per the website Demand Sage. Disclaimer: I haven’t heard but a tiny fraction of all of them, of course. But if I am hiking, driving, or on a flight, etc., odds are incredibly high I’m also on a podcast. My best guess is I have dabbled in nearly 1,000. How did I take those and whittle them down to 5? Basically, these are the (4) that I feel have impacted me the most and offered the most to learn, and I immodestly added one at the end that I think many will have found this blog for in the first place. But between the first 4, there are well over 1k episodes that will make you laugh, cry, and learn, learn, and learn some more. A few may even change your life. Let’s get to it, then, 4 +1 with (hopefully) life-changing links included!
Roll offers a ton of wisdom. Picture Gandolf, but then a fit, healthy, and life-changed much younger version (he does rock a beard at times). Roll, rightfully so I think, focuses a good deal on how our life experiences shape your choices (which is what my second book is on, thus a gravitational pull to his podcasts). In psychological parlance, what was once adaptive but becomes harmful to us — maladaptive. We’ve had several of the same guests (Dr. Mate, Dr. Lembke and more), so there’s that. But mostly he just speaks to you in a way that really sets in. One of my best friends since 12 tuned me into Roll by saying “It’s like he podcasts specifically for me” and I couldn’t agree more, you may very well feel it too. Want a good start? Try Roll with Dr. Paul Conti here. You will come out a healthier version of you!
I don’t even know Tom, and I have a story about him. In fact, I don’t even know Tom and I also stole a story from him I use when I public speak about the single greatest predictor of success in life. (I do credit him). When I first saw him, much to my discredit, I thought “how could this guy have such a successful podcast?” simply because he didn’t dress the part and I started making absurd judgments. But then I listened. And kept listening. This guy has it so together and asks better questions than any podcaster I have heard. Listen to him with Dr. Attia below, and see where you land on their immortality thought experiment. Throw in “animals stay with you on planet Earth,” and I’m all in with Bilyeu for at least 10k years and maybe longer. You’ll see what I mean…
Aptly named, ‘The Drive” not because of his passion for F1 racing— well actually it is named after that — but because it drives me to do better. To be better. We too have had a number of the same guests and even the same therapist, Terry Real, who I interviewed here. Attia interviewed him too, and better than me, but for perhaps his best one check this out. Earning The Gift of Life. Remember I mentioned life-changing? This was it for me!
This one is co-hosted by Stephen Dubner and economist Steven Levitt, both of whom also wrote the book of the same name. It is by far the broadest of the podcasts on my list, so therefore also the one that has taught me the most — or the most varied topics. Scroll through and pick from a good number of fascinating topics like “People I (Mostly) admire” or, afraid of flying? Try this one and I bet you won’t be anymore!
Okay, I’m incredibly biased. But similar to how I didn’t want to use “Spivey” in the name of my podcast but was convinced by others it was unique sounding, I’m also convinced most people who are clicking on this link found us for the admissions (and wellness) advice. So if that’s why you are here, we have over 200 years of admissions experience and a 5-star rating on every platform that’s rated. If wellness, check out those 4 above but also our interviews with Dr.’s Judson Brewer, Gabor Mate, Kristen Neff, Anna Lembke, Guy Winch, and Terry Real. Are we really a “top 5” global podcast? No. But we have had ~1 million listens and we strive really hard to help others. So it matters to me to spread the word and take suggestions on how we can help. Send them in! And check out this one with Dr. Guy Winch on handling rejection —something we all feel but for a surprising reason that need no longer exist!
These are mine. Am I missing some? You bet! Send me your suggestions on what I can podcast about, or what you think I could learn from. The best part about being alive today, right now, is indeed that — learning. There is more information out there, great information, than ever before. Here’s to curiosity and learning!
-Mike Spivey
We are our own griefs. We are our own happinesses. We are our own remedies.