A Few of My (Current) Favorite Podcasts

A Few of My (Current) Favorite Podcasts

For a guy who has his own podcast about the American West, I rarely listen to any western or outdoor-related podcasts. I’m endlessly fascinated by interesting people, so almost all of my podcasts of choice are in-depth interviews. The specifics of the interviewees’ vocations or avocations rarely matter to me—as long as they are passionate about their pursuits and offer some valuable insights, I could listen to interviews all day.

Below, in no particular order, are a few of my current favorites, followed by a specific episode from each that I especially enjoyed. These are only the podcasts that I listen to regularly, not including podcast series that I enjoyed (e.g. Bundyville and S-Town). And none of these podcasts have my undivided attention—just like you, I pick and choose episodes.

The Tim Ferriss Show – Long-form interviews with “world-class performers.” I especially love the guests’ book recommendations, as well as the extensive show notes that link to all the resources that were discussed. [A.J. Jacobs: Self-Experimenter Extraordinaire]

The Axe Files – Despite my disdain for today’s politics, I thoroughly enjoy listening to David Axelrod chat with political minds from both sides of the aisle. No matter how far apart he and his guests may be ideologically, they always have substantive, civil, and engaging conversations. [Ep. 288 – Barack Obama]

Jocko Podcast – Jocko Willink is a former Navy SEAL and seems to be to be one of the most hardcore men on the planet. He and his guest are full of useful wisdom that I’ve found to be very beneficial in my day-to-day life.  [135: Supreme Excellence with Discomfort and Extreme Ownerhip. With Dave Berke.]

Meateater – This is the only outdoor-related podcast that I regularly listen to, and it is great. Steven Rinella is a wealth of knowledge on all things conservation, wildlife, public lands, hunting, and more. Plus he’s hysterical and surrounds himself with a top-notch crew. [Ep. 069: Dr. Dan Flores]

The Forward – Lance Armstrong (yes, that Lance Armstrong) has low-key conversations with a wide variety of interesting people from business, sports, music, comedy, and more. [Avett Brothers]

The Joe Rogan Experience – Joe seems to be one of the most authentic guys around and is amazingly well-versed in a huge array of subject matters. Other than the MMA-focused episodes, I find almost all of his conversations entertaining and funny. [#1204 – Steven Rinella]

Waking Up – Sam Harris is one of my favorite authors and thinkers, and his ability to speak in depth on extremely complex and sometimes-controversial issues is second to none. Plus he is an expert in meditation and mindfulness, which is very useful to me. [#140 – Burning Down the Fourth Estate]

Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend – This podcast is brand new, but I love it. I was laughing so hard while washing the dishes the other night that my three-year old daughter came over to inquire about what the hell was going on. [Will Ferrell]

The Rich Roll Podcast – Rich is a wellness guru and endurance athlete, and he also seems to be just a super-nice dude. [Dan Harris On The Power Of Meditation For the Fidgety Skeptic]

Criminal – This is the only non-interview, storytelling podcast that I regularly listen to, and it is so damn good. Every time. [Episode 100: Ten Thousand Feet in the Air]

The Moment – Brian Koppelman chats with writers, filmmakers, chefs, actors, and the occasional business leader or four-star general. Lots of discussion about the creative process, breaking through creative blocks, and creating work that is authentic. [General Stanley McChrystal]

Here’s the Thing – Alec Baldwin is hilarious, curious and asks rapid-fire questions, so no matter who the guest is, it’s a great listen. [Questlove Can’t Take a Compliment]

How I Built This – I love biographies and stories of entrepreneurship, and this podcast combines both in a highly produced, yet fully engaging format. [FUBU: Daymond John]

Revisionist History – I will read or listen to anything Malcom Gladwell produces.  [Free Brian Williams]

Fresh Air – Of course. Terry Gross is the master. [Free Climbing Yosemite’s “Dawn Wall”]

And if none of these catch your attention, you should try this one about innovative people in the West. If you ignore the dumbass host with the weird accent, the guests are pretty amazing.