The Power of Podcasts

Jan 27

There’s no shortage of stories. But what draws us to a story is the way it is told. In a podcast, the storyteller can influence a shift in our perception of issues, ideologies, biases and the way we see the world and people around us.

As Voxtopica points out: “Stories hook us. They're memorable because they're relatable. The storyteller may come from a different background or lived experience than us, but their story helps us understand new concepts more powerfully than stand-alone facts.”

That’s the power of podcasts.

It was only recently that I started getting acquainted with podcasts. I prefer reading books and watching drama series and documentaries. To be honest, with so many podcasts covering genres like self-improvement, entertainment, news, crime, history, politics, etc the browsing alone is daunting. Where do I even begin?

There are more than 2.5 million podcasts available on Apple Podcasts alone, giving listeners a wide range of options. If news channels and newspapers bore you, Spotify has about one million shows in this category.

Thankfully, a couple of friends suggested a few that piqued my interest. Here’s a short list of some inspiring podcasts to tune in to that I recommend in case you need to take a break from Netflix. I have listened to each of them because of their timeless resonating messages.

The danger of a single story | 32.9+ million views

Our lives, our cultures, are composed of many overlapping stories. Novelist Chimamanda Adichie tells the story of how she found her authentic cultural voice -- and warns that if we hear only a single story about another person or country, we risk a critical misunderstanding. “Stories matter. Many stories matter. Stories have been used to dispossess and to malign. But stories can also be used to empower, and to humanize. Stories can break the dignity of a people. But stories can also repair that broken dignity… that when we reject the single story, when we realize that there is never a single story about any place, we regain a kind of paradise.” (Image & info: TED)

How to spot a liar | 32+ million views

On any given day we're lied to from 10 to 200 times, and the clues to detect those lies can be subtle and counter-intuitive. Pamela Meyer, author of "Liespotting", shows the manners and "hotspots" used by those trained to recognize deception -- and she argues honesty is a value worth preserving. “Liespotters rely on human tools. They know, as someone once said, "Character's who you are in the dark." And what's kind of interesting is that today, we have so little darkness. Our world is lit up 24 hours a day. It's transparent with blogs and social networks broadcasting the buzz of a whole new generation of people that have made a choice to live their lives in public. It's a much more noisy world. So one challenge we have is to remember, oversharing, that's not honesty. Our manic tweeting and texting can blind us to the fact that the subtleties of human decency -- character integrity -- that's still what matters, that's always what's going to matter. So in this much noisier world, it might make sense for us to be just a little bit more explicit about our moral code.”Contains mature content. (Image & info: TED)

The power of introverts | 32+ million views

In a culture where being social and outgoing are prized above all else, it can be difficult, even shameful, to be an introvert. But, as Susan Cain argues in this passionate talk, introverts bring extraordinary talents and abilities to the world, and should be encouraged and celebrated. The self-confessed introvert says: “The more freedom that we give introverts to be themselves, the more likely that they are to come up with their own unique solutions to… problems. (Image & info: TED)

What makes a good life? Lessons from the longest study on happiness | 20+ million views

What keeps us happy and healthy as we go through life? If you think it's fame and money, you're not alone – but, according to psychiatrist Robert Waldinger, you're mistaken. As the director of a 75-year-old study on adult development, Waldinger has unprecedented access to data on true happiness and satisfaction. He shares three important lessons learned from the study as well as some practical, old-as-the-hills wisdom on how to build a fulfilling, long life. In this popular talk, he explains the three lessons the researchers learned. First, having social connections is better for our health and well being—and conversely, loneliness kills. Second, having higher-quality close connections is more important for our well-being than the number of connections. Third, having good relationships is not only good for our bodies but also for our brains. (Image & info: TED and Big Speak)

Looks aren't everything. Believe me, I'm a model | 39+ million views

Model Cameron Russell admits she won "a genetic lottery" – she's tall, pretty and an underwear model. But don't judge her by her looks. “For the past few centuries, we have defined beauty not just as health and youth and symmetry that we’re biologically programmed to admire, but also as tall, slender figures with femininity and white skin. This is a legacy that was built for me…” and for which she has cashed in on for over 10 years. In this fearless talk, she takes a wry look at the industry that had her looking highly seductive at barely 16 years old. Breaking the stereotypical perception (that if you have skinnier thighs or shinier hair, you could be happier), she says most models, despite their skinny legs, shiny hair, and fancy clothes, are most insecure and vulnerable since they are in a career in which their appearance matters at all times. (Image & info: TED Talk)

Your elusive creative genius | 21+ million views

Elizabeth Gilbert muses on the impossible things we expect from artists and geniuses -- and shares the radical idea that, instead of the rare person "being" a genius, all of us "have" a genius. It's a funny, personal and surprisingly moving talk. The author of "Eat, Pray, Love" has thought long and hard about some big topics. Her fascinations: genius, creativity and how we get in our own way when it comes to both. Her final words: “Don't be daunted. Just do your job. Continue to show up for your piece of it, whatever that might be. If your job is to dance, do your dance. If the divine, cockeyed genius assigned to your case decides to let some sort of wonderment be glimpsed, for just one moment through your efforts, then "Olé!" And if not, do your dance anyhow. And "Olé!" to you, nonetheless. I believe this and I feel that we must teach it. "Olé!" to you, nonetheless, just for having the sheer human love and stubbornness to keep showing up.” (Image & info: TED)

Your body language may shape who you are | 67+ million views

Body language affects how others see us, but it may also change how we see ourselves. Social psychologist Amy Cuddy argues that "power posing" -- standing in a posture of confidence, even when we don't feel confident -- can boost feelings of confidence, and might have an impact on our chances for success. (Note: Some of the findings presented in this talk have been referenced in an ongoing debate among social scientists about robustness and reproducibility). She says: “When we think of nonverbals, we think of how we judge others, how they judge us and what the outcomes are. We tend to forget, though, the other audience that's influenced by our non-verbals, and that's ourselves. We are also influenced by our non-verbals, our thoughts and our feelings and our physiology.” (Image & info: TED)

To tune in to more podcasts, here are the best six podcast apps according to businessinsider.com:

Apple Podcasts provides free access to over 30 million podcast episodes, along with the option to pay for premium shows.
Google Podcasts a free app with a streamlined design that makes it easy to listen to popular podcasts.
Spotify features several exclusive podcasts and a collection of curated, genre-specific titles.
Audible is best known for its audiobook library but the service also features a lineup of original podcasts.
Stitcher lets you listen to a selection of original podcasts with a wide range of playback options.
TuneIn Radio features a catalog of podcasts and access to a number of radio streams from around the world.

The other thing about podcasts is they allow multitasking because they’re audio. Listen while taking leisurely walks, commuting or driving, doing chores around the house, etc. They’re the perfect non-intrusive whenever, wherever companion.

Debbie | ws

Debbie Reyes-Coloma