Best podcasts so far
We have recommended over the last 2 years a number of podcasts that we really liked and wanted to share with you.
Our aim is to inspire you to love and be fascinated with this world and the people that share its beauty. When it fills your soul - either through good architecture, literature, music or inspiring people - it invariably leads your soul to God.
Here is a summary of the best ones.
We are linking all podcasts to individual podcaster websites, as all links to major listening platforms of each episode is found there also.
Hearts + Minds Podcast
We want to give a special mention here to a Podcast channel that some of our team have been doing for another platform, called Hearts + Minds. The aim of the podcast is to help women grow humanly and spiritually, particularly in an Irish setting. So the team at Hearts + Minds aim to interview Irish personalities who enrich the conversation on various topics. It’s been really exciting this last year to do this podcast, but we think the upcoming year is going to be even better!
Special mention to the following episodes:
#10 - Five Love Languages. What’s Yours? Conversation with Jennifer Kehoe
#14 - Finding Meaning in Illness. Conversation with Maria Kilcommins.
#1- How to find peace at a time like this? Link to Spotify
#17 - What does your Temperament say about you? Conversation with Jennifer Kehoe
How Going Blind Helped Isaac Lidsky See More Clearly
Isaac Lidsky discusses how he went blind and his initial reaction to losing his sight. He talks about insights he gained about resilience, humility, and Theodore Roosevelt’s “Man in the Arena” speech that allowed him to move forward in life. His book: Eyes Wide Open: Overcoming Obstacles and Recognizing Opportunities in a World That Can’t See Clearly.
Brené with Dr. Angela Duckworth on Grit and the Importance of Trying New Things
If you are familiar with Angela Duckworth than you probably know what she will say, but honestly this interview is particularly interesting because she delves further into her understanding, including misgivings, about grit and perseverance. From Brene Brown - “We dig into what grit is, but also what grit is not. We talk about taking the windy path, the danger of oversimplifying complex ideas, and why ruling out what does NOT bring you joy is part of finding what does.”
5 Things To Never Do In a Rush and Slowing Down in 2020 (but you can always apply to every year!)
Jay Shetty is your modern day secular monk with genuine sound advice especially in our culture. “Our focus on and addiction to speed and instant gratification is creating so many issues in our lives, bodies, minds, and relationships right now.
In our lives we see slowing down as a weakness. What if, however, slowing down allows for greater focus? Remember, you can be highly productive but less effective at the same time.”
Finding Fulfillment in a World Obsessed With Happiness
In recent years, there’s been a lot of books and blogs put out on how to become happier. But what if searching for happiness actually results in unhappiness, and to get happiness we need to be looking for something else?
That’s what my guest argues in her book. Her name is Emily Esfahani Smith and she’s the author of The Power of Meaning: Finding Fulfillment in a World Obsessed with Happiness.
Desert Island Discs with Maggie O’Farrell
The format of Desert Island Discs is such a great idea! Eight tracks, a book and a luxury. Guests share the soundtrack of their lives. This episode is particularly interesting: Maggie O'Farrell, writer, shares the soundtrack of her life with Lauren Laverne.
The Minimalist Podcast - Connection with Johann Hari
In this episode of The Minimalists Podcast, Joshua and Ryan talk about several modern crises—depression, loneliness, addiction, connection, belonging, and meaning—with author Johann Hari, and they answer the following questions:
How do I increase my happiness and live a more fulfilled, meaningful life in spite of the daily barrage of negativity from social media and the Internet?
Are the allegedly high rates of depression accurate?
As an introvert, how do I develop connections with others?
On their homepage, the podcast is #203 - Link to Website
Sugar Calling - “Joyful Participation in a World of Sorrows”
Pico Iyer is a journalist, memoirist and travel writer extraordinaire.
Pico tells the story of losing his home to a forest fire in the early ’90s, and the unexpected lessons in that loss. “I feel we have much more power over how we respond to the world than we suspect.”
Jacqueline Novogratz on Building Acumen, How to (Actually) Change the World, Speaking Your Truth, and the Incredible Power of “Dumb” Questions
This is a truly inspiring interview with Jacqueline Novogratz. An amazing lady with an incredible ability to explain moral leadership for this world.
“We’re taught that there are bad people and good people, monsters and angels. And yet the truth of the matter is that monsters and angels live in every single one of us. Monsters are our broken parts. They are our petty fears, our insecurities, the grievances that grow.”
She is also written a book called: Manifesto for a Moral Revolution: Practices to Build a Better World.
Footnote
Podcasts have been a life-saver over lockdown. It’s worth keeping up the habit in your commute, 10 minutes here, 5 minutes there…. What is important in all this experience is knowing how the information you receive over your day influences how you feel, act and make decisions. Choose wisely. Pick what is truly nourishing for your soul and don’t be ashamed to say no to those things that don’t. Being selective is not naivity but wisdom! Be proud of choosing what is best for you!