Podcast: My top tips on listening to your favorite podcasts. (Part 1)
My top tips on listening to your favorite podcasts. Today I am taking a little break from my family photography blog topics to talk about podcasts and how they have revolutionized my life, creative journey, and business. This is the first in a multi-part series on how I listen to podcasts and why you should too. I’m also sharing some of my top recommended podcasts in various categories.
Why listen to a podcast?
Need to feel inspired, uplifted or encouraged? Look no further than your podcast app on your phone to find any type of inspiration or specific content that you need. Regardless of whether you are a creative looking to be inspired, an entrepreneur, a political junky, or just want to dive deeper into a subject like photography, there is a podcast (actually several) waiting for you.
With the 5000+ podcasts online today it is easy to become overwhelmed with all of the noise. Many don’t even know where to start so they choose not to listen at all. I get it. I have been actively listening to podcasts since 2015 and I am still blown away by how much the content has exploded over the past few years. Now every author, speaker, business leader and random Joe seems to have a podcast.
1. Choose the right podcast app.
My top tips on listening to your favorite podcasts. I personally love the podcasting app Overcast. This app allows you to curate playlist based on your topics, change the speed at which you listen to your podcasts and customize features for individual podcasts. I switched to this app from the Apple Podcasting app earlier this year and it has completely changed my podcasting experience.
2. Create playlists based on your topics
I find that it is easiest to listen to similar types of podcasts in succession. My old strategy was to listen to them in the order that they were released. A fun light-hearted interview on a mom podcast would then be followed by hard-hitting news and then a well-meaning entrepreneur who tell me I needed to Crush It. It was exhausting.
With curated playlists, you can determine what types of topics you are in the mood for and when you want to listen to those particular podcasts. For example, starting your day off with a news summary or political podcast and ending it with a fun light-hearted interview or photography podcast allows you to be in control. You can customize and curate what you hear through your earbuds according to your mood. It talk-radio in the new millennium.
My currently five podcast playlist titles include News/Politics, Faith, Photography, Business, and Lifestyle. I will share how and when I listen to each of these in a future blog post.
3. Save your precious time, speed up your listening to 1.5 or higher.
Ok! The best and most life-changing tip was saved for last. Once you have the right app and a rocking playlist you will want to listen more and more. But looking at a podcast list with 3 one hour plus podcasts on it can seem daunting. Try listening at 1.25X the speed to start off with. The normal talking speed for a podcast is painfully slow and your mind will probably start to wonder. If you speed up your podcasts to 1.25X or higher then you will be forced to concentrate. I thought my husband was crazy when he first suggested it but it works amazingly well! Try it for yourself!
I have been upping my speed over time and currently listen to most podcasts at 1.5X. I love all of the quality content that I can learn from the talented photographer, business leaders and faith-based leaders on my playlists.
Now that you have your app downloaded, some playlists created and your speed increased we can dive deeper into some specific podcasts. I will be back in some future posts to share my top podcast picks for each specific playlists. Happy listening!
SENIOR | FAMILY | NEWBORN | SCHOOLS
Shelly Niehaus Photography is a Prosper, TX-based senior and family photographer. I specialize in newborns, seniors, family, and school portrait photography in the Dallas Fort Worth area. I also offer adoption photography for local families through the Red Thread Organization and volunteer for The Gold Hope Project. For more information please contact me so we can start discussing your session.
