New podcasts pop up daily. It’s difficult to wade through the noise and find the nuggets to move the needle in your life and business. These lifelong learners and advisors in The Oracles share the most informative podcast episodes they’ve ever heard.
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1. “Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History,” Episode 50: Blueprint For Armageddon
This episode sheds a great deal of light on World War I, which is a personal nightmare of mine. Carlin does a great job conveying how heinous, awful, destructive and inhumane it was — so it’s an important podcast to listen to for perspective.
I want to hear from someone who was there. First-person accounts of war, atrocities and human suffering are much more impactful and human than from someone else’s perspective. Carlin weaves together many first-person sources from history very effectively and has been an inspiration for my podcast.
—Jocko Willink, retired U.S. Navy SEAL officer, #1 NYT bestselling author, co-founder of Echelon Front, partner in Origin USA, and host of the top-rated “Jocko Podcast”
2. “The Tim Ferriss Show,” Episode 44: How To Avoid Decision Fatigue
In this episode, Ferriss talks about the brain science behind decision fatigue. When people have too many choices, they’ll actually choose nothing at all. So instead of offering a client 20 different products, stick to three or fewer and you’ll have a higher conversion rate.
This directly impacted my business because when I speak on stage, I offer products and services. So instead of offering my entire product line to the audience, I bundle them based on the audience so there are only two to three total offers. For example, if I’m speaking at a real estate event, the audience wants to learn how to invest in real estate. So I’ll only offer specific real estate content, not “general” business training. Then I’ll create several price point options. Maybe I’d start with an online course (cheapest), then offer a live event (larger investment), and then offer coaching (largest investment). That way it’s one topic, three options and three price points. The takeaway is: Don’t try to be something to everyone.
—Cole Hatter, full-time dad and husband, part-time owner of five seven-figure businesses, investor, and founder of Thrive: Make Money Matter; follow Cole on Instagram
Related: 7 Reasons Your Small Business Needs a Podcast
3. “The Ed Mylett Show,” Tom Bilyeu: The Quest To Make An Impact
There are outstanding lessons with Jay Shetty on “Cultivate a Monk Mindset” (EP. 608 of the “Lewis Howes School of Greatness Podcast”) and Tim Story on EP. 89 of “Grant Cardone’s Power Players Podcast.” However, the most informative, mindset-altering episode on any podcast I’ve heard to date is with Tom Bilyeu’s, The Quest To Make An Impact, on “The Ed Mylett Show.”
I could write a full article on the nuggets of solid gold in this interview. But I will leave you with just one: There is a real world equivalent to “Jacking into the Matrix,” and it’s called: reading.
If you read, you gain insight and knowledge quickly. It’s essentially the key lessons of someone’s life distilled down into something you can consume in a week. What stands out to me is the simplicity of this logic: By taking the time to read and consume these lessons, tactics and shortcuts, you can upgrade your mindset rapidly.
Think about it: These podcasts deliver the knowledge of the “best of the best leaders” in a distilled audible version you can listen to on the go. Be grateful for those out there giving information so freely to help our world advance. More importantly, strive to become one of the leaders inspiring the next generation.
Knowledge is power: Consume it and share it.
—Matt Mead, founder and CEO of EpekData and BrandLync, divisions of Mead Holdings Group, Inc.
4. “GaryVee,” Document, Don’t Create
Social media has created a problem. Fans wish they had the lives of influencers, and influencers are under pressure to constantly “create” to please their fans. The problem is, you only have one life. If you don’t portray who you really are, you’re going to fail long term. When I first started sharing content on YouTube, I was creating a persona based on what I thought would sell rather than just being myself. While this skyrocketed my sales and popularity in the short term, it had a negative effect on my happiness. I wasn’t portraying who I really was.
Gary Vaynerchuk’s podcast on Document, Don’t Create changed my life forever. Creating can be great — but only for ads and short-term attention. Documenting is how you build a real, authentic personal brand that inspires, builds trust, and creates loyal fans. Now my business strategy involves a healthy balance of documenting and creating, and it works. Create captivating or funny video ads for immediate attention. Then re-engage by documenting your authentic self to create life-long fans. That’s how to build your brand and still sleep at night.
—Cameron Fous, founder of FOUS4Trading, and host of #TheProfile for IKNK. Read about Fous: How a Tinder Date Inspired This Wolf of San Diego to Trade His Maserati for a Scooter. Follow on YouTube and Instagram
5. “The Tim Ferris Show,” Episode 329: Jason Fried — How To Live Life On Your Own Terms
Hearing Tim Ferriss and Jason Fried talk about living life on your own terms is the winner for me. This episode is like listening in on a fireside chat with two masters of building a truly unique life, business, and reality that is based on your terms. It’s a topic near and dear to me and a constant reminder that we can question the status quo.
We live in a world where our career and business options are only limited by our perceptions and creativity. Ferris has long championed the idea of lifestyle design and building a business to support your lifestyle. Fried built Basecamp (formerly 37signals) and embodies the concepts that Ferris champions. As someone who was massively impacted by Fried’s early work with “Getting Real,” “ReWork,” and the Signal v. Noise blog, it was amazing to hear what life looks like for him almost a decade later. It’s also encouraging that he’s still living and creating on his terms.
—Kenny Rueter, CEO and co-founder of Kajabi
6. “Today’s Growth: Growing Business Today,” Episode 5: Lightning Fast Growth
In this episode, Ken Courtright talks about how to grow any business lightning fast. I remember listening to this podcast several times, then immediately going to my desk to get to work. He gives specific, easy, and eye-opening tips that you can implement immediately. For example, he talks about partnering with other businesses to endorse each other in creative ways. But you have to do this with the right people, so he provides specific questions to ask so you can find them.
Episode 12 is also full of tips to grow your business, including how to become an author. (Courtright is a best-selling author in addition to being the founder and CEO of The Income Store). The whole podcast is great for efficiency and productivity, with tons of tips that truly work.
—Amy Novakovich, co-founder and CEO of Nova Wealth Management, which serves businesses, families, athletes, and entertainers; host of “The Nova Wealth Show”
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7. Any episode of “More Cheese Less Whiskers” By Dean Jackson
My brain is always coming up with ideas. If you’re an entrepreneur, you’re probably the same. But which ideas do we take action on and which do we put in the “not now” pile? This podcast gives a ton of clarity about answering that question.
I’m not a big podcast guy, so it’s hard for one to impress me. “More Cheese Less Whiskers” is the only one I subscribe to. Jackson has the most lucid marketing mind I’ve ever seen.
—Jason Capital, White House top 100 entrepreneur under 30, bestselling author, high-income coach, online marketing expert, and founder of High Status; connect with Jason on Instagram
8. “The Joe Rogan Experience,” Episode 910: Gary Vaynerchuk
Vaynerchuk’s insights in this episode relate to almost everyone. For example, he says it’s important to learn from those who are experts and have actually done what they teach. Becoming self-aware is also tremendously powerful. Understanding yourself in all situations, from business to relationships, will lead to a happier life. Gratitude is the key to becoming successful. Negative thoughts never lead to a positive outcome.
From a marketing perspective, Vaynerchuk discusses how voice technology will be huge in the next few years. Well-known brands will die if they rely on traditional TV advertising rather than adopt a “digital marketing first” mentality.
—Richard Blankenship, co-founder of ESP Gaming and Senior Vice President of Poker Central’s Business Development
Originally published on Forbes.com. ©2018 by Forbes Media LLC. All rights reserved.
