Using Podcasts to Break Up the Silence

I have a dream to own a business. I’m working on this dream now, and while it’s exciting, I’d be lying if I said that it was all rainbows and butterflies. One of my biggest challenges is loneliness. I am the only one working on my business right now and I’ve entered a new type of work environment in which I can’t turn to a colleague at 5pm on Friday and say, “Hey, let’s grab a glass of wine; we worked hard this week.” I have no one to ask except my cat.

As a result, I have adopted a new habit to help me adapt to my new work environment: podcasts. Podcasts are online radio shows hosted by someone about a specific topic. They can be streamed and downloaded via iTunes, or through an app such as Downcast. Here are my top three favorite podcasts to listen to for motivation, inspiration, and business-know-how. I think you’ll like them, and if you’re a solopreneur like me, then they may help you feel more socially engaged during the workday.

  • The Lively Show – After a few years of running her own jewelry business (which she started before graduating college) and doing business consulting on the side, Jess Lively entered into a new phase of life and began to focus on what she called “uppercase-V Values.” These Values are what Jess believes define our life’s intentions and allow us to live a life of joy, peace and uniquely-defined fulfillment both personally and professionally. She interviews guests from all walks of life and business; the theme is that all live in accordance to their values and have gone through great personal transformation to do so. I listen every week to be inspired and reassured that what my goals are possible.
  • The Fizzle Show – Three hilarious gentlemen who all make their living in online business created an online community called Fizzle to support budding creative entrepreneurs. Their podcast is free for everyone (you don’t have to be a Fizzle member), and I’ve gotten a lot of value from it. Topics range from how to define and identify an audience, how to build a product, and how to know when to move on from a project that isn’t going the way you had hoped. You come for the business advice but stay for the laughs with this podcast.
  • Market Foolery – This podcast focuses on that lovely m-word: money. By wanting to start my own business, I have to be comfortable with the language of money and though I took finance classes in school, they taught me about theory rather than real-life situations. Enter Market Foolery. This podcast is hosted by “fools” who work at Motley Fool, a company that analyzes the stock market and teaches people how to invest better. Market Foolery discusses the top business and investing stories of the day and does so in easy-to-swallow language. These podcasts motivate me to dream big. All companies listed on the S&P or NYSE started out small and likely with the idea of one or two people. If they can do it, why not me one day?

 

Call me Meghan. As I sit down to introduce myself, I can’t help but wonder why I named my blog, megbollenback.com.   Perhaps it was born out of a moment of rebellion or just a symbol of change and trying something new. To bring you into my world, in Fall 2014 I effectively retired from my corporate career, running operations for a high growth healthcare start-up company. Prior to that, I spent some time working in the hospitality industry. Since the fall, I’ve started my latest journey and adventure as a writer and creative professional in Washington, D.C.  I blog about food, life and am starting to discuss the process I’m going through to intentionally craft a lifestyle and career that I value and find joy in. I’ll be sharing thoughts on that process here at CAKE&WHISKEY and look forward to sharing my perspective on the sweet and spirited side of business.  And honestly, I answer to Meg, too.
Blog: www.megbollenback.com, Facebook: www.facebook.com/megbollenback, Instagram: MegBollenback, Twitter: @megbollenback

3 thoughts on “Using Podcasts to Break Up the Silence

  1. Pingback: Friday Fancies

  2. Thank you so much for sharing The Lively Show among these other great podcasts! It’s wonderful to hear you are getting so much inspiration for your own Values out of the episodes. : )

    Love,
    Jess!

  3. Pingback: Hello, and welcome back! - Meghan Bollenback

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