Keeping up with what’s going on in the world can be difficult — What’s even reliable these days?! — as well as depressing (self-explanatory). Plus, your time is limited, and who the heck wants to spend their spare moments learning about others’ hobbies, proclivities and whatnot?
I totally get all these questions, but I also have only one response: money.
Though there are certainly many great, humanizing and heartwarming aspects to working online, the fact still remains that webcam is not charity. You are here to make money, which gets closer to happening when you connect with clients and members. One sure-fire way to connect with many people is via interesting conversation — and knowing stuff is key when looking to spark up compelling chats with new people.
One way to up your “knowing stuff” repertoire is via podcasts. Next time you are hanging out online, pop on a podcast. Even if it’s not your thing, you may learn a thing or two that will help you engage someone down the line. This is all well and good, but where does one find good podcasts? From lists other people compile, of course!
Wired recently published a curated list of 38 best podcasts for curious minds. Their selections cover technology, culture, science, politics and “new ideas.” Here are a few I found especially interesting:
1. How Did This Get Made?
Have you ever sat through a movie so terrible that you genuinely don’t understand how it can exist? How Did This Get Made? covers this exact topic. If you enjoy poking fun at ridiculous films (and some classics, like Glitter — how dare they?!), this is for you. The hosts and guest stars give you a really accurate synopsis of the most terrible movies ever made, in the midst of incredibly humorous commentary.
2. Stuff You Should Know
How many times have you taken a pub quiz and wished you had better general knowledge about…stuff? If the answer is “often,” then Stuff You Should Know is a podcast for you. From telling you how the sun, ketchup and magic mushrooms work to explaining why we guess, swear and itch, every episode is engaging and will leave you feeling more knowledgeable than before.
3. Note to Self
Host Manoush Zomorodi hunts for the smart choices that will help you live and think more productively. She speaks to an array of people, including tech industry leaders and school teachers, to try to ascertain how technology can better influence our lives. Answering questions such as Can your phone make you better in bed? and Are your kids real?, the subjects are always surprising and the answers even more so.
4. A Stab in the Dark
UKTV has launched a new, six-part podcast series called A Stab in the Dark. Hosted by crime novelist Mark Billingham, this podcast looks into the worlds of crime fiction and TV crime drama. It’s an excellent dive into the world of the crime genre, and I really only have two words: Cormoran Strike.
5. Invisibilia
Invisibilia explores the invisible forces behind human nature. The third series released this year – the concept album – questions how “real” our reality is. Over seven episodes, the hosts tell stories of unusual behaviors and explain them with science.
These are just a few that spoke to me. Check out “Wired’s pick of the best podcasts for curious minds” right here, and see which ones appeal to you.
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Erika is a sex positive people watcher (and writer). Email her at erika@ynotcam.com.
Image via Del Clarkson.
