The Podcast Playlist | This Week's Top 5 Podcast Episodes

Podcasting | Productive | Passion

Listening to podcasts has slowly turned into my "go-to." I listen to podcasts to laugh, learn, grow as an entrepreneur, and for the sports fix. Roughly, I will listen to 6-10 hrs of podcast per week. A little much but how I see it is "You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with." In that case I will just stick to the earbuds instead of listening to some guy complain about Mike Tomlin's offense. So this is the first edition of what I like to call the Podcast Playlist, consisting of my 5 favorite podcast I listened to this week. So here is my first week's starting 5: Design Matters 2014, The Tim Ferris Show, Entrepreneurship on Fire, Smart Passive Income Podcast, and Juan Epstein. 

1. Design Matters 2014 | Design Observer | Scott Lerman

Scott Lerman talks about his new book Building Better Brands: A Comprehensive Guide to Brand Strategy and Identity Development about brand strategy and how consumer research can innovate thinking. Lerman really gave great nuggets of information concerning how to create processes and action plans for your brand. The back and forth talk was at a high level with the verbiage but it was a golden episode that had influenced me to do several things with Inside the Athletic Grind.

2. The Tim Ferriss Show | Episode 15: Neil Strauss | Author of the Game

This pick may be a little biased because of how much I liked Tim Ferris prior to his podcast show. Time Ferris is a curious, intelligent, sponge who gives his guests the platform to speak their skills and sets them up to dive deep into theories, strategies, beliefs, and concepts. This episode Ferris and Strauss talk the evolution of Neil Strauss writing process. Neil is a diverse author who creatively has written for the Rolling Stones, New York Times, and 7-time on the New York Best Seller lists. 

A few strong takeaways from this episode was:

-How to overcome writer's block.

-How to evaluate and edit your writing.

-How to become a master interviewer.

3. Entrepreneurship on Fire | Episode 684: Deb Ingino

John Lee Dumas aka MY DUDE! Talk about a grind this guy does a podcast with an industry leader everyday and grabs the best nuggests out of them. I have been inspired by John to attacck my podcast journey. He and also Pat Flynn have paved the way for the guys who do not know much and put it so simply. But in this episode John, as always, pulls the best out of Deb Ingino- who created start up teams in 17 countries that was focused on maximizing each of the teammates strengths. 

Stats on Deb:

"Deb has shepherded the training of more than 1,000 global team members in 7 languages. This work enabled Marchon to grow in value from $50M to well over $500M. She was recognized in 2008 and 2010 by the Long Island Business News as one of the “50 Most Influential Women in Business.”

4. The Smart Passive Income Podcast | Episode 125: Small Secrets to Stay Mentally Focused and at the Top of Our Entrepreneurial Game

Pat Flynn just like John Lee Dumas has produced elite content that has become the go-to source in the podcasting and blogging industry for aspiring entrepreneurs. How Pat stands out from other podcasters is his ability to go into interviews with curiousity, no notes, and a genuine heart. Recently in a natural slow process Pat has been striving to become ore healthier for his productivity and his family, and this episode fits right with what he is striving for: Staying Mentally Focused.

In this episode, Pat was not the only one to blow me away but his guest Shawn Stevenson, host of the Model Health Show(#1 Nutrition and Fitness Podcast on ITUNES. Shawn talks about the misconceptions in the health and fitness industry, small changes to make for big results, and the importance of fats. All of his points were supported by in-depth break dows making the way our body work sound so easy. 

5. Juan Epstein | Rosenberg Radio | Jermaine Dupri

Yes, you might be confused why I ended my top 5 with Hot 97's finest Cipha and Rosenberg. But these guys bring a dynamic and chemistry to podcasting that allows the top hip hop stars to relax and tell their stories. Being an avid hip-hop fan has led me to this podcast, but the most recent one with Jermaine Dupri was beyond comical. It was hip-hop.

What many people do not know is the impact that Jermaine Dupri had on the industry at such a young age. JD was making an impact at the age of 16 when he ran into Kris Kross in the mall(oh yeah they were 11!) JD never heard them perform and they never did perform but he said by the way they walked thru the mall made him want to work with them. And thats how Kriss Kross was made.(those 6XL backward jerseys tho were a little too much for me and Kris Kross. They could have fit their whole grade inside of those clothes.)

JD started out as that kid upstairs with bedroom dreams and didn't stop until he became the guy who put ATL on the map. 

Until next week try the playlist and start pursuing those dreams! Jump Jump.