Happy Friday, friends! I’m VERY excited about today’s post because it’s been on my list of topics to tackle for weeks. As some of you may remember, I rounded up my favorite podcasts about wellness, self development, and entrepreneurship last year, but that was really just the beginning of my love for this new way of consuming information.

If you’re new around here, Serial was the first podcast I listened to – and it was the only one I ever followed regularly. Then last year, I discovered Almost 30 and loved those girls immediately. From there, I started branching out into other inspiring podcasts or funny ones my friends recommended. And now, I have a whole list of podcasts I subscribe to! It’s really become one of my favorite ways to learn about what’s going on in the world.

So today, I thought I’d focus on my favorite/the best podcasts in my book! These are the ones that I put on when I’m walking Luna or running errands or even editing photos at home. Let’s dive in!

THE BEST PODCASTS 2019

Best News Podcasts:

The Daily

Hands down, this is my favorite news podcast. There are 5 episodes a week, and each one tackles a specific topic for about 20-30 minutes. Instead of hearing about big topics in the news without fully understanding it, The Daily breaks it down so it’s really digestible, while still remaining really thorough. You’ve probably seen me share episodes of this in my stories on Instagram before – I recommend it to everyone!

Up First

I like to start each day with Up First because it’s always available as soon as I’m up! In under 15 minutes, they quickly update you on the biggest stories in the news that day. It’s so convenient!

Skimm This

This is another under 15-minute fave, but instead of listening to it at the beginning of the day, it recaps everything at the end of the day! Each episode is posted around 5 pm, so it’s great to pair with Up First to make sure you don’t miss anything big.

Best Political Podcasts:

Okay hi, this section is when you find out that I lean quite left these days! SURPRISE! Just kidding, I’m sure it’s not that surprising based on the occasional acknowledgment of things happening in our country/the world right now. On that note, I am very aware that these 2 podcasts also lean to the left, so no need to call that out to me 😉 (While shaming isn’t welcome, suggestions for more bipartisan ones you like are!) I try to form my own opinions about things and I don’t always agree with everything said on these podcasts, but here’s why I like them…

Pantsuit Politics

This is my favorite one by FAR, because these ladies understand that political conversations are nuanced. Not all conservatives are bad and not all liberals are bad! It’s so easy right now to judge caricatures of each side, but the truth is that few things are black and white. While both ladies lean to the left now due to Trump’s administration, the podcast started with one registered democrat and one registered republican. 

Pod Save America

Pod Save America is hosted by four former aides to President Obama, so you shouldn’t be shocked that this one is pretty liberal. That being said, they do a great job of breaking down issues, current events, policies, and they often spotlight ways to help or get involved. They also have in depth interviews with each of the Presidential candidates which I’ve found very helpful!

Best Lifestyle Podcasts:

Second Life

My FAVORITE! Hillary Kerr (co-founder of Who What Wear) interviews some of the COOLEST women around, all of which have made some sort of change throughout their professional career. I love that their stories cover so many different industries, and shifts at so many different ages – truly proving that there is always more to learn and it’s never too late to try something new. I honestly couldn’t love it more. It’s the best.

Bad On Paper

This is kind of a new discovery for me and I am obsessed. I’ve been reading Grace Atwood’s blog for years, so it’s really fun to “get to know her” better though this podcast – and her co-host Becca seems like such a gem, too. I’ve started getting all of my reading recommendations from these gals (they’re always good), but the podcast is about so much more than books. My favorite episodes are usually interviews (the episodes with Eliza Licht and the Of a Kind ladies are great!), but I also loved their conversation about your 20’s vs. your 30’s. They all feel like a chat with your girlfriends (even though we’ve never met in real life ?).

Almost 30

LOVE these girls, too! I actually met Lindsey and Krista when they did an event here in Chicago. Now I feel like I know them. These ladies are so fun to listen to and they cover SO many different wellness topics. From the very trendy and hippy dippy to extremely practical things we should all know about our health. It’s how I found out about Flex and Kopari – two brands I’m obsessed with now! Highly recommend if you’re into wellness.

The Betchelor

As many of you know, I got sucked into this past season of The Bachelorette in a major way. All the Luke and Jed drama were so fascinating to me and I couldn’t help myself. But since none of my friends watch the show, I had no one to talk to about it! Enter: The Betchelor. Guys, this breakdown is hilarious. It’s co-hosted by an NYC gal named Kay and a former Bachelorette/Bachelor in Paradise contestant Derek (the one who looks exactly like John Krasinski ?). It cracks me up so much because Derek gives some real insights into what it’s like to be on the show, while also making fun of it incessantly. It’s a great little escape from the real world.

*I also listened to The Wright Reasons for a bit during Hannah’s season.  I love that it’s hosted by real relationship therapists. But I don’t think I can keep up with 2 different Bachelor podcasts regularly. 

Best Podcasts for Bloggers

Food Blogger Pro Podcast

Pinch of Yum has been one of my favorite blogs for a very long time (still one of the best!). Even though I haven’t officially enrolled in their Food Blogger Pro course, their blog posts and podcast episodes are incredibly helpful! Honestly, even if food isn’t your niche, they cover SO many helpful aspects of running a website, from SEO to photography to social media.

LikeToKnow.It Radio

This is a new one and I’m into it! They’ve had some really great guests so far – definitely recommend the episodes with Jenn Lake and Ashley Torres!

The Influencer Podcast with Julie Solomon

A lot of her episodes are titled as How-To’s, but I love that Julie really encourages bloggers/influencers to use their own unique voice. It’s a mix of concrete things you can do, while also challenging her followers to do the work. Not only turn their hustle into a business but also really hone in on what type of blogger they want to be!

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Are there any others you’d add to your ‘Best Podcasts 2019’ list? 

Also, I wanted to keep each category short and sweet – but would you be interested in more podcast roundup posts? For example, a list dedicated to my (and YOUR!) favorite podcasts about the news, career, pop culture, wellness, etc? Let me know if you’d be into that or if this suffices 😉 Thanks!

PS. You might also like more Podcasts about Wellness, Entrepreneurship, and Self Development and The Best Binge Worthy Shows.