Five leadership podcasts for your commute to work

Podcasts have been steadily growing in popularity for years now, and their growth shows no sign of stopping. The first modern podcast was launched in 2003. Today, around one-third of Australians have listened to a podcast, with 17% listening to them on a monthly or more frequent basis.

Now that almost everyone has a mobile phone and a data plan that allows them to download or stream audio, it’s no surprise that there’s a podcast for every mood – whether you want comedy, drama or breaking news.

For busy professionals, podcasts also offer a convenient way to learn while on the go. Professional development podcasts exist for almost every industry, and many have broad cross-industry appeal. Leadership podcasts can be particularly valuable, containing tips and theories on leadership as well as real-world stories from leaders who’ve been there. We’ve put together five of the best for you to add to your daily commute.

1.  The Learning Leader Show with Ryan Hawk

Hawk interviews a wide range of business leaders as well as those who lead in other contexts. Athletes, military leaders and academics all appear on the show alongside the titans of private enterprise.

In his interviews, he draws out the different strengths and approaches of his interview subjects, and looks at overarching themes of success and ambition. Whether it’s teamwork, personal motivation or work-life balance you want to learn about, there’s an episode of this global podcast that will suit you.

2. This Is Your Life with Michael Hyatt

If you’re feeling overwhelmed or struggling to prioritise, This Is Your Life is the podcast to add to the playlist. It’s dedicated to intentional leadership, with a focus on living and working with passion. Hyatt talks about setting goals, examining the internal barriers between you and success, what shapes character and many more topics.

It’s a great tool for focusing on your own strengths and challenges and doing the work to get yourself to the next step. The personal development focus makes it just as useful for new and aspiring leaders as for those who are already at the top of their field.

3. Accelerate! with Andy Paul

Andy Paul is a sales leader, and Accelerate! is focused on sales and marketing. It also looks at how leadership is influential in building up one’s business, as well as the neuroscience of decision making and how that affects management styles.

Building relationships, using charisma and influencing people are all part and parcel of influence, which is essential to leadership. This one is essential to business leaders who want to grow their businesses, and equally valuable to people who just want to understand what motivates others.

4. NPR’s How I Built This with Guy Raz

Guy Raz has an entertaining interview style – he also hosts a science podcast for children – which encourages his guests to relax into their storytelling. The subject of this fascinating podcast is how businesses are built. He’s interviewed everyone from Richard Branson of Virgin to Michael Dell of Dell Computers. Hearing how these entrepreneurs overcame periods of adversity to break through and build something amazing is as fascinating as it is informative. Anyone who owns a business or who dreams of doing so should consider this one a can’t-miss.

5. Recode Decode with Kara Swisher

Swisher is a legend of the tech world, and deservedly so. She’s interviewed anyone who’s anyone in Silicon Valley, from tech innovators to business giants. She’s famous for a straight shooter interviewing style that’s backed by thorough and in-depth research. The result is that she gets insights and details from her interview subjects that may have never come out anywhere else.

Described by Forbes as “required listening for any MBA candidate”, Swisher’s podcast offers broad appeal, even to those unconnected to the tech world. She delves into movements and new ideas in tech, the leadership decisions behind the way businesses are structured, the ethical obligations of leaders to the world and much more.
If you’re already a podcast listener, we recommend adding these to your playlist as soon as possible. If you aren’t, they’re the perfect place to start.

What are your favourite podcasts? We’re already looking for something new to listen to, so share with us in the comments!
This article was written by Tanya Ashworth-Keppel on behalf of the Australian Institute of Business. All opinions are that of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of AIB. The following sources were used to compile this article: Edison Research, Recode Decode, Forbes, NPR’s How I Built This, The Learning Leader Show, This Is Your Life and Andy Paul.