PodWHAT?
Or the moment I fell in love with Podcasts.
Listen to the audio here. Or just keep reading. Audio and text are not quite the same though. So you might as well do both.
I made an assumption. I thought by now everyone knows what a Podcast is. But why should they? I also only learned about Podcasts by accident.
I discovered Podcasts around 2011/2012.
A lonely lunch break in smoggy Beijing. Me playing around with my recently acquired Iphone — yep, late adopter right there. I had my first email address in the late 90ies and my first laptop sometime around 2005.
So there I was, with the fork in my right hand working on the salad in front of me while with the left hand scrolling through the Apps on my new phone. One of them was called Podcasts.
PodWHAT? I opened the App, and my life changed. Instantly.
I discovered all these great shows. There were so many topics to choose from. I browsed through the Podcast store and thought to myself:
Did I accidently pay for an expensive membership to use this App?
I could not believe it was free. But it was. And it still is.
I quickly became addicted. Addicted looking for Podcasts I loved.
From that moment on, Podcasts kept me company when I was on the commute and on those lonely lunch breaks.
Nowadays I enjoy my favorite shows while pushing our baby girl in the stroller on yet another attempt to get her to nap. I also love listening on flights and the rare occasions when I have difficulty falling asleep. Yes, there are even shows for that. Einschlafen Podcast, a German show, actually one of the most popular ones in the German iTunes store.
Whenever I listen to episodes I instantly make connections, thinking of someone in my circle that could enjoy and learn from that episode as well.
There is another reason why I am so passionate about Podcasts.
Podcasts keep me sane.
Especially in the moments when I feel a bit overwhelmed, be it with work, be it with living abroad or being a Mum.
It is comforting to know my favourite Podcasts are just a click away.
Like these that keep me in awe when it comes to inspiring entrepreneurial stories.
Monocle 24: The Entrepreneur
StartUp Podcast by Gimlet
Voom Podcast Especially the episodes hosted by the brilliant Nikki Bedi
Or this one that I love listening to when I want to relax
Desert Island Discs presented by Kirsty Young, another fabulous host
Or this one that makes motherhood a bit less daunting
I don’t know how she does it from the Mamamia group. I have to thank my sweet friend Róise for introducing me to this show.
And of course, this one that keeps me informed
Last but not least, the very first radio show I fell in love with a bit over 20 years ago, my audio connection to my beautiful home in Austria
Ö3 Frühstück bei mir with Claudia Stöckl (in “Austrian” German, yep, there’s a difference). I actually dedicated a special recording to Claudia here.
If you are new to Podcasts you might want to give it a try.
I guarantee you there is a show out there for you that you end up loving and that will change your life, just the way so many Podcasts out there have changed mine.
Want to start browsing for your favourite shows?
You can do so on the iTunes Podcast App for Iphone and Apps like Podcast Addict on Android.
If you are interested in social impact topics feel free to check out #impact Podcast on iTunes or on www.hashtagimpact.com
