Resolve to Expand Your Mind

Resolve to Expand Your Mind

Podcasts as a Pragmatic Tool for Continuous Learning

As we close out 2022 and step forward into 2023, many of us are undoubtedly thinking of what new year resolutions we are going to adopt, or at least what changes we might make while we’re encouraged by the newness of the year. I am not unlike the majority of my friends and colleagues whose success in sticking to resolutions made for each new year has been limited, at best.?

So a couple of years ago, I reframed my goals and desires for myself in the new year as intentions rather than resolutions. Realizing that in the past my resolutions ended up being more like stretch goals than readily attainable targets, I decided to think more about what overall attitudes I would adopt and what behaviors I would engage in, in support of my intentions for the new year.

One of the intentions I decided to embrace last year was to proactively engage in expanding my mind whenever and wherever possible. In today’s world – for work and for life outside of work, equally – the ability to learn is critical, and the drive to continuously learn is essential.?

“Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death.” – Albert Einstein

Change is constant and relentless, and seemingly accelerating, across many dimensions – technology, society, politics, economy, culture, and more. I don’t believe that any individual can predict every change that we will encounter, but I do believe that those who are curious, open-minded and driven to continuously learn, will be the ones best prepared for the future. In fact, they are the ones most likely that will have a hand in creating the future.

Personally, I also recognized that I am often happiest when I am learning new things or exploring new ideas. The surface area of my interests is vast, and with so much information and knowledge available at our fingertips, the opportunities for learning are seemingly endless.?

But, we often cast time as the enemy in the narratives we craft for ourselves. I know I have been guilty of this. “I would love to learn more about [insert area of interest] but I just don’t have the time between work, taking care of my family, trying to stay healthy, travel, social obligations, and….” This is the refrain many of us have spoken, whether aloud to friends or silently to ourselves.?

When time is in such short supply, articles you want to read get opened as one of a hundred tabs in your browser only to be eventually lost when you are forced to reboot. I have several bookmark folders labeled “TO READ” that contain articles and websites I still have yet to read.?

Recognizing the reality of limited time, I looked for pragmatic ways to enact my intention for personal growth. One solution I have found and really taken to in the past year is learning via podcasts. Clearly, podcasts are not some novel and innovative development of the past year. However, I had never really invested time into exploring them, so to me 2022 was a year of discovery and revelation.?

There are literally millions of podcasts available today, with tens of millions of episodes available for listening. The range of topics one can explore is immense, and more and more content continues to be created daily. Podcasts have become a great way for me to satisfy my curiosity and my intellectual ambitions, while engaged simultaneously in another activity such as going for a walk, driving to pick up kids, or working out. I’ve even listened to podcasts while chopping vegetables and preparing dinner. Accessing the content is simple. All I need are my mobile phone, a popular podcast platform (my go to choices are Spotify, Google Podcasts or Apple Podcasts) and a pair or Bluetooth earbud headphones (that is, unless I’m driving or chopping vegetables).?

Given the amount of value I have derived from podcasts this past year, I wanted to share some of the podcasts that have helped me live up to my intention of expanding my mind:?

The Hidden Brain - A show that explores the unconscious patterns that drive human behavior and questions that lie at the heart of our complex and changing world. Hosted by the award-winning social / cognitive science journalist Shankar Vedantam.

Grit - A show that explores what it takes to create, build, and scale world-class organizations, featuring weekly episodes highlighting the leaders who are pushing their companies to make a difference. Interviews hosted by Joubin Mirzadegan, Operating Partner at VC firm Kleiner Perkins.

A Bit of Optimism - Simon Sinek’s weekly podcast exploring life, love and leadership with inspiring guests from many walks of life.

TED Talks Daily - The latest talks from the TED stage(s), spanning a range of topics, hosted by journalist Elise Hu.

Daring to Lead - Bestselling author and professor Brené Brown’s podcast that is “a mix of solo episodes and conversations with change-catalysts, culture-shifters, and as many troublemakers as possible.”

ReThinking - Organizational psychologist and bestselling author Adam Grant’s show that features “lively discussions and debates with some of the world's most interesting thinkers, creators, achievers, and leaders.”

Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques - A show where Stanford GSB’s Matt Abrahams sits down with leading experts to discuss real-world challenges in communicating effectively.

HBR IdeaCast - A weekly podcast from Harvard Business Review featuring the leading thinkers in business and management.

My selection above reveals an obvious preference for a mix of psychology, cognitive science, leadership, technology, entrepreneurship and innovation topics, but there is so much more out there for practically every interest. Episodes from these podcast shows have been incredibly interesting to me and I feel I’ve always learned something, discovered a new perspective or become aware of new ideas from each of them. I continue to subscribe to these shows and expect I will very likely discover more podcasts to follow and listen to in 2023.?

As you think about what new challenges or behaviors you might want to embrace in 2023, I encourage you to consider adding podcasts to your routine. There is so much great learning to be had.?

If you have podcasts you love that you’d like to share, please add them in the comments below.

Wishing you all a very happy new year! Let us all look forward to new growth and new heights in 2023!