Cheat Sheet: Podcasts on Creativity, Business & Entrepreneurship

As you already know from my previous Cheat Sheet of Podcasts for Art and Culture Lovers I am kind of obsessed with the format of podcasts. I really think that a good conversation can lead to new ways of thinking and enable the feeling of “connecting-the-dots”. Storytelling is a very powerful tool to connect with people, share a wider truth and eventually empower others. There lies a certain degree of unpredictability in conversation, while immersed in the talking not even the speaker knows, what wider truth might be formed through his or her words. This is the moment where a transformational magic happens in the speaker and listener.

Maria Popova from brainpickings quotes from the wonderful piece “Telling is listening” by Ursula K. Le Guin: “Words are events, they do things, change things. They transform both speaker and hearer; they feed energy back and forth and amplify it. They feed understanding or emotion back and forth and amplify it.”

Here my podcast recommendations and some favorite episodes.

Design Matters

Debbie Millman, the host of the show, is a multifaceted person. Her bio tells you she is a writer, educator, artist, and brand consultant. What this impressive list misses is that she is a wonderful listener. The power of this podcast is that she connects with her guests on a very personal level. She is not afraid to share her vulnerability and enables others to take a seat in this safe space. It has been so difficult to stop myself from not sharing all the episodes.

Debbie Millman talks to Alison Bechdel about how identifying herself as a lesbian when she was young lead her into a career as a cartoonist.

Debbie talks to Amanda about her wild and wandering path to the rock stage, and about how behind her artistic ambitions is the drive to feel real.

Debbie talks to photographer Brandon Stanton about his ongoing project "Humans of New York" and why total strangers open up to him.

Debbie talks to writer and illustrator Maira Kalman about how ordinary objects inspire her art, and about her collaborations with the likes of Mark Morris and Issac Mizrahi.

Unmistakable Creative

Being creative is a description of oneself but being an unmistakable creative is an attitude to life. The brain behind the podcast is Srini Rao who conducted over 600 interviews with thought leaders. I am still listening through the archive and can't wait to go back on my regular commutes.

Good Life Project

Jonathan Fields left the corporate world to get on a soul searching mission. On his quest he met with the most thought provoking people around the world. It is a true joy to see how the conversations unfold and you get insights on the treasures people learned in life: their values, beliefs and passions.

The Lively ShoW

Jess Lively is all about intention setting. Her last name is such a funny twist of destiny, it couldn't fit better as her show is so alive and joyful. While listening to her, one has the feeling to listen to a good friend. Her interviews touch topics around business, well-being, love and life.

The Tim Ferriss Show

I guess the easiest way to describe Tim Ferriss is that he isn't afraid to try things and then talk about them from a place of authentic truth. This might be his success secret behind everything he does. He wrote the bestseller "The 4-Hour Workweek". The show uses different formats, sometimes it's the host himself presenting his main takeaways of a certain topic and other times he interviews thought leaders about their tools, strategies and main things they've learned along the way. Even though a lot of topics deal with optimization, you will also find interviews that deal with a legacy and what people believe in.

She Percolates

This podcast attracted me through its byline "serving a fresh perspective on success". Jen Hatzung & Danielle Spurge believe success is an ever evolving concept - that it is different for everyone and each iteration is valid and worth celebrating! This approach is so refreshing in this "hustle hard" approach you can find among so many people, particularly in the entrepreneurial world.

Make it Happen

Jen Carrington shares stories, insights, and conversations to encourage and empower her listeners to make things happen in their creative life. It's about building a business on your own terms. When you listen to the show you will notice that Jen really tries to be aligned with her values, but does not pretend to have it all figured out. She has a really comforting way to approach important matters and really uplifts you.

The Couragemakers Podcast

This is Meg Kissack's labor of love. Her podcast is all about everyday courage, living a wholehearted life and dream chasing. You will find honest talks that aren't based on any BS. We live in a world that needs to celebrate the small victories and connect with people who are honest enough to tell you what they are figuring out. Imagine, how would the world look like with a little bit more courage?