Podcast Recommendations with Hollie Lawder

Today, readers, I am so happy to have one of my dearest friends from bookstagram here to guest post on Top Shelf Text! I mention Hollie on Instagram pretty often because we are actual twins. All of our tastes/habits/preferences align and we came to the conclusion a long time ago that we are the same person. Except for the fact that she lives in Canada, which automatically makes her cooler than me.

If you follow Hollie on Instagram @readingontherun, you may have noticed that she listens to tons of podcasts. After I kept seeing her mention them in her stories, I asked if she would consider doing a guest post for us here with recommendations for podcasts. I am so happy she agreed, and you can bet I've already downloaded a whole bunch of these to listen to this week while I'm at the gym!

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Hey there, bookish friends! My name is Hollie, and I am a total book worm. But another thing that I’m completely obsessed with is Podcasts. I love being able to learn something new, or topics that I am interested in. Being at home with my two kiddos right now, I have found that podcasts keep my mind stimulated, and make the mundane tasks of daily life fly by. If you have no idea where to get started, I did a blog post awhile ago on How to Start Listening to Podcasts.

Here is my list of favourite podcasts at the moment. Please feel free to reach out to me, I’d love to hear what you listen to as well!

Bookish Podcasts

What Should I Read Next?: 

Anne Bogel gets to know one lucky reader, who will share their three

favourite books, one they didn’t like so much, and what they would like to change in their reading life. From there Anne does some literary matchmaking and recommends three new books to the reader. It’s great! Every episode is worth listening to, but check out Ep. 72 which features Madeleine, and Ep. 1 with Jamie Golden.

Literary Disco: 

I just discovered this podcast, and have deep-dived the back catalogue! It’s smart, and so

entertaining. You hear Rider Strong (from Boy Meets World), Tod Goldberg (bestselling author), and

Julia Pistell talk books and bookish topics!

From the Front Porch: 

Meet the Bookshelf Thomasville staff, and owner Annie! They put out this

podcast on a weekly basis, and there is so much good about it. First off, Anne and Chris always have a hilarious intro, which is usually nothing to do with books. But one feature that they do on this podcast that I love is they always go over the books they read for the month. Get your TBR list ready!

The Librarian Is In: 

This is the New York Public Library’s podcast, and your hosts are Gwen and Frank. These two are super witty, and have a fun banter back and forth between them. They discuss what they have recently read, and different bookish topics each episode. Check out their latest Ep. The Right Book at The Right Time, on Roxane Gay’s memoir Hunger.

Professional Book Nerds: 

Like the title of this podcast says, these hosts are professional book nerds…who work at OverDrive. They chat to current authors, and discuss books that they have read recently. What I love about this podcast is that they ask the authors great questions, and a listener gets to hear the story behind the book. Check out Ep. 105 with George Saunders on Lincoln in the Bardo. It’s AMAZING!!!

Health Podcasts

The Runner’s Lifestyle Show: 

Whether you like to run or not, this podcast gives a listener amind/body/soul connection point. Kari interviews people from all walks of life, who can give you tips on how to live your best life. What I love about this podcast especially is the last segment, Serena a Registered Dietician, answers questions, and gives great tips!

Bulletproof Radio: 

Join Dave Asprey as he interviews professionals in their fields on what they know

best, and how it contributes and enhances your health. Super interesting, and very fact heavy, you will

walk away feeling educated and in control of the information that will benefit your life. Seriously, every person, male or female can find something that will interest them on this podcast. ! One episode that interested me a lot was Ep. 415: On Women’s Health, Post-Birth Control Syndrome, and Brain Injuries.

The Skinny Confidential Him and Her: 

Just a warning, this podcast has information that may not be appropriate to listen to with kiddos! The popular blogger Lauryn Evarts, and her husband Michael chat about health, relationships, blogging, and always has great tips to live a healthier life.

Lifestyle Podcasts

Sorta Awesome: 

This podcast is not just sorta awesome, it’s completely awesome!! Meg, and her

rotating co-hosts chat about everything from motherhood, books, to depression. I always end these

episodes feeling like I just had a great chat with my girlfriends. 

Every episode is awesome… pardon the pun!

The Simple Show: 

Topics include books, home, and travel with Tsh Oxenreider who has travelled the

world with kids, and written several books. The episodes flip flop back and forth between all these

topics with different co-hosts. Two episodes that I enjoyed are Ep. 33 Starting a Book Club, and Ep. 58 The World’s Most/Best cities.

The Next Right Thing: 

Bestselling author Emily P. Freeman recently released a new podcast, and it’s

wonderful. Her soothing voice will lull you into living your best life. Because it’s recently released… start from the beginning and subscribe to hear weekly episodes.

The Popcast: 

Okay, this podcast is sooooooo great! Jamie and Knox tackle everything pop culture in the most hilarious way. It’s not uncommon for me to be laughing out loud the whole time. Also, for all you bookworms…. They do a great segment at the end called Red Light/Green Light, which is where they hate on something they didn’t like, and recommend something they did, which a lot of times include books!

Happier with Gretchen Rubin: 

Bestselling author Gretchen Rubin, and her sister, Liz Craft provide practical, and manageable advice to live your life happier. What is so great about this podcast is that the advice that’s given simple tasks, and so easy to work into your life that you actually can apply it! One episode that was very insightful was Ep. 103: Pick your Moment.

Podcasts for Deep Thoughts

Invisibilia: 

This podcast is all about the invisible forces that control human behavior, on a simplistic level, then diving into a whole new level of deep. It’s incredible, and will leave you wanting to tell everyone about what you just learned! My favourite episodes are: The Secret History of Thoughts, and The Personality Myth.

S-Town:

 So friends… free your calendar and start from Ep. 1, and be prepared to hear a weird, beautiful,

and deeply thought provoking true story. From the producers of Serial, Brian Reed is contacted by John who hates his hometown in Alabama, and decides to do something about it. I was stripping wallpaper in my house while I binge listened to this podcast, and am still so moved by it.

The Moth: 

Featuring true stories, told by everyday people live and without notes. Sometimes you will

laugh so hard, or learn new things, or be brought to tears… but one thing is for sure, you will be

entertained.

RadioLab: 

This podcast takes a big idea or situation, and tells its story. It starts with the smallest details,

and ends up showing you the big picture. The production is amazing, with sounds, music, science, and a ton of research! Check out this fascinating story on the episode titled: Birthstory.

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Thanks Hollie, for putting this amazing, gigantic list together for us! No matter your preferences, readers, I bet you can find something to listen to from the list above. I'll also chime in here to say that I love What Should I Read Next? and S-Town, but I'll add one to the Bookish Podcast section: Overdue -- which I wrote about on the blog waaay back in 2015 and still listen to regularly!