I love reading, watching tv, and listening to music as much as the next person. But sometimes I’m tired. I want to be learning about something, but can only tolerate a single stimulus. That’s when I turn to podcasts.
Over the past 12 months, I’ve listened to many podcast episodes that have helped me to start and shape my business. Here are my top ten for 2022.
10 – Parallel to Anywhere
As I’ve explored the realm of roleplaying games, such as Dungeons & Dragons, I’ve tapped into a new muscle. Who thought character exploration and creating fantastical stories with my friends over chips and beer could be helpful at work? This (relatively) new type of brain stimulation has surprisingly helped me on my road so far to entrepreneurship.
Parallel to Anywhere has little to do with my business. But it has become my one of the podcasts I’ll listen to when I just need a break. It’s funny, creative, and incorporates tabletop roleplaying games. Check out their season 1 trailer, or dive straight in to a multiverse of madness, as wizarding student Trefor Vantross navigates time and space with the help of his best friend Rahzara Willowsong. The Parallel to Anywhere crew invites creatives from all over to share their gaming universe with Tref, as each episode he finds himself thrown into a new world curtesy of the futuristic gadget on his wrist. Sometimes you need a little escapism.
9 – Do you HAVE to niche down to succeed?
What is it all for? Episode 132 – Do you HAVE to niche down to succeed?
When I announced I’d be launching EQ Consulting in July of this year, many friends and colleagues were eager to provide advice and connections. Speaking with Rachel Flood of Alignment Ops, she recommended checking out Wandering Aimfully. At this time, I was writing down my value proposition, asking myself, how niche should I be? Leaning towards marketing myself to a broad range of companies – anyone working on solving climate change related problems – I thought: is this too broad?
Scanning episodes of Jason and Caroline Zook’s podcast, What is it all for?, I was instantly drawn to Episode 132 – Do you HAVE to niche down to succeed? The first few minutes are more entertainment than advice for me, but I enjoy their playful banter and complaints about their work-cation accommodations. The casual-ness of the conversation strongly contrasts the podcasts I typically listen to. Once the husband-wife duo get going, they dive into 5 key elements to consider if you don’t want to be niche right away. It was helpful for me to hear their opinions and reconcile their advice against my own situation.
I recall the feeling that I was sound-boarding with someone about my business, even though I was just listening to a recording of a conversation. A conversation between two people I don’t know and who don’t know me. As a solo entrepreneur, we have to find ways to work with others even though we’re out on our own. I was pleasantly surprised to find this podcast episode help me do that in a way.
8 – Supporting a Social Enterprise Ecosystem
Ripples of Radicle Generosity Supporting a Social Enterprise Ecosystem
In September of this year, I attended sessions at a conference put on by Coralus (formerly SheEO). After hearing from dozens of talented and hopeful entrepreneurs, I was inspired to join their ecosystem and get more involved. I discovered their podcast, Ripples of Radicle Generosity. In the episode Supporting a Social Enterprise Ecosystem, host and Coralus Activator Hannah Senior is joined by Beth Pilgrim and Aoise Keogan-Nooshabadi – founders of Supply Change in the UK.
One thing from the podcast that stands out to me, is how Pilgrim and Keogan-Nooshabadi share their revenue model. Or, more accurately, how they don’t have a single consistent model – they’re constantly testing and iterating on it. The founders are also okay with having a broader definition of a social enterprise companies (who their products support). Being okay with the unknown, as well as knowing some (most?) things you try will fail, is key for entrepreneurs. This podcast episode does a great job communicating some of that risk, while acknowledging it’s part of doing business.
7 – When to Incorporate?
CoachLab360 When to Incorporate?
Once I knew I wanted to try starting my own business, I began looking for resources to help me decide which steps to take. CoachLab360’s episode When to Incorporate? came out earlier in the year. I listened to it as I walked downtown, over Burrard bridge, on my way to a coffee meetup. The discussion and debate from Lindsey, Brian, and Tess provided me much more context for my decision around incorporation.
Like many of their episodes, the hosts don’t always agree on everything. But I think that’s what I like so much about their show. Because they cover a few different sub-topics in their conversations, I also find it easy to put down an episode and pick it up again at a later time. You get three different perspectives on relevant business topics, from folks who have done a lot of different things in the business world.
6 – Where is Happiness?
Making Sense Where is Happiness?
In Where is Happiness?, host Sam Harris is joined by professor Arthur C. Brooks. Similar to many episodes from the Making Sense podcast, they discuss Brook’s interesting career path, before discussing then debating a series of topics.
What I particularly enjoyed listening to, was Brooks’ simplistic explanation of how we approach others beliefs. You can know you are right and they are wrong, or you can consider you might not be right and they might not be wrong. This difference in mindset, that he practices, reminds me of how I coach leaders and the philosophy that has helped shape my definition of good leadership. How being curious, asking questions, and actually listening to their answers makes you a better leader.
5 – It’s cheaper to save the planet than to destroy it
Reasons to be Cheerful with Ed Miliband and Geoff Lloyd It’s cheaper to save the planet than destroy it
This year, the United Nations held their annual climate change conference, COP27, in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. In what we may look back at as a pivotal year in humanity’s battle with climate change, Ed Miliband tells his co-host Geoff Lloyd about his experience at COP27. They share Miliband’s interviews with Kingsmill Bond, Tzeporah Berman, and Mohamed Adow (Power Shift Africa) from the conference floor. Here, the three climate action leaders provide updates and vibes from the gathering. They discuss moving to net-zero, the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, and Africa’s potential in the future of power generation.
This episode grabbed my attention when it was shared through my network on LinkedIn. Amidst the mountain of mis-information, sensationalist “news”, and fear mongering, it’s a nice respite to listen to folks who also believe in making a brighter future.
4 – Stolen: Surviving St. Michael’s
Stolen: Surviving St Michael’s
This year on Orange Shirt Day, and Canada’s National Day for Truth & Reconciliation, I wanted to connect and support my local community. But I ended up being stuck at home, potentially with COVID-19. Fortunately, I follow a lot of informed, interesting folks on social media platforms, who were sharing content recommendations. I was looking to further educate myself on Canada’s dark history and the path to truth and reconciliation. This is how I found out about Connie Walker and Gimlet Media’s podcast, Stolen: Surviving St. Michael’s.
I listened to the first episode. Then I played the next episode on our tv at home, so that my partner could listen too. By the end of the week I had made it through the entire season. The story details painful truths about residential schools, and how their legacy affects our indigenous communities to this day. At times, it’s difficult to listen to. But it also tells Walker’s own story. One of resilience. Of hope. And, most importantly, how she reconnects with family and a culture full of love and belonging.
As a Canadian, working in Canada, it’s integral for me to continuously learn about where our country has come from and where it’s going. This podcast is sad, but it is also inspiring, not to mention it’s beautifully put together.
3 – How Much Does the Future Matter?
Making Sense How Much Does the Future Matter?
Just as I finished reading The Ministry for the Future, Making Sense came out with a podcast episode How Much Does the Future Matter. I was introduced to William MacAskill, and his new book What We Owe the Future. Harris (the host) and MacAskill cover a lot of ground in a short period of time, and I was inspired by the hopefulness in which MacAskill approaches his philosophy.
In any innovative workplace, it’s important to foster an environment where people feel safe to bring up different ideas. A culture where diverse opinions can be discussed, debated, and everyone learns from them. How Much Does the Future Matter raises important questions, doubts, and risks. It’s not the type of conversation I expect to hear often in the workplace. However, I wonder if we all considered the types of questions raised in this episode more often, would that help us make better decisions as a collective? Would humanity be better off if we spent a little more time thinking about why something is a certain way, and who really benefits from the action, than time spent in justifying our actions after the fact?
2 – Totem Design House – Getting Out Of Your Own Way, Overcoming Obstacles On Your Path To Success
Circles of Matriarchy Getting Out Of Your Own Way, Overcoming Obstacles On Your Path To Success
This summer, Ashley Richard of WEKH and Vanessa Lesperance of Indigenous LIFT Collective launched their podcast Circles of Matriarchy. The podcast invites Indigenous women and non-binary entrepreneurs from across Turtle Island, to share their wisdom and stories.
I listened as Richard and Lesperance are joined by Erin Brillon from Totem Design House and discuss obstacles on their way to career success. Brillon shares some of her entrepreneurship journey. They touch on the difference between cultural appropriation and appreciation. The three women provide advice for others who are starting their own business or thinking about it, each sharing personal experiences. It’s advice that certainly resonates with me, recently deciding to step into my a business of my own. One part of the episode that stands out for me, is how Brillon details her struggle with asking for help. They encourage listeners, and each other, to not being afraid of being bold.
1 – Watt It Takes: Terabase Co-Founder & CEO Matt Campbell
Watt It Takes Terabase Co-Founder & CEO Matt Campbell
Watt It Takes is a monthly podcast created by Powerhouse, hosted by the company’s Founder & CEO Emily Kirsch. Kirsch interviews entrepreneurs who are walking the walk to make our climate positive future a reality.
I listened to the discussion with Matt Campbell (Terabase) this fall. In between a mix of public transit and cyclo-commuting across town to meet with potential sales leads. I’ve listened to other episodes from Watt It Takes, and each one Kirsch draws out the remarkably personal story from the entrepreneur she interviews.
Most of Campbell’s story didn’t resonate with me personally, but that’s one of the reasons I loved listening to it. Our backgrounds, our upbringing, are nothing alike. But the main goals he strives for, the ones that matter, I find myself passionately aligned with. When Kirsch turned the conversation to inclusion in the workplace, I wanted Campbell to say more, and be better. But I know our society is not quite there yet. I think Campbell recognizes this, and tries to do what he can as a supporting character. It’s not his main mission, and that’s okay, not everyone can be the lead on everything. Which is why it’s important that people like Campbell continue their support for people like Kirsch, who are leading the charge and driving diversity and inclusion in decision-making societal roles.