6 Podcast Episodes to Level Up Your Career
Let’s face it: in this economy, we’re all looking to level up our careers and gain valuable insights from industry experts. As professionals, we know it’s important to never stop learning, and in the age of the airpod, we love a good podcast. That’s why we’ve put together this curated list of podcast episodes tailored to fuel your professional growth, inspire you to make hard decisions, and understand you’re not the only one suffering from imposter syndrome.
From thought-provoking discussions on leadership and entrepreneurship, to practical advice on networking and personal branding, these episodes offer a goldmine of inspiration and actionable tips to help you navigate the ever-evolving world of work. One episode even suggests not everyone needs to go to college. (Gasp!)
Brown Ambition is hosted by two highly successful women of color—finance guru/journalist, Mandi Woodruff, and award-winning financial educator, Tiffany Aliche. In this episode, Woodruff speaks with Nathalia Copeland, an expert in teaching entrepreneurs how to easily create and sell profitable digital products through the use of funnels and ads.
Over the course of the conversation, Copeland shares her story of how she was able to transfer skills attained in a traditional 9-5 into launching her own successful business with digital products. She emphasizes the importance of overcoming impostor syndrome, and believing you not only are capable of but also deserving of success.
How To Be Awesome At Your Job
Ep. 875: How to Unapologetically Ask for What You Want with Jenny Wood
Google executive and founder of their ‘Own Your Career’ program Jenny Wood visits the How to Be Awesome at Your Job podcast to discuss workplace dynamics surrounding confidence and getting what you want out of your career.
Right out of the gate, Wood says what we all know to be true: that most of us, particularly women, need to stop over-apologizing. She speaks about how to build confidence and overcome imposter syndrome by what she describes as “knowing your superpowers.”
According to Wood, these “superpowers'' should be more specific and nuanced than typical soft skills such as “people skills” or “problem solving.” She shares her own three as examples: Leadership, Influencing People, and Building Things from Start-up to Scale.
She says once one’s superpowers are narrowed down, they should be put into practice in any situation from meeting with a potential mentor or giving an elevator pitch. All in all, Wood’s approach to building confidence, particularly for women in the workplace, makes this episode of How to Be Awesome at Your Job a must-listen.
Side Hustle School
Ep. 2,380: How Do I Pinpoint the Right Side Hustle Idea?
This daily podcast features host Chris Guillebeau’s quick, to-the-point answers and insights to listeners’ questions about the ultimate extra income endeavor—the side hustle. This particular episode of Side Hustle School tackles how to narrow down one’s side hustle idea to find the right fit and efficiently reach goals.
Guillebeau shares his knowledge and advice on the best ways to separate idea generation from idea selection, and how to apply one’s own skills to generate value for a specific audience.
Career and leadership development expert, best-selling author, and host of Your Next Move, Kimberly Brown, welcomes Krystal Jackson, owner and clinical director of Simply Being Wellness Counseling to discuss creating ease in our lives. Brown and Jackson specifically touch on how self care and wellness are essential to a successful career as well as tangible ways to prioritize one’s mental health when working in high stress, fast-paced careers. We could all benefit from taking a deep breath focusing on nurturing our own spirit once in a while, couldn’t we?
Work Appropriate
Is it Too Late to Start Over? with Ailsa Chang
Host of this Crooked Media podcast, Anne Helen Petersen, talks with Ailsa Chang, co-host of NPR’s long-running and beloved program All Things Considered, to discuss her personal experience with a big career pivot from litigator to journalist.
Raised in a strict Taiwanese home, Chang grew up knowing she would be expected to pursue a certain type of career. She followed a strict path to her inevitable law degree, and it was only when she reached her early thirties that she realized the life of a lawyer was making her miserable.
Fresh off a breakup and feeling the pressure of her parents’ disappointment, Chang signed up for an internship on a whim with local San Francisco public radio station, KQED, and the rest is history. This Work Appropriate episode is fantastic inspiration for those who are desperate to change careers, but struggling with fear and impostor syndrome.
Career Contessa Host Lauren McGoodwin shares her tips on how to quickly find a job that is a great fit for you. McGoodwin breaks down how long the average job search currently spans and assures listeners that even with the job climate being in its current state, it’s still totally reasonable to expect to land a gig in a few months with the right plan of attack. She tackles everything from how to prepare your job search materials (including how to tailor your LinkedIn profile,) to the benefits of taking a temporary role as a stepping stone in the interim.
These episodes are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to fantastic career-focused content, advice, and conversation. I can wholeheartedly recommend picking any episode from any of these podcasts, and I’m sure you’ll walk away with a new perspective or a boost in confidence in yourself and your career. There’s no shortage of great content out there, so get listening!