Podcasts have been on play at our house ever since Serial made it’s addicting debut. They’ve since become a part of my daily routine and have made the most mundane of errands, such as the grocery store run, walking the dog or hitting the gym, a little more fun, interesting and informative. I even found a kid-friendly podcast we all enjoyed on a recent family road trip. Here are three podcasts I’m listening to now and I’d love to hear your recommendations, too…

How I Built This – I love hearing the backstory on how an idea came to be, and this new podcast tells just that. NPR veteran Guy Roz has a friendly, chit-chatty demeanor that makes these 30-minute interviews feel more like casual conversations over coffee, except his subjects are talking about their pivotal make-or-break career moments. The first interview is with Spanx creator Sara Blakely, and her ballsy ‘bathroom moment’ with the Neiman Marcus buyer basically sums up why she’s a billionaire today.

Tara Brach – For when you need to tune in, this enlightening podcast delves into issues that might seem heavy at first – mindfulness, radical acceptance, awakening our hearts – but don’t let this dissuade you. Tara Brach, a western teacher who has practiced and taught Buddhist meditation for over 35 years, offers a gentle, guided ease and welcoming approach, with funny, personal anecdotes weaved effortlessly throughout her talks. Compassion and mindfulness are at the heart of all her discussions and how we can integrate these practices into our daily lives against the backdrop of a chaotic and often times unsettling modern world. These talks are a particular favorite of mine before bed, because Tara’s soothing voice often lulls me to sleep. I always feel lighter, and more relaxed, after listening to her. This particular talk is a favorite of mine and a good place to start.

Vibrant Happy Women – Can you be happy and vibrant, even when LIFE is hard? That’s the premise behind this podcast, hosted by Jen Riday, happiness expert and mom to six, yes, six kids! With a heartfelt and relatable interview style, Jen engages with inspiring women from all different backgrounds who open up to her about their unique and personal stories, struggles and triumphs. Using a similar format of questions with each guest, Jen gently inquires about their favorite quote, personal low point, ways they overcame this, as well as a round up of each guest’s favorite things, such as personal habit, kitchen gadget, book etc. It’s a good mix of deep conversation and lighthearted banter and I always feel more grateful and inspired after each episode.

And two more for good measure…

I’d be remiss not to include two cool podcasts that are very close to home.

The Creative Stickup is my hubby Jeff’s personal podcast, where he converses with creative minds and innovative thinkers from around the world.

Since Right Now is a weekly podcast co-hosted by friends Jeff, Matt and Chris (mastermind and creator) that covers the gamut on all things addiction and recovery-related. Good stuff.

(Vintage photo credit via Philips)