Podcast Love

Ever since starting my first office job I have been searching for ways to entertain myself while working on the computer. I quickly discovered that Podcasts are a great alternative to music that keep my brain active and engaged. I have learned SO many random and interesting facts from these shows I regularly find myself quoting them in conversation (to both the entertainment and annoyance of my friends). But hey, I enjoy what I learn so much I just want to share it.

Since I'm fairly new to the world of Podcasts, I have discovered most of my favorites through my friend's recommendations. That's why I decided to write this post. For the people who have been curious about Podcasts but don't know which ones to check out, or have not heard of them before and are now intrigued, I have for you my favorite shows, along with some of my favorite episodes from each. Enjoy!

Stuff You Should Know was the first Podcast that I really got into. I can listen to these guys for hours. Chuck (AKA "Chuckers") and Josh not only talk about interesting, albeit random topics, they do it in an entertaining, sometimes downright hilarious way. They have this bro-mance dynamic going that for some reason I really enjoy. From this show you can expect a brief, open-minded lesson on basically any topic they can think of. If you have ever found yourself wondering how something works, from Barbies to cocaine, they have probably done a show about it that's worth a listen.
Favorites: How Barbie Doll Works, How Lewis And Clark Worked

Stuff Mom Never Told You covers every imaginable female related topic. I fell in love with this Podcast because these ladies address very real, modern questions and issues faced by women today, and they do it in an educated, classy, and quite frankly bad-ass way. They are fearlessly feminist but defend their opinions with layers of research and facts. Although this show is clearly geared toward women, anyone interested in contemporary topics seen from a women's point of view will find this show engaging and thought-provoking.
Favorites: Exotic Beauty, Are Disney Princesses Good Role Models?, How Long Should You Wait To Have Sex After Meeting Someone?

This American Life is my current favorite. They tell a variety of stories each week, with a chosen topic broadly linking each together. Sometimes the stories are laugh-out-loud funny, sometimes they are humbling, at times they are hard to listen to, but all of them document a reality of the American experience. Sometimes these topics are addressing a contemporary issue faced by society as a whole, and sometimes they are deeply personal. From this show, I have learned that there is an interesting story in the most unlikely places. That within families, workplaces, houses, neighborhoods, and personal histories across this country there is a vast network of experiences. Some are completely different from your own, others are strangely relateable. I really enjoy getting an brief yet intimate glimpse into the lives of the people that contribute to this show.
Favorites: 129 Cars, Harper High School, Part One,  Harper High School, Part Two, The Psychopath Test

 

Serial is a spinoff of This American Life that has gotten a lot of media attention lately. The overall feel of the story telling is similar to This American Life, however it follows the same story week after week. Serial is currently covering the story of Adnan Syed, who was found guilty of murdering Hae Min Lee, a girl he dated in high school back in 1999. People who knew him before the murder claim there is no way a likable, popular, and charismatic kid could have committed such a disturbing crime, and there are definite gaps in the story he was convicted on. However, the jury did not hesitate to put him in jail. It plays like a murder mystery TV show, and is equally addicting. Each week I find myself eagerly awaiting, Thursday when new episodes air.

Radiolab is my most recent discovery. This Podcast examines stories and topics from a scientific and philosophical point of view. Topics range from music to evolution, from language to the science of sleep. The fast pace and engaging tone of the show makes it entertainingly educational. Each episode is infused with interviews from specialists in the field being covered, and I learn so much every time I listen.
Favorites: Haunted, Lucy, Galapagos

Workout Motivation

Hello beautiful readers! Today I want to talk to you about my workout motivation. My personal fitness journey has been… I’ll go with inconsistent. Yet I've always been interested in running, and in the year after I graduated from college I began a regular exercise routine for the first time in my life. It consisted of a combination of running on the treadmill and aerobic YouTube videos. Nothing too extreme, but I was pleasantly surprised to find benefits to working out that I wasn’t expecting. 

Unfortunately, after moving to Portland I was swept up in a whole new world of “adult” life and responsibilities. Working out no longer seemed as important. I found it more difficult to fit into my daily routine, and I also learned that once that routine is broken it is really hard to get back. However, recently I’ve found my motivation again! I’ve purchased a gym membership which has helped me continue running, and I am also pursuing a new interest: yoga. Here, I want to share my top 5 reasons for working out, the things I remind myself of when I’m deciding between going to the gym and watching a Mad Men marathon.

1) Mood Boost

Working out regularly lifts my overall mood, and energizes me. I've been going to the gym directly after work and I walk in feeling sluggish from a long day sitting in front of the computer, and walk out feeling motivated to be productive with my evening. Honestly, sometimes just moving and stretching after sitting all day fells AMAZING and clears my head.

2) Stress Relief

It also is the absolute best way I have found to relieve stress. I can use my workout to channel my frustration into a productive activity, or forget about it for an hour. I have also had strangely relevant and helpful epiphanies while running. It somehow puts things into perspective and makes solutions more clear.

3) Feeling Proud of my Body

Here I'm not only talking about appearance (although let's be honest, toning up is a definite perk). I'm talking about knowing that my body is capable of accomplishing difficult challenges. It means I can go on a strenuous hike with my friends with the confidence that I can finish it out. It means I can challenge my body because I have worked to strengthen it, and that strength gives me pride in myself and my accomplishments. 

4) Confidence Boost

One of my favorite things about working out is setting and meeting fitness goals. For example, when I started working out I had a hard time running for five minutes (sad I know). But after a lot of work I can now run for 20 minutes, which considering my humble beginnings, is a little mind blowing for me. When I began working up to 20 minutes it seemed nearly impossible but I proved to myself that I could do it, and once I finally did I felt like I could do anything. That confidence motivates me to continue working out, and that attitude helps me conquer goals outside of the gym.

5) Skill Building

At this point in my fitness journey I have come to view working out as a hobby of sorts, one that just happens to improve my body, mind, and overall health. As I practice this "hobby" I begin learning about my body, and through that knowledge I begin building physical skills. I have especially noticed this aspect of working out when I started focusing on yoga. In yoga I have been building my flexibility and balance which I view as skills to hone and strengthen, just as I would any other. Feeling myself becoming more flexible, or being able to run faster and longer motivate me to push on.

I hope you now feel more motivated to get to the gym and benefit from everything working out can offer! I believe making the decision to be fit truly is the best decision you can make for yourself. What motivates you to stay in shape?