10 Podcast Recommendations

I was super late to the podcast party when I first started listening to them last year (yes, I had to google how to listen to one on my phone!). Now they are my go-to dose of horizon-broadening on my way to pick my son up from school, or to play through Alexa while I unload the dishwasher and clean up the kitchen.

I love to have a mix of topics and themes to choose from, much like picking up a next read on my Kindle (but with less time commitment), based on what I’m in the mood for. There is something about hearing the rhetoric from other voices as opposed to reading as we do so many other sources of information that I love. I come away feeling refreshed, energized, inspired — almost like I’ve just been to a coffeehouse for great conversation with a good friend and heard her wisdom in her own words.

I crowd-sourced the following list from Des Moines Moms contributors, and while it was tough to keep it to a “top ten” (in no particular order), I’m excited to share a robust and diversified list of must-listen podcasts.

10 podcasts to listen to now

1. Coffee + Crumbs

“A collection of stories about motherhood, love, and the good kind of heartache.”
As only other mamas can relate to, this podcast covers everything motherhood in a storytelling format.

2. How I Built This

“A podcast about innovators, entrepreneurs, idealists, and the stories behind the movements they built.”
Inspiring stories of brands, in the words of those who founded them, that began from nothing and are household names today.

3. The Popcast with Knox and Jamie

“Educating You On The Things That Entertain, But Do Not Matter.”
Super lighthearted and fun when you need something easy to listen to, this show covers everything movies, music, television, and celebrity gossip.

4. Planet Money

“The economy, explained, with stories and surprises. Imagine you could call up a friend and say, ‘Meet me at the bar and tell me what’s going on with the economy.’ Now imagine that’s actually a fun evening.”
I can’t explain this one any better than they do, themselves, above. For a bite-size version, check out The Indicator from Planet Money.

5. Straight from the Heartland

“A weekly girlfriend’s podcast about faith, family, marriage, and motherhood.”
In what feels like a conversation you’d sit down and have over coffee with a friend, this podcast is produced here in Des Moines by one of our own, Christine Meggison.

6. Young House Love Has A Podcast

“Deep and not-so-deep conversations about DIY, design, and life at home.”
Whether or not you’ve followed their blog in years past, this savvy DIY couple’s energy for home projects is downright infectious.

7. Stuff You Should Know

“Get to the bottom of odd questions, like how Twinkies work and if zombies exist.”
Consider it your dose of trivia, but with a little more depth. Topics range in seriousness from trickle-down economics to the history of cake.

8. Upside Down Podcast

“Join five women as they gather around the table to discuss the upside down life in the kingdom of God.”
A range of current events and topics are covered in a faith-based conversation between a group of women, including one of our own, Kayla Craig.

9. The Uncertain Hour

“Host Krissy Clark dives into one controversial topic each season to reveal the surprising origin stories of our economy.”
I have to include the verbatim quote from the contributor who recommended this one — “The Uncertain Hour is absolutely fascinating- it’s about government regulations and policies, which sounds like a snooze-fest, but it’s engaging and incredibly informative.”

10. Risen Motherhood

“Every Wednesday, we discuss how the gospel impacts a mom’s everyday life.”
Produced out of Ames, this faith-based podcast provides a refreshing look at motherhood and granting ourselves a little grace.

Check out 10 more podcasts we’re loving!

What podcasts are you listening to?