Most Czechs commute at least 30 minutes to work. I was commuting from Mukarov (near Ricany) to Prague. And that meant I had to drive through Uhrineves. This place drives everyone crazy who has ever lived in the southeastern part of Prague. Several very frequent motorways merge to a single one here, while there are so many traffic lights along that route that one could run a disco in the night there. At peak times, spending an hour in a traffic jam is no exception. However, one can turn this into their own advantage.
On average, startup workers spend roughly 30 minutes traveling to and from work a day. For myself, it's not an uncommon occurrence to spend an hour or more in traffic jams. It just comes with the territory.
During one of these excruciating commutes several years ago, I discovered podcasting (an experience which quite literally saved me from living the film, Falling Down, when stopping at a pedestrian crossing for 50th time).
Psychologist, Jordan Peterson, makes the claims that commuters can learn just as much from podcasts as university lectures. After years of commuting with podcasts, I can unequivocally agree!
A good podcast is not only informative but entertaining. If you know which podcasts to listen to, you can quickly learn valuable new strategies and techniques without the years of experience we're hardwired to believe we need. That's precisely the reason I wrote this article.
How to listen to podcasts
There are loads of podcasting apps on the market, many of which are extremely helpful. They track what you've listened to, they remember where you left off, and they notify you when a new episode of your favorite podcast is available.
These are two of my favorites:
Podcast addict - Reliable but can be complicated. Beginners might feel a bit overwhelmed.
Stitcher - Straight-forward and intuitive but occasionally suffers from playback problems.
5 best podcasts I recommend:
Podcast Marketing School — the name says it all. PMS is excellent for beginners just getting familiar with the basics as well as for pros eager to learn about fields outside of their specialization. The episodes are short, roughly 5-7 minutes. Due to their limited length, you can easily complete an entire episode while waiting for a tram.
This is one of those podcasts that will stick with you for years. Interested in the latest business news? Hungry to keep up with social media marketing trends? Then you’ll love The Marketing Companion! You'll likely notice the crazy intro. But, as David Ogilvy said, “every marketer should have a sense of humor.”
This is the podcast where technology and marketing meet. The show features experts on different aspects of the industry, breaking down topics in ways that can regularly make one realize how much they still don't know. Another significant aspect of this podcast is the tone, which is presented in a pleasant and relaxing manner.
Professor of Literature, John Campbell, famous for his theory of the monomyth (which states that all the world's myths and stories are devised from a singular formula) was widely recognized as the foremost authority on story structure.
On the Story Brand podcast, this formula is discussed to help businesses develop and evolve their own story. The podcast features entertaining guests, great insights, and lots of practical advice. Remember: The main character of your business's story isn’t you—it's your client!
On PIFMM, former stand-up comedian, Kevin Rogers, joins renowned marketing superstar, John Carlton. Carlton's "Amazing secret discovered by a one-legged golfer, which will help you add 50 yards to your drive and lower your number of strokes overnight," is legendary. If you're thinking to yourself, you're already familiar with this sort of advertising. Well, it's because John Carlton is one of the most imitated people in marketing.