Get Inspired | 5 Podcasts Leaders Should Listen to Right Now

As we begin to deal with wide and extensive repercussions and disruptions due to the spread of coronavirus around the world, it can be hard to find sources of inspiration.   

For leaders, a sense of inspiration is everything: It’s what gets us excited, intrigued, or challenged to greater heights.  

With routines majorly changed and our normal sources of inspiration—like our coworkers, our physical workspaces, and our regular interactions—out of reach, it’s important for leaders to seek out new thinking and ideas.  

We’ve identified 5 podcasts on a variety of leadership topics to get you inspired and ready to bring your best self to work—virtually:  

Special Episode: This Tom Hanks Story Will Make You Feel Less Bad – The Daily (New York Times) 

The Daily, presented by the New York Times, usually focuses on the biggest issues of the day, and in recent weeks, that has meant quite a few distressing and saddening stories. On this special episode, they bring us a truly delightful story about one magazine writer’s experience interviewing Tom Hanks last fall. The writer, who was sick and missing her kids while on the road for her job, was having a rough day, and we can hear Tom Hanks patiently consoling her in behind-the-scenes recordings of their conversation. What follows is a thoughtful examination of the unique brand of understated and graceful leadership Hanks brings to his life and his work. 

“Start Small, Think Big, Scale Quickly: Spanx Founder Sara Blakely on How To Bootstrap a Billion Dollar Business” – The Tony Robbins Podcast  

Who isn’t inspired by Sara Blakely? She’s the founder of shapewear company SPANX, and at just 41 years old, she became a self-made billionaire. In this episode from Tony Robbins, Blakely shares the exact steps she took to get her business off the ground. She also acknowledges what Linkage calls “the Inner Critic”—the negative self-talk that can hurt our ability to advance and achieve, and explains how she took on the deep, emotional work needed to overcome this critical voice. We can all learn from Blakely. 

We’re All in This Together: An Empowering Perspective on Coronavirus – Hal Elrod International  

The coronavirus pandemic sweeping the world is a truly unprecedented event in our lifetimes. This is a time in our lives when there is a massive need for leadership—not just from our leaders, but from every human being on the planet. In this episode, Hal Elrod moves beyond logistics (like groceries or where to find toilet paper) to discuss managing your inner world, and finding stronger, more resilient, more conscious versions of ourselves through adversity.

The Woman Who Brought Politics to Vogue – Without Fail 

When Elaine Welteroth was appointed editor in chief of Teen Vogue, she became the publication’s youngest and first black editor. She also inherited a publication in crisis, at a time when physical magazine circulation was at its lowest levels. She had a bold vision; to transform Teen Vogue into more than just a fashion magazine. She introduced political coverage and oversaw a strategy that dramatically increased readership. The results speak for themselves: Condé Nast reports that traffic to TeenVogue.com has increased to more than 9.2 million unique visitors, up from 2.7 million unique visitors last year. Meanwhile, subscriptions for Teen Vogue have reportedly increased 535 percent year-over-year. 

Creating Positive Work Culture – Safe For Work (Wondry) 

Safe For Work is always worth tuning in to, as they deliver great advice to employees and leaders who call in directly to their help line. Many of their listeners talk about the disconnect between their corporate culture and what the company says their culture is. In this episode, our hosts dive into culture and examine what it truly means to walk the walk. And, they share how being an actual human being at the office can be good for everyone on the team. As we all strive to make accommodations and respond to change, what could be more important than that?  

What are you listening to while working from home? Have a podcast you’re loving or a playlist that’s inspiring you? Share it with us on Twitter.