The Most Mind-Blowing Podcasts of 2019

30 episodes

Curated by:
User profile picaliceko

2019 was the best year in podcasts yet. These episodes stirred my heart, made me press pause and go "I need to write this shit down now", or changed my life by forcing me to start a positive new action. Sign up for my weekly podcast newsletter for women here: http://bit.ly/just-listened-to-this


  • 1

    Join a young Arianna Huffington on her journey from Athens to Cambridge, as she shares a lesson she learned from her mother of embracing life’s journey without being attached to the outcome.

    aliceko recommended:

    This is only the second time I've teared up from a podcast episode. Listening to Arianna Huffington talk about the support of her mother as she yearned to learn English and go to Cambridge is beyond m...Show More

  • 2

    Virtual Choir

    Twenty Thousand Hertz

    29:37 | Oct 21st, 2019

    10 recommendations

    Singing with others is a powerful form of expression. That's why the composer Eric Whitacre started the Virtual Choir; an experiment that connects singers from every corner of the globe. In this episo...Show More

    aliceko recommended:

    I don't know where to start. This episode is the BEST example of the power of AUDIO. If there was an award for best podcast episode ever - I would hands down recommend this one. I was buzzing after th...Show More

  • 3

    Live From The HIBT Summit: Sara Blakely Of Spanx

    How I Built This with Guy Raz

    19:53 | Dec 5th, 2019

    2 recommendations

    Our first episode from the 2019 How I Built This Summit features Sara Blakely, founder of Spanx. In front of a live audience, she tells Guy how she stayed confident in the earliest days of building th...Show More

    aliceko recommended:

    Please, we ALL need more Sara Blakely in our lives. Sara was one of very first female business role models (and now the and this live episode was another gem. If you need a refresher on who Sara is (h...Show More

  • 4

    What’s up Con-gregation & welcome Scam Goddess, the #1 pod dedicated to all things fraud! In this initial episode comedian, actor, and podcast papi Paul F. Tompkins joins host Laci Mosley for a deep d...Show More

    aliceko recommended:

    This was HILARIOUS. A podcast has never made me laugh like this before 😂 Thank you @mm

  • 5

    "It requires time and energy to get invested in other people's stories, but I do in my heart of hearts believe that you emerge a better and smarter human as a result of taking that time." — Lisa Ling ...Show More

    aliceko recommended:

    Well I never thought I’d ever say a Tim Ferris episode made me teary! I had forgotten about Lisa Ling until this episode - now I want to watch her show This Is Life. Does anyone? I never expected Tim...Show More

  • 6

    They Will Also Rule Their Bodies

    When Feminists Rule the World

    34:54 | Nov 20th, 2019

    1 recommendation

    Women’s bodies are not battlefields. This week host Martha Chaves is talking to Mexican feminist activist and executive director of Balance, Oriana López Uribe, and American writer, activist and host ...Show More

    aliceko recommended:

    I had no expectations for this podcast and WOW, I'm so impressed by this new podcast by Nobel Women's Initiative called "When feminists rule the world". Each episode is focused on the premise of, well...Show More

  • 7

    As a teen growing up in a traditional household and struggling to share her true identity, Moj Mahdara finds her path through her two grandmothers — who couldn’t be more different than one another. Un...Show More

    aliceko recommended:

    I feel like these keep getting better. Moj Mahdara is the CEO of Beautycon Media and shares her incredible story of two polar opposite grandmothers (one was a popular Persian superstar in hiding - and...Show More

  • 8

    How do you rebuild a life after it very nearly ends? Entrepreneur Keith Yamashita tells his own story of how he learned to live again after a devastating stroke, to nourish himself and the world, and ...Show More

    aliceko recommended:

    "Who am I if I am unable to work?" Listen if you (or someone you know) is a workaholic & needs to SLOW DOWN. Absolutely incredible story on Meditative Stories from Keith Yamashita. This podcast deserv...Show More

  • 9

    Producing *That* Prince Andrew Piece

    Show Your Work

    1:28:34 | Nov 21st, 2019

    2 recommendations

    The shocking BBC Newsnight interview with Prince Andrew has been called 'a tsunami triggering a nuclear explosion' -- we deep-dive into the incredible work of Emily Maitlis and Sam McAlister, the wome...Show More

    aliceko recommended:

    Important conversation re: Jeffrey Epstein & Prince Andrew scandal. This is NOT just another celebrity gossip episode - Elaine Liu dives into the shocking BBC interview w/ Prince Andrew & analyzes HOW...Show More

  • 10

    Our world is awash in code, and those zeroes and ones aren't as impersonal as you might think. In his new book, "Coders: The Making of a New Tribe and the Remaking of the World," journalist Clive Thom...Show More

    aliceko recommended:

    Listened to this episode with my partner who is a coder. Agreed NY tech is > SF tech!!!!! Great logical explanation as to why this is. Fascinating exploration into how coders are the secret architects...Show More

  • 11

    How to End Mental Illness with Dr. Daniel Amen

    The Doctor's Farmacy with Mark Hyman, M.D.

    1:02:21 | Nov 6th, 2019

    1 recommendation

    There’s a certain stigma around mental illness, one that can, unfortunately, keep people from feeling empowered that they can change their brain health and get the care they truly need. But think abou...Show More

    aliceko recommended:

    "The end of mental illness begins by getting ride of the term: mental illness." Listen if you're interested in brain health and even SOMEWHAT interested in mental illness. The best conversation about ...Show More

  • 12

    When (not) to give up.

    WITH LOVE, DANIELLE

    1:03:40 | Nov 10th, 2019

    1 recommendation

    Should you give up, or stay the course? Preface: This post is full of contradictions, so if you’re looking for a straight shot… it’s better to look within. As always. But! I have an array of options, ...Show More

    aliceko recommended:

    I’m not a fan of solo shows. But this episode made me change my mind. Listen if you’re in a complex situation and you are contemplating leaving or staying (relationship, job, partnership, business, de...Show More

  • 13

    You know Malcolm Gladwell's “10,000-Hour Rule.” But did you know that, according to David Epstein, it doesn't work? That's what Epstein argues in his new book, “Range: Why Generalists Triumph In A Spe...Show More

    aliceko recommended:

    LOVED this episode. Listen if you think about becoming a specialist or generalist, or if you are contemplating what sports/extracurricular hobbies to put your kids in, or if you are interested in how ...Show More

  • 14

    How We Adapt to Stress

    The goop Podcast

    44:00 | Sep 12th, 2019

    1 recommendation

    Brian MacKenzie doesn’t like when people tell him to “just breathe” either. So even though he’s the founder of a (great, practical, helpful) breathing app (State), you won’t hear those words coming ou...Show More

    aliceko recommended:

    Listen if you want to learn science-backed strategies for decreasing stress & anxiety. Best goop episode I’ve listened to in a while. Brian reviews the different types of brains (which one are you??),...Show More

  • 15

    Episode 1: Dr Ruja

    The Missing Cryptoqueen

    22:53 | Sep 19th, 2019

    11 recommendations

    Dr Ruja promised financial revolution. And then, two years ago, she disappeared. Why? The Missing Cryptoqueen is an eight-part series for BBC Sounds, with new episodes every Thursday. Presenter: Jam...Show More

    aliceko recommended:

    My free time for podcasts has been lacking recently but I’m SO GLAD I’m starting the podcast party back up again with this fascinating series from BBC. My mind is blown. I binge listened to this one. ...Show More

  • 16

    Steve Rio, Founder and CEO of Nature of Work and Briteweb and now the host of the NOW podcast. With a passion for human performance and wellness, and helping people realize their full potential and pu...Show More

    aliceko recommended:

    I just finished Steve’s “Nature Of Work” program & had to his story & framework. Yes it’s LONG but good news, I took notes! Learn how to improve your quality of life through digital boundaries, the fu...Show More

  • 17

    Protesters have flooded Hong Kong’s airport, paralyzing operations and escalating tensions between the semiautonomous territory and Beijing. The protesters are trying to send a message to government o...Show More

    aliceko recommended:

    Best news episode I’ve listened to in a long time and proves why the pure use of audio and voice is SO effective. I seriously had chills the entire time. I’ve asked friends in HK what they think of th...Show More

  • 18

    Best Lifesaving Lessons

    Oprah’s SuperSoul Conversations

    30:48 | Jul 31st, 2019

    3 recommendations

    Oprah discusses the best lifesaving lessons she's learned and says we should use our intuition and the voice in our heads that says, "Something is off here." Oprah reflects on her Oprah Winfrey Show c...Show More

    aliceko recommended:

    My wish is for every single female to listen to this episode. These simple tips could save your life. It is SO important for us to teach our children: Niceness does NOT equal goodness, because nicenes...Show More

  • 19

    Lissa Rankin, M.D., and Kelly Turner, Ph.D., have both spent years studying how people use spirituality to overcome illness against all odds. And what they've found is fascinating. Turner, a researche...Show More

    aliceko recommended:

    The title of this espouse does NOT do it justice. GREAT episode which covers the studies, research behind non-traditional ways to heal health problems (like releasing suppressed emotions). Yes there i...Show More

  • 20

    Sam Parr (@theSamParr) is the founder of The Hustle - a simple email newsletter that has surpassed 1M daily subscribers and will be north of 8 figures this year. Sam walks us through how he built The ...Show More

    aliceko recommended:

    I loved this episode! Filled with tactical tips on how to make it when you don’t “know anything” as Sam Parr repeatedly states. A GREAT listen for anybody who is a founder or entrepreneur. Two interes...Show More

  • 21

    #214 - Boundaries

    Being Boss: Mindset, Habits, Tactics, and Lifestyle for Creative Entrepreneurs

    1:17:35 | Jul 9th, 2019

    1 recommendation

    This month we're talking about boundaries. We’re diving in with defining what boundaries are, how to tell when you need better boundaries, and how to create healthy boundaries professionally and ...Show More

    aliceko recommended:

    - For all workaholics and type A’s, this is one for you: tactical tips on how to set up personal and work boundaries so you can avoid burnout and energy drain - It’s a long episode (last 8 minutes is...Show More

  • 22

    A Very Offensive Rom-Com

    Invisibilia

    1:01:00 | Apr 5th, 2019

    5 recommendations

    A young woman discovers a pattern in her dating habits that disturbs her - a pattern that challenges her very conception of who she is and what she believes in. The realization sets her off on a quest...Show More

    aliceko recommended:

    @fiercefab Holy moly. One of the most interesting podcasts I've listened to in terms of emotional ups and downs (the first part was so chilling & sad for me to hear - yet it ended on a happy note), re...Show More

  • 23

    Getting through Empathy Overload

    The goop Podcast

    45:35 | Jun 6th, 2019

    2 recommendations

    In partnership with our friends at Ketel One Botanical There’s a lot we misunderstand about empathy, says Jamil Zaki, a professor of psychology at Stanford University and the author of The War for Kin...Show More

    aliceko recommended:

    This episode is so good I had to listen three times, because empathy is such an interest topic to me. Part 1 of my notes - Empathy is something you CAN strengthen. - If you think being empathetic...Show More

  • 24

    After conquering the male-dominated boardrooms of Wall Street, Sallie Krawcheck turned her attention to an underserved market worth at least $7 billion: women. But how do you transform a customer exp...Show More

    aliceko recommended:

    Wow. Sallie Krawcheck is probably one of my favorite new human beings of all time now. She does NOT put up with BS. I've been a big fan of Ellevest for a while, but I have even more respect for the co...Show More

  • 25

    Myth-Making

    The Dropout

    45:27 | Jan 23rd, 2019

    10 recommendations

    On the premiere episode of The Dropout, you'll meet a young Elizabeth Holmes. Convinced of her own destiny even as a young child, she would come to drop out of Stanford in her late teens, intending to...Show More

    aliceko recommended:

    I'm creating my 'best of 2019' list right now and I cannot recommend this series enough. This was the very first podcast series I accidently binged on. Reporter Rebecca Jarvis does an excellent job of...Show More

  • 26

    Live Episode! Peloton: John Foley

    How I Built This with Guy Raz

    53:58 | Apr 29th, 2019

    3 recommendations

    John Foley started climbing the rungs of the corporate ladder at a young age, first as a fast food server and eventually as an e-commerce executive. Still, at 40, he couldn't climb out of bed fast eno...Show More

    aliceko recommended:

    I am fascinated by different spin brands & why some are significantly more successful than others. Gotta pay respect - Peloton had to build three different things at once: hardware, software AND media...Show More

  • 27

    Rock Yourself to Sleep

    Well Now

    27:51 | Sep 16th, 2019

    1 recommendation

    Sleep can be hard to come by, especially during life transitions. Whether you’re a rock star or a college freshman, changing your perspective can help you get the rest you need. Hear from a&nbsp...Show More

    aliceko recommended:

    Listen if you want to improve your sleep. I just learned that Saje has a podcast! Probably one of the best “branded” podcasts I’ve listened to. The host has the most soothing voice & the plugs are nat...Show More

  • 28

    Episode 6: Indictment

    Sanctioned: The Arrest of a Telecom Giant

    37:33 | May 6th, 2019

    2 recommendations

    Now living under a form of house arrest, Meng Wanzhou plans her legal strategy as tensions simmer between the U.S., China and Canada.. Prosecutors unseal an indictment against Meng and Huawei and a Ca...Show More

    aliceko recommended:

    I couldn't WAIT for this episode. What a story. "This is not a win-win situation for Canada." It will be fascinating to see how this plays out over the next months/years... I hope they launch a few mo...Show More

  • 29

    Released Oct, 15, 2018 When Melinda Gates learned about the creativity involved in coding in high school, her interests in STEM really took hold. After graduating with a BS and an MBA from Duke Unive...Show More

    aliceko recommended:

    I'm creating my 'best of 2019' list right now and Melinda talks about such important topics that this must go on the list. Despite being Catholic, according to Melinda Gates - birth control is THE way...Show More

  • 30

    A Trip Down Memory Lane

    Out Travel The System

    18:50 | Nov 4th, 2019

    1 recommendation

    The smell of a freshly-baked chocolate croissant, the sound of waves crashing against the sand, these memories alone are enough to take you back to your favorite vacation. Oscar Reveles from Buzzfeed ...Show More

    aliceko recommended:

    Serious question: What's your favorite chocolate of all time? I just discovered Expedia's podcast & I don't usually listen to travel podcasts BUT this one hooked me because of 3 things. 1. Oscar share...Show More

🎉 Join the #1 community of podcast lovers and never miss a great podcast.

Sign up