Why Podcasts Changed My Life

---

I’ve been listening to podcasts for about four years. It took me a hot sec to figure out how long it’s been because I can’t remember my life without them! The first pod I ever listened to was season one of Serial (most of you have probably heard about this one and if not, go listen now!), an investigative journalist/ real crime genre. Secondly was Gretchen Rubin’s Happier.

At that time I was working in my corporate Recruitment job downtown and walked to and from work everyday. So I’d listen to pods during those walks and loved it! It felt reminiscent of road trips as a kid where we’d listen to audio books in our Dodge Caravan (the one with the double sliding doors where the dolphin jumped through on their commercials…common you guys remember that right?!). It’s soothing to listen to someone’s voice telling you a story or sharing information without the distraction of any visuals.

I loved Serial, but as soon as I got into Happier I knew I found my home in the self-help/health & wellness genre. I dealt with a lot of stress and anxiety in my job and didn’t feel like it was the right fit for me. It was very fast paced and the expectations were always being raised, so it felt like nothing was ever good enough. I fit myself into the mold and did well but I was suffering inside for most of my time there, with anxiety rising and feeling like my nerves were shot (looking back now this was likely adrenal fatigue!).

With all of that going on, I found an escape in listening to podcasts where people told their inspiring stories. They talked about their past experiences in relation to self-growth and mindset shifts, and how they had made real change in their lives (whether that related to health, career, relationships, etc. –  it all inspired me!)

Listening to other people’s stories is not only inspiring, but is truly an “expanding” experience. I always knew I was gaining something more out of these podcasts than learning and entertainment, but not until I came across Lacy Phillip‘s work on manifestation did I truly understand. Lacy says that as part of the manifestation process, we need to see HOW someone else has done the “thing” that we want to do and we need to know their background and trajectory to how they got there. This is because we can then resonate with this person and it gives us the confirmation that the dream we are dreaming is possible and realistic for us too.  These people are our “EXPANDERS”. We may hear someone’s story and be inspired by them, but unless there is a part of their upbringing, life experience, outlook etc. that we can see in ourselves too, they won’t fit that expander criteria and it may not do much for our self-growth or mindset. But when we come across a person who we relate to and who is doing what we want to do, it all clicks. An example could be, “I”m a mom, she too is a mom and she has a successful entrepreneurial business, so I can too”, or “She is an introvert and is an incredible public speaker, so it’s possible for me to become an incredible public speaker too”.

Now these aren’t necessarily conscious thoughts that run through our minds (though sometimes they might be). All of this expanding is happening on a deeper level. An energetic shift is happening within your being. This experience truly expands and widens our sense of self, and breaks down any limiting beliefs we had about ourself with regards to the dream we have or thing we want.

Podcasts were giving me access to all of these amazing potential expanders- way more than I’d ever have access to otherwise. Over time, the more I listened to different pods with different guests, I started to come upon definite expanders. I don’t know exactly when it happened or who they were specifically, but my sense of self and what was possible for my life started to expand and grow. I started to gain the confidence to make a big and scary change, and my self-worth blossomed as well. I started to really believe that I was worthy and capable of living a life where I was aligned, happy and living up to my fullest potential. I started to believe that the “introverted and anxious” me (my limiting beliefs!) could do something great. Limiting beliefs I had about myself started to peel away.

That’s when I decided to go back to school for Holistic Nutrition!

My obsession and dedication to pods continues today as part of my self-care routine but also as part of my commitment to self-growth and self-development. Here are my favourites:

• Almost 30 Podcast with Krista Williams/ Lindsay Simcik
• Expanded with Lacy Phillips
• Goal Digger with Jenna Kutcher 
• The Balanced Blonde with Jordan Younger
• That’s So Retrograde with Elizabeth Kott & Stephanie Simbari
• The Business of Becoming with Lori Kennedy
• NPR’s How I Built This
• Let It Out with Katie Dalebout 
• The Melissa Ambrosini Show
• The Elevator Podcast with Britt and Tara of Elevate The Globe 
• Anything OPRAH! (Super Soul Conversations & Oprah’s Masterclass) 
• One Part Podcast with Jessica Murnane 
• The Life Stylist with Luke Storey
• Wabi Sabi – The Perfectly Imperfect Podcast with Candice Kumai 
• Well Now by Saje Wellness 
• IGNTD Podcast with Sophie and Adi Jaffe 
• WANT Cast with Katie Horwitch 
• The Mind Body Green Podcast

Whew! Don’t get me wrong, I don’t listen to ALL of these all of the time, but I will go back and forth depending on how I’m feeling that week. Without fail though, I am ALWAYS listening to the Almost 30 and Expanded pods – these are my go-to’s and loves right now.

I am forever grateful for what podcasts have done for me and will continue to do. They are one of my top favourite mindset shifting, self-development and self-growth tools, and I HIGHLY recommend them to anyone looking for any type of change in their lives. 

Comment below if you have listened to any of these pods and which episodes are your favourites! AND PLEASE let me know if there is an amazing pod I don’t have listed here that you think I would like.

xx
Jen