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You can tell a lot about a person from the podcast they choose to listen to, especially the one that got them hooked. As the podcast industry continues growing, so does the number of podcasts you have to choose from. Believe me, as a former ‘there’s no podcast I am interested in’ individual, there is a podcast out there for everyone - and I tested this out by asking the ThoughtLeaders team: What is the first podcast that got you hooked?
Keep in mind, aside from working in different departments, everyone at ThoughtLeaders comes from a different background, different country, and entirely different interests. From Dungeons and Dragons fans to sex tales, this list of 16 podcasts is sure to cover all the bases. Here are the podcasts that caused our ThoughtLeaders to fall down the rabbit hole of the podcast realm:
Hooked: David Tintner, CEO, and Avi Kassuto, Customer Success Manager
Of course we had to start with The Tim Ferriss show - the #1 business podcast on Apple Podcasts, the first business/interview podcast to pass 100,000,000 downloads and has been selected as the “Best Of” Apple Podcasts for three consecutive years.
“...he deconstructs world-class performers from eclectic areas (investing, chess, pro sports,etc), digging deep to find the tools, tactics, and tricks that listeners can use”
According to Avi, “I came across the interview with Ramit Sethi and Tim Ferriss. They spoke about various investing tactics that intrigued me and it ultimately pulled me in, including the products he promoted and the interviewees he included into his episodes. Until today I still drink the delicious tea he promoted and have the book of past interviews that Tim Ferriss summarized himself”. David Tintner added: “He invites really interesting guests and long interviews that got them to say things you don’t normally hear about them in other places. I also loved that it started as kind of a business/productivity show but then he’d surprisingly bring on a guest who was a former marine, like someone you wouldn't expect, and they’d give a whole new perspective to what you were thinking”.
Hooked: Flora Katz, Account Manager
True crime is thriving on almost every platform - including literature, Netflix, YouTube channels and, of course, podcasts. Crime Junkie bravely sets itself apart by stating: “If you can never get enough true crime...Congratulations, you’ve found your people”.
“...You’re the one at the gym looking inconspicuous running to stories about murder instead of music like a normal human. You’re the one telling your friends “fun facts” about the most notorious murder that took place in the city you’re visiting when all they want to talk about is where they’re getting dinner...Yep, you’re a crime junkie”
Flora revealed that she has always been a True Crime fan and when she found out she could listen to these stories on podcasts while cooking or working out…”I very quickly got onboard”. If you are anything like Flora, you’ll love this podcast.
Hooked: Max Rochman, Account Manager
This comedic duo - Jake and Amir - are originally known for their involvement with CollegeHumor. They decided to give podcasting a go and started If I Were You, which is a comedy advice podcast where the duo shares their insights about questions listeners submitted via email.
“Jake Hurwitz and Amir Blumenfeld offer advice in areas they're qualified to talk about. Also in areas they're not qualified to talk about.”
Max mentioned that he used to watch their videos on CollegeHumor and when they started their podcast, he immediately tuned in on a regular basis.
Hooked: Noam Yadin, Content and Social Media Manager
I’ll be honest, I am much more of a visual person so YouTube is definitely my go-to platform. But, when I came across Girls Gotta Eat, I couldn’t stop listening. While working from home, I love listening to Ashley and Rayna’s conversations about all things dating, sex, relationships and everything in between.
“Should you ditch the apps and meet people in the wild? How do you get over a breakup when you feel like you’re gonna die?”
If you want to feel like you are sitting with your best friends at a boozy lunch, you should definitely tune into this podcast (and binge all the episodes you missed). What’s for sure, you’ll be nodding your head, thinking ‘totally relatable’ and laughing along.
Hooked: Eitan Ellis, Account Executive
Jocko Willink, a retired Navy SEAL who was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and numerous other personal and unit awards, decided to take all his experiences from the battlefield and teach leadership principles to help others lead and win. On his podcast, he discusses discipline and leadership in business, war, relationships and just everyday life.
Eitan was introduced to his podcast during his time in the army and “it hit home”. Each episode was made up of different military experiences Jocko overcame and the lessons he learned, which ultimately helped Eitan not only overcome his own difficult experiences but make the most of them.
Hooked: Amit Altman, Head of Publisher Relations, and Ariel, Director of ThoughtLeaders Agency
The investigative journalism podcast needs no introduction and it comes as little surprise that this podcast was the gateway drug, i mean, podcast for not one, but two, Thought Leaders team members.
“Sarah [host] won’t know what happens at the end of the story until she gets there, not long before you get there with her”
Both Amit and Ariel agreed that the podcast is “incredibly produced, super entertaining”, they also noted that the cliffhanger at the end of each episode was so well done that they couldn’t wait until the next episode to hear what happens next. As Ariel put it, “I’ve never heard a story unfold in that way”.
Hooked: Shoshana Eilon, VP of Marketing
Mark Kermode joins Simon Mayo to give their honest, lively, controversial and unmissable verdict of the latest film releases.
When asked why she loves tuning into this specific podcast, Shoshana shared her honest opinion: ““I loved their weekly rundown of the week’s new releases, which I started listening to on my way home from school when I was just starting to embrace my new obsession with the cinema. Mark Kermode’s weekly film reviews accompanied me through my time studying film at university and the years where I worked in the film industry. I loved the in-jokes the show established with their listeners and the anticipation before an inevitable angry rant at the latest mindless blockbuster. Eventually batner teetered over from entertaining into annoying, and they began to stretch each show into a 2 hour episode which went beyond my stamina.”
Hooked: Daniel Conn, CRO and Co-Founder
Let’s get right to the point (just like Jim Cornette Experience’s podcast) - Jim Cornette’s blunt and uncensored take on professional wrestling “makes me nostalgic and takes me back to being a pre-teen”.
Hooked: Isabelle Rose, Business Development Representative
Whether you are into advice/comedy podcasts or not, you will be hooked immediately from Alexandra Cooper’s voice.
“Alex Cooper bulldozed a lane of her own, spitting in the face of misogyny and putting a modern twist on feminism. The women-led empire produces, raw, relevant and provocative conversations that promote sexual liberty and personal empowerment while stripping away any barriers of judgement”.
If you still aren’t convinced to tune into the latest episode (seriously, it’s addictive), take a look at what Izzy said: “It's all about empowering oneself and it's just great - I am very invested in the world of women's sexuality and feel strongly about women feeling open about sharing their experiences with pride. It even led me to start my own podcast!”
Hooked: Blake Zeve, BGM
What happens when a stand-up comedian has a background in UFC color commentating? Hilariously unfiltered content. Blake was hooked almost immediately - “his gritty and unfiltered attitude hooked me, his epic and relevant topics of discussion kept me listening, and his incredible and intriguing guests he brought on the show sealed the deal”.
Hooked: Natalie Kohanpour, Head of Talent Partnerships
As you can see, ThoughtLeaders has a soft spot for true crime podcasts. Natalie revealed that she started listening to podcasts back in 2017 and she dived in head-first with Serial Killers.
“Serial Killers takes a psychological and entertaining approach to provide a rare glimpse into the mind, methods and madness of the most notorious serial killers with the hopes of better understanding their psychological profile. With the help of in-depth research, we delve deep into their lives and stories”
Hooked: Uri Eckmann, Data Scientist
Harry Potter fans, you may (or may not) want to skip this one. Potterless was named Podcast of the Year in 2019 and 2020 by Celeb Mix and is consistently ranked as a top comedy podcast on both Apple’s and Spotify’s charts.
“Potterless is a magical journey following Mike Schubert, a grown man reading the Harry Potter series for the first time, as he sits down with Harry Potter fanatics to poke fun at plot holes, make painfully incorrect predictions, and bask in the sassiness of the characters”
“I started listening to it on a regular basis because I enjoyed revisiting the Harry Potter books from a new perspective, and the host was really funny and charismatic. I think it was the first podcast where I listened to all the episodes until I had completely caught up, then would listen to each new episode when it would come out”
Hooked: Elsie Bernaiche, Sales Team Lead
Every Monday and Friday, Talkin’ Baseball breakdown and recap the latest and greatest MLB standings. But, before you roll your eyes - this isn’t just another sports review and game commentary podcast. As Elsie put it, “it’s hilarious - they say exactly what you’re probably thinking while watching a game. He also knows the rules of baseball so well so it's not only entertaining but also educational.”
Hooked: Jonathan Orenstein, Business Development Representative
“I was hooked because of the diversity of different guests on the show, the wide spectrum of topics covered and the host just really easy to listen to - manages to keep things simple and doesn’t come across as an expert in any of the topics discussed on the show”.
Hooked: Jenny Codron, Account Manager
How to get the attention of new Israeli immigrants without saying you want to get the attention of new Israeli immigrants - hummus and technology.
“The first podcast for Olim interested in the Israeli Hi-Tech industry”
Jenny recently immigrated to Israel from Argentina and joined a hi-tech company, so it comes as no surprise that this is not only her favorite podcast, but the one that got her started with podcasts.
Hooked: Jen Nepomuceno, Marketing - Publications
This is a perfect example of listeners turning to podcasts for information on a wide variety of fields - in this case, intermittent fasting. Instead of reading loads of articles in her spare time, Jenny listens to this podcast on her way to work (or while working!). What better way to stay motivated with Intermittent Fasting than by listening to an IF podcast?
“Melanie and Gin both actively practice intermittent fasting lifestyles, personally choosing to eat one meal per day for dinner. With intermittent fasting, they have experienced effortless and substantial weight loss, as well as many health and other "life" benefits”
It’s pretty clear to see that there is a podcast out there for everyone. Let us know if there is a podcast we missed and we should tune into.
