In the early part of 2020, Build Your Network was featured in an article called, Top 25 Podcasts Designed to Make You Think and Grow, over on readwrite.com.

First, when I read it, I was deeply moved and grateful to be included, but then I was inspired.

Inspired to share what my list would look like. If someone came to me and asked what my top favorite podcasts in my library were, what would I say?

Sure, I do not necessarily get asked this specific question often, but I believe it’s fun and beneficial to others to share what I learn from and listen to as a podcaster.

Some of these are for mere entertainment, but life shouldn’t be all work, right? Gotta have some play in there 😉

You may already listen to some of these, and that’s great. But there may be a few on here that you haven’t heard of, and this is a great way to open up your library to new shows!

And just so we are clear, these are in no particular order. They are all shows that I subscribe and actively listen to. But I am not listing them in any order. They are all equally great!

So without further ado, here are my top 12 favorite podcasts and why!

The Joe Rogan Experience

Sure, this may not be a surprise to many podcast listeners. There’s over 100 million out there who also listen in with me, and it is largely because Joe has been around since the beginning. 

But whether you love or hate him, I’ve got to hand it to him- he’s a great conversationalist. 

He has mastered the art of the long-form interview. And to many out there, they may think there is nothing to sitting down with a buddy, smoking pot, and talking for three hours.

But believe me, that is no small task. Just try it! 

Having a conversation for two to three hours is difficult enough, but he also is able to keep you intrigued and entertained by a topic you may have not had an interest in previously.

I may not always listen to a full episode, as they are quite long, but Joe definitely earns the Podcast King title, and it is possible he may never be dethroned.

Impact Theory with Tom Bilyeu

Tom is one of my favorite interviewers. If you are trying to get into the space of interviewing others, I always recommend checking out his stuff.

And here’s why- Tom is an insanely smart man who knows so much about various topics, but when he is talking with someone, he is completely interviewee focused.

He is an active listener and a stellar question asker. You can tell when listening to his show, that he is all in with his guest, and then can speak intelligently to what his guest has to say.

Great listen!

Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum

My producer, Eric, actually recommended this one to me. So shout out to him for that!

But Michael, the host, is one of those actors that you may recognize from something you saw a while ago, but haven’t seen in a while. You know what I mean?

He was Lex Luthor in Smallville back in the day, and I loved watching that growing up when I was really into Superman.

But he is still very well connected in that space. He brings on a lot of big names to his show who are promoting their new book, movie, or tv show.

Similar to Tom, I think Michael is a great conversationalist. Plus, I just really like his rich voice. 

That may just be me, but I can appreciate when a host has a great voice and uses it well.

One thing that I really appreciate about his show is you can tell he makes his guest very relaxed. This can be a difficult thing to do as an interviewer.

But Michael is able to put his guests at ease, and it often makes for a much better listen. 

The Jordan Harbinger Show

Jordan has actually become a friend of mine through this space, and I’m grateful to have someone like him in my corner, so to speak.

But Jordan has an amazing show, and the numbers speak for themselves. He’s been doing this for over 13 years, and he gets about 6 million downloads a month. A MONTH!

He interviews the big name personalities like Shaquille O’Neal and the CEO of Google, but he also talks to lesser known people that have crazy stories. Like foreign spies and refugees from North Korea. 

Just extremely interesting guests. And Jordan is one of those people who can extract information like no one else can. 

He will give you something practical to take away from the interview and implement immediately.

Jordan is always looking for a way to translate the inspirational piece that was just said into a practical action the listener can put into their life right now.

It’s no surprise why he’s in my top 12!

Armchair Expert with Dax Sheppard

So this is a slightly newer show to my list. I only started really listening to it in early 2020, but Dax Sheppard is a well-known actor with big name guests.

Interestingly enough, Michael Rosenbaum was the one who encouraged Dax to start the podcast.

If the entertainment world interests you at all, I definitely recommend checking this show out. He has a very entertaining show with guests in entertainment.

So a fun listen for sure.

Born to Impact with Joel Marion

Another in my personal development arena of podcasts is Born to Impact with Joel Marion. 

Joel is just an incredible, upstanding guy who has a great ability to talk to people. 

I must admit then when you start listening you may think that he is not a dynamic interviewer.

But then, if you are anything like me, you just can’t stop listening! 

An easy listen that will help you learn and grow.

Bigger Pockets with Brandon Turner and David Greene

If you are in real estate or into real estate, then you should most definitely be listening to this show!

The information they share, the network they have, and the education they provide is golden.

Simply put, BiggerPockets is the real deal for real estate!

Your Mom’s House

Now, we’re moving into a few that you might be surprised I listen to, only because they have nothing to do with business and networking!

But that’s the beauty of podcasting- there’s something for everyone in every category!

This show has been in the works for over a decade. It’s a comedy based show with couple, Tom Segura and Christina P. 

Full disclosure, I normally skip the first hour of the interview. It’s also a Youtube show, so they usually spend the first hour watching and reacting to videos that listeners send in.

It can be pretty hilarious, but it doesn’t always make sense just via audio. So I usually skip ahead to when the actual interview starts.

Their guests are other comedians that they bring on and talk about various topics with. But I also love how they can interview people like Grant Cardone on the show, and show them in a different light they are normally shown in.

Great show!

This Past Weekend with Theo Von

Again, another comedian who has great conversations with other comedians. He also brings on guests who are crushing it in their particular field as well.

He’s had Jordan Petersen, Tomi Lahren, and Mike Posner on the show with great conversations.

His interview with Jordan Petersen is one of the best I’ve listened to, and I’ve listened to quite a few!

Office Ladies with Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey

It still blows my mind how big and popular The Office got, but these co-stars and best friends go through an episode a week and break it down.

If you are a big Office geek (like me) you’ll love to hear the behind-the-scenes commentary and intriguing stories they share.

And in true Office fashion, they are, of course, hilarious as they deliver each episode’s history to their fans.

So fun.

Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend

I have ironically never watched his late night show, but when I heard that he was doing a podcast, I thought it would be interesting.

One of the reasons I don’t like network television for interviewing is it is difficult to get a good conversation in a six minute segment!

With this podcast, he is able to reminisce and go deeper into the conversations with each of his guests.

So if you like late night with Conan, or even if you don’t, you will want to check this one out. Highly recommend this one.

The Tim Ferriss Show

And to finish it off with another business podcast that you may have heard of- The Tim Ferriss Show just can’t not be mentioned.

Tim interviews high level guests from unique angles and finds the positive, practical tactics we can all learn and use.

Tim will be vulnerable with his guests and is able then to see them open up in new ways. The tactics shared are truly mind-blowing, and you will rarely hear his guests share something they have shared before in the exact same way.

This show is immensely popular, and rightfully so! If you haven’t jumped onto the train yet, please do. It will be worth it. 

Conclusion

There you have it. Twelve new shows that you can add to your repertoire!

Share it with your friends and family. Feel free to share the graphic above and tag me in on whatever platform you share it on! I want to see it!

Let me know what show I missed or you are currently listening to in the comments below.

I want to hear what you’ve been listening to! 

I’ll see you next week. Cheers!