I mostly read non-fictions because I do not have that imaginable lens to grasp the beauty of fictions. I read to learn, to keep myself motivated. 2022 is my fourth year in regular reading. Yet, I was irregular. As both my job and my studies required me to be 100% efficient, I had a lot on my plate. I had to keep myself motivated in order to avoid burnout. For this, I chose podcast as an alternative. The ones where they read and discuss books, summarizes its takeaways and provoke your thoughts. Here’s my thoughts on podcast and why everyone should try it.

I think it is a great way to start “reading” books. Many people find it hard to build a reading habit because they simply do not want to “read.” Now, that’s another debate on why they hate reading and if our faulty education system has anything to do with it. But, not wanting to read is our age-old national problem. Listening to podcast, especially the audiobook ones get you a taste of what a non-reader might be missing out on. It’s a good way to make “reading” fun.

Another observation I had with podcasts is that, I get to see one topic from ten different lenses. Both the expert and the beginner ones. For example, “See You at the Top” by Zig Ziggler was one of my most favorite books when I first read it. I found it extremely motivational and believed anyone can get to the top if they want; it’s as simple as that. But when listening to a podcast episode on the same book, I realized it’s shortcomings. I gained the perspectives. The conditions and repercussions of getting to the top. Not everyone is capable of doing it; at least the way Zig Ziglar convinces in the book.

And then there are these basic benefits: you can utilize your commute time listening to an audiobook, you can go listen before you sleep, you can incorporate a podcast on your morning routine and so on. There's podcast for every interest. There’s a podcast for you whether you’re looking for something to make you feel good, help with your career, or just a good laugh. You can also listen to a podcast wherever you are, which makes it easy to fit into a busy life. Overall, listening to podcasts helps you stay motivated and keep that learning spree going.

Now, where to find podcasts?

If you have a smart device and an internet access, you can find thousands of podcasts for free. Start by exploring Google podcast or Apple podcast, you can find it on YouTube too. Once you start falling in love with this habit, you can start investing on subscriptions. I like Scribd as a paid platform. Here are a few podcasts I love to listen. 7 Good Minutes by Radio America, Quickread Podcast, Ten Percent Happier, Stuff You Should Know, Read or Dead, The Book Pile, The Not your Grandmother’s Book Club Podcast, The American Life Podcast. You can manually search with your keywords too. Start slow, don’t just subscribe to random channels. Listen and analyze. You will find a helpful friend in it.