It's been a month since I've written here, due to a fortunate influx in graphic design work, a much-needed vacation and taking care of my mental health. I wanted to update all you beautiful souls, though. So, in the meantime, I wanted to share some great podcasts if you are in need of inspiration. I listen to at least one of these podcasts every day while I work. It's like having mentors and peers in my home office. The things I've learned are so invaluable!
Marketing / Entrepreneurship / Design
As a Creative freelancer, these podcasts keep me up-to-date and excited when I hit those all-to-common work flow snags.
Accidental Creative with Todd Henry Todd Henry's episodes are shorter than some podcasts but his pep talks put me in my place when I'm complacent or cowardly. Some weeks, I listen to this podcast as I make my coffee first thing in the morning.
Design Matters with Debbie Millman I listen to some of these episodes over and over . As a freelancer, I sometimes lack Creative commiseration, so hearing Debbie talk to hotshot designers and creatives is like getting encouragement straight from the mouths of mentors.
Design Sponge (reruns) with Grace Bonney Back in 2008 when I followed like 300+ blogs, Grace Bonney had already claimed her reign as the godmother of design blogs. These podcasts are older, but Grace's design and curatorial experience really shine through each episode.
Online Marketing Made Easy with Amy Porterfield This one is targeted more towards teachers of online courses but Amy's interviews still offer TONS of encouragement and wisdom for businesses built on content generation (like mine!). Amy's energy is always inspiring, too.
Fine Art / Contemporary Art
It's important for me to remember that the role of "artist" (though traditionally pitied and misunderstood by the non-artist commercial world) is a necessary historical and cultural place in society. These podcasts remind me how important art will always be to humanity.
Hyperallergic I am grateful for everything Hyperallergic does to keep me updated on the living, breathing contemporary art world. This podcast reminds me to keep an eye on the history being made in art, not just the art history books I've read in school.
MoMA Talks Great for learning about both modern and contemporary art. This podcast features talks with artist, curators and scholars.
Raw Material by SF MoMA The format of this podcast reminds me of PBS' Art21 series. I really like that I can keep my finger on the pulse of the art being made where I was born and raised: the Bay Area and Northern California.
KCRW Art Talk This podcast features artists in Southern California. I can't make that drive willy nilly, so I listen to this podcast to feel updated on that scene.
Lifestyle / Story-telling / News
When I don't have an audiobook to listen to, I listen to these podcasts. Story-telling is a huge aspect of my artwork and hearing the stories of both famous and regular people is necessary to my creative process.
Death, Sex and Money with Anna Sale This podcast is brimming with the human experience and Anna is a gracious interviewer. I find solace in listening to the stories told by people walking very different walks in life. Seldom are the topics of death, sex and money discussed elsewhere but this podcast makes clear that such "taboo" subjects are what tie us all together.
Rookie I am no teen but I've followed Tavi Gevinson's career since she was 12. Listening to this podcast, which is in line with the magazine she founded in 2011, is inspiring because interviewees are asked questions by unabashed teenagers finding their way through life. Quite often, answers are life-affirming and phrased in a gracious and honest way.
PBS NewsHour , BBC NewsHour , (Time's) The Daily All for varying perspectives on world news. I avoided ingesting too much of the news in past years (it would depress me). However, I now feel a daily need to find my bearings in the world through learning what's going on elsewhere. It helps me navigate daily life when I focus on the human experience as a whole rather than my own little world of negative thoughts.
I hope you find these podcasts inspiring as you peruse them!
