For the first time in a long time, I enjoy my full time job. However, during the day I still have to contend with some of the challenges of a 9-to-5 like loud coworkers and lack of privacy, thanks to my open workspace. I also have quite a long commute. To get through the distractions, I LOVE listening to podcasts. I listen to all types of podcasts from business to entertainment. I give most any popular podcast a couple listens, just out of curiosity. So in the last year, I developed this arsenal of podcasts to learn vital information for my business. Here are some of favorites:
- SIDE HUSTLE PRO
I absolutely adore this podcast. As side hustlers we glorify full-time entrepreneurship. However, it is difficult to be as productive as a full-time entrepreneur in half, or less than half, the time. In a New Year’s resolution style effort to get organized, I calculated the time it would take me each week to do the bare minimum for this blog and my consignment business and it came out to about 40 hours. And I KNOW I forgot tasks. It is hard. Enter Side Hustle Pro. Side Hustle Pro’s host Nicaila Matthews is fantastic at giving impactful tools and resources that can work in short snippets to help side hustlers optimize their time. Nicaila grew the Side Hustle Pro brand primarily on Instagram, so she has great tips for effectively leveraging the platform. She has recently begun teaching webinars and online workshops for entrepreneurs looking to do the same. Nicaila’s day job is also in media so she has a hardy background in the information she shares.
Nicaila also has really great guests, who are often side hustlers as well. For the guests who have successfully transitioned into full time entrepreneurship, Nicaila asks them to recount their time as side hustlers and talk about their transition. As a fellow 30 something, I also love Nicaila’s relatable story. She has an MBA, a fiancé, and seems to have an active lifestyle. Nicaila’s transparency about how she is balancing it all, her strengths, and her shortcomings makes her a trustworthy voice.
Favorite Episodes: The series with “Meiko And The Dish.” Meiko is the “Entrepreneur in Residence,” so Nicaila is following Meiko’s journey for a year, starting with her quitting her 6-figure job as a Target executive to become a full time food blogger. I love this series because of Meiko’s honesty about her journey. Entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart. Meiko highlights everything from time management, downsizing to save money, juggling multiple ideas, a breakup, lessons from Target, and monetization.
All in all, I love Side Hustle Pro. It is easily my favorite find of last year and I don’t miss an episode.
- MYLEIK TEELE’S MY TAUGHT YOU
I’m sure I would lose a corner of my black girl card if I wrote this list without mentioning Myleik. She is the Queen of Black Girl Goals. I mean really, the woman is amazing. Myleik is a former publicist, the founder of Curl Box, and amazing on almost every social media platform. Brittany Luse, of For Colored Nerds, one of my favorite non-business podcasts, perfectly described Myleik as the cheat code. Myleik expounded on the sentiment, describing herself as the cheat code for young black women in business that may not have mentors or friends in high places. Myleik walks her audience through how to kick life’s ass, no matter the industry. As much as she talks about entrepreneurship, she also speaks about being entrepreneurial no matter your job or circumstances. Myleik’s message is one of hard, tireless work while you’re young. And more hard work with big rewards later.
As a former publicist, Myleik’s personal branding tips are insanely useful. She talks about effectively promoting yourself on social. She also explains how she converted her audience into loyalists and eventually her Curlbox customer base.
Myleik has a no nonsense, no excuses, approach that mimicks a big sister / auntie / older cousin, that will tell you to “cut the shit and get it done.” She speaks from experience and is transparent about the work she had to do on herself, including therapy, to get this high gloss life we lust.
Myleik has been podcasting for over 5 years, so her archives are RICH. For twenty somethings, I HIGHLY recommend starting from the beginning. The first episodes are short but packed with amazing tips about starting your career, saving money, and dating. It’s like the adulthood starter pack. Recently, Myleik added more interviews with guests like Luvvie, another fav, and a quasi book club with her friend Toni. Listening has actually inspired me to start reading again (post law school PTSD took me out of the game).
Favorite Episodes: I loved Myleik’s interview with Necole Kane, of website Necole Bitchie turned XO Necole. Full disclosure, I’ve long followed Necole. As a fellow Virgo, I feel like I get her. I also respect the hell out of Necole’s hustle, and aspire to the bravery that led her to leave a business she built that she was no longer fulfilling her. On her podcast with Myleik, she talks about building her new platform for XO Necole, and even going broke trying to live up to her former success.
As I mentioned before, I loved Myleik’s interview with Luvvie, who is funny, smart, and also very real. Myliek’s “Books to Get Your Life Together in 2017” podcast is just that. I could obviously go on about Myleik but l think you get the point, so let’s move on.
- HASHTAGS AND STILLETOS
Host Sakita Holley is a young, working publicist, and gives valuable advice for making your business more visible. She ALSO gives practical business advice like proper invoicing, landing jobs / internships, pitching brands, and knowing when to walk AWAY from opportunities that don’t suit you. Sakita scores interviews with our favorite black girls in the entrepreneurial space like Myleik, of course, and Olori Swank.
As has been the case for all the rest of the podcasts on this list, Sakita’s TRANSPARENCY makes her all the more endearing. Some of the episodes are more like a “come to Jesus” moment with a friend who knows she ALSO needs the advice she is giving you. Where Myleik feels like a mentor, Sakita feels like a friend. Starting from the very first episode “Done is Better Than Perfect,” Sakita is moving through her journey with her audience.
Favorite Episodes: In my favorite episode to date, Sakita talks about using your influence and getting garnering brand partnerships, no matter who you are. She emphasizes that you do not have to be a shiny, glossy blogger or influencer (a word she hates), or even on social media at all to pitch and work with brands. The examples she gave about an OB/GYN developing post treatment kits was creative and gave me a new perspective about making money in my business.
- THE FRIEND ZONE
I am going to deviate just a little bit from the business podcasts and venture into a podcast that focuses on wellness, which I am equally passionate about. It is the WHOLE in Hustle Whole. The Friend Zone hosts are Fran of Hey Fran Hey, a site devoted to wellness, Dustin Ross, and Asante, whom you may be familiar with from “The Read” podcast. I love this podcast because Dustin is HILARIOUS. I take finding laughter VERY seriously. I seek it out. I find it each week in Dustin. In Fran, I found a kindred spirit. She gives amazing tips for keeping yourself balanced and at peace spiritually, mentally, and physically, all important for entrepreneurs. It’s easy to get drained and run down when you are hustling constantly. I’m not kidding – I’ve been hustling since about 8 years old. I have always been a hustler. Fast forward to my early 30s, and I‘m TIRED. So The Friend Zone always reminds me to slow down, take a breath, and enjoy.
Favorite Episodes: The “Imposter Syndrome” episode with Francesca Ramsey (aka Chescaleigh) was an amazing. The show focused on how to embrace the wholeness of who you are and not shrink down or play small. Growing up as girls of color, codeswitching and “humility” were an everyday practice to make people comfortable with our presence. As adults, particularly as entrepreneurs, we must do a bit of reprogramming to ensure we don’t sell ourselves short.
I also really really really loved the last episode of 2016 with “The Read.” Again, I love transparency. I like to a backstory. Knowing how far Crissle and Fury have come in the journey inspires me to keep going. Crissle spoke about pawning her computer on a weekly basis to pay bills and look where she is now. The woman was nominated for an Emmy last year! So amazing.
Lastly, the “Surrender” episode is an OG favorite, and perhaps the first one that brought me to tears. Surrendering to the process and flow of your life is essential to making progress, no matter thee goal.
- THE ACCIDENTAL CREATIVE
The last podcast is probably the very first podcast that I listened to regularly. I never hear “The Accidental Creative” podcast on “best of” lists, but it is amazing. Host Todd Henry is a writer and speaker that focuses on using up all of your talents in pursuing your best possible life. In fact, one of his books is called “Die Empty.” He invites a variety of guests, many authors, to talk through their unique perspectives on life and career. Best of all, this podcasts are SHORT. Most of his podcasts are around the 30 minute mark. On occasion they’ll go to an hour if the guest is particularly interesting. It is nice to get a short but impactful podcast to get me going.
Like me, Todd is a raging introvert. It is interesting to hear how he navigates life as a popular speaker while being an introvert.
Favorite Episodes: One episode I found particularly interesting was with Amy Herman, who trains people to be aware of and change their biases using art. My interest piqued when she talked about training police officers. I immediately thought of the good that could come from police officers that are at least aware of their biases as it relates to black and brown people. After all, the first step to change is admitting you have a problem.
Another favorite is “The Power of Calling Your Own Bluff (with Julien Smith).” This episode is chock full of quotes about keeping your ego in check and continuing to evolve in you business.
I always leave the ‘Accidental Creative” with a feeling of “huh, that’s interesting” or “ I never would’ve seen it that way.” For that reason, it is a great podcast.
These are just a few of my favorite podcasts. This list is nowhere near exhaustive. What is your favorite podcast to help you get your shit together? Also are you looking for podcasts for a particular topic? Let me know in the comments.