Everyone needs a mentor. How about dozens of successful, inspiring leaders ready to teach you everything they know? That’s the great thing about podcasts; there are plenty of experts ready to share their secrets. The trick is finding the best ones for you. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the best podcasts for anyone ready to bring their leadership to the next level!
The best part? Most of them are short enough to fit into your daily commute! Check out our list below and you’ll definitely find a few to help you (in no particular order):
1. Tribe of Mentors & The Tim Ferriss Show – Tim Ferriss
Tim Ferriss knows good advice, and he delivers sage advice for listeners in both Tribe of Mentors and The Time Ferriss Show. Ferris has the distinction of being named one of the “Most Innovative Business People” by Fast Company. He is also a tech advisor who was an early-stage investor in companies like Twitter, Uber, Alibaba, Facebook, Shopify, Duolingo, and other global brands. Providing life advice from around the world (and from some surprising places), Ferriss teaches listeners and leaders how to say no, how to deal with failure, and more!
2. Manager Tools – Mark Horstman & Mike Auzenne
This podcast speaks for itself! This weekly podcast tackles practical ways to solve problems and encourage innovation in your workplace. The hosts, Michael Auzenne and Mark Horstman, have been working in corporate America for the last 30+ years. It was awarded People’s Choice Podcast from Podcast Awards in 2008 and won the Best Business Podcast award in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2012.
3. What Great Bosses Know – Jill Geisler
From the author of Work Happy: What Great Bosses Know, Geisler is a leadership educator and led The Poynter Institute’s leadership and management programs for years. While this podcast ran until late 2014, the topics are still relevant. These short, serialized lectures from Poynter still pack a punch!
4. This is Success – Business Insider
Richard Feloni, a staff writer for Business Insider, sits down with inspiring people across all walks of life to have a conversation about success (and failure). It’s a must-listen for anyone who wants to get to the top. Included in this list are the likes of CEOs like Marc Lore (Walmart), Jeff Bezos (Amazon), and John Zimmer (Lyft), astronaut Scott Kelly, and even race car driver Danica Patrick!
5. Freakonomics Radio – Stephen Dubner
If you loved Freakonomics and Superfreakonomics, this podcast is for you. Designed as an economic- focused podcast for non-economists, the podcast explores the oddest bits of human nature and helps the audience come to understand how people work. In each weekly episode, Dubner talks with the likes of Nobel Peace winners, scientists, entrepreneurs, and provocateurs. We recommend the episode “How to Become Great at Just About Everything” if you’re looking for a place to start!
6. The $100 MBA – Omar Zenhom
With over fifteen years’ experience building companies, Omar Zenhom knows how to make every lesson count. This is one of the shortest podcasts on the list. Omar offers succinct, 10-minute business lessons perfect for those afternoons you can squeeze even the shortest break into your busy schedule! The podcast is very no-nonsense, often focused on a specific problem – like when to make big decisions or leading your team without feeling overwhelmed – without frills or promotions. Check him out today!
7. The LEADx Show – Kevin Kruse
Can you boost your career and reach your leadership potential in just a few minutes per day? Bestselling author Kevin Kruse says yes – if you have the right tools to get you there. That’s what LEADx is about; managing your team, exploring new leadership skills, and honing your strengths. Topics like employee engagement, choosing to win, and why accountability matters are designed to help you learn how to lead.
8. The CEO Show – Robert Reiss
In each of these short, 19-minute episodes, Robert Reiss, CEO and author, interviews a new CEO about their industry, history, and the practices that have made them a success. It’s a great starting point for anyone looking to better understand how leadership shapes a company for better or worse.
9. Work Life – Adam Grant
“We spend a quarter of our lives in our jobs. This show is about making all that time worth your time.” The podcast focuses on one simple task – how to make work not suck. Sounds easy, right? Well, organizational psychology Adam Grant talks to everyone from director Brad Bird to LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman to explore how best to harness criticism, handle burnout, and much much more!
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10. TED Talks Daily
Every weekday, this podcast posts the audio for new TED talk. These topics aren’t always solely focused on business, but they do offer insights and information you never would have considered on their own. And as every good leader knows, you never know where your next great idea might come from! If you want an example of why you should be listening, look no further than Simon Sinek’s “How great leaders inspire action.”
11. Recode Decode – Kara Swisher
Join Silicon Valley journalist Kara Swisher as she dives into candid interviews and delightful advice from some of the tech industry’s most famous faces. Folks like Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Twitter’s Jack Dorsey, and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg share their big ideas and leadership style. Her questions can be tough but fair, bringing out the truth that gives you better insight on when and how their choices – and leadership – mattered most.
12. Engaging Leader – Jesse Lahey
Sometimes being a leader is more than just getting the job done. That’s what Jesse Lahey explores in Engaging Leader: how to lead with communication and engagement. Learn how to talk to (and get the best results from) all employees, from Millennials to Gen Z. Increase your team’s collaboration and accountability. And drive meaningful change in the workplace!
Did we miss your favorite? Let us know if your go-to leadership podcast didn’t make it this time! You never know, we might have to check it out next!
