Ok, I’m going to be honest with you. I’ve been a little late (or a lot late) to jump on the podcast bandwagon. In fact, until this past January I had never really listened to any podcasts on a regular basis. However, I’m finding it to be an amazing resource these days in my own personal and professional growth. And they’re free! Come on people.

So here are my top five:

#5: The Learning Leader Show with Ryan Hawk

If you’re wanting to grow as a leader this is a great one to add to your queue. Ryan has a unique interviewing style and has a wide variety of guests on the show. Whether you’re a seasoned leader or just putting your toe in the water, you’ll walk away challenged.

#4: Revisionist History with Malcom Gladwell

This has to be the most unique one on my list. In this series of 10 podcasts, Gladwell brilliantly goes back and reinterprets something from the past: an event, a person, an idea, etc. And it’s typically something that has been overlooked or misunderstood. There’s so much research that goes into each episode and it’s absolutely riveting. Malcom Gladwell can tell a story like no other and finds such an inspiring perspective on the subject at hand.

#3: Andy Stanley Leadership Podcast

There’s not a more practical podcast out there for people in ministry than this one. Andy takes very complex leadership principles and explains them in very simple ways. I’ve never heard a single episode that I couldn’t take something away from and apply it almost immediately. If you’re in ministry, this podcast is a must.

#2: Chris Brown’s True Stewardship

In full disclosure, Chris is a good friend but I’d listen to this podcast even if he wasn’t. While Chris does have some solid advice about how to steward your personal finances, this podcast is a lot more broad than that. It’s really all about how to be a good steward of your life in all aspects. Every episode inspires me to live a better life. Just trust me. Listen once and you’ll be coming back for more.

#1: Building A Story Brand with Donald Miller

If I had to pick just one podcast to listen to in this season, it would be Don’s. Right now I’m trying to soak up absolutely everything I can on marketing and branding and Don is an absolute genius at this. He has a great variety of guests and is one of the best interviewers I’ve ever heard. His free downloadables that correspond with each podcast are nothing short of genius and help you apply the content in ways you wouldn’t have expected.

At the end of the day, what I think is most important (beyond giving you a list of podcasts to listen to) is to challenge yourself and move outside the confines of complacency. In order to grow as a leader, professional or just as a person in life, you must dedicate yourself as a lifetime learner. Push yourself to learn something new. Come to grips with the understanding that excellence and health doesn’t just “happen”. Feed your mind and heart and you’ll see the fruit.

P.S. The A Group is going to start a podcast! Exciting, right? We think so. If you want to be the first to know about the details and launch date, sign up below and we’ll be sure to keep you in the know.