High-Minded Podcasts

I spend a lot of time listening to podcasts.  I've been living the past few years in the center of a medieval city in Italy, and I live a very "pedestrian" lifestyle.  Literally.  I don't have a car and I do nearly everything on foot - taking my kids to and from school, grocery shopping, going out for meals, errands, etc.  I like to use that pedestrian time to listen to engaging podcasts.  Even when I run for exercise I've taken to listening to podcasts in lieu of my old playlist.  

I gravitate to podcasts that are focused on higher living (trying to uncover various ways we can improve ourselves), and particularly those with a spiritual, non-dogmatic element.  Many great yogic masters, including Paramhansa Yogananda, emphasize the importance of keeping good company and surrounding yourself with an environment that reflects the higher vibrational state you seek.  When it comes to media, that means limiting the amount of "junk" we are consuming - things that are possibly entertaining, but not feeding anything nurturing to our souls and minds.  The podcasts below have filled me with inspiration, taught me interesting things related to bettering myself, and/or at the very least helped me pass the time while keeping higher ideals or realities in conscious consideration:

• Oprah's Super Soul Conversations - Oprah's just the queen at what she does.  I used to watch her a lot in college, but haven't really kept up with her much in the last 20 years.  I came across her podcast and fell in love instantly with her focus on really trying to get people in touch with their spirit and best self.  I also like that she keeps things succinct.  Each episode is about 30 - 40 minutes.  She's obviously the epitome of professional and gets straight to the heart of the interview with compassion, humor, and wisdom.  
• OnBeing  - Krista Tippett hosts the On Being webcast.  She starts each interview by asking the guest to describe their spiritual upbringing.  The show has a range of guests including spiritual leaders, social justice champions, poets, researchers, and scientists pursuing unchartered territories.  Krista has a soothing presence and voice.  The podcast offers unedited and edited versions of all their episodes, so you can commit to the average 50 minute edited version or opt for the longer unedited one where you catch more of the not-so-relevant chatter.  I personally prefer to enjoy the 50 minutes and not the extra discussion of if they can hear each other ok in their headsets, but it's nice to have the longer option if one of your favorite guests is featured.
• The Good Life Project - Jonathan Fields hosts this podcast from his home in New York.  He has a mix of interviewing "embodied teachers," who are people living inspired lives, and shorter shows where he riffs on a topic of interest, often involving the latest scientific research related to health or the brain.  Recently one of his episodes has gotten me really interested in giving fasting a try.
• The Rich Roll Podcast - I'm fairly new to Rich Roll's podcast, having only listened to a few of them.  Rich is an ultra athlete who is passionate about the whole food plant based diet.  His podcast swings between topics of sports, nutrition, wellness, and usually has an element of spiritual wholeness integrated into the segment.  Although I am a vegetarian, there is a lot for me to learn about the power of food, the different schools of thought within vegetarian and vegan worlds, the food supply, etc.  This podcast has stacks of really helpful information on those topics.  I recently listened to his interview of a doctor named Zach Bush, and his explanation of the history of the food supply chain as well as his theory of all diseases being different variations of inflammation were spellbinding.  I also was fascinated by his discussion of leaky gut.  The interview at times was a little too scientific, but Rich did a good job trying to summarize in layman's language.  His interview of Dr. Joel Kahn was another which as me considering a fast.  

In sum, if you are looking for a more substantive way to use that time you might be filling with background music, I highly suggest instead checking out these podcasts as another way to raise your vibration during your day.