'PHENOMENAL PODCASTS'

MORE OF MY FAVOURITE PODCASTS ON THE BLOCK.

I’m back with another 5 of my favourite podcasts, their hosts, what they cover and why I’d recommend them to others.

1)  1) BOBO AND FLEX:
This is a vital listen, important and educational but also equally fun and inspirational. Hosted by friends Bobo Matjila and Lillian Ahenkan (Flex Mami) they bring us a psychology and lifestyle podcast. It’s particularly fascinating as it’s cross-continental, Bobo was born in South Africa and raised in New York and Flex is Ghanaian-Australian. They’re passionate about bringing conversations surrounding identity, intersectionality and mental health to podcast platforms and every episode challenges your beliefs, perspective and what you know. They’re constantly teaching me something new and encouraging listeners to question the way we function, behave and think in the world we live in today. They facilitate discussions on taboo subjects, sexual liberation, dating and critical thinking, huge topics that are also an interesting listen. I also love how much they boost others and encourage you to be and live as your best self, all about self-confidence and it’s both amazing and infectious. Episodes include Dating, Cancel and Rape culture, Trauma, Friendship, Sex, Feminism, Boundaries, Safe Spaces, Body Image, Self-Love, Racism, Social Media, Relationships and Spirituality. They remind you to continue to check in with yourself and bring essential conversations to the surface. ‘Bobo and Flex are on a quest to decolonize our minds, intersect our feminism, but most importantly give us all the tools necessary to stay away from problematic boys!’

2   2) THE GIRLS BATHROOM:
This provides what it says on the tin, girls this one is for you. An easy going, entertaining listening that replicates the gossip and open chats that are often had in the girls bathroom. It’s open, honest, and raw. It lacks filter, but that’s what makes it so good. There’s no hiding and that’s both reassuring and hilarious to listen to. A place that brings girls together, a place that the hosts claim is ‘the place we often confide in girls we’ve never met before’. Sophia and Cinzia host, life-long best friends who began with a shared YouTube account and creating videos together. From 2019 when the Podcast was launched, they have used to platform to discuss subject matters including boyfriends, girlfriends, cheating, heartbreak, sex, ex’s, being single, dating and friendship groups. They explain ‘in this podcast we want to help you with your dilemmas, by trying to make sense of the boys wasting our time, the girls trying to make our lives difficult and all the things in between. Come join us for a fun but real chat in the girl’s bathroom.’

3   3) GIVE ME STRENGTH:
Best-selling Author and Personal Trainer Alice Living hosts this inspirational podcast all about establishing and accepting your own strength and capabilities. It’s a very empowering listen, and successfully motivates you to find inner strength, work towards goals as well as accept yourself as enough as you are. The conversations shared are encouraging and leave you in awe of each guest and their accomplishments, leaving you grateful for having had the opportunity to listen to their story and a fire to make the most of your own. Chatting to a different established professional each episode including Kelly Holmes, Gabby Logan, Sophie Butler Martine Wright, Fearne Cotton and Jessica Ennis-Hill, topics include gender stereotypes, going for gold, finding confidence, empowering female voices, building resilience, making the impossible possible and dreaming big. ‘Alice interviews extraordinary women about the importance of building mental and physical resilience and how this can empower us to live happier, stronger lives.’

4   4) POWER HOUR:
This is all about motivation, encouragement and living life to the full. I love this podcast, host Adrienne Herbert is such a positive soul and brings nothing but energy, honesty and light. This podcast inspires you to make the most of each day that you have living on this earth, to be as productive as you can, to be grateful for what you have and to pursue your goals and dreams. Each episode continues to leave to me in awe of each guest and their lifestyle, consistently inspiring me to work hard as well as play hard. Adrienne talks to guests including midwives, writers, activists, doctors, producers, professionals and performers about their passions and daily life. It’s equally fascinating and encouraging. Throughout, between every few episodes, she also provides small minute extract voice notes of just herself speaking about important subject matters. They’re digestible and powerful clips covering matters including goals, change, injustices, the now, giving yourself a break, trusting yourself, changing your bias, life is to be lived, growth, boundaries, confidence and using your voice. Vital nuggets of gold dust that we all need reminding of at times. ‘What could you do if you dedicated just one hour each day to improving your life? A weekly podcast that will motivate you to pursue your passion and to achieve success. Adrienne speaks to leading coaches, creatives, change makers and innovators; finding out about their morning routines, daily habits and rules to live by.’

     5) THE MINIMALIST PODCAST:
A sweet and simple one to finish my recommendations. Hosted by Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus, this podcast provides everything that a podcast should have in my opinion. Great hosts, easy going conversation, education and entertainment. The pair inform, educate and entertain across each episode and discuss many extremely relevant and important subject matters. Some episodes are very short ranging from 2 to 10 minutes, and others are longer, lasting around 45 minutes to 1 hour. They simply chat about vital, human experiences and things we face right now as humans in the world we live in. They talk about personal stories as well as others tales through life by bringing guests onto the podcast. Ultimately they talk about how to live a happy life by living a very simple one. ‘Minimalism’, being grateful and finding value in the small things, finding and acknowledging the purpose and joy in the small things in your life. Teaching and reminding us that you are in control of your own perspective, behaviours, happiness and how you choose to live your life. Teaching us that being ‘rich’ and ‘successful’ can be done as a minimalist. Whether they’re discussing technology, finances, education, priorities, values, balance, relationships, career, health, stress, sex, religion, insecurity, happiness or a range of other emotions that we face, each episode is so insightful and opens up my mind to a different perspective that often challenges what societal constructs and norms have taught us from an early age. ‘Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus discuss living a meaningful life with less.’

 5 6) REIGN WITH JOSH SMITH: 
This is an extremely honest and open podcast about living as and accepting your true self, freedom and pride. Josh hosts it very sensitively and asks interesting and empowering questions throughout. The conversations are always raw, but also lean into humour at times to. Despite the depth of conversations and subject matters, it's very comforting and light hearted. It's a very insightful, motivating and liberating listen delving into relatable human thoughts, behaviours and experiences, opening up discussion around what challenges and obstacles life brings. Josh and a different guest each episode tackle difficulties, adversity, living authentically and honestly, timeless stories of how they've found the power to make it 'reign'. It's reassuring and refreshing as there is lack of filter in the discussions, it's very relaxed, entertaining and inspiring. Josh is a great host, very bubbly and warm which is particularly inviting. Subject matters arise including the ups and downs of life, the journey to where they are now and personal path to pride, fears and how they've overcome them, identity, vulnerability, self acceptance, respect and being your own ally, moments of pride, visibility and equality, boundaries, pleasure, lessons they've learnt and who inspires them to wear their own crown. Guests include Jodie Comer, Cara Delevigne, Vanessa Kirby, Lily Collins and Aimee Lou Wood. It's extremely grounding, nourishing and freeing to hear others experiences and advice to support and enhance your own. It concludes well as Josh always asks his guest what's one piece of advice they will always live by, leaving the listener inspired and full of wisdom.