T&T Podcasts I Love
I love podcasts! I listen when I am driving, getting ready for the day, or even when I am doing mundane tasks like cleaning. While podcasts have nothing to do with deals & steals, I wanted to share some of the ones that I love. I will continue to update this list as I discover more.
HUMOR
Conan O’Brien Needs Friends: HILARIOUS. This is by far my favorite podcast of 2019. It is just Conan O’Brien chatting with other comedians, but so excellent. They’re all great, but some favorite episodes include David Sedaris, Lisa Kudrow, Kumail Nanjiani, John Oliver, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Stephen Colbert
Bitch Sesh: My love for the hosts, Casey and Danielle, runs deep. Essentially the podcast is a breakdown of the week’s Bravo shows done by two comedians. If you love Bravo, you will love this. If you’re looking for one to start with, start with the Erika Jayne interview episode because she is everything.
Everything Iconic: This is another largely Bravo related podcast by Danny Pellegrino. He is funny, relatable and makes me laugh.
The Daily Show with Trevor Noah (Ears Edition): This is literally just the audio version of the show. I rarely have time to sit down and watch the show, so I like to listen to it while I’m working, walking etc. You don’t really need the visual to follow.
Smartless: This is a new podcast with Sean Hayes, Jason Bateman, and Will Arnet. I adore Sean Hayes so I listen for him.
Absolutely Not: In 2020, I am craving some laughs. This podcast hosted by Heather McMahan is consistently funny. If you are prim and proper, I would skip this!
Secret Keepers Club: Carly Aquilino makes me laugh. Her pod gets more funny as you listen to a few episodes and get her little inside jokes. I don’t listen religiously but when I do I laugh. Fun fact: her TikTok reshares on IG are the only ones that make me laugh.
I Love a Lifetime Movie: Comedian Naomi Ekperigan is one of the hosts and I love her so much (watch her stand up on Netflix!). She and her co-host (who I don’t love so much) breakdown cheesy Lifetime movies. I don’t want Lifetime movies but still laugh at the recaps. I don’t listen religiously but enjoy when I pop in.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP /BUSINESS
How I Built This- One of the bests. If you love business you will love this podcast. Even if you don’t, you will enjoy hearing stories from the founders of your favorite companies including: Rent The Runway, Temperpedic, Toms, Dyson, Southwest Airlines, Bumble, and Ben & Jerry’s. I originally found this podcast a few years ago through my aunt. She sent the Kate Spade interview to me, knowing I have loved Kate Spade since I was a girl. I really enjoyed Kate and Andy’s story. Some of my other favorites include: Warby Parker, Spanx, Barbara Corcoran, Airbnb, Slack, Wayfair, Patagonia, Instagram, Barre3, and Five Guys.
Second Life: This is somewhat similar to HIBT, but focuses on women who took the plunge to start a new endeavor and resonates so strongly with me. So far I’ve really enjoyed April Garguilo of Vintner’s Daughter, Amber Lewis, Shani Darden, Tracy Sun, Jen Atkin, and Eva Chen.
WSJ: Secrets of Wealthy Women- (2023 Update: sadly this pod has ended) This was a recent recommendations from a T&T follower, and I am so grateful she shared it with me. I love hearing the stories of women who have succeeded in business and relate to many of the common themes shared by these women. The host is not as strong as Guy Raz, but I have grown to like how much she lets the interviewee shine.
Masters of Scale: This is hosted by Reid Hoffman, one of the founders of Linkedin. The podcast frankly is way too overproduced with voiceovers, but the guests and conversations are interesting. I just try and fast forward through the silly music etc.
Boss Files: (2023 Update: this pod has ended)Poppy Harlow interviews business leaders and innovators. As the popularity of business podcast grows, it does seem that the same people are interviewed (Kendra Scott, Alli Web, Rent the Runway etc.) but I still enjoy hearing various entrepreneurs stories.
Skimm’d From the Couch: Interviews with business leaders. I really enjoyed Barbara Corcoran’s interview because she is an inspiration and a hustler.
Masters in Business: This is good series interviewing people from all industries. I particularly enjoyed the Fern Mallis interview.
LIKEtoKNOW.it Podcast: (2023 Update: this pod has ended) No you won’t have to download the LTK app to listen. Ha! The founder of RewardStyle, Amber Venz Box, speaks to influencers about their careers. I find it interesting to hear how these women built their businesses and continue to evolve. I skip some of the episodes if they don’t feel relevant to me, but I particularly enjoyed the interview with Wendy Nguyen and Louise Roe.
DESIGN
How to Decorate: [ Update: some of my favorite episodes are Alexa Hampton, Vern Yip, Nicki Clendening, Gil Schafer, Paloma Contreras, Gen Sohr, Melanie Turner, Tilton Fenwick ]. This is an old favorite and I frankly do not know how I came upon it. My absolute favorite episode so far is with Carson Kressley and Thom Filicia. Carson is so incredibly funny (even my dad who hates Bravo will watch their show) and I was dying laughing the entire time. I have since listened maybe three more times when I need a good chuckle. Please listen to that one to start.
Business of Home: Another interior design podcast. I enjoyed the interview with 1st Dibs CEO David Rosenblatt.
Chairish Podcast: I listen to this one on and off. Sometimes, I find design podcasts can have a bit of an air to them, and this one has it moments. However, I found the episode on Designer Showhouses to be great.
INVESTIGATION/WHO-DUN-IT
Last Seen: This was another T&T Follower recommendation. It is the story of the unsolved heist of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in the 1990’s. It’s only a few episodes so easy to get through. I studied Art History at Bowdoin, so it brought back memories! Even if you don’t like art history, you learn a lot about the inner-workings of the mob (bet you didn’t see that coming.)
Serial- An oldie but a goodie! Sarah Koenig, the host of the podcast, has the most mesmerizing voice and I truly could listen to hear read the yellow pages. Serial Season I is a must, must listen and is a griping true story of a Baltimore teenager who is murdered and the surrounding case. It is a very interesting story and, to this day, I still have some unanswered questions. Fun Fact: I do an uncanny (or so I think) Christina Gutierrez impression. Skip Season II- I found it hard to get into and gave up quickly. I am not yet done with Season III, but Sarah looks at the criminal justice system and how broken it is.
The Drop Out: An interesting review of the rise and fall of Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos. Some of my friends have said the book Bad Blood, which the podcast is based on, is better; however, I thought it was intriguing. I added this one in 2020— so by now you probably know the story of Elizabeth Holmes. If not, you will enjoy. If you’ve consumed every podcast, documentary, newspaper article, I’d skip this. There is nothing new here.
NEWS
The Daily: If you struggle to read the paper in the morning rush, you will love this podcast. The Daily offers short 20 minute news and topic deep dives. I start my mornings with The Daily, Start Here, and Up First.
Start Here: Quick news coverage. On busy days, it’s nice to have a quick overview. The host is somewhat annoying, but it’s a good quick way to get caught up. I also am a big fan of the NPR 5 minute recap.
Up First: Another quick round up of the news you need to know in less than 10 minutes.
The Journal: This podcast is great and I’m not really sure why more people don’t talk about it. I find their deep dives to be good; they remind me somewhat of a 60 minutes episode. The hacking of Jeff Bezos cell phone episode was interesting, as was the episode about Apple’s cost cutting.
NPR News Now: This is a good 5 minute news round up updated each hour. This is great when you need a quick recap.
Consider This: News deep dive similar to The Journal and The Daily.
Post Reports: Another news deep dive similar to The Journal and The Daily.
MISCELLANEOUS
Oprah’s Super Soul Conversations: I do not listen every week, but Oprah has some great episodes and I definitely should listen more. I LOVED the recent episodes called “Steven Pressfield: Unlock Your Creative Genius” and recommend you all listen to it. I also enjoyed Joe Biden, Julia Roberts, Brene Brown and Stephen Colbert.
Fresh Air: Interviews with various notable actors, comedians etc.
Brene Brown: Unlocking Us: I have mixed emotions about Brene Brown- unpopular opinion I know! Sometimes she drives me crazy, but the content here is good. I LOVED the episode with Sonya Renee Taylor “The Body is Not An Apology.”
Modern Love: This was one of the first podcast I ever listened to, and I found it because I read the NYT Modern Love column. The podcast has famous people reading the column aloud. The stories are all reader submitted essays about love: not necessarily romantic love, but love in all its forms. I have to admit I have fallen off a bit, but 95% of the time I listen I cry. If you haven’t listened to or read “To Fall in Love With Anyone, Do This” you must. I read it maybe 4 years ago and it changed how I think about connecting with other people.
DIP IN AND OUT PODCASTS: podcasts that I don’t subscribe to, but sometimes will check in when I run out of others.
Rewives with Bethenny Frankel: As an OG Bravo fan, I will always have some sort of soft spot for Bethenny. The show recaps old episodes of RHONY. It is only enjoyable if she has a Bravo fan on. The ones where she has to explain housewives to a random celebrity are a rare form of torture.
Two T’s in a Pod: This one I am embarrassed to say I listen to occasionally. Teddi and Tamra are pretty annoying. Not saying it’s good, but good enough if I’m cleaning etc.
Comments by Celebs: I will listen to their Bravo breakdowns.
MOVED OFF THE LIST:
One Quick Thing: [Update: It appears this podcast is no longer live. I wish it would come back.] This podcast is hosted by the Founder of Hill House Home. Nell speaks interviews friends with a specific topic or focus. I appreciate that it’s more focused, like How to Ask for A Promotion, How to Create A Second Act, How to Build A Supply Chain, How to Manage Your Personal Budget etc.
A Well Designed Business: [Update: I sort of fell off with this one, but may come back to it at some point.] Again, I am not an interior designer, but I enjoy this podcast hosted by LuAnn Nigara. Her focus is on helping interior designers run their business effectively. Not all her episodes are relevant to me, but I find her tips helpful for any small business owner or entrepreneur.
Glossy Podcast: [Update: the new host of this podcast is really difficult to listen to; her interview style feels lightweight. I still listen for the guests, but struggle with the host.] Fashion meets How I Built This. I am shocked that more people arent talking about this podcast. They interview founders and high level executives from the fashion industry, including established brands and newer Direct to Consumer brands.
That’s all for now. I would love to hear what you’re listening to and enjoying, so please comment below. For more tips & tricks, be sure to subscribe to the Thrift & Tell Newsletter and follow @thriftandtell on Instagram.
