Podcasts are basically the “Netflix of radio” for FREE.

With over 350,000 unique podcasts, you can listen to millions of hours of on-demand audio content on subjects ranging from art to politics, from education to comedy, and pretty much anything in between.

Since there are so many podcasts out there, the problem isn’t discovering something new – it’s finding something worthwhile and meaningful. (Which is arguably life’s purpose, but more on that later).

Below is a list of what I believe are the most influential, thought provoking and entertaining podcasts.

I consume most of them on a daily basis, or I have binged on the entire season in one sitting. I highly recommend you check them out.

The James Altucher Show – James is an entrepreneur, angel investor, comedian, chest master and best-selling author. He has made and lost a ton of money several times over and candidly discusses this in his books, podcast and blog. Why it’s worth a listen? You get to hear in-depth, authentic conversations with peak performers. It’s like you’re sitting down for dinner with entrepreneurs, astronauts best-selling authors, all from the comfort of your living room. James doesn’t follow the same stock standard podcast script you hear so often, and he isn’t afraid to ask the hard questions making for insightful, honest and genuinely entertaining conversations. I challenge you not to take multiple notes every episode.

Serial – OK, so you’ve probably already heard of this one, but it’s so good that it had to make the list. I even listened to this instead of watching Netflix. From the creators of This American Life, this podcast investigates the real-life murder of high school senior Hae Min Lee and her convicted killer, Adnan Syed who was sentenced to life in prison. The only problem, he’s always maintained his innocence. Why it’s worth a listen? Firstly, who doesn’t love a true crime story, especially one where things don’t quite seem to add up. Is he guilty or innocent? Why was evidence overlooked? Why were his friends not interviewed straight away? Are just a few questions you’ll be asking after the first episode. Secondly, this podcast is excellently produced, from Sarah Koenig’s investigative journalism to the show’s sound track, it’s the equivalent of watching a Hollywood blockbuster.

Build & Launch – An experimental podcast about building and launching a product in seven days. Yep, you read that right, Justin Jackson makes and ships a digital product (ebook, podcast, e-course, app etc.) live each week. I binged listen to this podcast. Why it’s worth a listen? If you’ve ever wanted to make something and put it into the world, this one is for you. Justin’s enthusiasm, humour and business building philosophy (start now and start small) are infectious in motivating you to build and launch a project today.

The Tim Ferris Show – Tim is probably best known as the “4-hour guy”. His best-selling book The 4-Hour Work Week inspired me and many others to break free from the 9-5 and design a life that’s worth living right now, instead of waiting until retirement to do the things you’ve always dreamed. On his podcast, Tim deconstructs the habits and philosophies of world-class performers. His interviews give listeners a unique insight into how peak performers think and act, and how you can apply their tools and tactics to your own life. Why it’s worth a listen? Tim really does go the extra mile to elicit exactly what makes peak-performers tick. From what their morning routines look like, to how they make tough decisions in life and business and much more. Tim’s interview technique has improved over the years, and his relaxed style makes for interesting discussions on how to learn from best.

Shopify Masters – Produced by Shopify, the popular e-commerce platform, Felix Thea interviews successful Shopify entrepreneurs and unpacks how they are building their business, providing you with the knowledge to build, launch and grow a profitable online store. Why it’s worth a listen? No matter whether you’re just starting out in business, or looking to grow your company, Felix delves into all aspects of what makes a business successful. Giving you actionable business strategies and marketing advice you can apply to your own business, online, offline or anywhere in-between (according to Shopify’s tag line).

Scriptnotes – Join screenwriters, John August (Go, Big Fish, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) and Craig Mazin (The Hangover II and III) discuss the craft of screenwriting, and as their podcast bio says, all things that are interesting to screenwriters. To be honest, I would edit that to say, all things interesting to writers as you don’t have to be an aspiring screenwriter to benefit from their no-nonsense advice on how to start writing and most importantly how to write well. Why it’s worth a listen? I’m sure many of you would agree, one of the best ways to become good at something is to hire a mentor. One of the best segments of this show is the Three Page Challenge, where John and Craig critique three pages of a listener’s script providing them with expert feedback on how to improve their writing and craft. This virtual mentorship is worth 10 x the $1.99 per month subscription fee for access to the entire back catalogue of episodes and exclusive bonus content. The most recent 20 episodes are available for free.

The One You Feed – Based on the Tale of Two Wolves parable, Eric Zimmer asks guests to explore their inner wolves to find out which wolf they feed most. Discussions range from overcoming addiction, human psychology, motivation, happiness, meditation and much more. Why is it worth a listen? With some notable exceptions, the guests on Eric’s show are usually unknown to me, but that doesn’t make them any less enjoyable to listen to. In fact, it’s what makes the podcast more insightful – you can’t help but learn something new from every episode.

The Fizzle Show – Fizzle is a membership site that helps indie entrepreneurs making a living doing something they love. As well as the membership site, they have a blog, podcast and numerous free guides. Hosted by the Fizzle crew, Corbet Barr, Chase Reaves and Steph Crowder, they discuss all topics relating to starting, building and growing an indie business. From psychology to writing killer headlines and everything in-between. Why is it worth a listen? As a Fizzle member, I personally believe the podcast is the best resource they offer. Although Chase Reaves can sometimes be a little wild and deviate from the main topic, they have in-depth practical discussions about how to create a business you care about.

Seth Godin Start Up School – Seth Godin is the GOD of marketing. This podcast is an unedited recording of Seth’s marketing master class where he guides entrepreneurs and the listener on how to build and run a dream business. Seth is a master storyteller. He explains how to communicate your ideas in ways that resonate and spread and how to position your product or services so that it’s truly outstanding. Why is it worth a listen? You don’t know anything about marketing until you’ve read or listened to Seth Godin. Whether you want to understand how to market your business, blog or ideas, or if you’re working in an organisation but want to grow, improve and stand out – Seth’s your man.

Design Matters with Debbie Millman – This podcast profiles leading artists, graphic designers, writers and thought leaders about their craft. Why it’s worth a listen? Considered one of the first and now the longest running podcast about design, Debbie Millman writer, designer and artist, takes listeners on an exploration of the creative mind – uncovering what makes creative minds tick. The downside is that she only produces around 30 episodes a year, with the rest repeats from her extensive back catalogue of over 300 episodes.

On my radar

The following are podcasts I haven’t listened to yet but have either been recommended or on my radar for a while.

Homecoming – A psychological thriller starring Catherine Keener, Oscar Isacc and David Schwimmer.

Ctrl alt Delete – Join Emma Gannon, the host of this tech-focused podcast, as interviews creative women and discusses work, feminism, the challenges of existing online.